The All Purpose Advice Thread

Oppo PM-3. Fantastic isolation and very good sounding. They also look pretty nice and their clamp isn't too bad after a couple hours break-in out of the box.

If you watch this link they show up as refurbs for $320, which is a pretty nice deal with full Oppo return policy and warranty in effect.

 

What are best options under 500$ in terms of turnatables, i was looking at rega rp1 or some project carbon, rpm 1.3 stuff, any others which are worth?

 

Hello folks. any thoughts on Fostex's HP-P1? I am looking for something with a decent DAC that is also semi-portable/desktop for my IEMs (mostly). Cheers

 

And I forgot to add. I want to use it with my Android 5 smartphone (LG G3 D850 AT&T) and my PCs.

 

Hmm, there's a used TH900 in good condition and all accessories intact (+ new pad) for sale at $1000 in my local classified. Is it worth it? Probably could haggle a bit but definitely won't go lower to $950. Decision, decision...

I've listened to it in a meet about 2 years ago so I'm speaking from memory (and you might already know how unreliable human memory is); I paired that with Grado RS1i.

• Size-wise, definitely a transportable, not a portable, seriously it's size alone makes it not worth it if you're planning to carry it around in public... though it will do in a pinch yeah. It's thick and it got a big volume knob.
• Sound quality-wise, it's nice and smooth (tm), sorry I'm not one to define sound quality in great details but I fortunately do remember clearly if something sounds bad and HP-P1 is not one of them. It is definitely not a bright nor cramped sounding device if that matters. Looking at its specs looks like it won't be able to drive low efficiency transducers properly, and based on my experience with Fostex's other DAC/amp device: it might be a good idea to find a separate amp and use the HP-P1 as DAC only.
  
• Price-wise, well are you planning to buy it secondhand? IMO it's not worth it if you pay for it new. Perhaps for $300 and below should be nice starting point for one in good condition.
• Alternatives; In about $300 (used) price bracket and with small form factor (+battery) umm... Sony PHA, iFi Nano, Oppo HA. Oh and Leckerton UHA-6S mkII have a high place on the leaderboard so... might worth to hunt one.

 

Hi guys,

I need a quality DAC. I have the opportunity to get a nearly new NAD M51 for $800. Should I go for it? It will be used with a fostex th900 and hd650 + a ss amp . The other option is a benchmark dac1 usb for $900.

Any thoughts?

I don't need the amp section of the dac1, will be using a dedicated HP amp in either case.

 

Debating between Lyr 2 or Ember 2. Main job is to drive TH900 and HD650.

As I'm in Canada after tax Ember 2 probably will come down to 520CAD while the Lyr 2 will be a bit short 650CAD.

Any suggestions?

 

Have Ember 2, been using it with HD600. It's quite alright, doesn't seem to do anything wrong. Obvious advantages over the Lyr is its size and heat (only the tube gets warm), but mine seems to be picking up interference from...the speaker next to it? That speaker's not even on, but there's interference unless I put my hand between the two. Anyway the tone with HD600 is pleasant and very inoffensive for long listening sessions. Hope that info helps.
FWIW I'm beginning to suspect Ember 2 isn't the last word in resolution either. Just got a HD800, noticed cymbals sounded splashy on Ember--could be the amp, could be DAC (Uberfrost), needs more investigation.

 

Get a Schiit Bifrost Multibit (Multibit Bifrost). You'll like it way better than either of those options and pay less.

Edit: Here's a link to the DAC thread: http://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/marveys-dac-chart-of-awesomeness.63/

The Benchmark isn't well loved there.

 

All on ears clamp harder than over ears as they have to unless you get the old school Koss PortaPros.

 

I'm not in the rabbithole for resolution at the moment ... I'm on budget and not going to get HD800 anytime soon. Also I'm feeding Modi 1 which is still the at the gateway to resolution. I just want to have something reasonably smooth and can possibly tame TH900's treble.

 

Funny how treble presentation is being decoded by our auditory nerves. So different from one person to the next!
I've listened to TH900 for a couple of times already and IMO it's still a better choice for Japanese songs* in my playlist when compared to HD800. But oh well, I'm the type who could stand being shouted right at the ears- saliva rain incoming and all by Grados so... personally I don't see an immediate need to tame the treble of TH900 out of the box.
But certainly it will be nice if the paired amp could bring its mids more forward though (or pull the bass down just a bit too perhaps? TH900 bass shakes my adam's apple and it feels weirdly ticklish...)

*) oh and those songs are your normal J-pop, ballads, and J-rocks though, not the high pitched squeaky J-idol-pop.

 

LOL! I also hold a fair collection (read: almost half of my library) of the normal J Pop (some older stuff like Chage&Aska, Spitz) or J Rock (B'z), and some 80-90s anime/game stuff. TH900 serves the purpose EXTREMELY well.

Idol things like AKB are beyond (sonic) redemption.

TH900's treble is not immediately annoying, and I can stand it for half an hour. No problem for short sessions, but it does get fatiguing in longer sessions. The (slightly) recessed vocal is sometimes a concern as well.

Anyways, I cannot use a portable amp designed for IEMs (the Rx) or Fulla for either HD650 or TH900. It's just wrong. I'm assuming Ember might be a better choice and I need to roll some tubes to bring the vocals a bit close back.

 

Oh, TH900 has treble issues? I got the Ember to tame the treble on my HE560 (since sold off), and it was very good for that. Using a GE 6DJ8 tube.

 

I've gotten dune good advice in the valhalla thread, but this seems like a good place to solicit more advice. I've ordered a Gungnir Multibit to go with a valhalla 2 and hd650.

Considering changing my Gungnir Multibit order to Yggdrasil. I plan to upgrade to a better amp (bh mainline, torpedo 3, something else diy maybe...suggestiins there would be great, too) and likely a pair of hd800 again at some point. Interested in the enigmacoustics, too.

Any advice would be appreciated. Hd800 anax 2 has been my favorite headphone (haven't heard some of the latest stuff). I listen to various types of metal mixed in with prog, industrial, some classical and jazz, other random stuff.

 

Anyone have experience with both the ER4S and CIEMs? Are customs more intrusive than the ER4S or less? I've tried so many times with the ER4S but I just get tired after about 45 minutes. My SE215 I can handle though for hours... So I guess here's the question does my dislike for the fit of the ER4S make me a bad fit for customs? Are there some custom companies that offer a more shallow insertion?

I'd really like something like the SE535 w/ ER4S treble, and, if I can remember, some sub-bass. I'd be happy with that! If I don't get customs, toying with the InEar Stagediver SD-2 or Noble 4 universal, maybe try the W20? But with the price of some of those I'm in custom range...

 

I don't recall actual insertion depth, but customs feel less intrusive, generally. I can wear customs for hours, but my ear starts getting annoyed (for lack of a better term) with most universals relatively quickly.

 

Thanks for the advice, I managed to get a 6 month old M51 for $788 in the UK on Ebay (UK MSRP = $2293); couldn't resist the price. I'm planning to get a Mjolnir 2 to pair it with, any other amp suggestions are welcome in the <$1500 range.

 

I also had the same question. I have similar issues with my Etys but was actually thinking of trying Ety's own custom tips that seem to be a lot cheaper than buying some of the other CIEMs. Hopefully, this will preserve the treble but boost the sub-bass because its now properly sealed. The Ety treble is just right for me and it has taken me a bloody long time to get there with all too many disappointments along the way. But now I'm all about the bass.
On a separate note, this is likely a noob question but can you "try" CIEMs before committing to the purchase and/or getting a mold done? I don't want to get stuck with a sound signature that I don't like, but paid 100s for. I might die from a guilt-induced cardiac arrest
If I don't do it myself, my wife probably will. She's a hawk...