The All Purpose Advice Thread

I have the Gungnir Multibit/Mojo2 combo and I love it. I listen to a lot of Industrial and some heavier stuff. I liked the combo better because to my ears it was more musical and fun to listen to. It's slightly warmer than the Yggdrasil and digs a little less than the Yggdrasil but It goes well with my musical taste. I'm using the hd800 unmodded. I'm sure the Yggdrasil and whatever amp you get will be just as good.. just adding my 2 cents.

 

Thanks, I appreciate it. Really been struggling with this decision over the last few days. I keep thinking my mind is made up one way then I'm back the other way. Yggdrasil. Gungnir Multibit. Yggdrasil. Gungnir Multibit. Not being able to hear them is tough. Afraid to miss out on any spatial cues I might lose going Gungnir Multibit.

Been going a bit nuts with the amp, too, but overall less concerned there. I'll probably end up doing a torpedo 3 to replace the val2 (hopefully a good choice) then eventually try to audition the bw or commit to a bh mainline.

 

Yggdrasil is more clinical and engaging. Gungnir Multibit IMHO is about 88% there but slightly warmer for a lot less. If you can, listen to both. I was totally gonna buy the Yggdrasil. but then I heard it with my music and it sounded very dry. Old industrial.. a lot of the quality of the recordings just plain suck. What I liked about the Gungnir Multibit was that it was slightly warmer and forgiving. The soundstage is smaller on the Gungnir Multibit also. I also have the bifrost multibit and that is just buttery warm and good for old stuff but not as detailed. Hope that helps but try to find a place that has the units or do what i did. I had an odac that was ok (fell for the hype). Bought a wyrd.. made it ooooh so much nicer. That held me over till I was able to hear the schiit stuff and pulled the trigger the next day.

 

I think the gungnir d/s has been described as dry. I owned and enjoyed that for some time.

I know I'm over thinking this, thinking about upgrades and which is likely to get them first (flagship, you'd imagine). Even stackability. Height versus a larger footprint to stack something on...lol I've gone off the rails ;D

I'll have to see what we have around here for hifi. Probably not much and super doubtful they'd even have schiit gear, but I'll look into it tomorrow. Buffalo, NY area is kinda bleak.

 

Ah so the Bifrost Multibit is warm! How would you compare it to odac w/wyrd in terms of SQ? I'm upgrading soon from Modi2 to Bifrost Multibit.

 

I upgraded from Modi 2 to Bifrost Multibit. IMHO it was a pretty dramatic difference - the biggest difference is an amazing sense of space and depth that was not there with Modi. The sound field feels much more immersive, almost 3d, and instrument location is better focused. Bifrost Multibit absolutely crushes modi, and I have never heard anything like it. The difference is such that I simply enjoy listening more. I feel like I reexperience my library.

Also, I think Modi 2 is better than the ODAC

For the recored, my chain is Bifrost Multibit -> Valhalla 2 -> hd650.

 

ODAC good USB power > Modi > ODAC on bad USB power to me but it doesn't really matter that much and good luck picking them out in a double blind test. Get what's cheaper or if you want an all in one or not. Remember you have to pay extra for the proper 1/4" jack on the O2.

 

Quick question. Is there a point to setting my DAC to 24-bit if I everything I listen to is redbook? I often the reduce the volume of compressed studio recordings in foobar.

 

Yeah, that is the reason to increase bit depth. That way software volume control has headroom, and your bits won't fall off the bottom when you reduce volume.

 

Cool. Even if I use WASAPI or ASIO from foobar in Win 7? Any difference between those?

 

Alright, I have a 60$ or so budget for some stuff. Firstly I am looking for a desktop amplifier that can best the FiiO X3 headphone out (if that exists for 60$...)

If not that, then something interesting that I can mod and play around with. Vintage or modern, doesn't matter.

I really have no preferences for sound signatures, but I do not like overly warm cans. (Sony XB series for example. New and old models.)
Also, open, closed, on ear, over, it doesn't matter... (no in ears however)

 

You may be able to find a used Magni 1 for $60 on ebay. I got my Magni 2 for $75 used. I do seem to like the 2 better though and it has both high and low gain.

What is your headphone budget?

 

I currently own both. This is my third ER4, and second CIEM (JH5, and now UERM). The comfort is night and day. Part of the fit issue with ER4 is that they MUST be inserted deep for good seal and sound, but then you are jamming a cylinder into a naturally curved canal. My trouble with the ER4 is not disliking the depth, but disliking the sensation of unnatural pressure in the canal after 45-60 minutes. I suspect the thing you "like better" about the SE215 is that they don't push unnaturally on any part of your ear the way the ER4 must (for best sound).

Trying the Ety custom sleeve seems like a good start, and will (sort of) approximate the CIEM sensation. I have not tried them, but when I looked into the custom tip, it doesn't go as deep as CIEMs (i.e.: past the second bend, which actually matter for seal and sound reproduction), and the ER4 barrel sticks WAY the f**k out of your head.

As for auditioning CIEMs, if you are lucky to live in the right parts of CA, FL (and I think NY), or can attend a meet where any of the big sellers (UE, JH, etc) attend, you will probably get to try out a "universal tipped" version of their CIEMS.

As for those humming and hawing, on the fence, etc.: BUY THE UE4, especially if you are considering the SE535. The UE4 is described by many whom I trust as a junior UERM. High praise. Also, it has maintained its quality and low cost despite the epic drivers-per-ear war. Hell, my JH5 sounded better than the SE535 when I briefly had both (sold the 535 FAST).

As a general observation, if you are into IEMs and willing to spend between $300-$500 on a pair of headphones, you are doing yourself a disservice not trying customs. After I got my lowly JH5 during a black friday sale (coming up, btw), I basically stopped looking for a while. The comfort was superb, and the sound was excellent (compared to my prior experiences at the time).

 

aufmerksam's post deserves a trophy and/or pinning. Thanks mate. I'm in GA and Earwerkz are pretty close to where I am. Any thoughts?

 

Gonna guess that 64 Ears isn't super big here due to the lack of anything regarding em, but I've been looking to get a CIEM. Noble Audio and Ultimate Ears both have budget offerings, but 64 Ears has a few more dudes in the sub $600 range. Any thoughts on those, or is UE the tried and true option so far?

 

I'm also looking at the alclair reference.

Super appreciated aufmerksam's response, as well.

 

Alclair Reference has a slightly darker signature than UERM, treble slightly hot. Still neutral and quite resolving. Kicked SE535 right in the ass.

 

Find 40 bucks in change and get the Monoprice DAC/AMP combo. It's a clone of the Fiio E9.

 

So I went Yggdrasil. That'll put an upgrade from the val2 back a bit but thinking it'll be worth it in the long run. Gives me more time to ponder on best amp to go with Yggdrasil and hd650/hd800, too.

 

Recently, an AGD M7 "upgrade", didn't go as planned. Picked up a SF SFD1....now we're talkin'!!
Curious as to the details of the PCX upgrade for the SFD-1 mkII. I emailed Chris, he gave me a price, but no insight as to what gets changed out.
I really like it's "character", but swapping out the Solen's would probably be a good thing.
Any info?