The All Purpose Advice Thread

A used Denafrips Ares might fit your budget. Pretty close to your requirements I think, including sacrificing technicalities. Mind I owned the original Ares, not the current Ares II. Course if you don't care about balanced, you'd be paying for stuff you don't need/won't use.

 

What the easiest way to add in a remote with volume control to my setup listed in my signature? Ideally something transparent and sub $300 and replacing my current dac isn't an option.

I was considering the schiit saga s as along with volume control I'll get the additional output meaning I can do without my splitter and also connect up my CD player direct.

Any downsides or cheaper alternatives?

Thankyou

 

Good parts in there, PCM63 and PMD100 -- and the PCM63s are from the low-noise bin, nice. I would expect it to sound good.

The PCM63s are current-output DACs, so they require current-to-voltage conversion, which is usually accomplished with opamps. The most visible mod on your unit is the discrete output stage that has presumably replaced those opamps.

It also looks like a ton of new caps have been soldered in, by someone who doesn't enjoy soldering. I can't tell whether they are modifications to the circuit, or just relocated replacements for the big caps that were cut off the main board to make room for the new output board. Either way, they almost certainly don't hurt the sound and might have improved it.

The groups of green and red LEDs running front-to-back on the main board look like add-ons, but I can't tell what they're for. I suspect that the many randomly-located LEDs on the output board are being used as voltage references -- which seems like an odd choice, but whatever -- so maybe the LEDs on the main board are also being used for something other than lighting? No idea.

Anyway, how does it sound? Have you been able to compare it to the unmodified version?

 

Hey fasfwd, thank you for taking the time to explain I really appreciate it. I still need to listen to it some more but so far it's promising. Regretfully I have no unmodified DAC to compare it with.

I did some searching and this is how the original layout looks like so like you said the output stage is completely new.



The modified layout below.



I also would like to apologize because I didn't notice that we have a thread for vintage DACs. I should have posted this there.

 

OK, I'm looking for an amp recommendation. I have rotated through several headphones recently and have a couple pairs that I have really gelled with. I have the Aeon Open/Hd58x for open and the Ether CX for closed. I am currently using the Asgard 3 with Modi 3. I know that the DCA headphones are not great with dynamics. I am looking for something to create more impact and slam with HD58X and Ether CX. The Asgard 3 is great tonally, but seems very soft. I would like to stay in the $300-400 range if possible and keep the Modi 3.

 

Thanks everybody for the suggestions! After some hesitation I have bought an MCTH.
It is great and really better than the $100 amps.

 

Need a closed headphone with focus on isolation. Shure 1540 and Oppo PM3 are on the short list, never heard either. A used Denon D5000 is an option. Anything else to consider or thoughts please?

 

I would call d5k more like "semi-closed." So I'd strike that one off the list if you want decent isolation. I like the pm-3 especially with the Sonarworks EQ filter applied. Also Aeon flow closed v1 "retuned" is going for $499 right now and sounds quite good with nice isolation.

 

I would have never imagined the D5000 is semi-closed just looking at the design yet other reviews confirm this.
Aoen flow is not an option in Europe. Could take advantage of the opportunity and get the Neumann NDH20

 

Howdy everyone. I starting to research balanced pre amps. It is for a Dangerous Music Convert 2 or Schiit Yggdrasil A1 to Red Dragon Audio M500 monoblocks (class D) to JBL 590s. The obvious first candidate is the Schiit Freya S (possibly + if someone thinks it wouldn't add to much warmth the system). The there any other balanced pre amps in the sub $800 range I should also look at?

 

With a remote I assume? There are plenty of options with no remote (JBL Nano Patch being one) but remote balanced preamps under $1000 are pretty damn scarce. I think there is a Pro-ject one (Pre-box RS I think) that runs ~$1000 but I’ve not really seen anything close to the price of Freya S that is fully balanced.

I still want @schiit to launch a small-ish balanced, remote controlled SYS (passive preamp) but Freya S is about as close as you’ll get to that for now.

Edit: BTW, If you don’t need a remote and want ultimate transparency, Goldpoint is most frequently recommended.

 

Balanced, passive, for $399 + $200 for remote control
https://www.khozmo.com/balanced_stereo.html

 

Continuing on this: found the below link in Freya threads to a company that used to mod Goldpoint to add remote control. Seems that it is no longer offering that service. Does anyone know if some other company offers a similar service?

http://www.bentaudio.com/index2.html

On Ebay there are remote + goldpoint parts from some sellers, but would prefer not to DIY unless that is the only way.

Khozmo looks promising, but as we have the Goldpoint measurements and recommendation on SBAF, it would be an easy choice...

 

Remote would be convenient but not necessary. Thank you for providing some options because I came to the same conclusion that there are not too many options out there. Came to the conclusion that Freya S is a freak'n steal. But the Goldpoint has peaked by interest. Thank you again.

 

The Beyerdynamic DT 150 is an incredible value -- I bought a pair for around $100 USD in like 2015. When I purchased, there was lots of availability in Europe. I think they offer reasonable isolation, on par with other normal closed-backs I've used but not as good as noise cancelling or super-isolating options.

Sorry, I can't compare the DT150 to the other options you're listed.

 

Depends on what trade offs you can accept. Any of the ZMF have pretty decent isolation. For isolation only, HD 280.

 

Take this one with a grain of salt. It’s a good fit for me for my only pair of closed cans - Sony WF-1000MX3. It is noise canceling, blue tooth, sounds ok from the cable, MUST be EQ’d with the accompanying app unless you want your head to explode from midbass. I went through a number of pretty good closed cans over the years. I finally switched to HD800S and the Sony’s. It’s not on par with the old Dennon D7000 or the Mr. Speakers ether C pre flow or an Eikon or Atticus by any means. If you need a good closed can, it might be something to consider. If you need a great closed can, the Sony probably isn’t it.

 

Considered the ZMF for a bit but just too pricey for this purpose. I do regret selling the Eikon now yet they were sold for a reason.
I would have gone with the Drop Panda if available as a bluetooth option.
In the end I decided for the best quality closed headphone and take it from there. Just took delivery of the Neumann NDH20 for a good price of 329£.

To be honest a closed headphone for isolation is somewhat easy, plush leather or leatherette pads with high clamping. Having half decent sound is a monumental task and needs to be taken with an open mind.

 

I have recently had a Aeon Closed (first gen) and an Ether CX. A used Ether CX is not a terrible choice either. I did not like the Aeon Closed at all, but traded it for an Aeon open. It is open, but does not leak like open and has some isolation.

 

Strange one, I need to downsize a headphone collection and I can't choose between selling an aeon flow open or audeze LCD2C. If you had to pick which to let it go which would it be?

Neither are getting any use since buying an Atticus.

Thankyou