Yon

Folks,

 

Would like your thoughts and advice.

 

I am now currently running Foobar/Mediamonkey on ASUS Xonar Essence STX (PCIe) connected to Akimate Mini (Powered Speakers) and getting itchy for an upgrade.

 

Would like to have a DAC with integrated headphone amps so I can connect up the DAC to my active speakers and also use it as headphone amps when I can't use my speakers (late at night or when someone is sleeping).

 

Currently I am thinking of the following.

 

Arcam irDAC - Expensive, No headphone amps .. (not sure I can connect up my speakers AND to a separate headphone amp).

 

ASUS Xonar Essence STU - from what I heard, minimum improvements from STX version, might not be worth the upgrade.

 

ASUS Xonar Essence ONE (Muses) - Expensive, not sure if there will be a significant upgrade from ASUS Xonar Essence STX. (SQ wise)

 

iFi iDAC - no reviews on how the iFi iDAC performs with active speakers, not sure if there will be a significant upgrade from ASUS Xonar Essence STX. (SQ wise). I went STEREO to test the iFi iDAC with my IEMs and Headphones, I thought it's pretty good but theirs is a very ideal setup with the iUSB, iCan (i think)

Their new ifi idac2 is very ideal budget dac/amp. Slightly warmer sounding compared to my idsd micro.

I own a pair of UM PRO 10, with foam tips, I love the sound, the over the ear aspect and don't think an IEM with changing cables would do a significant difference! Would it be worth upgrading to double driver UM PRO 20 for the price, would there be a significant sound change? Or should I look elsewhere for sound upgrade?

I think its more like if you like the signature of your UMPRO10, armature driver based IEM like Westone usually sounds better from their dual or triple drivers models so its worth a listen to them.

Hi there,

 

We will soon have the iFi Audio products and they do have a USB DAC as well. Priced at $399 definitely worth looking at, will be in our stores approximately early April.

Have been reading up from iFi facebook lately, now can even audition in town... heng no need buy blindly online. lol

Yes this may seems surprising. I must say I have bought quite a number of items from them and they have been great.

 

I'm writing this not to discredit them. I hope that this will be a learning experience for others, Stereo and myself.

 

I called Stereo (PS) this evening to enquire about the availability of an item. After a moment of asking and checking, a staff told me that it is in stock. So I went down from Jurong to PS to get the item. When I reach there, one of the staff told me no stock after searching the cabinet and store. I told him I called earlier and was told there were stock. So he notified the staff who took my call. He too look through the cabinet of boxes which are all empty.

 

They finally confirm they only had the display set. I ask to check Ion branch and also no stock. They didn't even apologise. I felt miserable and left the shop feeling that I've been fooled.

 

I now learn not to put too much trust on the staff, I would ask more persistently to get them check the boxes.

 

A note to Stereo: Get rid of those empty boxes in the cabinet. It's misleading to the staff that there's stock when they are all empty. They end up misleading customer and the customer end up wasting time and effort.

You should just call and say you want to reserve a set, that always works for me. Even if there was a set when you called doesn't necessary mean it wouldn't be bought by another customer from the time you call and arrive at their shop.

thanks for the suggestions guys...going down to check them out soon..My monster tour broke now very sian...i also thought of getting monster beats the solo model? good?

Stereo has Monster earphones to try too.

Nice job Aron, poisoning me with your Naim power cord...

SilClear is the cheapest tweak with results that I recently found.

No doubt the best tweak for the money spent.

Just got my ED8 few days back from Aron, have been following the thread at head-fi on this for a few months, when I finally got a chance to try at Stereo, I hoot.

The ED8 strikes me of as very neutral headphone from Ultrasone, which is unusual as most of their other headphones are quite colored, like the ED9 and ED7. Comfort level is excellent, better than AT and Beyers anytime. Isolation is excellent too, I had no problem listening to my light music with my wife playing youtube thru the computer speakers.

About 3 days of burn-in and they are sounding better... Oh, those who like to know the difference between the ED9 and ED8, here's my take. I have the ED9 and had an ED7.

- The ED8 is much much more comfortable

- The ED8 isolates better

- The ED8 is too transparent and not forgiving to poor recordings

- The ED8 is slightly more difficult to drive

- The ED8 is more balance sounding (IMHO)

- The ED8 is better design for portable with the shorter wire and smaller size design

Are you using the Acrolink on your source? And the cord for your amp? I am using the Acrolink 4030 with the Tunami GPX-R, which I find to be pretty good combination, one is smooth and detailed, the other provides plenty of power and nice bass.

I'm using the 4030 on the source and JPS on the amp, the yellow sounds good on both sides and I'm thinking of asking Aron to make another set for me to try, I know he is also planning to make a power distributor that he wants me to try over my Tice audio power conditioner, so maybe try everything all at one go.

Hmmm...Now you've made me really want to audition Aron's powercord. I am using the Acrolink 4030 with Oyaide 004, as well (on my CDP).

 

So how does the audition of this cord arranged? Thanks.

I really can't say... I like it on classical music a lot, it seems to give the music emotion (maybe I'm a bit exaggerated). The Acrolink is not bad too but don't know why I seem to pay more attention when the yellow snake is connected on.... like there is something extra?

All thanks to this thread I have recently purchase an Acrolink 4030 power cord which I'm quite impressed over my previous JPS superconductor 2, the obvious transparency and detail was hard to miss. However one week after my Acrolink purchase, I am yet again stunned by how much difference powercords can make after listening to Aron's new powercord.

But I'm still going to test it further, letting the Acrolink burn in more (maybe another 1 week?) before I'm totally convinced. (I'm a little bias over the Acrolink, and they are using high grade Oyaide plugs! )

Any Sonicaps users out there? What does it do?

Bro, thanks for the explanation. But I still have not idea what is custom fit and custom sleeves...sorry. The one I saw at stereo the earphone is damn strange looking man....I have compare westone 3 n shure se530 n i still prefer the se530...have not try others yet....BTW what is IEMs? I am really a noob in these man....

You can consider shure se530 an IEM, it refers to "in ear monitors".

Went to audition the HFI780 Aron mod this morning and I must say I'm impressed... especially when the original HFI780 is available for testing too.

I know a Sennheiser HD600 with cables like Zu or Cardas can change slightly to the better or the worse, this HFI780 mod changed almost completely, to the better.

Normal HFI-780:

Treble: Too much energy, harsh and bright. Make music sound thin at times.

Mids: Not there or recessed, very very laid-back.

Bass: Too much volume, loose and muddy.

Soundstage: Narrow but acceptable for a close can

HFI-780 Aron Mod:

Treble: Just nice for me, clean and clear, could hear the upper end of the treble extending beautifully.

Mids: Clear vocal nicely positioned, not too forward. I would have love it if it was a little warmer but I'm just being very picky comparing with the Edition 9.

Bass: Nice... Tight and controlled. I could listen to Jazz tracks with lots of double bass and totally get addicted to it.

Soundstage: Slightly more open but still not enough to satisfy some of my CDs.

Guess I'll hold my Denon thoughts and consider a HFI780 mod.

Tried the crystal cable on my HD600 and HD650 but didn't like it myself. It gives the Senn a very smooth midrange but lacks control in complicated passages, can sound boring after a while. Although they sound good as interconnects in my home setup.

The ACS T1 should be good, I have the T2 and UE10pro for about a year or so and I personally listen to the T2 more than the UE10pro. After I got the iqube recently, I'm suddenly itching to get a new set of customs.

Did I mention that the ASC are wayyyyyyy more comfortable compared to the UE's? It's silicons in da ears....

This site seems pro beyer....  Must start my personal crusade to convert everyone to AT.... 

 

Half a glass of water perceptions apply, perhaps you are anti-beyer?

 

Actually the recommended places have a significant common factor............auditions are allowed and welcomed, plus good sales service without pressure. Incidentally, Aaron and Albert have gained enough credence from fellow forumers. Moreover, Stereo carries Grado, Senn, AT, AKG, Koss etc while AA carries predominantly Beyer and a bit of Ultrasone. Anyone who can suggest another place that offers the abovementioned service and product range will be welcomed.

 

Anyway, a jedi can only influence the minds of the weak. I don't believe in converting anyone but it's more productive and satisfying for fellow forumers to adopt an open mind and try anything and everthing to discover his palate and improve his sound system. I believe that's the key objective and course to undertake in our forum. Xtremeplace's direction in home theater and Echoloft's in audio systems are good examples.

Haha...I'am ok with Beyers....Just that I find them boring... But I've yet to get my hands on those DT770....really love them lots!

From the toys you own, you should be aiming at the dt990 instead.

Pirate piece?

May I know how you bought it? And how much? Thanks.

Thought you just post a thread on closed headphone that the dt770 can be audition and purchase at parklane?

I heard the AKG K26P in comparision with the PX-100 and 200 at Stereo and I don't think the Sennheiser can come close to the AKGs when it comes to BASS, maybe other depts but not bass. I've yet to hear the PortaPro but the looks.....errr..... subjective.

After some running in, the ck7 definitely prove to be a quality earphone at the price. Detail is the word I'll use to describe this set of phones, it has relatively good bass and I'm not talking in terms of the quantity but the quality but I do remember getting better bass from my previous shure E2c which now I'm starting to regret selling it to my brother. Comfort wise, I prefer the E2c too, although the built is much better on the CK7 but comfort to me is almost more important than sound.

Maybe it needs more running in..... meanwhile I'm still listening more with my Grado SR-80.

Hahaha..... I think I took the last piece. Aron made me bought the SR-80 months back, now once again the CK7..... but I like he's friendly service, never pushy for sales. I'm now aiming at he's X-can amp that he's not selling ...... any second hand?

Maybe he's only friendly to regular customers.....

Its like your px200 kinda confinement or extra duties.....

Thought you guys are quite close to hung bros? Why still term them as "the moustached uncle" or the "lady"? Anyone know their names? Miss hung and Mr hung?