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Post by hamish on May 11, 2023 19:58:09 GMT
New thing... again, probably not quite as hifi as might more commonly be chatted about here 😂 I wanted to listen to my tapes and records via the bluetooths. I don't take hifi as seriously as I used to, but I do listen to music just as much and quite often not in the living room. I have also been finding the sound of my tape deck and walkman really compelling. The walkman is a pop-machine. Everything is ott. The tape deck on the other hand is a lot more laid back and warm - it's a bit like listening to a big warm hug. This also seems to translate nicely via this little magic box into my Sennheiser Momentum 4 headphones. The range is also really impressive! Currently listening to Moby's 'Play', a recent tape acquisition.  Blutooth-a-majigger by Hamish Gill, on Flickr |
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Post by stellabagpuss on May 11, 2023 21:17:27 GMT
Looks like a interesting device, l presume your running your tape decks into the BT adapter, then to your DAC?
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Post by hamish on May 11, 2023 21:37:24 GMT
Looks like a interesting device, l presume your running your tape decks into the BT adapter, then to your DAC? No, I’m trying to keep the “HiFi” bit of the HiFi as pure as possible. The dac has an analogue input and two pairs of outputs. The tape deck and TT go into a switch (soon to be replaced by a new fancy one made by BTE designs). The switch is plugged into the single analogue output. The BT transmitter and active speakers are plugged into separate outputs. I also have the TV plugged into the dac, so the kid can watch the tv/play games with bt headphones now too… which is a bonus!! |
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Post by hamish on Jan 30, 2024 20:07:04 GMT
Since you guys are the only audience I have for talking hifi... I thought I'd update this thread. I'm changing things again... I got some of these insane headphones for xmas:  IMG_1064 by Hamish Gill, on Flickr They're the Edition XS ones - honestly mind blowing, especially with the little hipdac3 which has the loveliest, musically compelling signature - wonderful stuff! This led me onto the idea of selling my Mytek Brooklyn DAC - it was beginning to wear me a bit with it's slightly bright sound even before I got the ifi/hifiman combo, but now I find it even more annoying. I've done loads of reading and it seems it has something called an ess sabre which some say can sound like this. Conversely, the ifi has a burbrown something or other which people seem to say is warmer. The solution:  IMG_1247 by Hamish Gill, on Flickr £175 second hand off ebay. Probably a downgrade from the Brooklyn by some standards, but it sounds a lot more listenable to me! Just gotta find some sort of preamp so I can use the TT and tape deck again now... Anyone in the market for a Mytek dac   |
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Post by julesd68 on Jan 30, 2024 20:17:53 GMT
I've read great things about the XS edition, would absolutely love a set. Enjoy!
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Post by hamish on Jan 30, 2024 20:25:42 GMT
I had a similar physical response to them that I had when I listened to the best hifi i ever heard - honestly, mind blowing. I've no idea how headphones could sound better really, I can't fault them at all.
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Post by MartinT on Jan 30, 2024 20:36:23 GMT
I've done loads of reading and it seems it has something called an ess sabre which some say can sound like this. It's all in the implementation and a badly implemented ESS chipset can shatter your teeth. Mine doesn't. |
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Post by hamish on Jan 30, 2024 21:31:54 GMT
I've done loads of reading and it seems it has something called an ess sabre which some say can sound like this. It's all in the implementation and a badly implemented ESS chipset can shatter your teeth. Mine doesn't. That doesn’t surprise me. Oddly I used to love the sound of the mytek. I guess tastes change. I think it sounds more “HiFi” actually, there’s certainly more clarity and sparkle. I’m just more keen for my music experience to sit back a bit these days. I find I listen to whole albums more readily and be more involved in the music with the slightly warmer sound I’m now seeking. |
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Post by nicholas on Jan 30, 2024 21:41:00 GMT
"They're the Edition XS ones - honestly mind blowing"
Not much of a headphone guy here I'm afraid, but I couldn't resist a deal that came my way for a pair of HifiMan Edition XS late last year and find them to be truly remarkable.
Would heartily recommend a pair of these for anyone looking to upgrade...
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Post by John on Jan 31, 2024 6:48:14 GMT
Nice simple system Hamish and great to hear it's helping you listen to more music which is what it's all about.
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Post by John on Jan 31, 2024 6:50:43 GMT
I am also thinking about headphones so far the one I love is the Stax SR X9000 amazing headphones but what I like about your system is that it's flexible
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Post by hamish on Jan 31, 2024 14:39:16 GMT
Yes, I call it "sorta-portable" - It's ok for mooching about at home, but I wouldn't go out the house with it.
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Post by MartinT on Jan 31, 2024 17:21:50 GMT
I’m just more keen for my music experience to sit back a bit these days. I find I listen to whole albums more readily and be more involved in the music with the slightly warmer sound I’m now seeking. Thats' fair enough. I don't like a cool balance, but I don't want warm either. A neutral balance with knockout dynamics and big 3D soundstage for me. Since we met up in Dartmouth all those years ago, I have worked my way towards the sound I like, with a couple of wrong turns on the way. I've finally arrived and I love it! |
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Post by hamish on Feb 2, 2024 18:58:14 GMT
That feels like a lifetime ago! That’s probably pre-kids era for me…? Crazy!
Yeah, I suppose I’ve had fairly big times of hiatus from the hobby of “HiFi” since then, and since I’ve been back into it, I’ve found my tastes have changed quite a lot. Priorities too I think. And probably world view for that matter. There was definitely a time that buying something that’s specifically less money than the value of an item I already own would have felt like a downgrade. Now it feels like a bargain to have found a product (and brand) that seems to have a sound that suits me more.
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Post by hamish on Mar 20, 2024 17:21:56 GMT
Little update. This is where I am at now:  Hifi March 24 by Hamish Gill, on Flickr The main change is the Schiit Saga+ (which I picked up for £161!!)  Hifi March 24 by Hamish Gill, on Flickr I also now have the Ifi phono  Hifi March 24 by Hamish Gill, on Flickr Still happy with the tape deck - I think I might like to upgrade it for one of the small footprint Onkyos at some stage, but this is fine for now. Also note the current Walkman  (excuse the dust)  Hifi March 24 by Hamish Gill, on Flickr The last missing piece is a better cart - probs gonna find a Denon 103 still - but need to save the pennies.  Hifi March 24 by Hamish Gill, on Flickr |
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Post by petea on Mar 20, 2024 17:36:38 GMT
Nice. Acoustic dust - no system would sound right without it! |
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(excuse the dust)