the Interceptor's general AUDIO thread

[nsx_23]

Thats the op-amp configuaration.

You can swap them out for different chips later on once you've established what kind of sound you want to tune the Zero to.

[NAIDANAC A]

Wow. you are a well of knownledge, and while we are on it, between the two got any suggestions

[nsx_23]

I've had good experiences with the OPA627.

Either way, you can always swap out the chips later on.

You'll learn as you progress on with this dangerously expensive hobby

If you can muster it later on, the Darkvoice 336SE works so fucken nicely with the HD650 its not funny. When I auditioned the combo, I had my mind blown.

[NAIDANAC A]

I was just offered $190 for a pair but they have oily pads, and I figured I instantly replace those, did some googling and I found the pads are about $50. So I am going with the guy offering Blue Dragon cables, without those cables, he even said himself they would be pointless for me.

[nsx_23]

Good move. Let us know when you get them

[MXM]

Originally Posted by NAIDANAC A

Alright I have two offers for headphones, so far $300 with Cardas Cables, and $350 with Blue Dragon cables or $250 without. Can you guys tell me anything about these cables and what they will do? As in is it worth the jump in price?

$100 is a lot for a placebo.

Originally Posted by nsx_23

I'm going to say that the Blue Dragon cable is a bit better than the Cardas, but honestly I find that the performance gain between stock cable and most aftermarket cables is minimial to say the least.

Just curios, is this based on any personal experience at all? I mean your quantification, "a bit better", "performance gain minimal", "most aftermarket cables"?

Yes, this is a trick question, even if you answer me that you do blind tests all day long in an interference free surrounding, I'm not going to believe you. I'm a firm atheist in these cases

Originally Posted by nsx_23

Just get the HD650 without any fancy cables. Use the money saved on an amp instead.

That is hard to disagree with, though

[nsx_23]

Well, I have been sent many cables by different people to try out, and they range from stock cables all the way to $400 cables.

I can say that I deteceted an extremely small change in performance (vocals slightly tighter, bit more airiness), but the difference is so small I'm willing to put it down to placebo effects.

The cable debate is a fierce one though, and the only way you can pick sides is to try it and see.

[MXM]

Not trying to start a debate, was just interested where you stand. Your answer was perfectly adequate, topic can be closed

[nsx_23]

Nah, it is an interesting debate in audiophlie circles.

My feeling is that unless you're running ridiculously expensive set-ups (like, $40,000 for one speaker ridiculous), cables don't make much of a difference.

[MacGuffin]

Much more important than the cables, are the connectors. There is always a resistance, when you put metal on metal, caused by microscopic gaps and slow corrosion. And that you can hear.

[nsx_23]

My main worry when it comes to headphone cables is microphonics.

[the Interceptor]

Originally Posted by TomCat

I need advice for a good surround sound system for my new place. I skimmed through the thread and saw that Interceptor advised against all-in-one-box systems, but that was exactly where I was looking. I had a custom setup before, as did a few friends, but none of them sounded anywhere near as good as my dad's old Panasonic box set. I'm guessing they might not have been properly tuned, while the box set was designed to work together. Either way though, I'm not that obsessed with audio systems, so my standards aren't very high. But I would still like to buy the best system I could, for no more then $700. If it makes a difference, the front 3 speakers can be pretty much anywhere, but the back 2 speakers will be mounted from the ceiling. The room is 15.5' by 17' (or roughly 4.7 meters by 5 meters). My budget isn't fixed, but I'd rather not spend too much money on it.

What's in it for the $700? Speakers and an A/V-receiver? Or do you need a DVD-player as well? Or Blu-Ray? Otherwise, I'd make you a package of 5 satellites, a sub and an A/V-receiver.

In-Ear-update: the triple.fi 10 pro arrived, as well as the IE 8. The Sennheiser is still burning in, thus in the process of changing. Both have their qualities, but so far, the triple.fi is in the lead. The IE 8 has a fun attitude, but it is a bit "loose" here and there. Still, I'll see where it gets when it's ready. The Westone 3 still is on its way somewhere over the atlantic.

EDIT: oh ... and the SE530 isn't fit to hold a candle to any of them

[nsx_23]

The IE8 should tighten up nicely after burn-in.

I'm in the middle of negotiating a trade for a pair of W3s atm, so we can compare impressions

[TomCat]

Originally Posted by the Interceptor

What's in it for the $700? Speakers and an A/V-receiver? Or do you need a DVD-player as well? Or Blu-Ray? Otherwise, I'd make you a package of 5 satellites, a sub and an A/V-receiver.

Yeah, just the speakers and A/V unit. I got a good DVD player and I'm planning on picking up a PS3 (finally). It's just the main audio system I need.

[nsx_23]

Who else here is running rockbox on their daps?

[Hercules286]

Originally Posted by nsx_23

Who else here is running rockbox on their daps?

Rockbox on iRiver H10 here.

[MXM]

So I received my Etymotic ER-6i. They left me kind of unimpressed

Smaller cones installed by default were offering poor seal, but luckily the larger ones fit well. The insulation is quite good, but... I expected better to be honest.

The case is sticking out of the ear, and it picks up the wind noise very well. And wires too, touching them even slightly transfers the noise right into the eardrum.

Sound quality.. well, they are a bit low on bass, as everyone was saying, but not terribly so. A decent sound for portable music I'd say. But not what I'd expect for $100, not even close.

I guess I was expecting too much. I never really listened to music on the go, and have no experience with in-ear headphones at all. And I listen to HD650's at home, so even sitting here, in a quiet room, I'm missing a lot of details.

[nsx_23]

^If you want HD650 sound on the go, you'd need to be looking at the Sennheiser IE8, Westone 3, etc.

ER6 is in no way going to be close to the HD650..

[MXM]

Yeah, obviously. But the killer feature, the isolation, was also less than expected. If it blocked all the noise as well as regular foam earplugs, it would be worth the money already.

[nsx_23]

I take it you've tried the foams?