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Author Topic: Acceptable listening set ups for review purposes  (Read 2389 times)

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Claritas

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Acceptable listening set ups for review purposes
« on: January 18, 2015, 02:41:02 AM »

Background: I've written only one formal review (as part of a loaner agreement with a Grado dealer). For listening and assorted tests, I purposely chose two fairly inexpensive set ups: O2+ODAC and an iPod. I figured that most potential buyers would want to get an idea of how the headphone sounds on common, easily-available equipment, and that they would probably have something similar lying round themselves.

The pyrate leaderboard :)p10  now provides a rough consensus of what's good, and it's a work in continuous progress. Recently, we had a thread on good rigs at different prices: http://www.changstar.com/index.php/topic,1881.0.html. headbang This thread might overlap with those efforts, but it serves a less exalted utilitarian purpose.

Although it could end up flying in the face of good sound and it deliberately ignores the personal quest for synergy, it would be useful to make a list of entry and mid-level reference gear to be used for review purposes.

Obviously, certain headphones are picky and a few are very hard to drive or require special amps. But excluding those cases, I have in mind the sort of equipment that wouldn't tempt you to say about a review, "Yeah, he thinks that only because he didn't use a decent set up."

The public often suffers from the opposite problem too: a reviewer (or a dealer) who uses only an especially good or personalized system. The buyer is then disappointed when the headphone doesn't sound anywhere near so good on whatever ordinary equipment he has at home.

The goal is to be as one-size-fits-all as possible within reason. So that whatever someone's reviewing--SR60e, K7XXX, a T50RP mod, X2, HD600, PM2, LCD2, &c., &c.--the results should be fairly consistent and reliable and therefore useful to many readers.

What are your thoughts and recommendations?
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gelocks

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Re: Acceptable listening set ups for review purposes
« Reply #1 on: January 18, 2015, 03:04:54 AM »

I would just select some Schiit products and stop looking for anything else... :p
In fact, lemme order a Modi 2 now...


P.S. My rig would be PC --> Modi2 --> Burson Soloist SL...
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thegunner100

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Re: Acceptable listening set ups for review purposes
« Reply #2 on: January 18, 2015, 03:23:29 AM »

The O2/ODAC would seem like a reasonable review setup a year or two ago, but like gelocks said, I think Schiit's gear would be a great idea now. The modi 2u + magni 2u can pretty much drive nearly everything out there reasonably well and consistently. The low output impedance will do well with all iems and low impedance headphones. There is enough power for orthos yet it is quiet enough for sensitive CIEMs now with the gain switch.

The two together is around $300 so it's still a "beginner" setup but the non uber versions can drop it down to an even lower budget. A lot of people are bound to have the original and the new modi and magnis so it'll serve as a good reference point for comparisons.
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OJneg

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Re: Acceptable listening set ups for review purposes
« Reply #3 on: January 18, 2015, 04:07:47 AM »

Magni and Modi over the O2 easily. That's cheap enough.

/thread
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Claritas

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Re: Acceptable listening set ups for review purposes
« Reply #4 on: January 18, 2015, 04:33:27 AM »

Certainly as an entry-level set up, though that probably wouldn't suffice for a somewhat snobbier crowd of readers. I think that needs to be taken into account in the discussion.

So what's acceptable gear for a reviewer between the $300 M2U/M2U and maybe something like Gungnir/Mjolnir ($1,600)? Or is there just a big gap?
« Last Edit: January 18, 2015, 10:16:05 AM by Claritas »
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thegunner100

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Re: Acceptable listening set ups for review purposes
« Reply #5 on: January 18, 2015, 04:44:38 AM »

Based on my impressions of my GO 450, perhaps the Geek Pulse? Base edition of course.
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kothganesh

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Re: Acceptable listening set ups for review purposes
« Reply #6 on: January 18, 2015, 10:11:10 AM »

I've liked the following:

1. standalone GO 720.
2. Bifrost Uber + Project Ember
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Sorrodje

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Re: Acceptable listening set ups for review purposes
« Reply #7 on: January 18, 2015, 04:22:43 PM »

Beresford Caïman and Meier Corda jazz.  700€ (Shipping and VAT included in E.U)

This amp would me my choice for reviewing because all what I plugged to this amp sounded good .. from IEM to Orthos and even High impedance Senns or Beyers.  For the DAC, the Caïman is affordable , neutral , resolving enough. IMO unbeatable at this price point.

 :money:

DrForBin

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Re: Acceptable listening set ups for review purposes
« Reply #8 on: January 19, 2015, 05:59:48 AM »

hello,

i really may be going out on a limb here, but my thinking on the state of the headphone electronics space has evolved rather quickly.

as it stands now, i think that Schitt Audio is poised to become the go-to for most folks. superb customer service, cachet of a small company, very nicely designed, wallet friendly products, and killer FAQ's!

for budget set up:

Magni 2 Uber $149USD
Modi 2 Uber $149USD
Vali $119USD
SYS $49USD 

Uber on Magni 2 and Modi 2 only because as a reviewer you will need to address all connectivity options.

the chain would be: source + Modi 2 + SYS (used in "reversed" mode) +
Magni 2 OR + Vali.

you would then be able to provide your readers with a comparison of entry level SS and valve amps using an entry level DAC and have the convenience of a well designed switch box.

mid-level:

Asgard 2 $249USD
Bifrost (fully kitted out) $519USD
Lyr 2 $449USD
SYS $49USD

Bifrost is the full Monty due to, as a reviewer, you would need all options.

the chain would be: source + Bifrost + SYS (used in "reversed" mode) + Asgard 2 OR + Lyr 2.

again, comparison for your audience of mid-level SS and valve amplification using an upgradeable mid-level DAC and for your ease of use an elegant switch box.

at the mid-level i think the Lyr 2 is a better choice due to its lower output impedance verses Valhalla 2, more Swiss Army than HD800. p;)

but, i may be blowing smoke out my butt as the mid-level set up is what i want. (i'm 1/4 of the way there, got an Asgard 2 for the December holiday. :money:)

i also think it would be really nice if folks who were just getting their ears opened and looking for reviews had a fairly reasonable price point to start their journey.

YMMV, all of this is just my opinions, etc. etc. etc. and all that  poo 
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Thad E Ginathom

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Re: Acceptable listening set ups for review purposes
« Reply #9 on: January 19, 2015, 08:41:12 AM »

Budget setup... I wonder if anyone still uses the headphone socket on their hifi integrated amplifier?

Yep, I know, being a specialist ear-fi community, that is probably going to far, and they are all going to be different, so a benchmark is hard if not impossible. However, many people would like to have good headphones without spending more money on ancillary equipment.

By the way: I blame my integrated amp (Cyrus) for getting me started on all this stuff. It was an internet-down night  in which I unplugged my 'phones from the PC interface (Echo Audiofire) and carried them over to the hifi, only to experience an immediate, "wow: these phones are capable of so much more than I thought!"
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