Don't Make This Mistake With Your Headphone System
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 11 ต.ค. 2024
- This system costs just over $2K and features some of the best components available, so, where is the mistake?
LCD-X - amzn.to/3ymReAr
Topping A30Pro - apos.audio/pro...
Topping D30Pro - apos.audio/pro...
Apos Flow Cable - apos.audio/pro...
Here are the recommendations for a better/more optimized system
Topping A50S - apos.audio/pro...
Topping D50S - apos.audio/pro...
Hifiman Arya - amzn.to/3BkFOiz
Schiit Magni - www.schiit.com...
Also Mentioned
A90 - apos.audio/pro...
D90SE - apos.audio/pro...
TOP 3 FAVORITE BUDGET HEADPHONES
🥇 HD560S - amzn.to/3NwLeNM
🥈 SHP 9600 - amzn.to/3NEsoEo
🥉 K361 - amzn.to/3xxKQsM
Favorite headphones
🥇 DIANA TC - abyss-headphon...
🥈Arya - apos.audio/pro...
🥉 DT1990Pro - amzn.to/3MzsBrg
TOP 3 FAVORITE CLOSED BACK HEADPHONES
🥇 Sony Z1R - amzn.to/3aDxOB4
🥈 Sony Z7 - amzn.to/3O0C2Bd
🥉 K361 - amzn.to/3xxKQsM
BEST Amplifiers -
🥇 Topping A90 - apos.audio/pro...
🥈 THX 789 / 887 - amzn.to/3QdJ0Vq
🥉 DX3 Pro - amzn.to/3O1wF4H
IEMS
🥇 Sennheiser IE300 - amzn.to/3Q8svd3
🥈 Moondrop Aria - amzn.to/3aEytlG
🥉(budget Option) - Tin T2 - amzn.to/39g6eta
SPEAKERS
🥇 SVS ULTRA Towers - amzn.to/3xzt9sU
🥈 Vanatoo T1E - amzn.to/3O5ag6q
🥉 Micca RB42 - amzn.to/3aBmXHP
ACCESSORIES
iFix It - amzn.to/3NCok7O
Soundrise Pro Stands - amzn.to/3tphpXt
IEM TIP Storage - amzn.to/3NAMQ9r
Headphone Case - amzn.to/39xOlk...
My Filming Equipment
Camera - A7S-3 - amzn.to/3mynq00
Sigma 24-70mm - amzn.to/3MtKBmQ
Sony 90mm - amzn.to/3QarT6P
Sachtler Flowtech 75 - amzn.to/3H4WEG9
Ronin RS2 - amzn.to/3HdOgUP
GVM Slider - amzn.to/3Q8nEIV
These are my genuine recommendations in various categories. They are affiliated links that help pay for this TH-cam channel at no additional cost to you.
SOCIAL MEDIA
📷 / joshua.valour
🔔 / joshvalour
📫SENDING FOR REVIEW??📫
Email Me - JoshuaValourYT@gmail.com
#audiophile #Headphones #Mistakes
*As an Amazon, Drop and Apos Associate I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.
I use this money back towards the quality of video of this channel. To see how, watch this video - • AWESOME Studio Tour! -...
the words "audiophile" and "need" mixed as well as oil and water. Joke aside the video is very informative, great guide for people new to the hobby.
Lol I see what you mean if it's a hobby. I have a small business doing sound design. In that application they mix like kool-aid powder and water or else I can't make $$$.
You mean "need" and "cost"
haha this video is terrible, jv does nothing for this community
@@XxSeVenmaRkxX Yeah but you aren't an "audiophile" if you're doing it for business related purposes other than TH-cam content creation.
Hi Joshua, unfortunately Topping is misleading the customers with the output power of the Topping A50S: the 3,5W per channel (balanced) could be obtained only if you have a 4Vrms input, which you can not achieve using RCA connectors; you need XLR connectors for that which the A50S doesn't have. So the maximum output power from A50S is 1,95W.
Topping do this on the a30 as well, it's very close to false advertising but in the specs buried away they do state this input voltage requiremnt
They did that on the L30 too so that it sounds good on paper, at this point you just have to take their spec sheets with a grain of salts since they're talking about theoretical maximum instead of practical
@@MrBlitzpunk if you use a zendac as dac on variable then it will output just shy of 3 v but still not the 4 v required. This is why users of the zencan when trying the l30 are confused the the zencan sounds so much louder, it's because ifi set the true output which is higher than l30 with1.9/2 v input from the dav
also the L30 is a very very sterile sounding amp so if use the very strike matching dac the sou d has little body. You an get carried a way as on entry and many midfi headphones you won't really hear much of a difference and these units are not aimed at people using 500 bucks and up headphones
@@adrianmorrish8494 isnt zen dac also cant achieve its maximum power without a power supply it doesnt come with
I’ve always been happy with my little listening setup. I used to just rock MoBo audio output and SennyHD599 but I recently upgraded from MoBo audio to a simple Modi+Magni Schiit stack and it’s been nice. Each time I upgrade, the difference always seems small but I’m also a lot better at picking up the little things than i used to be. When I switched from cheap gaming headsets to the Senny’s I mostly enjoyed the clarity of things like cymbals. In the past, they’d always stress the headsets I’d use and it made listening to many songs exhausting but aside from that, it wasn’t really a significant upgrade. The sound was definitely better overall but not by much. Now upgrading to the Schiit Stack, I notice some faint sounds that the onboard audio just didn’t do I guess but for the most part, it’s basically the same. I imagine this is as far as I’ll ever go with headphones though. I’m sure I’ll eventually pick up more sets of headphones and I might do speakers some day but I’m already at the point where I’m completely satisfied. I could grab an equalizer to finish the stack or I could grab a tube amp too for the heck of it but I have little interest in tampering with the sound profile of my current setup and honestly I don’t think I’d like waiting for the tube amp to warm up. I like how my current amp is good to go the moment I turn it on because if I have to wait, I’ll probably start reading and forget that I turned it on at all
fyi there is a new revision of the Hifiman Arya with the stealth magnets, and the specs are different, Impedance down to 32ohms and sensitivity up to 94dba, so they're even easier to run now
When did they come out with the new revision
@@mmm0513 the factory date on the box mine came in was 28 july 2021.
Good to know, I will look into it! Thanks :)
I'm actually surprised they would revise the Arya. Wouldn't that possibly take sales away from the HE1000?
@@matthewhilty4209 This depends on a number of things. 1. Quantity of stealth magnets and area coverage 2. diaphragm material and thinness 3. build quality (which is better on the HE-1000se anyway), and most importantly: 4. how far away is Hifiman away from another HE-1000se refresh.
1:50 - "Why would anyone use the A90 over the A30 Pro?"
As an A90 owner, let me give you my pitch:
The A90 launched in July(?) 2020 and I bought it about 9 months before the A30 Pro was released.
If I were to buy again now, I'd almost certainly save some cash and get the A30 Pro. Not that I regret the A90 by any stretch, it's a phenomenal amp and I honestly love it, but if I could save $400~ for an almost negligible drop in performance? I'd be down.
Topping has this "bad" tendency to canibalize their own product line. For instance, the A50;D50s he mentioned in the video are actually outdated as of last week due to the launch of the L50 and E50.
Just get the Jotenheim
I just went through this journey and went for the topping ex5 to pair with my HD6XXs. Absolutely fantastic combo and the price is insane for what you get.
You're a bit too adjusted to the Topping sound ... I've tried many amp/dac and the topping for me never impressed me much except that in general they're clean and detailed ... I just feel like it's not the best listening experience. For the price I think the Liquid Spark is without a doubt killing the A50S or the Schitt magnius that you mentioned for the LCD-X. Add some warmed to them and make them much more enjoyable.
That's what happens when all you care about is how "clean" it is and nothing else all the time.
@@schoute7490 anything beyond clean sound is subjective
Honestly I’d rather get the cleanest dac/amp and let the headphones do the work, so for me a topping stack would be great
Man when I first opened this vid I thought you had a Magnius/Modius stack with Sundaras next to you, I was sweating bullets so hard like this was going to be a personal callout directed at me lol
Not even close. Those headsets are more expensive
Feel you, my Sundara is powered by a Gustard H16
slightly overkill
I have a Schiit Ragnarock 2 headphone/speaker amp pushing more than 24W into my headphones. I have the LCD-X and the Modhouse Argons. One is efficient and the other needs massive power. I appreciate the flexibility my over powered Ragnarock gives me.
You understand the V2 Ragnarok is worse than the V1 for headphones, right?
I see some comments that talk about how some coloured amps might work better with certain headphones and so forth, but my philosophy has always been to have super clean chain, and add equalising or a tube buffer etc. in it. That way you have clinical reference and you can change the other components based on the headphone
Yes and no. I run my 800s off a clean setup but I bought it used with a Darkvoice tube amp and that pairing makes absolutely no sense to me as the tubes wash out much of what makes the 800s shine. My DT 1990s, though great, aren't the best things in my collection... but with the Darkvoice, it's like pouring buttered toffee straight into your brain.
Just an example of a pairing being better than the sum of its parts.
@@mackado if you have the cash to mess with pairings, sure
For most us I think the clean path offers more flexibility.
@@mackado "buttered toffee pouring straight into the brain" I like that...
Totally makes sense about not pairing a tube amp with a highly articulate expensive headphone. I experienced the same thing.
In Spotify there is a "Tube Amp Pro" EQ setting that has a pretty impactful effect. ..Allowing you to use a clean processing solid state amp but enjoy a thicker tube-like modelled sound.
For sure there are synergies with different combos. Can take trial n error to find that secret sauce audio nirvana
This video saved me 50$, thanks! I was gonna get the meze 99 noir for my schiit stack but I decided to get the hifimans he400se instead. The meze are probably very nice but the HE400se would use more of my dac amp's capabilities for a cheaper price! (Also my first planar)
Nice dude, i was actually considering that same exact setup. How is it working for you?
@@ethancalcinalizarme6535 the se400 are fun to listen to but they are not tuned very well and have issues with resonance. I just bought a pair of hifimans because they're a cheap planar. If you already have a nice pair of headphones and want more variety, the se400 will sound unique and make edm and rap sound very impressive. The schitt stack is literally end game (unless you want balanced) dacs and amps barely make any difference, people who buy expensive dacs and amps are just doing it for the flex.
I'm done cheaping-out on Chi-Fi. Saving however long it takes to upgrade to the LCD-X & a WA-11 Topaz. You get what you pay for.
Lol not really. In this hobby, diminishing returns happens so fast
Back in the day I paid about AU$400 for a pair of v.2 M1060s because a review managed to convince me they were almost as good as competing US$1500 planar headphones. Having lived with them & their issues for the past 4 years I can honestly say I regret not waiting & saving up the 1500 for a pair of well built, probably much better sounding Audezes. The law of diminishing returns only applies with quality built gear, after a certain price point. I had to learn that the hard way. Never again.
@@SpirallingOut who's review was it? Zeos? Hahaha kidding aside, believing that a sub 500$ headphone matches a 1500$ headphone was a mistake on your part. If you really want an Audeze, you can always buy 2nd hand to save money. If you haven't tried an Audeze, I get the feeling you'll like it, and then find it uncomfortable after an hour
@@aerternaeaerumna5158 I mean... the M1060 have just enough redeeming sound quality (detail - especially guitar, soundstage, etc) along with my Dragonfly Red that I haven't yet ripped them in half & thrown them in the bin given their many build quality problems, weird metallic-sounding peak somewhere in the mids and almost-total lack of bass. But if I can wear these things for hours & hours I doubt I'll have a problem with the weight of the LCD-X. Especially since the 2021 revision has had a weight reduction. I know it's purely cosmetic but I love the matte black and retro design aesthetic of the LCD-X & LCD-2C. I'm looking for that in an end-game (sound quality/stage) headphone. If the other LCD models had the LCD-X/2C matte black aesthetic I'd be ringing & asking a local hi-fi gear shops to demo them ALL with a WA-11, to find the perfect one. Even the stupid-expensive 4's. I wish Audeze would mix the supposed end-game sound quality of the LCD-4's driver with matte-black aesthetic of the LCD-X/LCD-2C to create an LCD-"4X/X4". I hate that chrome LCD-4 backplate and I don't like the black plastic outer housing of the LCD-4Z/MX4/24. Hell, they could do a dry forged carbon, water/CNC-cut open-back LCD-4 backplate with a dark stain wood or matte-black sprayed metal ring and it would look better than the ugly-a$$ chrome they went with...Less fingerprints too! It looks like you gotta wear those white fragile document gloves just to handle them, for crying out loud.
@@SpirallingOutthat's a fair point. I had the M1060C modded to open back and compared them to my friends 1060. The c was way better in open back
I rock the iFi Zen Stack. Not sure how it compares to the Topping stuff, but it's very very good and I think it sounds fantastic for about $400. It doesn't have an optical input, which is a turnoff for some people, but it doesn't matter to me since I don't use it for a TV or anything like that. The Zen DAC alone is plenty of juice for most headphones and is great.
Topping is overrated.
@@xOogieBoogie3xI checked their website and… nope. We’re better off with different brands. Edit: they even saturated their store page with tons of products like wth it’s a mess.
With these filters, the Arya v2 are perfect. As in, the instruments each sound perfectly natural and distinct, the soundstage is realistic. It's as close to being live as anything can be. These are my variation on Oratory1990's work for the v1. I am using a CTH.
Preamp: -4 dB
Filter 1: ON PK Fc 10 Hz Gain -3.0 dB Q 0.25
Filter 2: ON LS Fc 104 Hz Gain 3.0 dB Q 2
Filter 3: ON PK Fc 250 Hz Gain 1.0 dB Q 0.85
Filter 4: ON PK Fc 1800 Hz Gain 4.0 dB Q 1.2
Filter 5: ON PK Fc 2680 Hz Gain -2.0 dB Q 3.2
Filter 6: ON PK Fc 4300 Hz Gain -2.7 dB Q 7
Filter 7: ON PK Fc 4850 Hz Gain -2.2 dB Q 6
Filter 8: ON PK Fc 6400 Hz Gain -1.5 dB Q 7
Filter 9: ON PK Fc 8150 Hz Gain -1.8 dB Q 6
Filter 10: ON HS Fc 10000 Hz Gain -3.0 dB Q 1
If using Spotify, pull that 1800Hz gain down to 3.0dB. The Ogg Vorbis is a little bright. I don't like how it handles low bass lines, either, which is the main reason I took the very low frequencies back to the headphone's normal. Bass lines still sound good on FLAC, but are less offensive on Ogg Vorbis this way.
Well the he-1 is prob more realistic
I'll try not to clickbait people too
Using A50s with fiio k3 DAC for arya in balanced 4.4 mm, on high gain volume knob at 3 0'clock position for most music, for movies 4 o'clock is loude enough.
Great video, as always!
I've been trying to figure out Apos's marketing strategy with that cable. It keeps showing up quietly in videos from various audio TH-camrs, but they're all just name-checking it without saying anything about it other than its huge price. Maybe Apos is just paying for mentions, and honest reviewers like Joshua don't want to pretend that it's better than any other (cheaper) cable that's already available?
It's definitely not worth the extra money
Just picked up modi 3+, magni 3+ and seinhesser 660s on sale for 415$. First audiophile set up. Im in heaven
I am a person who doesn't like the LCD-X and does like a little more omph from their electronics. I recommend getting the LCD-2c, which I've owned and loved. When you're ready, maybe step up to the LCD-4, which I currently own and love.
As for the electronics, if you can spare the space, get an Audio-gd D28 for ~$1k. If you can spare more space and money, get an R28. Same amp, bigger box, R2R DAC. I have the discreet R1 and it replaced my Denafrips Venus. I also have a discrete Master 19 and it is the best solid state amp I have owned. Either of the all in one units should be within 90+% performance. Probably 95+.
Instead of $2100, these setups start around $15-1600 if you get LCD-2c B-stock like I did. My LCD-4 are B-stock too.
i have had the A50s/d50s/p50 stack for six months and its so beautiful. Use it on my dt 1990 pros, Sundara and Focal Elegia... Best decision made to get into audio set ups. Getitttttttttt
I loved my A30 until it died two months later. Thankfully Amazon pitied me and gave a refund. Replaced it with a Magnius and am perfectly happy with it on my Sundara. I mean, if it's all still there at my house in New Orleans lol.
Thanks for the distraction with great videos as always. Watching with my THX Panda in a hotel
Thinking that, because it failed, it's a bad product is a mistake. Literally every single product of any category has a failure % higher than 0.
I hope you and yours are doing alright and all of your belongings make it through!
@@kaitlynstewart7672 Thank you! I know I don't have any flooding in my house, just don't know if it still has a roof.
@@FEARmeify Hi, I didn't say anything about it being a bad product. Just that I loved it until it stopped turning on.
@@FEARmeify tbf topping has some pretty shoddy QA
Will this set up be good with the HD800S? Just starting out on the amp/dac set ups. Wondering how would this fair with the iFi signature set.
Great content!
You should also talk about impedance matching. I think that’s something that should affect people’s choices in terms of the amp they pair with their headphones…
thank you, no one talks about the A50s and the D50s 🙂 I use that with my LCD-2C and its awesome
Great video josh. Big fan of your channel, and looking forward to seeing the video of the D30 A30 Pro stack! Just one question: what are the XLR cables that you used to connect the D30 and A30 Pro? All the ones I found online are too big. Thanks
Haha, I saw the exact setup I built a few months ago and knew I was in for it. However, I needed something clean that could run IEMS and power hungry headphones as I do plan to expand much further than my LCD-X, 6XX, and small collection of IEMs.
First off -- AMAZING channel and work. As a former mastering engineer working on KEF 207s and a ton of analog gear.... love it and love your contribution to the space. I have a question... I am looking for a good sounding, sonically enjoyable sound that I can bring with my MacBook. I haven't heard you say anything about the ifi stuff. Is the ZEN DAC and Zen Can a good combo or the topping "tops" that? What are your thoughts? Appreciate your time.
I would wholeheartedly recommend an ADi 2fs DAC over this combo since my LCD Xs really need the EQ to do their best. And its an all in one around the same price
I just hope topping can sell angled trs cables for their amp-dac
I have very loud hispanic neighbors playing boom/plain music pretty
severely loud, making it hard to study/hear video tutorials or lessons.
Please recommend wired headphones (a mic is a plus) that block out the
outside boom music/noise.
I feel like this video was aimed at me… I have an LCD X and just about a month ago I upgraded from a Fulla 2 to A90/D90SE. Guess I should get new headphones so I don’t waste that amp power…
I'm currently using the A90 with the HD6xx and DT770pro 80ohm. I choose the A90 because I found it really afordable for what it brings. Also, I bought argon T50 mk3 & T60 (still waiting for them right now), so I will probably need the extra power.
But for the dac I didn't choose the D90, because it's really expensive. I took the D50s, which has a lot of functionnality (including bluetooth) for a raisonnable price. I've no idea if I would hear the difference with the D90, but will probably upgrade later.
Did you get the dt770 before you got an amp? Also, I would prefer a good dac over a good amp, unless you really need the extra power( or tubes)
Monolith M570 ($175) is a very detailed planar. I thought the Sanskrit 2 ($110) sounded better than the multibit. The Asgard 3 ($200) puts out 5 watts clean power. Throw in a couple cables and you are at $500. Is it the best setup? No. Is it AWESOME? Hell yes. Do you also have some speakers? Add an Aiyima A07 (clean 150 wpc for $70). My Hidizs S9 Pro dongle should arrive tomorrow.
Good to know! Thanks!
Great video.
Would topping A30 pro be a great choice for Arya Stealth as well? Or are they better options?
This is a helpful video, especially for those who, like me, some months ago, are just starting to explore how to grow and upgrade their collection.
Periapt cables are about $77 for the audeze connection in 5 foot. I have a set for my lcd-x. Great quality for less than $100. Pretty much any color is possible
Bruh
I live in middle east if I ordered the Schiit Fulla 4 109$ + 15% vat + 70$ shipping = 195.35$ almost 200$
Great explanation and recommendations. I've recently bought a pair of bey dt 1990 pros..which amp/dac would you recommend for around £200? (not sure what that is in $) Needs to be one unit, as neutral sounding as pos,small with a range of connections..i'll be using it with my dt 1990's when making electronic/accoustic music. Thanks. Great TH-cam vids..i bought my dt's after watching your recommendation.
For whatever reason, I never liked the LCD-X, when I've heard it at shows. But owned LCD-2c and loved them. I upgraded to LCD-4 a year or so ago and I love those even more. With Audeze, I recommend finding a local dealer and asking for B-stock units. I got my new LCD-2c for $550 and my new LCD-4 for $2800. I could not find any blemish what so ever on either one.
I also recommend Audio-gd products. I started out a long time ago with an NFB-10SE. That's a DAC/amp from 10ish years ago. I spent a lot of money on other gear since then, only to bring out my old NFB-10 and realize that I still preferred its signature. Last week I received my new R1 DAC and Master 19 and I am pretty sure this will be my end game. I'm going to be selling off some other, much more expensive gear that I flat out don't like as much. For less money, I would suggest that an Audio-gd D28 or R28 would be the way to go and probably within 95% the performance of these discrete components.
Don't get me wrong, I have an A90 too and used that for over a year. It beat more expensive gear as well. I would put it in the caragory of 'you will buy one and genuinely want for nothing. Until you hear something different that you prefer.' Everyone says they want an amp with no personality of its own. But with no flavor of its own, something WILL come along that you like better. Audio-gd has a very dynamic and powerful sound, but natural at the same time. Like a heightened sense of reality. Maybe not for someone who wants a very relaxed listening experience, but I love it!
Was the difference significant between diffrent amps and dacs?
@@badgermcbadger1968 To my ear, significant enough, yes. I'm still rocking the R1 and Master 19. I like them enough that I upgraded my cables a bit and am calling my headphone system finished for the foreseeable future. The Solaris isn't getting as much use as it should, but I still love to listen to it when I have time for a longer session.
To answer your question more directly, I find the difference in electronics to be more about sound stage and presentation. My THX 789, Topping A90, Audio-gd gear (all solid state) and my Audiovalve Solaris (tube amp) ALL have very similar tonality, frequency response and resolution. But as I move up that line, I get a bigger sound, more dynamics and a deeper, more three dimensional sound stage. This makes for a more engaging, lifelike and enjoyable presentation. The Master 19 probably has the highest outright resolution, most dynamics and maybe even the deepest sound stage front to back. Even over the Solaris, but all by very slim margins. On the other hand, the tube sound permiates the space inside the stage more fully and more naturally. Each individual instrument or voice is more three dimensional and in a better defined space. It is also a little smoother. It does a better job with acoustic instruments, drums and electric guitar. Again, by slim margins.
All this said, the headphones themselves make the biggest difference. You have to find a set you like before you go down the rabbit hole with electronics. But I still stand by my earlier recommendation to just pick up an Audio-gd D28 or R28 and not worry about anything else for a long time. Or on a lower budget, I think that a Schiit Jotunheim with their new ESS 9028 module would be a really safe bet too. My other audiophile buddy with all kinds of other gear picked one up and he loves it. And I've liked other Schiit products I've heard, including my Vidar that I recently acquired from him.
@@zackw4941 thanks for the detailed response. Have a good day
@@badgermcbadger1968 You're welcome. I should clarify that where I said "slim margins," I only meant between Master 19 and Solaris. They are both plainly superior amps to the A90 in all the ways I mentioned. And the A90 was a big step up from the 789, which by comparison to all the others sounds quite flat. Not that it's a bad amp. For the money, it nails all the objective qualities. Without higher end gear to compare its sound stage against, one would likely want for nothing with it.
@@zackw4941 I just checked how much the d29 costs and holy shit its expensive, but its interesting to know the impact dacs and amps have on sound
LCD-2C and Fiio K7. Totally awesome!
Kat
Bucharest Romania
I could be wrong but I’m pretty sure the d30 pro has better measurements. Other than power. But has less THD through the balanced ports. Obviously it doesn’t have the extra features but it measures better. I think a d30 pro with an a90 would be a better stack for my personal needs.
Arya is is now on sale in my place for $1160 and its also the new version.
@Transistor Jump im from the Philippines lol and one of the distributor of hifiman are running a sale on Ananda and Arya. Got my ananda for $550 also 2021 version confirmed by hifiman.
@Transistor Jump nope its an authorized distributor of hifiman here in the Philippines. Arya are always $1200 here and it might go down a bit more like $1100 with the upcoming sale. But the ananda was reduced to $550 just this month and they’re always $750. I don’t know if that price will stay or until supplies last. Also the store also said that their stocks are all 2021 versions and confirmed by hifiman themselves.
@Transistor Jump also isn’t the clearance sale on hifiman mostly open box or b-stock?
Sorry to add to the generic. Like the channel. Appreciate the road bike with aero bars👍🏼. Thinking of takingthe plunge. Sundara's but cant decide between magnius/modius or the a50/d50? Watching movies/music. Again sorry if its an annoying question just struggling to take the plunge and adding to cart. Thanks.
Thanks mate enjoy ur content 😁👍…it’s a pity Epos doesn’t ship to Australia
Great video Joshua. Could you do a similar one using the Sundara.
By the way Josh, the L50 and E50 came out today as well, they seem to kind of invalidate the A50S and D50S in terms of both power and performance, they even have real balanced outputs and cost about the same price as those two devices! Maybe check them out when you get a chance.
Their very very good I hear
an honest and well made advice. Thanks Josh!
Josh I am not sure if I agree with you. When I upgraded my system I got the LCD XC 2021 and Burson Soloist 3X. Even though the LCD XC 2021 did not need the power, it benefited greatly from how smooth the amp was. I know I wouldn't stop at the LCD XC so the extra power is something I will need one or two years down the line. I know to some future proofing is useless but I honestly hate the idea of having to sell to upgrade and it is not worth the hassle for me.
Another josh video, another chance for him to say "this is why you should buy an Arya"
As someone who bought the Arya partly based on his recommendation, I say, "Keep 'em coming."
As a person who is highly tempted by the Arya based on his recommendation, I say, "Please stop, my wallet can only take so much."
These complete set up videos are awesome. Keep doing them 😀
What is that silver (aluminum?) gun replica at 1:42? Also .. still waiting for archery video! Also .. a touch clickbaity title for you.
He has a video building the gun!
Josh has to make sure he’s ready in case someone tries to steal that sweet gear, so that Badseedtech guy started training him in exc-
Ya no it’s a Mandalorian replica gun 😁
Thanks for the help Josh keep up the great work
I was going to get the D70s and the A90. You've just saved me some money. I'll get the D30 and the A30 instead.
Hello, friend, great video! i am getting the Asgard 3 today via FedEx. do you recommend the monolith m1570c ? it's new (closed back is at least) for this amp? i would love your thoughts on this.
Great vid Josh!
Can the A50S drive the Arya well?
Found a deal for 1 on the used market for a great price but the only amp I own is the A50S, so just wondering if it can drive it well.
@Transistor Jump Arya according to Joshua Valour and many others require much more power than even 3.5W to show its best. People usually recommend amps like Topping A90, Singxer SA1, Burson Soloist 3x etc
Liked your vids, but that fact that you didn't mention the overspend on Apos cables is unfortunate.
How about the JDS Atom in all of this?
Thanks for sharing 🙏
Hey Josh! I don't think you've checked out the Singxer SA-1 HP-amp/preamp. It gets raving reviews by all the reviewers I've seen up to now. Would love to get your take on it. -Topping EX5 and Shanling UP5 aswell.
Will you cover the new FiiO K9 Pro?
About using 100% of the device, well that depends.
I know that Honda is testing their Engines at the RPM limiter for 240'000km and they need to pass that. And not just the engine. So an Honda should be capable in driving 240'000km at full throttle all the time. That is why cars that are not driven that way, last more than a million km.
Same is true for Sony. The TA-ZH1ES was tested at High-Gain and 0db (full power) and you should be able to hear music non-stop at high-gain at 0db at 600Ω for at least 2 years.
Thats unrealistic of course but even if you only listen 8 hours per day (which is already very long) and use full power at high-gain all the time, this already prolongs the life of the TA-ZH1ES to 6 years.
But i doubt most people will listen at 0db High-Gain for 8 hours per day and beside that, that is just what Sony tested. The Device will most likely last longer.
So there are devices, where you don't have to care about using them at full force or not. It just doesn't matter in the real world.
But there is a difference with different makers. FiiO for example for sure pushes the limits. If you run the M11 Plus LTD or the M15 on High Gain at full volume, they are going to be dead in a few weeks just from overheating. Run an WM1Z at High-Gain 100% all the time and it won't care.
But the M11 Plus LTD puts out 588mW @ 32Ω, the M15 even goes up to 800mW @ 32Ω while the WM1Z is barely capable of 250mW @ 16Ω
So i think there is truth in your statement, but its not a general rule. There are makers who put a lot of effort into their devices that they'll last forever and there are companies who know, the device is going to be replaced anyway, so push the limits. People wont listen at 100% at High-Gain all the time anyway.
Nintendo for example doesn't charge the battery to 100% in the Switch. When the Switch says its at 100%, in reality, it isn't. They do that, so that you can keep it constantly in the charger (or the dock) without damaging the battery.
So Headroom is needed, yes, but depending on the maker, it is already calculated into the final product and 100% just isn't 100% of what would be possible in theory.
I have the Beyerdynamic T1 which are 600 ohm and even my Topping DX3+ has more than enough power for them.
I paired my Topping D30Pro/A30Pro with a pair of Dan Clark Audio Aeon RT Closed headphones and the combination works really well, and fully uses the capabilities of the A30Pro. I’m not sure if I would really appreciate the difference that a pair of Arya’s might bring.
@Transistor Jump - indeed. I have an older pair of Fidelio X2HR opens, and only recently acquired the Aeons. I’m still assessing where I am with gear, and if/where I go next…
Hi some people said their a30 pro stopped working after a few months. Did you have any problems with yours too or no?
@@Manrajsingh771 - no, mine us working perfectly.
Idk why, but I like those XLR cables. Are they sold as a set??
Hey Josh youd done a beginner audiophile video where you'd said the budget ( obv budget being relative) way into good audio is through IEMs and not headphones, could you do a follow-up video with some recommendations? I run the starfields off of the fio btr3k
The original D90 and D90 MQA use the AK4499 DAC chip instead of the ESS Sabre. However, if you‘re using the D90S, you‘re correct.
I myself got the D90 MQA (neither the D70s nor the D90s existed back then, nor did the D30 Pro) and the A90 amp (which was also without alternatives) to run my Sony MDR-Z1R and they are a match made in heaven!
However, I doubt that nowadays, the price of the A90/D90 MQA is still justified and is even worth it for my Z1Rs, as I do not need that much power… Well whatever, I already got them either way😂
Note: the DAC is performing insane and therefore worth it. I was only referring to the A90 when judging whether they are still worth it today. Luckily, the A90 is the „cheapest“ component of the three.
@@TechEtrix Hi Fabian. I am also searching a proper DAC/AMP for my Z1R! Do you still recommend A90/D90 combo, or is it overkill just for the this headphone? Thanks in advance!
@@d1n01988 Hey :D
The Topping Stack is still in daily usage and sounds great to this date. There are obviously some very capable, cheaper alternatives out there. But if you want to get the most quality (without EQ) out of your Sony's, I'd still recommend it.
The only "issue" is that the Sony's Bass is lovely, rich, detailed and phenomenally accurate, but adds some noticeable distortion to the overall sound, as it is quite bass-heavy. Therefore, if you're planning on slightly affecting the sound signature, you could opt for a DAC with EQ functionality. However, those are even more pricey than the D90.
Also, budget option that sounds exceptionally good for the size and very good for the price, while being portable: iFi Go Bar.
@@TechEtrix Thank you! I will maybe consider the A30 Stack combo! I don't really need the extra headroom of the A90 stack..(powerwise)
@@d1n01988 From what I've heard, the 30 stack is excellent for the price. Nevertheless, you have to keep in mind that the 90 Stack would have dropped far in price if it wasn't worth the extra money over the 30.
But I assume you're going to be totally fine and happy with the 30 Stack :)
Your honest assessment, topping a30 pro or Smsl SH-9? What is your proposal? Thank you
Great video as always. Very informative. Thanks Josh.
Opinions on the AIAIAI monitor headphones???
Will be a good option to buy a30 pro and d50s?
Hi Joshua, I would like your word about the comparaison in between your setup and a Topping Dx7 Pro? Thanks in advance.
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I already have an Onkyo A-9010 amp for my cd player and turntable, so in my case, I would probably only focus on what type of headphones is right for me since the amp will probably be able to use with most of them already.
any chance you will be revieweing Toping EX5 soon? :) really fits the latter price range youre suggesting
Hello, would you recommend Topping A30+D30 or XDUOO TA-22?
HEYY MAN WHATS UPP JOSHUAA I WOULD REALLY REALLY LIKE TO KNOW LOVE TO KNOW WHAT ARE THE BEST DACS AND AMPLIFIERS TO GET FOR A VERY VERY HIGH QUALITY AUDIOPHILE SYSTEMS
getting a HD 6xx soon. should i get the JDS Atom or the FULLA 4? or my desktop use.
What mic do you use bro? It sounds crisp
Did not understand what you intended to demonstrate. L50 and E50 will probably be better… the red just a tad warmer than the blue one…
Hello, what should i buy? HD800S Or HD820, (i am not rich, i just hope that some gold brick just fall in my roof) also i am new on audiophile thing
I still see no better setup than RME ADI-2 DAC + whatever headphones you want except HE-6/s.
I've had it for nearly 2 years now and saw it then the same way as I see it now. It's 1k, but it's an investment that I strongly believe will be hard to top (if you consider everything that it offers for the price) for a very very long time.
@Transistor Jump it most certainly is not, because it's not just a DAC. It's a DAC, a more than sufficiently powerful headphone amplifier, pre-amplifier, tone control, and more. And that's kind of the point. What people end up spending on stacks, this does all in one box, with extremely high levels of quality and functionality that you simply don't find elsewhere (the loudness function is a standout feature as it allows the device to dynamically adjust tone control based on different volume levels so that you can still retain bass and detail at lower volume levels)
@Transistor Jump Is your cut off price what ASR suggests or have you actually auditioned $1k+ DACs yourself?
As an owner of one myself, it is a great unit for dynamic driver headphone.
It isn't push enough current to planar, like even ananda.
Yes, it get them loud enough, but it is thin and shrill sounding.
@Transistor Jump That’s a different response than earlier when you keep going around stating to everyone no DAC is worth that price.
I see this attitude a lot at ASR when half of those guys never even touched anything beyond their topping gear.
Hey, Josh HELP!!! I need you to please weigh in here. New to the headphone system game. There are SO many choices! My source for my music is a Wiim Pro Plus streamer which has a decent DAC in it already. My question is, do I go with the A30 and NO D30? Is there a benefit to having the extra DAC? Also what headphones would you pair with this setup under $500??? PLEASE HELP!!!!
could you review 1more triple driver, maybe a comparison between this and iems under $100, I would be really interested to see how they compare and what to get!
I am right in thinking that with regards to headroom, every DAC must be maxed-out to gain optimum performance? I know with amplifiers that it's better to leave headroom, but with my DAC always set at '99' on the dial, is some headroom also advisable here?
D30 Pro or D50 s? already got the a50s
so should i get the full stack or rather the D30?
How would this perform for gaming ?
Thanks. So the A30 Pro would be a good match for the HD800s, Beyer T1's? I have been after a A90 for the longest time, but they are very expensive here $900NZD..
I just want a DAC/AMP for my X2HR,so based on this video the Schiit Fulla 4 should be what all I need right? I'm not planning on upgrading my headphone ever I think.
Im debating between the topping dx3 pro, fiio k5 pro, and the topping dx1. I like the dx 1 price point, but Im afraid it doesnt have the juice to drive the sundara
How do I Cancel out the hum from the outof sync turbine at my local power station?
Have i seen a mandalorian blaster? Thanks for the amazing video and the very interesting idea in it, amazing, as always
I know nothing about audio tech but I loove sound and buy the best I can get --- I am qualified using the term audiophile for me?
What is better for a sundara: fiio k7 bt or topping dx 3 pro?
Which headphones up to 200$ (max 250)? I mainly play saingles but also multi games. I listen to music and watch youtube and netflix. I currently own the razer thresher ultimate. I dont have amp and dac, but I can buy one. It all depends on what headphones you reccomend to me.
Hi, I will be very grateful for the advice. I am planning to purchase Topping D30Pro + Topping A30Pro for use with Audeze LCD-2C closedback headphones. As a source I plan to use a Tidal hi-fi subscription, is it advisable to purchase Topping D30Pro, which does not support MQA, or is it better to purchase SMSL SU-9 or Gustard X16 for Topping A30Pro. thanks
Thx, man. you saved my wallet's sorry ass. I already own the d50s and a50s (powered by the P50) and because I got recently the Arya Stealth v3 I was planning to switch for the A90 discrete.
Why do you need to get to the end of the volume, again? That's a misleading statement. It would make sense to state whether the volume cannot go beyond 10-20% without getting extremely loud and thus giving a very narrow usable volume spectrum with issues in channel balance, for example, but not being able to reach the 100% volume is not a problem whatsoever.
Also, I don't think that a pair of high-end heaphones like LCD-X or Arya should be paired with cheap intro devices like the Fulla or the single-dimensional and flat x50s combo; it does not compute. One of the following, Lyr3+MB DAC card, Jotunheim with a DAC card, SMSL 9 DAC+amp, Burson Conductor, would be much more fitting, I think, in terms of sound reproduction quality.
Your amazon's links seem not working
How would DCA Aeon 2 Noir pair up with topping D30 pro/Topping E30 and Xduoo ta-26/Topping A30 pro/Topping L50 ? Which would be a better combo?
Would you consider a hifiman specific tier list? I just got the sundaras and have been loving them coming from the 4xx. That said there are a lot of other similar looking cans by them like the he 4x the he5xx and other non mass drop specific cans as well.
what are your opinions on the topping d50 and a50s ?
Imo soundwise, identical to the a90/d90 if that's any help.