I’ve just been listening with my new iPad Pro, checking a USB-C to Lightning dongle from Anker. Have the LCDi3 in my ears, and was watching and listening to some sound and video tracks linked to Dolby.Com talking about their ATMOS. When I was at Overture a couple of weeks ago they had I think Elac’s with the ATMOS top. Sounded pretty good, but in some ways, I wonder from an audio point of view what adding this angled reflecting box really does. At times I was reminded of BOSE direct-reflecting (901) tech back in the day, but ATMOS had a much crisper presentation. No violins stretched across the wall. Still, a lot of the ATMOS seems to be extra reverb.
Have you heard any of the speakers with ATMOS? I’m more of a precise stereo imaging guy, but it could be great for home theater. And if they can properly project a hall in a small room, that’s not to be discounted.
Dolby Atmos is an audio format that picks out unique sounds in a movie or game and outputs the audio through specific speakers in the home theater layout. Unlike other audio systems where the recorded sounds are relayed through all speakers, ATMOS arranges specific object-based audio to be transmitted through particular speakers that emulate that object’s real-life spatial occurrence. That’ why height speakers or a height effect is contained in some sound bars which is are “necessary” for home HT. To get that, plane flying over head effect. A interesting article on ATMOS with headphones. https://hometheateracademy.com/windows-sonic-vs-dolby-atmos-headphones/
There are more guides than I can count on how to properly placed speakers in a room, but it really comes down to two things: 1) Buying the properly sized and designed speakers according to your room specs, and 2) Experimentation, over and over and over.
Number 1 sounds a bit silly, but it’s really important. Placing rear-ported monstrously huge speakers in a tiny room will not yield good results, no matter how long it took to convince the significant other to allow you to do so. On the flip-side, putting tiny satellite or bookshelf speakers in a large room won’t suffice either. If people are truly seriously about a 2 (or 2.1) channel system, a dedicated, treated room is probably the way to go. It made a huge different for me in the past. But then we had more children, and the children got bigger, and bye bye went the dedicated room. Sure, I could have moved the speakers (and triple sealed subs) somewhere else, but performance would have taken a huge hit. And now you know why I’ve become a headphone guy.
I had an experience along these lines. I used to be into fairly high end 2 channel audio, all of it in the typical rectangular sheetrock residential rooms with parallel surfaces everywhere.
I’m now in a space that would seem to be the poster child for “don’t put an audio system in that room”. All tile floors, no symmetry on any axis, wierd openings in the walls so left and right are different surfaces, etc.
I put in a cheapo home theater setup using mass-market $175 a/v receiver and $60/pair bookshelf speakers just to be able to watch a movie with something with a little better sound than the speakers built into a TV.
On a whim one day I put in a CD and played some music. I was floored that it was the most satisfying sound I’d ever heard in my home setups.
It was all due to the room. The reflections from parallel surfaces are a killer but reducing reflections with treatment can suck the liveliness out of the music. It’s a delicate balance and if the room is crappy you can try different speakers and different positioning and never end up overcoming the room.
For home setups I think it’s way more about getting the room right than having “good” electronics or speakers.
Totally agree. You certainly don’t want to over-treat a room and make it completely dead. A friend of mine did that with his home theater, and it sounded lifeless. Choosing the right speaker for your room is essential, especially if you don’t plan to treat said room; but in many scenarios, a little bit of room treatment can make the world of difference.
Back again with an update and yet another question.
The update:
I have been listening to my new equipment for a few days and here it is.
The Blessing 2: HOLY HELL these things are incredible. I have no doubt that “better” may be out there. But for an IEM, I think this checks every box I need. Used it with the Qudelix 5k and just a lovely experience. I didn’t even need an amp to get great results from this when experimenting straight from source.
Sundara: Absolutely lovely sound. Very happy with this and can see why it’s so lauded despite a quite reasonable (relatively, of course) price point. The 5k was sufficient overall, but once I plugged it into the iFi Signature, I really think it started to reach more of its true potential. It did not work very well straight from the source (iPhone or iPad). Definitely can see why some said it needed more juice.
To the question:
I am interested in adding a quality pair of closed-back headphones now. My experience at headphones.com has been nothing short of spectacular, so prefer something I can source from them. While it may seem easy to say Celestee or another Focal product, there’s a part of me that wants to try a different firm - for variety and learning if nothing else. I have heard good things about Audeze and Dan Clark, in addition to Abyss, though those aren’t sold from headphones.com. I could be convinced. Anyway - do your worst!
Of course, keep in mind that this would be run of the iFi Signature in most use cases.
Took a break from the audiophile world for a while. I got my sundaras! I actually haven’t used that much but so far there on another level of audio quality to me. Due to the long shipping time on the Asgard 3 and with the such short time window I had to receive it I didn’t buy it or the modi 3+ and instead got the ifi hip dac as when I get some nice iems I will use it with those and it’s a solid solution for the moment for my sundaras. I just found out that schiit is now offering a new dac module for the Asgard 3 which I have heard is actually very good, module is $100. And sadly they raised the price to $250, not a big deal but still annoying, imagine it’s due the semi conducter shorter and massive price increases in metals. So my question is if this new dac “ES9028’ chip, I hear it’s a ESS Sabre chip, better or equal to a modi 3+?
Hey buddy - coming back to this one… considering the Noire for my closed-back but remembered you talking about the Flow. Any thoughts here? iFi Signature going to be enough juice?
I personally recommend enjoying the (still very new) headphones you currently have until the honeymoon period is over, then perhaps look into a pair of closed-backs. But, if you just cannot wait, check out the Audeze LCD-XC; besides the ZMF Verite Closed and new $4000 Dan Clark Audio Stealth, I believe the LCD-XC is @Resolve’s favorite closed-back. If you don’t mind “soft” macrodynamics, the Aeon 2 Closed could be a good fit as well.
They really are, aren’t they!? I am considering purchasing an Aeolus, just for the heck of it. I really don’t “need” one, but I certainly “want” one. It’s a work of art aesthetically, and I’m told they sound great as well. Plus, @metal571 liked it enough to buy one, so that sways me further. I constantly tell people to audition before buying, or to buy from a dealer that has a decent return policy, so I’d be breaking my own rule if I do order the Aeolus, but, meh. haha
