and maybe some steam coming out of it!
1 Like
WTF? Steampunk to the nth degree!
Does it work?
Here we go, more info, this is wild!
Hi there @pennstac. I would dearly love to help out but alas I simply don’t have much experience compared to others as I am primarily using my portable setup for everything at the moment. My trusty old Cayin N6ii DAP along with my EE Odin ticks all my boxes currently.
So unfortunately you will have to have my 
which of course will sustain you on your quest for Audio Nirvan. Best of luck with your search my friend.
4 Likes
Between Sennheiser CX 80S and Realme Buds Wireless 2, which one will have better noise canceling mic and audio quality if my highest priority is to hear voices clearly in an audio and be heard crystal clearly? If there’s any other better option around INR 2000-2500 in India please tell me. I’ll be using the headphone for online gaming/streaming purpose. But I only want either neckband or wired in the ear earphones for my PC. Thank you.
@hifiDJ and @robson Do you feel it’s worth the price jump to get the Burson Soloist 3XP over the Jot 2? How do they perform used as a preamp?
Considering the lack of warranty getting a used Jot 2, I might as well get a new one. And a retailer out my way has a decent deal on anew Soloist 3XP with a Supercharger. Aside from the Aeolus, would there be a significant improvement to my current headphones (LCD-2 and AKG K702) in terms of soundstage, imaging, and tonality?
Thanks in advance
I haven’t heard the jot 2 so I can’t really say but the soloist at retail I think offers nice performance for the price. So yeah, probably.
The soloist as preamp is pretty nice, I liked it. Just remember it’s xlr only.
I personally wouldn’t get it without a supercharger. It’s a nice addition. Cleaner power always comes with benefits from my experience.
Don’t have those hps, so I can’t say.
I’m not sure what you are asking, but looking for an amp to improve a headphone is generally not a way to go.
While some headphones do noticiably improve with better amps (HD600 is the classic example) you generally buy an amp because it’s a better amp, not to correct an issue with a headphone.
Edit: I suppose one could look to optimize synergy but that assumes that most of the chain will remain unchanged, ie you will stay with your current headphones for a long time.
Agreed. I’ll rephrase and say it this way, though: don’t buy an amp in attempt to fix a headphone; buy an amp to further improve a headphone that you already love. If you’re looking to “fix” a headphone, either EQ or buy a new headphone.
5 Likes
Yeah, I like your answer better. 
I have the Elegias and A2 Noire Closed. I found the clamping force on the Elegia to be a factor, but not on the A2 Noires…Odd how some sets clamp more than others. I have four sets of DCAs. All of them are comfy. My other set of Focals (Clears) do not clamp excessively either.
@NickZ and @Nuance I don’t find anything wrong with my headphones now but do know they can sound better with a different amp. I heard the LCD-2 with a Woo amp a few years ago and it had better separation and imaging than my set up. The source was a laptop running Tidal. I also heard the LCD-2 through a Moon 430 HAD
If my experience in the speaker/amp pairings I’ve had over the years hold true to headphones, a better amp will make a pair of speakers sound better. My LS50 passive speakers sound good on my Hegel H80, but sounded bigger, fuller, and more musical with the Wells Audio Majestic I had briefly.
1 Like
FWIW I’m with you on this one. Upstream equipment can make or break a set of headphones, especially in the treble. Both DACs and amps can have a huge impact. My HD 600, HD 6XX, Elex, and Clear all shifted from being unlistenable to okay or good after gear changes.
However, I can’t answer your initial question and defer to @hifiDJ about these products.
2 Likes
That’s my experience as well, but I’d also add your digital source to this (ie. getting off the pc) and clean power. You don’t realize how much noise is injected to your system until you try a cleaner digital source (ie. streamer, dap, cd transport, etc…). Generally, getting a cleaner digital source is like getting a whole new dac imo, especially in the higher-end of things. And just to note, this doesn’t apply to all headphones. Some benefit more than others, some might not benefit at all. It depends.
Anyway, to get back on @Blue11’s case… in my experience, the aeolus is a fairly forgiving headphone and doesn’t benefit as much with gear. It’s also not very picky with pairings, so I personally wouldn’t worry that much if the aeolus was your main hp. I haven’t heard the other hps you have so, again, I can’t really give an opinion there.
Have you considered a tube amp? I don’t remember your initial requirements but perhaps consider adding the quicksilver amp to your list. I haven’t heard it personally but the article linked below has some great content that’s worth your time. Even if you’re not interested in tubes, the article has multiple sections of comparisons with other amps (the soloist included) and dac/hp pairings as well. There’s some great info on there worth checking out, at least. And fwiw, I agree with his impressions on the soloist (among many other things): Quicksilver Headphone Amp Impressions – Sonvs Apparatvs
1 Like
Buy a really nice tube amp. It’ll add so much difference and character to your current headphones, especially if you are a guy who is used to solid state amps. Tubes will provide a wonderful difference. A couple of months ago I bought the WA 22 from Woo Audio and my whole system synergy has never sounded better. Just one caveat to that. I keep focusing on how good my equipment is rather than really truly listening to the music. Lol. The honeymoon phase will pass.
5 Likes
Cool. In that case, I fully recommend upgrading your upstream components to further the synergy. As I previously said, it makes perfect sense to upgrade the source components to further improve the performance of a headphone you really enjoy; just don’t expect it to fix glaring flaws (if applicable).
1 Like
Not exactly sure how to frame this, but I have a question for those of you who have higher end headphones and IEMs. My every day HP is the Focal Clear, and I’d like to something equivalent on the IEM side. My question is if I look at at an IEM at a similar price point, like a Monarch MK2, will I get a similar listening experience? I really don’t have much experience with IEMs, and don’t have the ability to test drive a bunch either. So I was wondering for those of you who have higher end HPs and IEMs, aside from soundstage, can I get a similar listening experience with IEMs? Or due to the nature of the beast are they just totally different? Just trying to get as much good info before making a significant investment, but maybe I’m totally overthinking this (wouldn’t be the first time). Thanks for your thoughts.
3 Likes
It is a good question and the way IEMS and Headphones form around or inside the ear canal make them acoustically quite different. You will find that some high end IEMs do things very well and quite vivid for that matter, but I find that IEMS don’t create the same realism like over ear headphones do. It is really not a better or worse thing because IEMS today are getting so freakishly good and it is the difference that most audiophiles crave.
I cannot say what IEM visits the focal clear tuning very well. I’m not experienced enough to say. I own one high end IEM and that is the Campfire Atlas. The Atlas is V-shaped as hell and is hardly a focal clear. That much I can say. I guess we can cross that one off the list out of the bazillion IEMS that are on the market today. You’ll have to audition some at your local store. Best buying power you can possibly have.
I like your question though. It is a good one. 
4 Likes
Second this combo with the RAD-0. Rosson’s headphones just has great synergy with Schiit stuff in general!
Short answer: yes, you can get a similar listening experience but your brain will take a minute to adjust if you’ve only used full-sized headphones before.
If you liked the Clear, I think you’d like the Zen Pro from DUNU (genuine recommendation, no brand bias), Symphonium Helios, and the Moondrop Variations.
There’s so much out there in the world to try, but it’s important to remember to not get overwhelmed by choice?
Want the Monarch? Start there. Live with it for a few weeks and if you like it, great! If you don’t, swap it out with something else (assuming you are buying from us).
1 Like