# I'm Sailing Away **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous\ **Created:** [February 17, 2020, 4:37pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/im-sailing-away/5367 "2020-02-17T16:37:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Torq](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/torq/32/16384_2.png) [@Torq](https://forum.headphones.com/u/Torq)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2020, 4:31pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/im-sailing-away/5367/61 "2020-02-25T16:31:11Z")
In various forms I owned the Yggdrasil the longest, but it started life as an original unit, then got a USB Gen 5 upgrade, then got the Analog 2 boards, and finally I had a Unison-equipped model around for a couple of weeks. I don’t own one anymore, however. The next two would be the Linn Klimax unit and the Chord DAVE. I don’t own all of the above, nor have I owned all of them - some were on extended demo either from dealers or friends. If I was building a non Linn/Exakt **speaker** rig, I imagine I’d go for the MSB DAC (along with at least a set of Wilson Chronosonic XVX speakers). ---
**Author:** ![ValentineLuke](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/valentineluke/32/9729_2.png) [@ValentineLuke](https://forum.headphones.com/u/ValentineLuke)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2020, 5:16pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/im-sailing-away/5367/62 "2020-02-25T17:16:03Z")
Thanks for posting this list. It’s nice to see that an affordable unit (Schiit Bifrost 2) made your top 10. ---
**Author:** ![Torq](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/torq/32/16384_2.png) [@Torq](https://forum.headphones.com/u/Torq)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2020, 5:33pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/im-sailing-away/5367/63 "2020-02-25T17:33:44Z")
It’s a great little DAC. I could probably do a top 20 list for DACs - though I’m not going to. Where for some classes of products I can barely manage a top 5 (at least with the caveat that everything on said list would be something I’d be willing to buy - or buy again for items I once had but have since sold). ---
**Author:** ![ValentineLuke](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/valentineluke/32/9729_2.png) [@ValentineLuke](https://forum.headphones.com/u/ValentineLuke)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2020, 5:43pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/im-sailing-away/5367/64 "2020-02-25T17:43:16Z")
Yeah, 10 is definitely a limit for “Best of” lists. Anything greater and I feel like we’ll be handing out participation trophies… smh. 🙄 ---
**Author:** ![MRHifiReviews](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/mrhifireviews/32/13974_2.png) [@MRHifiReviews](https://forum.headphones.com/u/MRHifiReviews)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2020, 6:34pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/im-sailing-away/5367/65 "2020-02-25T18:34:42Z")
This is awesome thank you for taking the time to do this @Torq !! ---
**Author:** ![Narayan](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/narayan/32/9144_2.png) [@Narayan](https://forum.headphones.com/u/Narayan)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2020, 8:52pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/im-sailing-away/5367/66 "2020-02-25T20:52:03Z")
Torq, thanks for your impressions, I would like to ask if you´ve had the opportunity to listen to Lampizator DAC´s and if so what is your opinion? Would they be in your top 20? TIA. ---
**Author:** ![ValentineLuke](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/valentineluke/32/9729_2.png) [@ValentineLuke](https://forum.headphones.com/u/ValentineLuke)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2020, 8:58pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/im-sailing-away/5367/67 "2020-02-25T20:58:21Z")
> [@Torq](#): > > I could probably do a top 20 list for DACs - though I’m not going to. …🤷🏽‍♂️ ---
**Author:** ![Torq](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/torq/32/16384_2.png) [@Torq](https://forum.headphones.com/u/Torq)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2020, 9:33pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/im-sailing-away/5367/68 "2020-02-25T21:33:34Z")
> [@Narayan](#): > > I would like to ask if you´ve had the opportunity to listen to Lampizator DAC´s Yes. > [@Narayan](#): > > what is your opinion? “Meh …” > [@Narayan](#): > > Would they be in your top 20? No. * * * It's been a bit ... the last one I heard was the "Level 7" or "Big 7 DAC" or whatever it was called in English. ---
**Author:** ![Torq](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/torq/32/16384_2.png) [@Torq](https://forum.headphones.com/u/Torq)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2020, 10:05pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/im-sailing-away/5367/69 "2020-02-25T22:05:19Z")
## 10 Favorite All-In-Ones (DAC/Amp Combo): These are units that incorporate both a DAC and a headphone amplifier, treated as standalone boxes (no pre-processors, scalers, clocks allowed etc.). 1. Chord DAVE 2. dCS Bartok (w/ Headphone Amplifier Option) 3. Chord Hugo TT2 4. Fidelice Precision Digital-to-Analog Converter 5. Focal Arche 6. Matrix Element:X 7. Chord Hugo 2 8. RME ADI-2 Pro FS R Black Edition/DAC FS (4493) 9. Holo Audio CYAN (PCM Module) 10. Soekris dac1541 My mood might flip the positions of the Focal Arche and Matrix Element:X. Where/how I’m listening might flip the Hugo 2 and RME units. Assume the same caveats here as for [this](https://forum.headphones.com/t/im-sailing-away/5367/59) post on DACs. ---
**Author:** ![ValentineLuke](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/valentineluke/32/9729_2.png) [@ValentineLuke](https://forum.headphones.com/u/ValentineLuke)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2020, 10:41pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/im-sailing-away/5367/70 "2020-02-25T22:41:50Z")
I really enjoy these lists that you’ve been posting. Perhaps you could create a closed thread with these lists before you depart. ---
**Author:** ![jb77](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/jb77/32/6168_2.png) [@jb77](https://forum.headphones.com/u/jb77)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2020, 12:06am UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/im-sailing-away/5367/71 "2020-02-26T00:06:16Z")
Thank you Ian @Torq For sharing with us the gear that you enjoy! ---
**Author:** ![Torq](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/torq/32/16384_2.png) [@Torq](https://forum.headphones.com/u/Torq)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2020, 2:38am UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/im-sailing-away/5367/72 "2020-02-26T02:38:58Z")
## 10 Favorite Open-Back Headphones A bit more considered than one of my earlier lists. And not solely based on what gets the most listening time - but definitely based on what I use, enjoy, own and/or would buy/re-buy if doing it all again. 1. RAAL-requisite SR1a 2. ZMF Vérité (Open) 3. LB-Acoustics MySphere 4. Focal Utopia 5. Abyss AB-1266 Phi TC 6. Audeze LCD-4 7. Rosson Audio RAD-0 8. HEDD Audio HEDDphone 9. ZMF Aeolus 10. Sennhesier HD650 Assume similar caveats here as for [this](https://forum.headphones.com/t/im-sailing-away/5367/59) post on DACs. ---
**Author:** ![ValentineLuke](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/valentineluke/32/9729_2.png) [@ValentineLuke](https://forum.headphones.com/u/ValentineLuke)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2020, 3:02am UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/im-sailing-away/5367/73 "2020-02-26T03:02:34Z")
These @torq’s favorite got me… [![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/headphones/original/2X/f/f11d09f79a227f8362d7c0e07971e5efa63fd404.gif) ](https://media.giphy.com/media/pUeXcg80cO8I8/giphy.gif) ---
**Author:** ![MRHifiReviews](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/mrhifireviews/32/13974_2.png) [@MRHifiReviews](https://forum.headphones.com/u/MRHifiReviews)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2020, 3:44pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/im-sailing-away/5367/74 "2020-02-26T15:44:17Z")
These top 10 lists are awesome!!! 👍🎉🤙🎼🎧 ---
**Author:** ![Simonfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@Simonfish](https://forum.headphones.com/u/Simonfish)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2020, 5:37pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/im-sailing-away/5367/75 "2020-03-01T17:37:55Z")
Congrats, @Torq! Thanks so much for the advice you’ve given and hospitality and generosity you’ve shown, both here and in the real world. I hope you and the lovely Mrs Torq have a marvelous time. Please contact me if/when you decide to go to S Africa - I’m writing this from Heathrow T3, about to board a flight to Cape Town so my advice will be fresh! ---
**Author:** ![Torq](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/torq/32/16384_2.png) [@Torq](https://forum.headphones.com/u/Torq)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2020, 11:17pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/im-sailing-away/5367/76 "2020-03-09T23:17:21Z")
A few notes, as I get closer to departure … - I won’t be answering questions, even those that reference me (@) directly, if I’ve **already** answered them. If you ask me something/reference me/tag me in a post, and don’t get a response, it’s almost certainly because I’ve already covered your question/issue/concern earlier in that thread, or a related one (eidetic memory is both a significant life-advantage and an enormous social-drag) … and you can find the answer using search. - You might see me selling off things I am actually rather keen on. That’s not an indication that my thoughts about a given unit have changed. Logistics mean I can’t keep AND use everything I have, so it comes down to priorities (e.g. keeping the ADI-2 Pro FS R BE over the latest ADI-2 DAC FS) … and I don’t tend to let things hang around if they aren’t getting active use. - Direct PMs asking for detailed gear advice are likely to go unanswered. I’d rather focus my limited time on public questions where the responses are more broadly readable/useful. - Responses to gear-specific questions are likely to be more terse/ribald if/where performance/enjoyment was lacking. Don’t ask questions about gear you don’t want to know my real thoughts on. - I have a couple more “10 Favorite” lists to finish including pure tube-amplifiers and solid-state amplifiers. Beyond that, I’l be in and out, but a lot less active than in the past … ---
**Author:** ![Torq](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/torq/32/16384_2.png) [@Torq](https://forum.headphones.com/u/Torq)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2020, 11:29pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/im-sailing-away/5367/77 "2020-03-09T23:29:20Z")
Prior to “sailing” away, we made a not-so-quick detour to Winthrop, WA, this last weekend for some balloonacy … Prior to our flight, of which my lovely wife has some entirely dubious eyes-glazed-over pictures of me wearing ZMF Vérité Closed\*, fed from a Cayin N8, at about 2,200 feet, we got to capture a number of colorful shots, including these two … ![Inflating (1024)](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/headphones/original/2X/d/d753ab97fb7e27b4b9bcf3544f72a6efadca191d.jpeg) ![Flying (1024)](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/headphones/original/2X/6/608eb8feb9b34d984223033f3e0025dbd122a3f2.jpeg) Weather was spectacular … especially given the prior days scrubbed early and midday launches, and too much wind for the balloon glows at dusk. ---
**Author:** ![MartinTransporter](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/martintransporter/32/8809_2.png) [@MartinTransporter](https://forum.headphones.com/u/MartinTransporter)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2020, 2:21pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/im-sailing-away/5367/78 "2020-03-10T14:21:58Z")
stunning Ian! what else to say! hope your driver got your landing smooth! I am looking forward to more of these balloonacy pictures, if you find the time! now that you mentioned your portrait with the ZMF, we want to see it, of course 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Torq](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/torq/32/16384_2.png) [@Torq](https://forum.headphones.com/u/Torq)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2020, 9:55pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/im-sailing-away/5367/79 "2020-03-10T21:55:20Z")
> [@MartinTransporter](#): > > now that you mentioned your portrait with the ZMF, we want to see it, of course 🙂 ![GUTD](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/headphones/original/2X/f/fd9927a63109bf80ccf52d78ce35c160b068d75d.jpeg) 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Torq](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/torq/32/16384_2.png) [@Torq](https://forum.headphones.com/u/Torq)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2020, 10:07pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/im-sailing-away/5367/80 "2020-03-10T22:07:24Z")
## 5 Favorite Closed-Back Headphones Why 5 and not 10? I can’t currently name 10 closed-back headphones I would be willing to spend _my_ money on, at least not again, for the purposes of just listening to and enjoying music with. 1. ZMF Vérité Closed 2. Focal Stellia 3. Sennheiser HD820 4. ZMF Eikon 5. Focal Elegia > **The Next Three ...** > > 1. Dan Clark Audio AEON Flow Closed 2 > 2. Sony MDR-Z1R > 3. Fostex TH-900 MK2 > > The Sony here is just so warm, and the bass is really not well controlled, bloomy and gets into the lower-mids, that while an situationally enjoyable “guilty pleasure” listen, it really only works well with the WM1A/WM1Z and TA-ZH1ES, for me. > > And the Fostex is so peaky and the treble so prominent, that its also relegated to short bouts of listening, with very specific music, and even then really needs the pads off the 610 to be usable. > > I haven’t head the ZMF Atticus at enough length to rate it … though that’ll change in the very near future. Assume similar caveats here as for [this](https://forum.headphones.com/t/im-sailing-away/5367/59) post on DACs. [Previous page](https://forum.headphones.com/t/im-sailing-away/5367.md?page=3) [Next page](https://forum.headphones.com/t/im-sailing-away/5367.md?page=5)