I would be damned If they were in degrees Celsius. 
Indeed!
There are some issues with the free FLIR apps that sometimes result in the qualifiers not displaying. There are some other limits in their behavior that can only be fixed by using their Windows-only software (which is feature limited on a subscription basis), that previously worked in the default iOS app (since discontinued and replaced with something not as good).
Had that been the case when I bought the Flir One Pro, Iād have bitten the bullet and gone with a Fluke unit instead.
I should add that I wonāt use Windows for anything that it isnāt essential for. That happens maybe once or twice a year. And its always the same story ā¦ before I can get anything done it wants to install 20+ updates, most of which repeatedly fail to install until some prior update completes ITS install, as apparently even in 2021 Microsoft canāt properly build precedence/dependency management into update processes.
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Absolutely, as soon as it is feature-complete.
That app will do your āhearing testā; itās part of its primary functionality. In fact, to use it properly, it requires you do that IN the app (rather than with an audiologist*) so that the baseline data is the same for everyone.
It will also let you input the data from a formal, medical, audiogram, and compare/contrast with that but that is not what it uses for its primary functionality. The built-in test encompasses the same audibility tests as an audiologist would perform, along with a number of other tests they donāt.
Using the app-administered profiling also prevents āgamingā your profile. So no one can claim they can hear X when the reality is much worse.
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Iāve retired from the NOS tube go-round. Got plenty of inventory of all the tube types I use in good quality NOS purchased over past years, and Iāve had good success with several new production tubes of different types from Russia and China.
But, the āForceā is strong with the 300B.
The last thing I need is another HP amp butā¦ Eventually Iāll thin out the herd of amps in my inventory.
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ha! will be fun! Look forward to seeing what you come up with!
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While waiting for my CRBN and SR-X9000, I decided to spend a week properly figuring out where things stand with regards to me and my closed-back headphones.
This was not a reevaluation of their relative performance. Itās about comfort and whether thereās a difference versus their respective open-back āversionsā (all of which I also own) that I prefer/care about, in light of the fact that otherwise I no longer have a need for isolation and wonāt for the foreseeable future.
The short version is that while all of them offer something their open-versions donāt, it is mostly in the realms of bass quantity and is nothing I couldnāt get (if/when I wanted it) from their open-back kin simply with the application of some very minor/basic EQ.
Thus, itās time for them to go, which leaves me a tad melancholy; beyond their sound, I have attachments to all of these headphones on some other level. The HD820 is just all kinds of technically and aesthetically cool (to me). The Stellia is, similarly, aesthetically appealing to me. And then thereās the VĆ©ritĆ© C LTD ā¦ which is a work of art, especially with the stabilized maple burl cups ā¦ and which I would not be able to replace with a new set (Iād have to go to the used market) if I ever wanted closed-backs again.
I canāt actually see selling my VĆ©ritĆ© C LTD ā¦ given their rarity I think thatās just going to have to be something done in trade for something similarly hard-to-get (right now thatād really just be something like an LCD-5).
Should be interesting ā¦
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Random Updates
Closed Backs
I still havenāt gotten around to listing my closed back headphones for sale (or trade, in the event I list my VĆ©ritĆ© C LTD SMB). Not sure if thatās sub-conscious procrastination, attachment, or just having my attention elsewhere at the moment.
I still intend to do that, however.
DAPs, Mobile Listening, etc.
The Astell & Kern SP2000T (still not released) remains intriguing. Basically sort of a cross between the Cayin N8 and the SP2000, with all 3 useful headphones connections to boot.
I would rather wait and see if they do the same sort of thing in an āSP3000ā before jumping in though.
That said, now having 1TB of storage in my iPhone, combined with Apple Music being lossless, and other changes in regard to travel and mobile listening, I may ditch the DAP entirely. If Iām active and on the go, I typically just use my AirPods Pro and avoid the wires. If the imminent Lotoo Paw S2 is any good, that may be enough, in concert with my Odin, to do the job in any situation where I wouldnāt just take my Hugo 2 along (which also does a better job with proper cans than the SP2000).
SR2a and VM-1a
These are the upcoming RAAL circumaural headphone and tube-based direct-drive ribbon headphone amplifier respectively. Iāve been eagerly awaiting these for a while now (longer for the SR2a).
The SR2a is going to have to face off against the Audeze CRBN now, and possibly the Stax SR-X9000 as well (depending on timing). Which means either beating them, or offering other compelling aspects of performance/tuning to justify adding them.
The VM-1a I am simultaneously both more, and less, interested in it after the details that emerged from CanJam. I am more interested on the basis that it offers three different options for tube operation - ultra-linear, pentode and triode. And I am less interested because it looks like is just for ribbon-driver headphones; no more speaker output (which Iād use to feed the iFi Pro iESL as well) and possible issues using an adapter to feed conventional headphones.
That means, potentially, itās a big, expensive, dedicated amplifier for just ONE headphone. Two, if the SR2a proves compelling in the face of the new electrostatics. And Iād thus wind up either keeping the HSA-1b as well, or having to replace it with another solid-state amp for my conventional cans.
I will, at least, audition both the VM-1a and the SR2a, but thatās a change from my prior intent to just order them at launch.
If youāre wondering ā¦ my SR1a are not going anywhere.
LCD-5
One way or another Iāll be pickup up a set of these. My experiences with the supposedly very-similar CRBN response curve, and liking the super-light/ultra-comfortable fit of the CRBN has me more interested than ever in replacing the LCD-4/RAD-0 combo with ONE high-end planar.
If JPS Labs/Abyss or HiFiMan (or someone else) happens to come out with something I then like more than the LCD-5 (assuming I do like it), Iāll deal with that then. Not going to wait around and see if they do come up with something new (I expected it before now from both of them). I have NO interest in the supposed closed-back JPS Labs offering (or any other closed-back at this point).
Now ā¦ back to listening ā¦
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Iāve got the HSA-1b to drive other phones. I want the VM-1a because I really love the sound I get with EL34ās and my PrimaLuna EVO 400 with the SR1a interface, which is in my L/R rig. The VM-1a will go next to my HSA-1b in my ācone of silenceā bedroom rig, upstairs, after spending some time comparing it to the the P/L setup. That will be some serious fun for me comparing all three amps. And, as long as I can get my big ears into the SR2a ear cups, Iāll find a place for it in my menagerie.
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An absolute novice here, and this is surely in need of additional validation, but I may actually prefer closed-back headphones. So far, the only listening experience is the new Arya, Sundara and Verite Closed LTD that just came in about a week ago. Makes me think I should explore a closed-back planar. Something that feels more intimate about the VC. But that may simply be the VC being a higher-tier than the others.
The verite closed is a wonderful headphone to compare to its open counterpart. Iām actually the other way around as I like the VOās more but the VCās have an original magic to them that the open back doesnāt/canāt do IMO.
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My selling my closed-backs is simply down to comfort and not having any need for isolation anymore. Even if they sounded better than their open-back alternatives, I just wonāt use them here.
As these new headphones come out in the 400gram range, are you finding what was once acceptable comfort, not so anymore?
I am. 550-600 used to be fine. But using Susvara for a while, just find it a bit annoying now.
Time to strap some weight nuggets onto your Susvara to bring it up to 550-600g and in line with your other HPs 
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Iāve never been very bothered by the weight of headphones. None have been so bad that it would have stopped me using, nor enjoying them. However, if all things are otherwise equal (i.e. performance and build quality isnāt compromised) then Iād rather have them lighter.
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I wasnāt either, until I had some head and neck surgery and it impacted my left ear area, so now weight is an issue. I sold off my LCDās, my HE6v2, and kept my HD650ās. HD800ās, HD820 ( but the wife took them over completely) kept the Dan Clark Ether C. Lighter just feels nice, as long as the clamping pressure is minimized.
To combat heavy hpās, for relief Iāve used a chair like a lazy boy that reclines so that Iām able to relax more with a lot of the weight relieved. Might be worth a shot to try if you havenāt already. Only downside to it is one can fall asleep much easier since the body is in a very relaxed position. Lots of late nights waking up in my audio chair at 5am!
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A few people have asked (here, and elsewhere) about my impressions of the Audeze LCD-5 and the Stax SR-X9000. I canāt answer this at present as I donāt have either. I have them on order, but I donāt have an ETA on them.
The SR-X9000 were supposed to be delivered in October. I checked on their status a week or so ago and there was no useful ETA. At this point Iām hoping Iāll have them in early December. Earlier would be great. But itās all just speculation at this point.
I havenāt asked about when I might get my LCD-5; I was told where I was in the order queue when I placed the order and havenāt inquired since. Those are coming from headphones.com and theyāll ship when they have them. I know there were a good number of orders ahead of mine, and I donāt know how fast Audeze are fulfilling them.
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Iāve contemplated making this post for a while now ā¦
I guess today is the day.
I am entirely weary of the angst and disagreement, be it based on misunderstanding of non-negotiable facts/data or just differences in personal preferences/beliefs, that exists in this hobby. In particular, the aspects that manifest near-constantly online and on social media.
I canāt see it ever changing, Iām not going to make it better by being a part of it (I consider pretty much everyone guilty of it, at some time or other, including myself). As the saying goes, āThe only winning move is not to play ā¦ā.
So, I am going to stop participating in it - at least that way I wonāt be part of making it worse.
Since I wonāt be responding to requests for advice nor posting/discussing impressions any more, some stock responses to the inevitable questions that Iāll still get (as I still get them on forums Iāve not posted on in over 3 years):
My favorite DAC/amp/headphone/streamer?
Whatever Iām listening to at the time.
What do you think of X, Y or Z?
It doesnāt matter.
Buy it, and try it, or ask someone else.
Do you prefer A or B?
No.
ā¦
Happy listening, best wishes, and stay safe.
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Oh man, thatās a shame. I very much value your input, opinions, impressions, and whatever else. Thatās one less data point and reading material 
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Oh no! This is terrible. Your posts have been very informative and helpful to me, and Iām sure many others. Many of us have neither the time, money, nor expertise necessary to judging headphones like you can, and your opinions have been invaluable in helping us learn and avoid mistakes. An unfortunate aspect of forums like this is that it can feel like it is all about disagreement, angst, and refusal to conform to reality and expertise, when in fact, there are many of us more silent readers who really value your posts.
Iād like to suggest that the headphone internet will be a worse place without you. Your contributions far outweigh the unintended consequences of contributing to the angsty disagreement. Perhaps you could avoid some of those unintended consequences by continuing to post but by not bothering to debate or correct people (no matter how wrong)?
I hope you will continue to share your impressions, but if not, thank you for all the time and energy youāve put into your post. It has been a big help and I am grateful.
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