Hello and welcome @Hai_Hoang, @rrblack, @kevin.dunn, @Roy and @sarah.white.
Hi everyone!
I love music, I think I listen to music 23/7 (yes even when I sleep )
Iām also into tech and headphones so wanted to join the conversation.
Hello all!
Really tried getting into headphones 15 years ago but it was short lived. Decided to try again now so been reading (watching videos, which wasnāt really a thing back then ), and getting back into message boards.
Excited to see whatās out there that I like and glad I found this community.
-Adam
Hi, thanks for the warm welcome.
Can you guys help with how to post new threads?
You wonāt be able to start new threads until youāve been an active participant of the site for a while. This is to prevent a) spam and b) this place becoming Reddit, where the same things get posted over and over in new threads.
Note that being an āactive participantā thus requires interacting with others, in existing threads/topics, and is not just about making lots of random/1-line posts. Just making lots of posts wonāt help, in fact. The system is more subtle than that - to prevent it being āgamedā.
Usually takes a couple or three weeks to reach that bar.
Thank you, sr! I have been following the work you guys do for a long time. Congrats and keep it going!
Hello and welcome @Poorman65, @flora, @monitobeko, @C3pored, @ranel, @wwinter86, @Zagham_Shebaz_Karim, @Cocosan and @elisionmusic.
Thanks! Iām new to this community but have been in the hobby for many years, mainly focused on portable audio gear. Strap in for a lengthy intro!
To date myself, I started when the Sony Cassette Walkman first came out and made my way through portable CD players, minidisc, and first-gen DAPs from iRiver and Rio, iPods, and then on to a wide range of more audiophile DAPs and portable DACs and amps from most of the well-known companies (Canyon, Fiio, iBasso, Lotoo, Shanling, etc) as well was more boutique companies (Aune, HiFiMan, Luxury & Precision, Shozy, Soundaware, etc.). With the mainstreaming of high-fidelity streaming services, Iāve mainly moved on to DAC dongles (and again own several of them from Audioquest, Cayin, Fiio, Lotoo, L&P, Penon, and Shanling) and portable Bluetooth DACs from Dethonray, Fiio, and Shanling.
I listened with the included ear/headphones at first but moved on to Sony ear/headphones such as the venerable Sony Eggos. When Shure and Westone started selling IEM to regular consumers, I picked up the E2C which were the most uncomfortable IEM design Iāve ever tried (and Iāve tried many!). I then moved on to trying out the many IEM being released in Asia and then on to trying out mid and upper tier IEM. Iāve got waaaaay too many IEM to list at this point and need to weed out many pairs which I simply donāt listen to any more.
I have a few headphones (AQ Nighthawk & Nightowl and Meze 99 Classics & 109 Pro) but havenāt explored the desktop side of the hobby as much as the portable side, but I think that will change as Iām becoming more interested in a nice desktop setup as I work more independently and remotely. Iām strongly considering picking up HiFiMan Edition XS since I really liked the original Edition X when I tested it out back in the day and the Nectar Ambrosia because it seems like it would fit my sound preferences and I like supporting small business who make more hand-crafted products
I used to be very active on HeadFi, reviewing many portable audio products under the same username Iāve got here and was one of the first to start measuring IEM with a Dayton mic + homemade PVC coupler.
My typical listening setup a dongle or BT DAC + IEM. The dongle DAC I gravitate towards these days is the relatively unknown Penon Tail which IMHO punches waaaaay above its price point for sound but lacks creature comforts such as independent volume control and adjustable filters. The BT DACs I gravitate towards are the Dethonray Pegasus, Fiio BTR7, and Shanling UP 5. Out of these, the Dethonray Pegasus is far superior for sound quality IMHO but itās a also on the quirky side from an operation standpoint and has issues with connection, is picky about charging cables, and upgrading the firmware is very hit and miss. But the sound is lovely and it drives all my IEM and headphones quite nicely! From a practical standpoint, I tend to use the Fiio BTR7 for the darker IEM and headphones I have and the Shanling Up 5 for my more neutral IEM and headphones.
I rotate between several IEM but tend to prefer a meatier sound but also like a more neutral sound from time to time, avoiding neutral bright.
Some of the IEM Iām really liking these days are Dunu SA6, ISN Neo 5, Kiwi Ears Quintet, Penon Fan 2, Penon Serial, Penon 10th Anniversary, Xenns Up, and Yanyin Canyon.
Best,
Nikolaus
Thank you ALL!! Itās great to be here. I have been into āHead-Fiā for a few years now but deeply into music since birth. I have amassed a few headphones and DAPS over the years like the Sony Z1R and The AK SP2000 to name a couple. Iām looking forward to attending Can Jam So Cal next month and again, looking forward to chatting and contributing to the conversation. I may not know a ton, I know a little something here and there and am willing to share. Thanks again everyone!!
Thanks! Happy to join this party