I’m not sure, haven’t tried! A friend goes to Tenerife a lot and there’s the usual Covid tests and certificates but otherwise easy… it’s goods movement that has been hit the hardest I think.
Global goods movement has been scrambled since the lockdowns first began. Many electrical and technology items are out of stock in the US, and routinely gobbled up the moment they arrive months later. Even Toyota cuts its production forecast by 40% because of parts shortages. Perhaps your situation is influenced by logistics and pre-existing supply contracts beyond Brexit?
3 Likes
Yes that’s very true of course, but it doesn’t explain why these companies can deliver to their neighbours that side of the channel but not the UK… but yes Covid shortages of drivers and actual parts don’t help the chain of supply no doubt
1 Like
RNHP is an amazing little amp. I really appreciated mine when I had it.
Pairs well with Focals and some say the easier to drive Audezes (X, XC, etc.)
What dac you using with it?
1 Like
I am using my RME babyface pro as a DAC. It’s connected via XLR. The XLR outputs on the BF pro are pretty good.
.0005%THD and +13dbu level. Very juicy. I’m using some cables I made with mogami quadrupole wire and Neutrik connectors.
I am driving my LCD-X with it. It sounds like it was made for it. Very impactful, very detailed, very natural sounding. Nice continuous soundstage that goes shoulder to shoulderish with precise imaging. Impressive timbre. I think it’s a perfect match. I’m absolutely floored by the sound. I’ve come a long way from when I was a kid with a pair of ATHm40fs plugged into a portable CD player.
I see that you’re into the summit-fi stuff. I can’t even imagine what that experience must be like. How drastically better do things get with that level of gear? What percent of that do you think I’m hearing of that type of experience? Does the soundstage have more front to back depth? How much more spacial information do you get? I know that the soundstage size increases, but I haven’t ever seen anyone describe how far away things can sound.
I went from having owned no standalone amplifier component before straight to the Neve. I picked it because it is supposed to be suitable for both reference and listening. It has features that are exactly suited for a studio environment like the XLR and 1/4 TRRS balanced connections and ruggedness. The LCD-X is the same kind of deal, it is good for both. Analytical, but pleasant. I wanted extremely good reliability and build quality because of such heavy dual use.
I plan on upgrading my interface to the RME UCX-2 at some point so I can build some Neve style outboard mic preamps and a Solid State Logic style master bus compressor and run them on the more extensive I/O.
One of my life goals to to experience summit-fi gear sometime in my 40s or 50s. If the world hasn’t ended I want to pick up a pair of the new Audeze LCD-8’s and the biggest Magnepan+monoblock setup I can fit into my living room. It legitimately blows my mind that there are more resolving systems than the stuff I have. What is there left to hear after this? I have to find out.
2 Likes
That’s awesome. I’m pretty sure Alex Rosson used the RNHP when designing the X. I’ve heard that somewhere before. And when creating the Rad-0, if I’m correct.
I used the RNHP and Bifrost 2 as a combo. Worked out really well. The stage on the RNHP isn’t large so as you climb up the ladder in amps you’ll notice the stage get a little better. Tho, that’s not always important if the synergy and other areas of the headphones seem off. I wouldn’t sacrifice other areas for just stage.
As you go up things do get better but law of deminishing returns definitely kicks in. But I definitely noticed an improvement each step I’ve taken. And certain headphones were more to my liking at a lower cost. So cost doesn’t always mean better, it’s preference a lot of times. I really love sennheisers and could live with them, a decent otl, mid-level dac and be happy. But this is a hobby, one of my main ones and I like to enjoy it.
Once my main setup is done, I’ll definitely put together a mid-fi setup just so I can always see/hear the difference and appreciate what I have. And there’s nothing wrong with a mid-fi setup at all! I really love a good bang for your buck chain. Some of my favorite purchases have been the HD580, LCD 2.2 PF, Bifrost 2, and RNHP.
Oh and it’s also all relative. My end game is anothers mid-fi/level. This shit gets crazy haha!
3 Likes