Stay safe and I hope it all works out well.
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Keeping you in my thoughts @Andrew_Davis hope you can return home safely soon.
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I hope you and family are safe, and that nothing happens to your belongings that you left behind.
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Very nice. Excellent kit for the time being (and beyond).
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The Fires in California were just on the news this morning. I told my wife about your plight, what with having to pack up and leave. But I told her that you managed to get the important stuff (Headphones and related gear) taken away to safety. Best wishes to you and your family.
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Sorry for your plight!! Sincerley hope all turns out well!!!
Stay Safe!!
Things can be replaced, lives, family etc cant!
All the best!
Alex
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Stay safe, hope all goes well.
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You guys are too kind. I feel bad about hijacking this thread with my drama- if a mod wants to send this to the off topic it would probably be a good thing.
Fog came in overnight, and CalFire (Californiaâs state fire service who is in charge of any fire this size) is saying hopeful things for the first time. Maybe I wonât be asking you guys to help me pick out a whole new audio setup with insurance money.
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I just got a set of nice floorstanding speakers and was a little frustrated that I couldnât break them in like you can with headphones (leaving them playing music in another room).
Well, right now my home is empty, the neighbors arenât home and the power is on. I could have just put Bohemian Rhapsody or pink noise before I evacuated and broken in my speakers at the same time.
GrrrrrâŚ
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To break in speakers, face them almost touching each other (driver to driver), reverse the polarity on one speaker, throw on thick blanket over both speakers, then play loudly. Out-of-phase output will cancel a lot of the sound, while still breaking in the speakers since drivers will move the same amount.
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My rig: Tidal hi-res/UAPP/Toneboosters EQ/Gumby v1 Gen 5/Ragnarok 1 & BHC w/ speedball.
Top 5 I own:
HFM HE-6se (cable, pads, screen off)
HFM HE-500 (lots of mods)
HFM HEX v2 (nuggets, cable)
HD-600 (felt, dynamat, cable) on BHC
Top 5 ever heard:
Voce - on the HFM Jr - whoa
007 (latest)
Susvara
Abyss Phi
HD-800S - get it on a OTC tube amp
LCD-4 - get an extra because only 4 above.
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My list has now changed in since this post back in April. The Empire Ears Odin takes the spot of the U12t. You may be thinking, does that bump the Valkyrie out and U12t replaces that? No, thatâs not the case.
The reason for that is the Odin is just a better version of the U12t all around. Of course, itâs another $1.3k more but it fills the spot that the U12t did and does a better job of it. I still think the U12t is a fantastic IEM and itâs easy to recommend but as a top of the list the Odin wins out.
The Valkyrie is still my go-to fun IEM for on-the go listening although Iâve heard that I need to get my hands on the Thieaudio Monarch and Clairvoyance along with the MEST.
Audio journeys are fun!
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Time to update my top 5.
Previously it was: 1. Verite Closed; 2. LCD3; 3. Emu Teak; 4. Aeolus; 5. Elegia
Updated (29 Sept 2020):
- LCD-3 (On most SS amps) - I just enjoy listening to this headphone and do so over just about anything else.
- Aeolus (On Felik Echo) - This setup is another that I just really enjoy listening. Using it with a tube amp jumps it up on my list
- Verite Closed (SS or Tube) - Love these; they dropped mainly because I listen to the two above more
- Emu Teak (on SS) - Still fun
Decided to stop at 4 because after that itâs my usage become and liking becomes even more variable.
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My top 5 headphonesâŚ
ZMF Verite Open
Focal Utopia
Hifiman Arya
ZMF Verite Closed
Emu Rosewood
Top 5 IEMsâŚ
UM Mest Custom
Hidition Viento-B Custom
64 Audio U12t
qdc Anole VX
64 Audio Nio?
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HmmmâŚ
ZMF Verite Closed
RAAL SR1A
ZMF Verite Open
Focal Stellia
ZMF Aeolus
What can I say ZMF just fits my preference!
My preference has changed since first posting ha 
I listen to my VC 90% of the time, I just naturally reach for them or the Stellia the most. But, I still prefer the SR1A over most, but I donât get the opportunity to listen to it as much.
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In that order
ZMF Verite closed (in the post)
Ananda (own)
ZMF Eikon (Demoed)
HD6xx (own)
ZMF Aeolus (Demoed)
Honorable mentions
Focal Clear (Demoed)
Focal Elegia (own)
want to try which from what i hear may make my top 5 list
Arya
Aeon 2C
TH-X00
Nighthawks
Atticus
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STAX 007 MK1
HiFiMan Susvara
STAX L700 MK2
The Hive
Focal Clear (Demoed)
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Wow. Isnât this the dreamâŚ
Gorgeous!!! Hope they are all treated equally
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Well my Top 5 Favourite Headphones/Iems are as follows.
I am only including the ones that I have owned or do own.
- 64 Audio U18t.
- Focal Clear.
- Sennheiser HD 800s.
- Campfire Andromeda OG.
- Sennheiser HD650.
Special mention goes to my Shure Se846.
Although not Headphones I feel I must also mention my Cayiin N6ii with swappable Amp and Dac Modules. As it is an integral part of my everyday listening setup.
Sorry for sneaking in these extras. .
Oh, I forgot to mention I prefer using my headphones on a desktop setup with a separate much better powered Amp. But I do a lot of my listening through Dap and Iem.
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