Headphone random conversation

[Colif]

not sure why its a kickstarter but they not an unknown company

This is the one I was looking at a few weeks ago, he says its a better split for people who listen to music as well

Fosi Audio K7 Gaming DAC Headphone Amp

Fosi Audio | Experience Audiophile-Grade HiFi Joy, Made Accessible. Explore our high-fidelity home audio components for exceptional sound in any setting. Shop global.

fosiaudio.com

Same company

Kickstarter could be to gauge interest, no point making something no one wants.

 

[Colif]

If my monitor is going to be another month or so, I might as well buy this and pay it off while I wait

Portable Smart High-Res Audio Player-M33 R2R

Feiao self-developed R2R resistor array, the first complete desktop architecture transplanted to portable HiFi player M33 R2R

www.fiio.com

Have cash for it now but I pay half up front and rest over time.

while I sat here waiting for more reviews of it compared to another, the other went into back order... which makes my choice easier if I want one now. One person with both of them says they very similar, which is nice as other is more expensive.

Shame its always Friday night when I work these things out.

 

[neogunhero]

R5 MAX HD | RIG GAMING

Experience studio-grade game audio with GrapheneQ™ drivers by ORA, delivering a 20 Hz – 40 kHz frequency response with less than 0.3% harmonic distortion. Custom tuning enhances audio localization for a true competitive advantage.

www.riggaming.com

What's your guys' thoughts on this? Seen it across a few sites, but not the most reputable ones. Forbes reviewed this headset if that means anything. Seems like a decent gaming headset.

I like the magnetic outer design. I generally dislike headsets that don't allow you to disconnect the mic, but with this set you can remove it entirely. Been curious about getting a new headset, wonder how good this is.

 

[Colif]

They too new for any sites I trust to have looked at them.
Only released last week. All we have is marketing materials so far.

I would wait until reviews show up.

Audio is a niche product, waiting for other people to review the items you want can take ages. Depends on who makes them, and what they are.

The two DAP I have been comparing are examples. Worked out from reading forums that they are similar but the more expensive one is better in sound, but its software is suspect. Probably makes more sense to buy the cheaper one.

No rush, I wait and see if anyone makes a video about it.

 

[Colif]

Ordered the Fiio M33 DAP tonight, I don't expect to hear from Amazon about the monitor for remainder of this week, and as I said, I can pay for half now and rest in the following weeks. Its not often my Master card is on $500 credit.

I was hoping to avoid buying it before the screen but I see Easter coming and its just a delay to me... I always seem to be waiting for freight around long weekends. So even if screen released next week I would still be waiting. Its also why I ordered DAP now and didn't wait until Monday.

I doubt I get it before Monday at earliest anyway.

It needs to run for a few days to burn in the electronics, it helps to make it sound better... (there is much debate about burn in and I have decided to sit on fence. Your brain also needs to adjust to how things sound). And also the type of DAC it contains also sounds better after about 10 minutes of warm up each time you use it. That warm up time diminishes over time.

Still no reviews apart from a few buyers. No videos to watch yet... I was expecting one last week. The other one is better but until I hear what R2R actually sounds like, I don't know if it be worth the difference to me.

I don't think I need a SD Card for it right away, it comes with 128gb (112 free) storage and I don't know if thats enough for my play lists. I suspect it might be as current DAP only using 2.5gb of data. 8gb total data onboard, 52gb on SD Card. I did wipe it in recent weeks so its usage isn't accurate really. I haven't downloaded much onto it since. there was 200gb used on it before then.

There are advantages to not using an sdcard, Android daps tend to need 10 minutes or so to play 1st song if you haven't used them for a while, if you store everything on SD Card.

Play lists aren't so bad unless you download them. I ran out of space on last dap once before and reset it, so we see if same happens again. Its what led me to buying an sd card for it.

Think I just get a 256gb sd card this time, the 512gb one I have now never got above 200gb anyway. Cheaper. I can always swap them if I find I like the M33 more than my Hiby.

Downloads useful for when I am away from wifi. That is entire point of having a DAP... portable music collection.

Good thing about it is its powerful enough to run more than just IEM so can use other headphones with it. Might even power my Arya as I can find it running other planar headphones. Might not even need Desktop power mode, high Gain might be enough.

Since I still on a Doctors Cert for my foot, I wanted to get it now so I had something new to play with.

No more dap now until they exist with 256gb storage... and a newer CPU/16gb ram. Those actually exist now but I don't have 3k to spend on a DAP... given time it will filter down. The one that has it now is a brick

My new one fits in a pocket, that one wouldn't.

 

[Colif]

Ordered the Fiio M33 DAP tonight, I don't expect to hear from Amazon about the monitor for remainder of this week,

Jinxed self lol. Heard from them today, so i know they haven't forgotten me. Still no idea when I get it. Soon maybe.... after a month of checking almost every day, I am over it now.

DAP being packed now, delivery estimated to be Wednesday but could be sooner. I can track it once it starts moving. Not expecting it this week anyway.

You wouldn't expect these to be anywhere near the same performance... i mean, look at the price

Spoiler: they are the same, people convince self the more expensive one must be better
Audio cables are a trap.

Only good reason to buy better cables is if you like what they look like or the default ones are bad or too short for your needs.

 

[Zed Clampet]

Jinxed self lol. Heard from them today, so i know they haven't forgotten me. Still no idea when I get it. Soon maybe.... after a month of checking almost every day, I am over it now.

DAP being packed now, delivery estimated to be Wednesday but could be sooner. I can track it once it starts moving. Not expecting it this week anyway.

You wouldn't expect these to be anywhere near the same performance... i mean, look at the price

Spoiler: they are the same, people convince self the more expensive one must be better
Audio cables are a trap.

Only good reason to buy better cables is if you like what they look like or the default ones are bad or too short for your needs.

They could fit some pretty strong chips into the ends these days. You could have a cable that was also a DAC, for instance. I remember the video where they examined an expensive Apple cable versus just a random one that you can buy off of Amazon, and the differences were amazing. X-raying the cables showed that even the most basic things, like how the interior cables were twisted and attached to the ends was far superior in the Apple cable. They basically said that the moment you thing the other cable might be going that you needed to get rid of it or risk shorts.

 

[Colif]

you can get IEM cables that include DSP in them that change how the IEM sound via a program online... i have seen that in a few IEM recently but never bought one. They all connect via USB though.

Headphone cables can make a difference, its questionable about others though.

Once I got my last IEM I stopped looking. I don't think I need another one until it breaks perhaps. I might look for a new one that is similar to it in a few years. Or just buy a spare pair.

 

[Colif]

its annoying when you know more than the reviewer

He doesn't know that desktop mode is needed (you need to plug it into a power board to access it) to get 1.1watts. If its unplugged the max output is .9watts. Still double what my previous DAP has.
He also needs to update the firmware as he is missing a feature I have read about

Still nice to have a review thats not in Russian or Chinese

It doesn't make any sense, he says Desktop mode's only function is to bypass the battery... but why then does it also enable Super High Gain. He says unit puts out 1.1 in High gain whether its plugged in or not, but spec sheet shows there is a difference. It labels Super High Gain as Over Ear mode

Over ear is 1.1, High Gain is .9

Its possible the headphones he was using don't need the extra power, and its why he didn't hear a difference. He was only at half volume in high gain so the added power didn't do anything... its just added to top I guess. Possible the volume increases incrementally.

Increasing the gain should have made them louder though, I get that on my Hiby. Going from Medium to high means I can reduce volume on IEM or they are too loud.

I should ask on a headphone forum lol.
I did as someone had posted video in thread so I just copied question over

 

[Colif]

Android daps have this feature where they really don't like sd cards. Generally first start after a while of inactivity, it can take a while to load the first song, and the more you put on sd card, the longer it takes.

I was looking to see if the new one might have same problem, and it mentioned that the speed of the sdcard can be part of the problem, and told me I should get UHS-I Class 10 (U3) rated cards... and I looked at the Sandisk It suggested and found this one:

Sandisk Extreme Pro

And I also noticed a 256gb Extreme Pro for sale for just $80 which is $50 less than normal so I jumped at it. Special ends on Tuesday so good I saw it. Probably get DAP itself on Monday and sd card next day.

DAP does have 110gb free for me to use onboard but I now have 367gb of free space. 110 is more than enough already but I don't like limits. The biggest limit I have is cost as 1tb sdcards are $600 but I don't have 1tb of music anyway.


R2R daps need a burn in period. I won't be listening to it much in the first 5 days or so, it will just be playing the same albums on repeat for a few days.

(Resistor-to-Resistor Ladder Digital Audio Players) often require a burn-in period of 100–300+ hours to stabilise components and achieve optimal, warmer sound quality. Many users report that this process helps to reduce initial harshness in the sound stage

Why It's Done: R2R DACs rely on precise networks of resistors and capacitors, which can exhibit subtle changes in their electrical properties after consistent use, potentially leading to a more refined, less analytical sound.

Every time you play it, it will sound better after about 10 minutes, and the more you play it, that 10 minutes will be reduced. That appears to be true for all R2R Dacs


One thing I like on new one is where its headphone jacks are. On current, they are on the bottom of the unit whereas on new, they on top. The little change means when I have the dap in my pocket, it won't keep trying to fall out of its leather case. Current one does. Both have leatherette cases and both slide into them from the top. Its more compact and lighter... though not by a lot

 

[Colif]

Reviews start to show up after I buy it

This guy normally tells you what it sounds like, instead he just talked about how it makes him feel.

Still said its good

 

[Colif]

Old (left) and New (Right)

The screen on the old one still has original screen protector on it, hence its not so clean. I have spares but I never felt need to use them yet, I can see what I need to.

New one is fatter but old one is taller. Not a lot of difference in weight
Old one has bigger battery but its power usage is higher, so it lasts half the time the new one does.

Biggest difference is the positions of all the buttons
They all different, I will have to learn them.

Where the power button was on old is where the pause button is on new. That is the hardest thing to stop doing. I was able to lock it when screen is off so that will teach me.

The leatherette case for the new one closes off on the top with a flap, whereas the Hiby case has one open end. That is annoying on the HiBy as I have to put it in my pocket top down as the headphone jacks are on its bottom. New one wins by having its headphone jacks on top instead.

The new one also has a vent built into back to exhaust heat, the old one just deals with it by having groves on its back and only lasting 5 hours on battery.

I let you know in a few days if there is any obvious audio difference between them. There should be.

there is an obvious difference in power output, my other DAP couldn't attach my Hifiman Arya and make any noise... I never tried, I just guessed. this one only needs High Gain and 50 volume

I can listen to all my headphones on the one unit now

I need to go buy another USB C charging cable. One I have isn't fast enough and it would take 2 hours to charge it, the other cable I have can do the same in 29 minutes. I need the spare cable as I was going to use the better cable on my monitor and I assume I get that eventually.

Seems I have been ripped off, I thought it was a media player...

not a cassette player

Way less chance of having tapes stuck in the heads, and no pencils needed to rewind... and it appears to be auto reverse as I can't find the eject key 🙂

Looks like I have to listen to Orion forever... could be worse fates.

since its playing anyway, i listened... its hard to stop. Its sounds good.

 

[Colif]

So one thing I like about android is I can set desktop to be just what I want to see

There is no app drawer so a folder is the best I can do. Only icons I need are for file explorer and music services. And a screensaver. Need to find better desktops... album covers is all I have right now.

 

[Colif]

Looks at date

 

[neogunhero]

So I took a dive and ordered me some IEMs to use for gaming. I'm getting tired of the large over ear headphones. I only wear them for at max 4-5 hours a day, I'm no audiophile but of course I want good audio, so after a bit of research I decided to try some out.

I got the Kiwi Ears Cadenza II, on sale yesterday for $39.99.

I don't know much about IEMs at all. All I do know is that Kiwi Ears seems to be a reputable brand, and there were lots of videos online saying the first Cadenza IEMs were great for gaming. These ones only came out in February, so there isn't a whole lot of reviews for it yet, but I threw caution to the wind as these were dirt cheap. Apparently IEMs don't need to cost $200+ to sound good and some newer companies have been proving that.

They come in on Sunday so we'll see how they work.

I'm tired of the big over-ear headphones, want something more lightweight. "Gaming" earbuds are pretty damn expensive... like, $150-200 range on average from big gaming brands. I remembered how some streamers I'm familiar with wear IEMs, so I got to looking, and apparently there are lots of them that are recommended for gaming audio. With how cheap those ones are, I decided why not and bought them.

 

[Colif]

"Gaming" earbuds are pretty damn expensive... like, $150-200 range on average from big gaming brands.

i assume you mean OEM like Razer and Logitech. What do you expect? They riding the hype train and charging like a bull. They not the brands I would pick for IEM. They more for people who don't know any better. And buy the gaming brands.

Apparently IEMs don't need to cost $200+ to sound good and some newer companies have been proving that.

its all to do with the tuning. You can put expensive parts in but if you don't tune the driver(s) good enough, it doesn't matter.


I haven't bought a cheap pair myself, last ones cost about $500 but then I don't intend to keep buying them, once I got the ones I have now I stopped looking. If I wanted a new one, I probably just buy same one again.

DUNU | DK3001BD

1 Dynamic 4 Balanced Armature 4 Planar Configuration | New "Hyperdream" Design | Zirconium-Ceramic Coated Shell Dual-System, Four-Way Crossover | Flagship “Glacier” Low-Frequency Dynamic Driver | Custom Mid-High Balanced Armatures | High-Performance Planar Ultra-High Drivers | Premium Stock...

www.dunu-topsound.com

My excuse is I lived through about 40 years of crappy earbuds and I wanted to see what I was missing. I won't be going back.

If I play a game with headphones I have other choices apart from my IEM. Its easier for me to use my wireless over ears attached to a Sennheiser wireless adapter on PC, than it is to attach something else to PC to access the IEM.

A few months ago I did think about buying one of these

Fosi Audio K7 Gaming DAC Headphone Amp

Fosi Audio | Experience Audiophile-Grade HiFi Joy, Made Accessible. Explore our high-fidelity home audio components for exceptional sound in any setting. Shop global.

fosiaudio.com

but I forgot about that.

 

[neogunhero]

i assume you mean OEM like Razer and Logitech. What do you expect? They riding the hype train and charging like a bull. They not the brands I would pick for IEM. They more for people who don't know any better. And buy the gaming brands.

Exactly. They were all wireless ear buds, not IEMs, so perhaps that also makes them expensive. Some offered 20-30 hours of battery so that makes sense. A lot of IEM companies seem to be smaller, more independent, more boutique, so I assume that is how they can offer cheaper IEMs. Kiwi Ears has a pair that is less than $15 USD which is insane. You can spend $50 on some Skullcandy ear buds and they sound like trash.

its all to do with the tuning. You can put expensive parts in but if you don't tune the driver(s) good enough, it doesn't matter.

These ones have a custom tuning so I don't need to worry about changing it myself, just got to hope that I like how they sound. It's marketed towards gaming whereas their more popular pairs aren't, they're strictly marketed towards audiophiles for music. Hopefully that means I'll like them. Only one way to find out, they'll be here Sunday.

I did not buy a DAC or amp for it though. Most resources I said mentioned that unless you're using them to get the absolute best quality from your media, they are fine to plug into the PC if you're just using them casually or for gaming. I do have a USB DAC from my HyperX headphones, but obviously not "audiophile" grade. My motherboard does have a DAC-UP USB port, meaning I can increase power to it by up to .5v extra to help with the signal. I'll try plugging them in to the USB DAC then plugging that into the specific port on the mobo. I'm still learning as I go along!

 

[Colif]

You can get cheap wireless ear buds, but whether they are good is another question. Often people prefer them for their convenience, not how they sound.

My biggest reason to avoid wireless ear buds is... lose one and other is pointless. I prefer a cable, harder to lose an entire set if its hanging over your shoulder. I almost swapped to TWS but I found IEM, just in time.

I just remembered, I do have a pair of wireless ear buds but they weren't good enough to stop me swapping to IEM. I wonder where they are. Just curious. I got them for free. Hence reason I forgot them.

Some IEM brands are crossing over to wireless options, but not with all their models. Some come with usb dac attachments meaning you swap the 3.5mm plug for a usb attachment so you can just plug them into phones.

Phones not having the sockets forces IEM companies to adapt.

My pc is not close enough for me to consider plugging iem into it... Its about 7 foot away
generally iem cables aren't long enough. That is one area they differ to over ears
One set of over ears came with a 6 foot cable.
My IEM cable isn't long enough to stretch from my ears to my pocket in pants, without being too tight. I have to wear a shirt with a pocket in it and put DAP in there, if I am moving around. They are designed for portable use so no need for a long cable. Although some are too short.
I swear they think everyone is short

Cable for yours is about 4 foot. Mine is about the same.

Even with PC closer I still don't think I would use it without a DAC in between., I have 3 portable ones I could use if I really wanted to. Just need to run a USB cable from PC into the dac.

 

[yipppp66]

I have 5.1 speakers but I can't use them and play a game and also have my door open. That is not a problem for half of the year but in summer the heat is too high for me to do that.
A smart person suggested headphones to block out fan noise but they also solve this problem as well.
Can play and leave door open at same time

I will probably pick up some Audeze Maxwell's next year.

Funny how every review for any gaming product only seems to think gamers play shooting games. Some of us don't you know. It gets repetitive.

let's go broo