That’s funny, I say the same often to myself about Exogal + PASS HPA-1 combo.
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So I hear for some people is better to get an HD 800 and then EQ versus an HD800S. Apparently the HD-800S introduces a lot of distortion?
I didn’t notice any distortion in mine. There is lots of driver variance with the HD800, but overall, I preferred the HD800 over the HD800s (both without EQ)
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Didn’t have a chance to listen to the HD800 but I owned the HD800S and don’t recall any distortion. It’s a great headphone for some music and EQ can definitely improve it but it won’t transform it to something it isn’t.
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Does anyone have any experience with the Eletech Inferno series headphone cable? Particularly with any Focal’s.
Thanks.
Anyone tried JM Audio XTC Open/Closed yet…? My Open has finished being made, and was shipped today. Took 3 or 4 days from order to shipment. Got the silver wiring upgrade, bery drivers, and most of the pads.
Any idea why a headphone might produce low level, constant noise when plugged in, that gets slightly louder every other second? (XLR connection)
It can be any number of things from an inherently noisy piece of equipment to a ground loop, to a power issue, to an issue with the USB connection.
What sort of noise?
What chain.
Does it do it if you disconnect the amp from the DAC?
Does it do it if you disconnect the DAC from the source?
Does moving the amp/dac make a difference?
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For starters, I haven’t noticed noise from literally any other phones so far off this equipment, even with IEMs.
It sounds like a soft hiss, or white/pink noise. Constant. It sounds like the hiss cuts out every second, for just an instant. The hiss increases/decreases with amp volume! I switched the amp(A90D) from “ground” to “lift”, and all noise went away.
PC (AudioQuest Forest USB) > PreBox S2 (SE) > SESCOM RCA A/B switch > NS-05P (bal) > A90D (bal)
No 
More noise is coming from the R input from the DAC, also.
No Noise begins if I touch the DAC USB cable to the PC USB port, without plugging it in at all LOL.
Not that I can tell!
I wonder if these are SUPER sensitive headphones… I’m using them balanced at 55/99 volume, which doesn’t seem like they are. If I connect my Douk U3 DDC, set amp ground lift off, there is no noise. But now the sound seems brighter and worse lol. Time for a DDC upgrade, eh! Switching to my motherboard’s optical out, no DDC, there is NO noise.
@CT007 you happen to have a USB converter on hand. The BP DAC works as a quality USB to SPIDF converter. Don’t turn the tube on. Simply power up the DAC from behind. Run your USB into it and then RCA out to your DAC. It’s a good quality USB to SPIDF converter. 
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Then it’s likely just noise from the PC, probably a ground loop if it’s a hum, some DAC’s are better than others at filtering it out.
Sometimes if your PC has multiple USB bridges, one will be quieter than the other, so you try swapping ports.
You can also try using a different wall socket for the PC, use the same one as the DAC if your not already, and if you are use a different one.
Ground loops can be a pig to resolve.
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I have access to a new LCD-4 for $2850. Is this a winning deal? Or could I do better for the money?
I googled for headphones with most bass impact, and it seems to be LCD-4, HE6 6S, and 1266. I have heard all of these in stores; LCD-4 on terrible equipment, and HE6 & 1266 on nice McIntosh stuff. I also recall LCD-3 having outstanding bass, but it was likely a pre-fazor. 1266 is too pricey, and I’d rather have X9000/Bravura/Corina probably.
If you can live with a used LCD-4, they tend to go for $1800-$2000. I think I saw one on USAM for $1900 recently. A buddy also mentioned that you can write to Audeze and they usually have B-stock available and will be happy to sell you one for around that price.
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That LCD4 @karangovil mentioned just got sold. Hope you got it
So you guys agree LCD-4 is a current bass champ, with no real alternative(outside of HE6 6S, 1266)? I think HE1000V2 Stealth is new, but I’m guessing it doesn’t have that level of bass. Might be much more intimate, too, which I don’t want.
Supposedly LCD-4 needs 500mW @ 200 ohm to sound best. My MLP amp does about 400mW SE, so I can bring it into the store to demo it on, and my EF400 as the DAC, running songs off my phone.
I’m not sure what qualifies as a bass champ as there is bass quality and bass quantity but I briefly had the LCD-4 last year and I really enjoyed it but couldn’t justify it with 1266. Having said that, it’s bass was very good and comes close to 1266 especially with (almost too much) detail.
They are power hungry (not 1266 or Susvara level) and I do think it could use some EQ, I was getting some clipping with Audeze filters on Roon. You probably want newer pads, preferably installed by Audeze and also to confirm that it is indeed 200 ohms as some of the earlier units (circa 2016) were 100ohms and had some issues (this info is from the headfi thread).
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Also make sure its not the usb ports in front of your pc. Those are always extremely low quality and noisy.
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The front and back sound just as noisy ;D S/PDIF = zero noise!
I also will hear noise through USB if I set PC output to 16-bit, which I don’t understand… The noise seems to decrease a little if I increase sample rate, but still there. If I set to 24/32-bit, any sample rate, it’s gone completely. I need to try a Bluesound Node, and see what it can do for noise.
how does this compete with regular headphones? and with estats setups?
wondering if this can scratch my estats itch without spending 2x on amp and headphones…
I vote for (used?) L700/007/009 with (used?) KGSSHV/Carbon/whatever instead =p That way, you have a strong chance of getting a subjectively better sounding headphone(that famous, expansive treble and air), nicer volume knob, AND get total flexibility to test other headphone models/amps/DACs with it… Including that X9000 we both need 
I’m not sure I would say Bravura was one my top 3 favored headphones, but could be 4th or so.
I would say Bravura and Elite sound very similar, with extremely good, general SQ.