So there’s a few things I kinda want to point out. Firstly, I think you are focusing on the wrong thing when it comes to upgrading your digital source (if you want to do so). I would move away from windows and traditional pcs entirely, but regardless of OS I think you need to be focusing on the digital clocking/signaling more, in the sense of either ddc or USB regenerator, something to provide a better digital signal whether that be spdif type or USB since that’s going to be more impactful than the version of windows you run from. Basically, if you wanted to go the separate pc route, I’d go for a proper audio purpose built streamer, and if you wanted to keep using your main pc, I’d get a USB regen/isolate solution and/or a nice ddc as well (you could also put those on the streamer if you wanted to as well). I just think those would make a bigger difference. Basically that’s more equivalent to the same benefits a cd transport will bring, a cleaner and better clocked digital signal
But I also want to say I think you have your priorities wrong as well. While a digital source can definitely be a priority, I don’t think it’s as much of a bottleneck in your setup as you think it is. It’s going to make a difference, but with both the level of your source setup and the current state of your transducers, I wouldn’t pour more money into it right now. I currently think the biggest bottleneck is going to be the headphones. You clearly aren’t in love with the AWAS, and I don’t think a digital source will change that, you are much better off looking for a different headphone, and also moving up a tier. Going to the next level headphone wise will better take advantage of your chain, allow you to try more options that you might enjoy a lot more, and also bring the most change/upgrade per dollar in the current moment. At least that’s my thought, if your goal is to hear more change from a digital source, you need to make sure the headphones are capable enough to reflect that change in your system as well
In regards to the testing you are doing, how long is the testing, how are you going about between the different setups, what sort of changes are you listening/hoping for? I have no idea about how you are exactly testing anything, but I get the sense they might be quicker a/b, if so I think that’s probably not the best option for this sort of thing, because at times you really just need to spend a few days with something and then go back to understand what it’s doing and what’s happening. I think generally that provides a lot more accuracy when it comes to conclusions and gives you a better sense of what it’s like to live with something and use it in a daily normal situation to see if it actually matters. I would also make sure to just listen to enjoy than listen to evaluate and the differences will come naturally rather than force yourself to find something. If you already enjoy your current setup, don’t feel the need to change for the sake of change if you can’t notice a significant difference, that’s just saved money for the time being if you don’t go with it and you can always revisit it later with more time and experience and check again
Yeah, I’m definitely looking at getting a tx-USBultra + good PSU. And some better DDC than this Douk U2. But yes, first I want to get that 007, and actually hear something I like again. Once I get THERE, then I can work on some EQ scribbling and such, to fine-tune something I already(mostly?) enjoy!
For testing, I’m just keeping it real simple. Listen to setting A, collect my impressions; change settings immediately, see if I hear any differences at all. Takes 14 seconds to change into/out of PAM, and a minute or 2 to swap Win7/10, so that’s about the longest change times. I’m supposed to have pretty good sounding hardware now, but I’m certainly not hearing it through AWAS. But everything sounds amazing with FD7, so I know things are working there lol. I just wish I had more hardware to test/compare against, to figure out what thing has a reliably good sound, to eliminate/separate the hardware from the headphone when listening for issues.
That’s another thing, if your goal is to improve sound quality, I think EQ makes less and less sense as you go up. The degradation is going to be more and more noticeable the higher you get. I also think you could probably find a headphone that doesn’t need it in your mind as well, because if you need to EQ to a significant amount, it’s probably not a headphone you should live with imo. if you want to focus on digital source, you might find that using digital EQ will reduce the benefits of them as it further fucks with the digital signal that you’re trying to improve
what I would do is I would really just swap something in, live with it for a few days and then go back to while you were using before, and take notes throughout the entire process. that way you don’t even have to worry about quick switching and you have a more reliable and experienced amount of listening for each piece you’re trying to compare. I think doing this will make a much bigger difference than you expect
yeah you do have a nice setup. The AWAS just doesn’t seem to be working well for you
thats sometimes hard to do because you have to factor in synergy and some pieces may sound great on one thing but lackluster on the other, so just because something works great in one chain doesn’t mean it will be in the next
With re-testing HE6se V2 next, I’m hoping/assuming this 3XP will actually do better for it than my A-100 w/jumpers did last time. It was close to being a keeper… Great tonality, no treble problems. Just not enough bass power and liveliness. Part of the issue with that is pads and grill mods, apparently, which weren’t available last time(but now are). No EQ is my kind of headphone <3
It’s refreshing to still have concrete things in the chain to upgrade and fiddle around with, to make the headphones sound even better… But difficult to figure out what those things are lol. And they’re all very expensive things i_i
I think FD7 just has a lot more resolution and bass to hear the hardware changes with. It sounded smoother and better in the bass when Gungnir arrived, but there was no noticeable effect with AWAS with any HW change, it seemed.
This is my temp/long term shopping list as of now:
Haven’t heard it, but I heard the 1266 in the same store where I heard HE6 v1 and LCD-3, which I liked better. Had zero complaints about 1266’s sound, but the other 2 just had some more magic to the sound. I would guess that 007 would line up with LCD-3 more than the other 2. Or maybe somewhere between them. I would say that 1266 and Mobius sounded pretty damn similar, from old memory.
Reason why I mention it outside of being a lot more affordable is that it’s signature is sorta more in line with the he6 than the 1266, since it’s a bit warmer and more inoffensive in the treble. Would work well with your setup, can now easily be found in the 2k ish range used, so probably viable to try
Yeah, Diana could be a winner. I know HE1000se is up there as a potential next step planar, but I’ve heard it’s overly detailed and microscopy, which probably is not my flavor… It’s probably a good thing that I’ve never been able to get my hands on an HD800 after all these years.
If you like the macro capabilities of the he6 the Diana should be up your alley. I don’t know if I’d call the hekse overly detailed (don’t know if I’d call anything overly detailed, you can’t have too much detail if it’s presented in a convincing and organic manner, and that’s where some headphones fail), but it is a more micro and nuance focus. I wouldn’t say it’s highly lacking in macro, it’s just not the priority, and the grandness of stage and presentation sort of makes up for that imo.
Yeah that’s why I love the HEKse. It has a presentation that I’ve never personally heard anything else come close to, even something like an HD800s comes off as exaggerated and stretched compared to the linear, but still massive staging depth of the HEKse. I do think it’s kinda stethoscopey in the way it presents detail (but that also might be because it’s the most detailed headphone I’ve ever heard and it’s kinda jarring having that much info crammed into your earholes if you’ve never had it) and is pretty unforgiving of recordings, but overall it’s a total non issue for me and I totally agree that you can never have too much detail! lol
Forza Clair Hybrid cable:
This treble, and overall sound, sounds much nicer; more resolving, controlled, balanced, and effortless/breathable than AWAS. But…still nearly as bright, with a shifted hotspot(s). It’s smoother than AWAS, but I definitely wouldn’t call it smooth. (inner thoughts: Do I need a different amp??? - After all, the best system I’ve heard, with HE6v1 and LCD-3, was a McIntosh MA8900(?))
Forza cable + Defean sheepskin perf:
Definitely seems a bit more relaxed/calm/smooth… Vocals sound as clear. Volume output also seems reduced.
Forza cable + Defean sheepskin perf: + no grills:
Maybe a little more effortless/un-fatiguing sounding? Slight bass boost?
General notes: This treble kills it, but there’s still too much brightness. The bass is pretty nice, too; kind of a tight, nimble, neutral+ or ++. Might I want more…? Well, yeah, but let’s not go too crazy. More general impact and note weight/thickness would be desired, also. General tone is awesome, and the spatial picture is very engaging & interesting. More pads on the way… But I wish I had different amps or something to test, to actually cut this brightness down. Will have to test this again on A-100. This headband hurts d_d
Perforated pads tend to not tone down the brightness all that much. It takes a pretty thick all leather or suede pad to do it. If you have any velour pads, give it a try. It ups the treble and air frequencies by quite a bit and it give you an idea of how letting them breathe too much does that. They’re a heavy bitch and that hotspot is definitely annoying. Suspension headband cured it for me. Also I hate angled pads. Just ain’t it.
Once I get THERE, then I can work on some EQ scribbling and such, to fine-tune something I already(mostly?) enjoy!