Highlights Of 2021

General Discvssions & Theory/Vnderstanding
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2021 was an expensive year
I started 2020 driving the Susvara off a Cavalli Liquid Gold and Aqua LaVoce S3, and D8000Pro’s off the DNA Stratus and Bifrost 2.

Amps

  • WA33 - was purchased in January, as a tube option for the Susvara, replaced the tubes with PSVane Acme’s in March.
  • Vista audio Spark - For my desktop speakers
  • Elekit 8150 6V6 amp - Tube option for the same, and something to build.

Streamers

  • NS1 - was an eye opener as a streamer paired with the Chord Dave it literally made the DAC night and Day better over the Pi2AES I had been using.

DACs

  • Chord Dave - Only lasted a couple of months, but a very good pairing with the WA33.
  • Lampizator Pacific - It took me a month to talk myself into this purchase, in the end I have absolutely no regrets, but I’m probably done with DAC’s at this point.

Headphones

  • 1266 Phi TC - I think they are a must try headphone if your looking at TOTL, there is a lot immediately impressive and I do enjoy them a lot for some material, but I really just don’t use them as much as other options.
  • MySphere 3.1 - I am enamored with how these sound, I tend to swap which headphone I use week to week, between these and the Susvara.

Power Conditioner

  • PSAudio P3 - I expected this to have a decent impact and it did
  • Power cables - …

Speakers

  • DecWare Tiny Radials - for my desk, not sure I’d recommend them as an only pair of speakers, but they can be quite magical with the right source material.

Thoughts

2021 was the year I started actively selling what I wasn’t using, got down to 1 pair of ZMF’s, sold the Dave, sold my Amber 3, the Liquid Gold, and a few other things.

I don’t think there is anything I regret buying, the Dave wasn’t endgame to me, but I sold it for what I paid for it, and I enjoyed it while I owned it, the NS1 ended up in my second system, because there was only a marginal difference between it and the Pacific’s network input.

If I had to pick a single component as a highlight, it probably has to be the pacific.

2022

I’ll look at upgrades for the WA33, but were in rarified air for headphone amps at that point and I’m in no rush. I suspect I’ll finally fold on my “no vinyl” stance, and that’s a deep rabbit hole. I might look at EStats. There are a couple of headphones I’d still like to hear…

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I don’t think I expected 3x the performance of the Micro’s, I do think part of the latter’s value is their portability.

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Oh that’s interesting! I’ve only tried the 650,but just assumed they would all sound similiar. Maybe not hmm. The 660 looks more interesting

I agree that there aren’t many new games that look interesting tbh. Feels like all the Playstation ones r the good ones. Only reason I got one is mostly for the remakes like Spyro etc, all the zelda remakes to

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I’m not selling them /quite/ yet, but probably my biggest disappointment this year was the Beyerdynamic T1.2. To be fair, I’ve only listened to it single-ended and I’ve only listened to it with stock pads and such, but I’d heard so many good things about this headphone and so far, it just hasn’t landed for me.

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Agreed, if you need portable these are even better value.

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I’ve not seen these before, where have I been? They look great. It would be interesting to hear more comparisons to other desktop solutions

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It probably wont land then, unfortunately you may not be a beyer enjoyer like many people are

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The mest mk2 really really looks interesting to me, in terms of audio at that price range. I still haven’t made up my mind about what gear I plan to buy next year but I’m Def interested in those. Hope to be able to demo some eventually before pulling trigger on a purchase.

That Dap as well was in my radar before landing on my current one. Seems like a great Dap!

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Only reason I’m letting the Andros get such a small space in your mentions pass is because you you gave a lengthy explanation about ur questyle amp that really does seem amazing! Thanks very much to you for pushing me to buy the questyle dongle Dac since it’s amazing and loaning me the questyle QP2R! Was super awesome, I totally understand why you love the questyle sound, it’s really beautiful

Also didn’t realize that you have had the bifrost since 2020, audiophile years are sort of like dog years where it’s exponentially longer than one would think and certainly seems like the next logical thing for you to upgrade!

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2021 …

Bought a new TH610 and modded it to a Lawton level 2 - Driver tune-up, Chambers and Pads. The chambers are a museum grade Hawaiian Koa. I wanted to do a mod for myself after being inspired a by a Lawton modded Denon D5000 that I had purchased earlier, and have since sold. My Lawton is not for sale, though admittedly it is more a piece of art that I only take out occasionally. I plan to give it more work again when I setup another roon endpoint listening spot in the downstairs lounge / media center.

2021 was a year for Fostex flagships. I had wanted to hear the TH900 and TH909 ever since I started looking at headphones which, for me was not that long a go July of 2020 was my entry into this hobby, at least where I started to spend money towards it… I was able to purchase a TH900mk2 Limited Edition Pearl White – man it was a looker and sounded so nice with that LE tuning but in doing so it made me start asking myself if this sounds that good, I wonder what the 909 would sound like? So, I bought one of those too and wow, it was something special too. The Fostex flagships do not get enough credit – they sound great stock and modded a like – very flexible in what they can present. It took headphones that have msrps 2 x as much or more to convince me to move forward. I’ve since sold them – onward and upward I guess, but I still have a passion for them and I would not put it past me to get another again.

I made another significant headphone step up in 2021. I bought a Hifiman HE1000 V2 as an upgrade from my Edition X V2 – there is just something special to me when it comes to the big Hifiman teardrop planar magnetics. The HE1000 V2 took me to another level and was the catalyst behind hunting down and picking up a Violectric V281 amplifier and of course, a highly recommended dac to compliment the amp, a Soekris dac1541. That combo successfully took over fisrt chair on the main desk and moved the Bifrost 2 and Jot 2 to the secondary desk… I was quite happy with this setup and then I started wanting more…

Enter in the Holo Audio Spring V3 KTE. Oh boy, new and shiny 90% of the May 50% of the price whoo hoo I’ll take one on release day please and even wait 3 weeks for it to be built!!! Yes, I did…. OK the DAC is fantastic, it’s the best DAC I’ve owned to date and I thoroughly enjoy it. Did I learn somethings yes – don’t always need to be the first to jump into the pool. No regrets but, looking back it would not have been a bad thing to have taken it slower.

As fate may have predicted obviously with a new DAC I needed a new amplifier too – to be a better match with the new DAC so, I onboarded a Violectric V550. A Lovely piece of kit that was an actual upgrade over the V281, even though the V281 still has a sound signature that is just so pleasing … The V550 is technically better and I feel (no bias here, lol) that it synergizes well with the Spring 3 KTE DAC and the smooth presentation it has combining with the v550 technical chops is very nice and still has that Violectric warm house sound.

Whoa, I thought this was going to be just a few quickie words to post so I could be like the rest of the cool kids here. But, there was one more significant piece that happened in 2021, Susvara.
And I’m going to leave it there and continue its story in 2022, that’s about 30 minutes from now…

From the Land of Lincoln, Illinois USA !! Happy New Year Everybody !!

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I write this just minutes before the new year (17 minutes after now lol). What a year though.

I started off 2021 upgrading to the bifrost 2 from a topping E30. Even though I was still using a jds labs atom amp at the time, the difference was IMMENSE, it was a real eye opening moment for me especially when at that time I was skeptically in the camp of DACs don’t matter. I also went from Argons and my modded theiaudio phantom to my ZMF auteur this year as well. Lotta big steps this year, but fortunately I knew what sound direction I wanted to go so I never felt like I took a step in the wrong direction with gear purchases this year.

From the atom I went to a jotunheim 2 and BHC+SB. Those were also big steps for me (at the time), and once I paired the bifrost2+bhc+auteur it was game over for me for a while. Jot 2 didn’t see much use, but still used it here and there with my other headphones as they were better suited with it due to the lower impedances. I also liked the sound signature that the Jot 2 had for certain genres so I kept it around. Then the SW51+ came in the later half of the year after waiting what felt like forever. Only problem is I had so much time with the chain I was using for most of the year (bifrost 2 + BHC + Auteur) that I judged the SW51+ to quickly and figured I just preferred the BHC… Until I went and bought a Lampizator amber 3. Which was another large jump, but the DAC got me to try my SW51+ again and what do you know I actually prefer the SW51+ over the BHC now.

The amber 3 has brought me so much joy and now I can definitely say that I am at a level with my amber 3 + sw51 + auteur that I could just stay with this system and be perfectly happy with it for a long time. But 2022 will probably bring more gear and upgrades lol, looking forward to what this upcoming year will hold and I wish you all a happy new year from Utah!

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I had the Focal Stellia in for an audition and I was looking forward to it as I really did enjoy the Elegia’s I had in the past and was expecting the Stellia to be all that and more, and … The Stellia does not suck but it just was not for me and I was honestly thinking it would be.

Hmm - when I realized that cables mattered (to me) I ended up buying some several versions of less than $50 USB cables. I mean these had to be good right, they are not bargain bin $8 Amazon basics? Umm no, do not waste your money there or at least do better homework, I ended up with a few that well, lets just say that I’m saving them for if I ever get more printers… I do need to say this there was one set that was not a throw out the ones I got from Pangea the Premier SE and XL - those were not hot garbage but the others - were waisted. a Budget USB cable is @ 100-150 ranges and its not about the money spent that just happens to be how much a decent budget cable really costs.
The point is don’t waist your money on higher prices better than bargain cables - and also look at the used market because that same $100-150 can often net you a $300 cable and at that point you are making out.

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@EstrangedBaron It’s quite amazing how similar our 2021 audio journeys were! You even went a step further than me to the Amber 3. Incredibly, that’s the exact DAC I have been considering as my next big upgrade. It’s quite the coincidence that we both went from a Topping E30 DAC, JDS Labs amp and Mod House Argon to a Bifrost 2, SW51+ and Auteur!

I’m glad to hear that you are so happy with your newest setup and would really enjoy hearing more about how you’d describe the improvement moving from the Bifrost 2 to the Amber 3.

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This year for me was about consolidating, updating, tying up some loose ends, and setting a path for the future.

I started out by consolidating all my old hard drives, daps, thumb drives and grabbing all the music scattered across them and putting it in one spot. I then deleted any copies only keeping the highest quality files. Its sad i didnt know better and so much music i had is just in wma lossy limbo. Some of that i even “protected” and cannot play because the windows machine it wad ripped off is years gone.

I updated my portable chain and my pc desktop chain after nearly 8 years. Both were very sorely needed and are much better suited for what i want.

I made two purchases that were long overdue. A BHC+SB which i had bookmarked for maybe 10 years now. It was such a long wait that i think i book marked it before any revisions and they really only sold that kit and a hat and shirts. To think i had the HD 6XX for 5 years not knowing what it was. I also grabbed an LCD-2.2 pf. This was THE HEADPHONE when i was first starting. That and the ultrasone edition 19. I remember reading so many articles about “how could a headphone cost a grand!?” “Man this headphone is warm liquid syrup” etc etc as it was considered the king. For me it was always something so pretty and i could never afford. But now the wooden wonder is mine.

Lastly i set a future path. While waiting for the room to put it all in i started to piece together a 2 channel chain. A lampi GA, and a hegel h190 are here waiting as the cornerstones. All purchases in the future really should be to fill in a gap or compliment an existing chain or both. Ex: Im thinking of an Eddie Current as it fills a gap of not having a big boy headphone amp AND it can be used in the 2ch chain as a preamp. I also think i need to start thinking about signal splitting and routing. I take advantage at work because all the a/v signals we have go through a master router that directs and replicates signals. I wish there was a hifi equivalent that could do it for digital and analogue signals with huge loss.

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I’m a wee bit late to the party but I have essentially two stand outs. From every single thing that I borrowed or bought straight up the two big ones for me were the Campfire Andromeda and the Pass Labs HPA1 (Preamp). These gave me the whole reason we r all in this hobby. The sheer amount of joy and by definition awesome experiences I had all came from those two. The Andros were like WOW SO THIS EXISTS, followed by literally my favorite sound signature and technical abilities and the pass labs that my boi @NickMimi so graceously lent me, this one was almost creepy how it changed my speakers, it literally felt like the artists were inside the room. It gave my speakers the pin point precision down the the smallest detail and felt like I wasn’t listening to speakers but to the singers who came to give me a private concert. Was AWESOME. think I’ll have to get back in track and buy a pass preamp this year. Seriously again thanks to my boiiii nick because OOF, amazing experience (and going thru the cost of shipping plus how heavy it is, he went thru alot to get it to me and I truly appreciate it! :slightly_smiling_face: :slightly_smiling_face:

Tons of other cool stuff I got to try or buy like Hemps, 6xx,BHC,Verite etc but those two that I mentioned at the top r the real highlights imo

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Pair these two together in your try session

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Heavily debated typing one of these up as I felt it wasn’t something that was worth going over but upon reflection… I suppose I made some progress this past year. My humble movement up the mountain…

Headphones

Starting the year off with the Hifiman HE4xx (my first planar :blush:) and oh boy did I love that dark little headphone when powered by a modest Liquid Spark. What fun simplicity, I miss it so.

Followed up a few months later with the Dan Clark Open X and what a shift, even on a simple amp setup I could tell this was a considerable jump into something greater. Sound and build proved to me, in spades, how worthwhile this hobby can be.

Keeping pace, a couple of months pass, and I purchased the Hifiman 5xx (Keeping it on Brand (Drop)). First major disappointment that taught me a valuable lesson, albeit with some tuning pads or perhaps a different amp pairing I think these headphones could really shine. Sold them within the month.

Next in the roster was my next sonic lesson the Beyerdynamic DT880 600ohms . I get it. I like it and I get it. More? Yes please. (Sidebar: Having heard this “historic” sound signature it revealed to me the importance of signal chains/sources.)

Bit of a mix up with the subsequent purchase but I was wanting to sidestep into more portable options and in doing so grabbed a pair of Moondrop KXXX (more Drop oof) , on what I consider at the time a hilarious discount. After giving these some time I’m very glad I got these at a heavily discounted price as I found them a bit underwhelming. Lots of adjusting in-ear placement, second guessing and frustration. In the end I like them for what they are but at the initial asking price these would be quite the disappointment for me.

Last, but certainly not least, in my headphone gallivanting of 2021 was a sumptuous pair of Hifiman Sundara s. Wow. A genuine joy! I see why these are as popular and highly regarded by so many people in the hobby. Will these remain in my rotation until the end of 2022? Hard to say… (A quick thank you to @elementze)

Amplification

My first taste of portable and tube amps came in the form of the Little Bear B4-X which, I absolutely had a blast listening to! A bit unrefined but something about that aspect of it (not necessarily the tube portion of the sound) made me just have fun and relax. I did eventually sell off this “cub” but not without a tear of sadness.

Stepping into more desktop-oriented gear with the purchase of a Geshelli Archel2.5 Pro . Significant change from the signature of a Liquid Spark as the signature is more clinical but not disastrously so. I do really like this amp and it’s going to stick around for a while, as I don’t see a need to progress any further into this kind of sound signature.

A bit of stagnation for the remaining months as I was mostly focused on headphones up until the end of the year and capped it off two purchases, one of which was a B-stock Schiit IEMagni . Very little time with this amp but having had Schiit in the past and wanting to try a cheap staple, I thought why not. The brief time has been everything I had expected, and I have very little to complain about because as they say “It’s very good for the price”.

The second purchase as mentioned before and final of 2021 was a Monoprice Liquid Platinum . From what I’ve gleaned these amps have “kinda-sorta” fallen out of fashion (I could be 100% off base here.) and scooped up a used offering.(Sadly not $165 cheap :wink:) Every interaction I’ve had with a tube amp has been a favorable one and this amp bolsters that in spades; it is simply exquisite to my ears. This has a spot, a very “warm” spot, in my collection for the next little while.

I worry that I’m chasing this audio “thing” at an unreasonable pace and that I’ll get into higher end gear and not truly appreciate the journey/progression/quest(?). Thinking about this I had a bit of a chuckle and realized that I don’t want to get rid of most of the lower end gear just yet. Some may go and some will likely stay and be reborn into new chains… like some kinda Ouroboros. I’ve survived with a Topping E30 for the entirety of 2021 and made full use of it’s feature set. There is a certain charm that comes from being impressed by “Not-the-best-gear”. Alas, I’m a hypocrite as I’m already looking to more mid-tier titans. DACs that have no place being in my home along with sources, NASs and Power conditioners Oh-my!!

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Been there done that! Super awesome combination indeed! But I still wanted a headphone made out of wood (so vain I know) which I guess is why I ended up getting the VC. Kinda wish I had tried the VC with the BHC. Think once I’m better off financially ill consider investing on a WA8 specifically for the VC. In the long distant future

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That’s quite the interesting journey! Noticed you really went in on hifiman! And as soon as I was thinking, I wonder if he will do the same with calvali (due to ur spark) you mention the liquid Plat lol! Good loyalty!

Also in the end all the people who ordered it for 165 got bitch slapped and refunded

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nice summary - it’s obvious you are having fun!

They are a lot of fun for sure! I do miss them some days, but glad they went to a good home. I let them go only because I was ready to try some Audeze, and it didn’t make sense to have Sundaras and the LCD-X (and LCD 2.1 PF).

That’s funny, I did the same thing. It was discontinued, so I picked one up before they were completely gone. Nice little amp, and the negative gain feature is handy. I don’t use it much, but at the price I have no reason to sell it. I’ll probably keep it around for comparisons and for kids to use.

Looking forward to hearing more of your impressions on the MLP! I was part of the “$165 Gang” that got let down. I really want to try one at some point.

That’s all part of the fun, right? It’s your journey, who can honestly say you are doing it “wrong”? Maybe you could save some money or avoid some pitfalls, but even those are part of the stories that define your journey.

Surprisingly capable little DAC in terms of features! I sold mine this year and sound wise I’ve not looked back. But from time to time I’m moving gear around and think “the E30 would be helpful here”. I ended up getting a J2 and it fills most of my “utility DAC” role now (except no remote control and more limited volume control).

I get it! I’ve kept a few early purchases around for sentimentality sake. And they honestly aren’t worth enough to sell them - they are worth more to me as wall art :smiley:

Thanks again for the nice writeup on your year - I enjoyed reading it!

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