Dang that list is amazing, great work!
2 Likes
I feel like I’ve covered mostly everything I wanted to/set out to for the most part, I keep putting off the pairings since that requires the most thought and I end up being indecisive on what I want to put for most, but I’ll get the desire to do it eventually
2 Likes
I felt that after reading your Shit for a few years now I could get a pass on the disclaimer.
After reading through the disclaimer thing yesterday I realized that synergy in a chain is something that you won’t understand until you experience it and then have difficulty integrating those same pieces of equipment you loved in that chain, into other chains that didn’t work out as well.
The realization is that we tend to work in reverse, often first putting together pieces based on individual reviews and would only dumb luck ourselves into a chain with synergy by chance, but the chances of that aren’t always great. Something like this is fundamental knowledge to be able to make meaningful progress in the hobby.
I think this is where the list and pushing that type of mindset as part of the approach to the hobby is the real value add and the culmination of the list.
As a value add to the hobby, the disclaimer, should make the last fifth of the document required reading! A thought I had going through it was… you can read that and never have to visit a forum again. lol
But don’t rest on your laurels… there’s a lot of here and there work still to do that should keep you hanging around here for a year or two at least.
6 Likes
Finished reading ti this AM. Seems pretty damn thorough. I think the only thing left to add is impressions of the Brise Tsuranagi 
1 Like
Well if we’re getting into things I want to hear that’s a different story lol
Perhaps I should add a section of new stuff I haven’t heard, although that’d be pretty pointless I guess (although I guess having a concrete list for myself to make sure I don’t forget to hear some stuff might help, maybe?). I guess it would add more context in the sense of answering the question of “why isn’t x on here” in the case of new releases, being that I simply haven’t heard it lol
Really hard to make any meaningful commentary on it that would at least be meaningful to those who haven’t experienced it. Trying to explain this stuff to people who haven’t heard it themselves is borderline impossible because even if they do understand the general sentiment they won’t realize the importance unless they experience it for themselves
Pushing that type of mindset by constantly pointing out that it goes against that type of mindset lol
I don’t know about that lol
Yeah yeah I won’t be happy with it until it’s actually done, and I’m sure there’s plenty more I could add that I didn’t even put a section for or plan to add. Speaking of, is there anything you’d add that wasn’t there? Might as well note stuff down lol
1 Like
Hmmm… I’ve been seeing this as more of a prixe fixe dinner outing where we eat and enjoy what the chef curated as a menu. 
Let me think on that.
1 Like
Well hey I finished that faster than expected, the shortlist pairings are done now. Except the hd600, but that’s for reasons I won’t get into for now. A bit thrown together, but mostly where I like them, although I’m sure I’ll have changed them around in a week or so, but for now good enough lol
And thinking about it, yes I could add things like tubes and isolation stuff, but I really don’t want to, not experienced enough in those realms
Also @EstrangedBaron I added the susvara back, conditionally at least
In terms of other headphones I may add to the shortlist in the future, I think the dca ether 2 is a solid contender considering what you can find them used for, same with the grado ps2000e. I’d thought about the new he6ses, but that one is more a trap headphone, and while awesome for a few specific things, I don’t really know if I’d call it value considering how much a hassle it is to get to where it should be (similar thoughts of the susvara). I also think the arya v2 and stealth would fit but I already have the hek
Oh yeah speaking of arya stealth, I tried a few new things that I don’t think I ever talked about as well that might be listed lol (unity is very good)
13 Likes
I hope you get a chance to hear the yh5k… Will be curious what you think of it on a widger range of gear
2 Likes
I’ve always loved the design philosophy of DCA specifically with the Ether 2 but I don’t think I’ve ever come across your comments on it anywhere. Would love to see what a good chain with it is or if it’s even up my alley.
3 Likes
Would be great to see a portable (DAPs, IEMs, headphones) shortlist. Thanks for everything you’ve put into it @M0N
2 Likes
Same here lol
Added pairings, and it’s a more laid back a bit more flatter in presentation sound, really smooth and nice tone and timbre, great midrange overall, almost while not quite a similar experience to the lcd 2 pre fazor with different tradeoffs, a bit more technical overall though, and much more comfy. Still a bit dynamically challenged but that can be mostly overcome with good pairings. Can commonly find around 1k used which is a really nice value for what it is
Also moved it up a few ranks on the list since really thinking about it, it shouldn’t be below the lcd 2 pf (although I really really really like the liquidity that can offers lol)
So, I was going to do it, but I thought about it, and it would end up being pretty boring. Like, it’s really mostly just picking dap and cable, which makes it easy, but at the same time kinda boring in comparison. But I’ll think about doing it, less pairing options and variables to account for means less mentally taxing lol
3 Likes
Maybe add a portable option to some of the headphones you listed when it’s applicable (max, higher, mid, low, portable)
That I could do, as long as they were reasonably portable lol (no portable for susvara, sr1a, 007, 950/95x, etc). Might as well get on that
1 Like
Take whatever iem it is and plug it into p6p
2 Likes
Wait, I just remembered, didn’t you have a tur-06es at some point? How was that thing if so?
I’m almost done with the portable section, and there’s a lot of p6p and lpgt ti lol + mass kobo or woo
It was great, but largely impractical, and not worth it in the end since taking around estats portable is a stupid idea in practice even if it’s doable. It couldn’t really drive something like the 007 or shang all that well (perhaps would fare better with the 009 but don’t think so), and was more only something I ended up using with my koss or stax in ears (which I wasn’t inlove with), bet it would be nice for the L series though
Just keep your stats in the house, and if you have to travel and want to bring them, just bring a full size energizer
1 Like
I plan to try Utopia with P6P tonight
2 Likes
I legit wonder if it would work with x9k. Tbh they don’t seem super rough to run.
I’m sure it would get kinda loud enough, I’ll say that even for a stax amp it’s really mainly designed for the in ear stax so you really really have to push it. I’d just ditch the idea of portable stats, not worth the time
Also portable section is now done
And finished one of the blurb sections
1 Like
I checked it out yesterday and noticed you put it back in there. Thanks for bringing back Susvara despite it not necessarily belonging in that list due to it not being a great value headphone. Would be interested in speaker amp picks, but you’ve done more than enough with the information you’ve already provided. That and you’ve already shared a couple of speaker amp picks for the Susvaras via your ever evolving setup diagram (like the grandinote demone and the FM108). I also think @Christof has been doing a great job sharing his thoughts on using various speaker amps to drive his headphones which I’ve found very insightful.
Thanks again for all the work you’ve put into the shit list, this will be a great resource for many when referred to wisely. But I don’t think you should worry if someone makes a poor choice using it. It’s on the reader to keep their own system, preferences, and ear hole specs in mind lol.
IMO, one of the biggest hurdles for many starting out in this hobby is the introspection that’s required in order to build a system tailored around one’s own preferences. You can’t shortcut this introspection by just looking at a tier list and getting whatever thing is highest on the list that you can afford. Instead we gotta listen for ourselves and understand what it is we really want from our systems, then we can start looking at lists like the shit list to see what components/upgrades will help us tailor to those preferences further (all the while keeping system synergy in mind). It’s can be a lot, but when done right can be a very rewarding process.
Sorry, I’ll stop waxing philosophical lol. I really appreciate what you’ve done M0N.
4 Likes