If I’d waited 2 more minutes, I could have avoided the rant and just agreed with your more concise statement.
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Your list is slowly conforming more and more to my hot take rankings
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I also agree with this move. Ultimately for me, 1266tc comes down to just not being as well rounded as d8kp even if detail is higher. That unfortunately, for me, means it needs to move down in terms of rankings (same idea as how sr1a can’t be #1 dispite being close in detail level to Shang sr)
Honestly, I don’t think caldera gets even close to touching sus even on a Topping stack. Caldera is much more rad-0 performance than sus level
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Yep and that’s really why I bothered with all the disclaimer stuff, because a lot of people (not ones here but elsewhere) do basically do that all the damn time, especially those who are newer to the hobby. While in the end my list basically became a tier list for myself, I tried to avoid aspects of the list that would encourage anyone to treat it as a “top = absolute best and just blind by what’s higher”. Feel like a lot of lists I see just end up encouraging that mindless behavior that I think should be avoided lol
On one hand I see what they’re saying, someone running a susvara off a lot of sub 2k amps and dacs are genuinely missing out and might not find it worthwhile because of that. But that’s where it ends, that doesn’t make someone right or wrong, that’s only a difference in experience and nothing else, trying to use that fact to call someone wrong is kinda a shitty thing to do. I think it’s still something that’s worthwhile saying to explain the difference in perspective and experiences, but not further than that
I’ve seen that sorta thing a decent bit here so that’s been nice to see lol
lol, I’m sure my take on the mysphere being above the shang, he1/he90, and aperio is probably my most hot take
Yeah it’s genuinely awesome but I have too many qualms with it that just don’t make me want one to put it any higher than it is (and it’s already really high as it is lol). That being said I don’t think it’s close in detail to the sr on a proper chain
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Oof, that’s interesting! I’m not nearly as interested now 
And this whole topic has been an excellent read today. Also more interested in D8KP than before
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Interesting info on the GH50 and Ether 2. On my setup I prefer the Ether 2 albeit slightly to the Gjallarhorn. Using the Vivo cable on the Ether and a Arctic cable on the GH50. Whether it is SS (BHA-1) or TUBE (Quicksilver), The edge goes to the Ether. Although I do understand there is a MASSIVE range difference in our amps/ DACs etc. Your “Shit list” is a never-ending source of info to learn and entertainment to enjoy and also one I constantly refer to. Thanks as always M0N.
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Do think they’re pretty close (which is why they’re basically next to each other lol), for my setup I found that the edge had slightly consistently gone to the GH50, but I can definitely see in your setup how it would go toward the 2 instead, it’s also a preference thing for me as I find the gh50 a more interesting headphone overall and ended up listening to it more, whereas the ether 2 is a more traditionally good headphone but when I had it I never found myself grabbing for it as much, but I do like both and think both are solid options
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I enjoy all of M0N’s musings and his willingness to re-evaluate items as his own horizons and experiences broaden and he is able to reflect back upon impressions and update us to his thoughts when time permits. He is clear on his likes and dislikes and is capable of using standardized wording, which he has taken the time to also put in writing here for us to better grasp his listening process.
Many folks here contribute heavily, thank you all for sharing your experiences. 
These lists are a rarity for this community, especially the updates. I often feel somewhat lonely in being one of the folks who does not upgrade as quickly and holds onto “lesser” pieces for a longer time than most. My hoarding has afforded me many opportunities to enjoy older pieces as if they were new, simply because i am getting much more serious in my beliefs that “Garbage in = Garbage out”. I have listened to my dealer who runs with a heavy hitting ($$$$$) group of turntable, tube, 2 channel junkies who dump massive, and i really mean massive money into this hobby. 
These folks have deep pockets and it is an eye opening experience for me to finally comprehend the fine nuances they chase after, at painful to me, expenditure…
M0N’s musings are an invaluable and dare i suggest precious resource to this community. We are so VERY fortunate to be strangers who are brought together for the love of the hobby. Most people here are outliers, in one form or fashion, we are not average in our individual quests for musical bliss. We all have our preferences, but still manage to share in an open, polite social environment that despite being mostly online has even spread to personal interactions amongst some of us at times, making for real world experiences and genuine community of audiophile enthusiasts. 
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Honestly for myself I sorta regret moving as fast as I have in the past (hard to ignore opportunities when they present themselves lol), but if you still use and enjoy them why not keep them if you can. I tend to sell stuff that I don’t use often and/or don’t enjoy but also as of late have forced myself to restrict myself to only a few chains since that’s been more rewarding than building chains just for the sake of building chains
Yeah that’s a pretty critical aspect which really comes into play the higher you move up
A lot of people I know are constantly trying to push me to vinyl but I won’t do it lol, they might be right that it’s the next step in getting a level of quality above that of any current dac (at least from my experiences), but the amount of investment, limitations, and flat out hassle is more than I can handle lol. Currently think I’ve hit my limits in most regards so I hope to be keeping my chains mostly the same in the future
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My apologies, i should have been clearer in why i made that statement. It’s been a learning experience for me, in that i have been a part of that group on and off now for a few years and i have been afforded opportunities to listen and learn from many of their higher end pieces every time i get to visit Arizona. From a few years ago when i had no clue what to listen for, until today where i may still not hear things or grasp them fully, i at least have a solid grasp and understanding of what they are listening for amd trying to experience. It’s a night and day difference for me and the journey took time and effort but I’m growing and was simply fortunate to also be included in a group who allowed me to participate in sessions where fine things were used. Beyond what i would have access to otherwise.
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Just Fwiw, I’ve held onto and not used Cavali Liquid Crimson and p6p for almost a year since I stopped using them, and using this chain with sus for the past month has actualy genuinly made me consider selling my stack. It’s been a long time since I’ve heard my main chain, but honestly, I’m super happy with this chain. I tap my foot and get too into the song every single day. This is a trait I love about my main chain as well (though it does it in a very different way). If I can be happy with less, does it make sense to sell the higher end gear I am maybe happier with? I’m not sure tbh
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Like with our sonic preferences, we each have philosophies on how we choose, collect and enjoy gear. I can’t stand the idea of multiples of everything, so go through a component for a few weeks or months or years and move to the next one. Some stay longer as I enjoy them and don’t feel any need to change, some don’t even stay more than a few days if I feel I have something else much better to use. We probably both over X amount of time end up spending similar Y amount of time with a component and keeping many “lesser” (your words but your gear is far from less anything tbh) pieces financially probably equals to owning one higher end piece which is my personal preference.
Anybody who knows me here knows I think about this almost daily. I like to challenge myself with coming up with the “cheapest” system I could think of that’ll still keep me satisfied and I also think about selling everything I own a few times per week. We are very privileged to be able to spend the time, money and energy we do in our hobby and my minimalist down to earth inner shadow sometimes feels guilty of doing it. As eskamo says - if you tap your foot and get into the music, what else matters? Well that can happen with my airpods but you can bet that ain’t the only thing I’ll end up keeping lol
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TD D1 dual a worthy upgrade from the Wavelight? 
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:the_face
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I’d enjoy a HD600 a SW51+ and a topping D10, and I could probably be happy with less than that.
But I’m not downsizing anytime soon, I don’t need to, and I enjoy what I have more. That and I’m a notorious hoarder.
Is it rational, no. Do I care, no.
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I think it would be imo, depending on what you want sound wise, different direction
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Imo, a step up, but also a very very very different sound
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@M0N, the Corda Soul didn’t make the list. I was wondering what your take on it was. I thought I remembered you liking it.
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