Honestly, I didn’t think I would do this, but I guess I am now. I bought another SVS Micro3000 subwoofer so I can dual wield subwoofer. Now I can start the fun again with another subwoofer crawl on figuring out where to put this 2nd subwoofer at. I’m sure the reward is going to really nice once I finally experience on having 2 subwoofer on my system vs just 1 this past year.
12 Likes
A new challenger enters! Warmed it up for an hour and I’m already liking it.
Unfortunately, I am once again DACless! The Pavane I got a week ago had some weird distortion. The seller was amazing in trying to help me figure out what was going on but after a number of days of messing around with it, he agreed that he take it back and send it to Metrum to resolve.
I’m feeding the Mentor with my trusty R4 and it sounds great. The Mentor is pretty similar in conception to my favourite Kinki THR-1, as I understand it. Both high power, high voltage, fairly simple, Class-A, discrete designs. Their aim is for musical neutrality, or as I say, naturalness (at their price point, £1299). I this see the Mentor as a sidegrade. However, I decided to pull the trigger because the output impedance on the Kinki is high, I think it’s something like 50 or 70 Ohms on the 4 XLR. Mr primary headphone, Moondrop Cosmo, has an impedance of 14 Ohms if memory serves, not ideal for the Kinki. Also, the Kinki doesn’t have gain control and so I can’t use IEMs with it. The Mentor has low output impedance and gain control; no pre amp functionality, but I don’t need that any way.
Now, I have to go back to the drawing board and pick a DAC! There’s a few that are in the cross hairs. An Amber 5, OG Yggy (unsure of output board), a Pontus 12th, TT2, SF Processor 3 and a Wavelight. I’m going with the Wavelight as, from reading a lot on here, it seems to be well balanced. I’m not sure it’s the best for my chain or preferences but I want to try it nonetheless.
11 Likes
The Mentor is still on my list of amps I’d like to try! I’ve been keeping up with the thread over at Head-Fi, and I read Ichos’ reviews, where he compares it to the V550 tonally. It seems they are very close. Based on the recommendations for the V550, I’d say the Yggy A2 is pretty popular. Multiple users here have had that chain(V550+A2) and like it so far. I’ve also heard that the A2 + Mentor pairing has good synergy.
Regarding the Wavelight, make sure to check the firmware version. The newest FW for the newer 2.xx boards is not as warm and full as the first FW. I believe the old motherboards used FW 1.33 or 1.38 before they shifted to a more neutral tuning.
The same applies to the Pontus II. It seems the original FW is warmer and richer, though not as resolving. They seem to have nailed the Pontus II with the 12th Anniversary FW, which is resolving yet still rich enough compared to the stock Pontus II 12th.
2 Likes
Agree on this! It’s the reason I decided to keep it instead of selling it. Overkill for my TV watching but just knew if I ever needed a DAC for a system, it would be a good one to keep.
4 Likes
I must admit, spending 50 % less and going for an Yggy over the Rockna is quite a draw. Same with the Pontus 12th.
My logic is that spending double will more likely “end the game”. I figure with my aversion for warmth/density and “in your face” presentations, the Wavelight is a good choice on balance.
It’s interesting, I’ve already noticed the Mentor set the stage a few rows back from the Kinki THR-1. The Kinki is already a sound stage monster, and it’s not out performed by the Flux in this regard, it’s just with Mentor setting the stage a few rows back, it should pair better with those DACs that would otherwise be too “in my face”. I wish I still had the Cyan 2 to test with the Mentor. But I’ll settle for a Wavelight.
2 Likes
12 Likes
As a Valencia amp owner, I guess not owning a Mod House Tungsten DS didn’t feel right, so I went ahead and bought one 
.
I drove to the neighboring state to pick it up just so I can enjoy it this weekend. The previous owner and I had some Starbucks and he told me not to worry about driving it and to enjoy the headphone. I ask him what amp he uses to drive it… he said a Cayin 170HA amp and his Mass Kobo 465. I did not have a comment after he said that.
12 Likes
Easy for him to say lol
4 Likes
Well I can finally confirm a full Allnic chain for headphones is also nice!!
Have had this for a few months now and am very satisfied with the synergy 
19 Likes
Traded my VMV P2 for a legit IE900. Pretty good. Great imaging. Good staging for an IEM. I like the tuning, too. It’s been a fun listen today. Haven’t tried it on a DAP yet but the Mentor drove it well.
17 Likes
Ie900 is awesome 
1 Like
I decided that with me hopefully ending the game and settling on my new DAC (arriving tomorrow), I should “finish” the rest of my chain, too.
The only risk I have now is that I’m next on the Bandoss Avija Tour. I am very happy with my primary headphone of choice, Moondrop’s Cosmo, but there is a risk that the Avija shakes my faith in that choice…
11 Likes
Nearly there. Even with my back-up DAC (D1se2), this chain sounds sensational.
I’ve only been listening for a short while but the Rivo seems to have increased the stage over my R4. There seems to be more space between images too. The Mentor pushed me back a few rows (over my Kinki THR-1) and with the Rivo, it has increased the scale of everything.
Took me bloody two hours to get it working though. I swear, I have the most trouble with streamers…
Qobuz Connect >WIFI> Rivo >AQ Carbon> SU-6 >AQ Cinnamon I2S> D1se2 >RA Argenti Ultra XLR> Flux Mentor >RA Sus Cable> Moondrop Cosmo
13 Likes
Oh nice choice. The Rivo looks like a really good piece of kit to me. What’s the build quality like in person?
1 Like
It’s solid. Small and light weight, but well made, good materials, robust and well put together. The power button is quite satisfying to press. I can’t speak to the quality of the PSU as I didn’t even root around in the box for it.
2 Likes
Yes I think getting the Ifi power brick was an excellent decision.
1 Like
Just arrived! Bigger and heavier than I thought for some reason! Got it plumbed in and warming up. Apparently these only take an hour to get to temperature but I’m gonna save my critique for mid week, after it’s had 48 hours.
Had to check the voltage was set to 220 V, hence the beautiful topless shot.
22 Likes
Amazing! I’m curious what you think, especially how it compares to the Cyan 2.
What firmware version did it come with?
2 Likes
Congrats! Absolutely love this dac.
1 Like
It’s agonising waiting to listen to it. I am very curious to compare it to Cyan 2. Unfortunately, I have changed amps (Kinki THR-1 >>> Flux Mentor) since selling the Cyan 2 so I am unsure how valuable my comparison will be.
As for the firmware, you tell me! You spoke to the seller before I bought it. It’s the original sound signature/firmware if I recall.
1 Like