Great question. There's a lot of factors involved, and it gets more confusing because in theory, it shouldn't make a difference. After all, what a DAC is really doing is converting digital to analog. For better or worse, different chips have different sounds. AKM stuff sounds nothing like...

For this type of modern, clean sound (i.e. the kind of people who like gin neat) I don't think that there's much better than the X-Sabre Pro. I don't own mine anymore but I still recommend it. As far as Sabre-based DACs, it's the best I've heard period. And I prefer it to all AKM-based DACs...

Only go Euforia if you plan on changing out the stock tubes. Stock the Euforia is too bloomy and will only emphasize some of the Verite's sins of commission. My vote for a tube amp goes towards the DNA Starlett if budget allows. It is worth the wait.

@Trickness the Starlett is essentially 90% of the Stratus with cheap tubes. I cannot recommend it enough to people.

Amperex Orange Globes (I think these may be slightly hard to find nowadays though). You can also try some Tungsram 6DJ8. They're a little more subdued in the highs and have a more athletic character.

Hmm, this is difficult. Three-way tie between Focal Utopia, ZMF Auteur, and ZMF Verite. I like all three for the various things they do well. All complementary cans. These three make up the bulk of my listening and are my standard rotation Sennheiser HD6XX: Just a good, resolving headphone...

**Before I start the impressions, it should be duly noted that I'm typically NOT an IEM listener. I typically don't use IEMs because I don't like the feeling of having something in my ear, so thus I usually stick to circumaural (over-ear) headphones, and have a folding supra-aural (on-ear) set...

Sometimes preamps can work wonderfully. It really depends on the gear synergy. The Feliks Audio Euforia, for example, actually worked amazingly well as a preamp if you were looking for some tube bloom and warmth and are treble-sensitive (or have a bright setup). Granted, I've only tried this...

Sort of. Keep in mind that gear will always have sins of omission and commission, and chaining amps together like this may actually be deleterious to the end experience (most likely will just be a sidegrade; different, but not better). The only way to really find out if this gives you what...

I have to admit two things: I've literally zero experience with something that sounds like the Harmon target, and I'm still learning a LOT about my own personal preferences. Initially I thought I liked headphones that were tilted dark, but LCD-3's made from 2016 onwards are not dark, at least to...

We're going to have to disagree on the usefulness of reference. While the graphs might be from the same system (and I believe that they have used the same system for years), there isn't a disclosure on the compensation curve nor smoothing used. Unless other headphones from other companies are...

It is not. I personally find the Audeze provided graph useless; no idea of compensation curve used, and since we aren't privy to the system, no idea how it compares to other rigs. You might as well go on Paint and hand draw the graph. This graph came from a system that I'm somewhat familiar...

I haven't found this to be the case. Big thanks to a good friend of mine for doing this on another site!

Get the balanced cable. Just like any other planar, the LCD-3 benefits from more power. Assuming your amp has equivalent sonic properties in both balanced-out and SE-out, the output that outputs more power will always be preferred. For those that have a 2016 manufacture LCD-3 or after, what is...

I've read that review; just asking for more opinions to see what other's impressions are.