Really depends on the sound signature you are looking for & budget for synergy, but there is no bad combo. It is a very versatile DAP and it comes with a full tool kit; MSEB, PEQ and multiple plugins to fine tune the taste you are looking for.

Can't believe didn't see this before, this thread is so under the radar! It's amazing to hear an official word about the development and thanks for sharing the early design drafts! The first render looks pretty amazing, with side/ top windows, screen and more symmetrical design. Hopefully...

Just spending some time with these, do sound different from before. Not as strong in the treble, the bass is dialled down a notch by default, but at least that opens up the soundstage - less in your head now. The pop setting is probably the one I’d lean towards - the only downside is it’s not...

I would definitely recommend the N7, it is absolutely amazing for what it offers! Especially as it would now be available for a lower price on market. In terms of issues, I don’t think software issues are unique to the N7 per se, more so most recent DAPs that have newer versions of android seem...

I wouldn't be that quick to jump into pessimism. There was definitely a codec issue in the initial batch which had a large impact on sound. Presumably this wil be patched in the new batch, so I would honestly wait for impressions when this batch is launched. Just to put that into context, using...

The issues with Tidal might be from the latest update. Have the same issue with the N7 - restarting the device seems to help in the short term. Definitely agree with the sound, but the layout takes some getting used to coming from the app.

Who wouldn't! :L3000: The design actually looks surprisingly compact & flexible. It definitely has a retro vibe with the cone design - especially love how the black and white image adds to that feel.

£339 in the UK and CHF 399 from audioessence.

Just had a call today from the distributor - seems like these are issues with the first batch. I guess they got them out to us a bit too soon to meet the demand. But they are now being recalled and will be swapped out with the 2nd batch (not sure how far out that might be). But from the sound...

Lol! What makes this even funnier is it's a US company. :joy: Hiccups aside, it's a really solid piece of equipment. It's only been the day so far. Personally, I would rate it quite highly just for SQ alone - it is quite fun/ engaging, the clarity is higher than I expected - although wouldn't...

Another pro I've just though of is tip rolling is probably expected, as even with different tips the case closes. With other tws sets that's an issue.

Same. they shipped out yesterday and arrived today. 100% there are launch issues. The Fokus app doesn't do much other than show the name either and the update doesn't go through. I did have slight crackling on the right side when first connecting, but that went away after disconnecting and...

I think a flagship would make more sense to launch next year, with the much awaited cypress xmems tech they demoed at ces. But that seems distant, so I jumped aboard the pre-order train, though still admittedly have to wait for the postman to knock once distribution begins. From what is being...

I see, thanks for getting back on the query and for sharing your experiences! Wasn't expecting there to be that much of a difference in impressions between the two, given how the Empyrean launched as a flagship, even though they are a few years old at this point.

Might have missed it if already covered, but am curious how the E3's compare to the Meze Empyrean (OG) as a headphone, as both are locally available at a similar price.

Oh wow, looked into this a bit more and there are indeed QC issues/ defective units from what I can surmise that give the HP DC abnormal error for the A70. Can't find an official response on this (offical statement recognising the issue/ if corrected), there are a handful of comments on forums...

Something to be aware of is, a lot of desktop equipment is combo - so DAC + Amp which you might or might not want. If you want just a headphone amplifier - would recommend either the Topping A70 Pro or A90D depending on local pricing. Edit: Having looked into it more, there are a lot of QC...

Thanks for getting back so quickly and for sharing Ryan's review - which is quite thorough. Ah ok, that is interesting, so a more analytical, less-coloured approach. By technical performance, I assume that encompasses both detail retreival and soundstage, i.e. more studio focused in...

Do like the new design language! Is there a purple cable option with that? However, I am curious how these compare to the supermoon and bonneville? The supermoon is the same price category - whilst being a single planar driver and the boneville is priced slighty higher, but is a DD+3BA setup...

That is one of the things I loved about the Hiby - the software flexibility. The ability to add convolution files (for some reason I never get the name right in my head always think of the words convolver/ devolver - I'm pretty sure that's a gaming studio) and plugins are icing on the cake! For...

Looking forward to a comparision with the C9! Am curious if anyone gets the chance to pair with an N7 - if it is an improvement over the commonly recommended N7+C9 stack. They are roughly the same price at this point and the PB5 seems more compact.

I might be wrong, but I believe that’s the upscaling toggle to DSD. How much of a difference would depend on what you are listening to, the mastering/ format of the audio files that could benefit from upscaling/ conversion, but also the rest of the circuitry should be more developed and the...

Row 12 for sure! 👍

Hi, I did get the chance to give the pairing a go. From my experience both didn’t have good synergy - it wasn’t adding to the setup. Using the PA10 added a bit of energy to the low end, however it took away from the sound stage significantly, sounded more like the sound was being funnelled &...

🤣 love the energy, instant like for the gear! Potatoe Potatoe I guess, might really enjoy the Mojo from that setup 😉. Dude’s got taste - similar to how you’ll see some throw money at a DAC and run it through a tube amp (a sensitive topic), but tube’s have a cult following. Arguably the best...