Hey all, Not sure if this has been discussed on this forum previously, but I'm noticing an issue with my BTR7 that I can't seem to resolve. While in USB-DAC mode via USB-C cable from my MacBook Pro M1, there is intermittent crackling/static/popping. It occurs about once every 5-10 minutes and...

AKG N5005 are on sale for $200 on AKG's website!

I’ve really using my Rode NTH-100 in the office - they’re newer and there’s some hype around them but a solid pair of headphones for $150.

I’ve had the same issue before. Make sure the charge is turned off and maybe try a new cable?

Yeah, it'll also ruin any IEMs with a BA in it!

Almost all dynamic! My primary ones are Z7M2, DT177X, and NDH20.

Looking for a good starter tube amp - preferably under $250! Thank in advance

Im sure there is - if the X3s are the same price, I’d go for them.

If you like bass - Sivga 021 Very comfortable, feel premium and are easy enough to drive with the A45 Otherwise, I’d look into something from Philips like the 9500s or X2s or X3s

It's hard to describe. I think the single dynamic driver does a lot more for general coherency and timbre than a combination of dynamic driver with several balanced armatures. The FH3 definitely has more low-end and detail, but the FD3 just sounds better. Some of it I think is that the FD3 has a...

Of those two options, I like my FiiO FD3 Pro more. I’m a big fan of single dynamic driver IEMs. If you want better noise isolation and stronger low end, then I’d go for FH3 as the FD3 Pro has a sort of semi-open design.

If you like bass, I'd gravitate more towards the OH10

I would look at the Shanling M5s (or M3x if you want to swing it) or the HiBy R3 Outside of Sony, I'd check out those two in the sub-$400 category.

Personally, I like the simplicity of the A55 over the A105. A105 runs Android, which is fine, but it saps the battery. I have the ZX507 and I wish it was Sony's OS without Android for the sake of simplicity and battery life. I don't think anything in FiiO's lower tier is going to sound as...

No cable modding necessary! I recommend this set. You can buy the cable and the interconnect set for a little over $100. https://hartaudiocables.com/collections/headphone-cables/products/hc-11-vokyl-dual-2-5mm-trrs-balanced-headphone-cable

Nice to have you Gary Have you thought about going for several mid-tier options versus one expensive option?

Theoretically, it would alter the output impedance of your amp as well, right? So it could be used to remove hiss maybe?

Maybe, I think most laptops under $800 are probably cutting corners somewhere and audio is usually the first to go. Even some premium laptops that top $1500 have poorly implemented audio systems. The easiest way to sidestep this issue is to get a USB DAC/amp. Doesn't have to be anything crazy...

Unfortunately, Apple still uses AAC which is optimized for their own branded headphones/earbuds but is lacking for most other things. Personally, I think a decent pair of IEMs and some HPs on Apple's Dongle sound better than most (not all) bluetooth earbuds/headphones. I much prefer a pair...

Personally, my favorite IEM is the FiiO FD3 Pro. I'm surprised that it doesn't get recommended more regularly. You can get the FD3 Pro for $140 or the standard FD3 for $100 - as far as I can tell, the only difference between the two is the type of cable included. The FD3 Pro has FiiO's...

Yeah, I suspect its just the DAC/amp turning on. There's probably a correct way to code the start-up sequence of a sound chain in a laptop and HP probably just dropped the ball. Some of my cheaper portable DAC/amps do the same thing when I turn them on or initially connect.

Tin T2s!

I like the DT770s, I also like the M50X’s (tho not everyone does).

They’re both pretty different IEMs. It really depends on your taste.

Unfortunately the extent of my IEM knowledge tops out at about $200. That said, I really like the FD3 Pro's - I recommend them all the time. They don't have boomy bass on account of them having a semi-open design, but they check all of my other boxes. FiiO does have nicer, more expensive...