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  1. JHern

    Marantz HD-DAC1

    I still have my HD-DAC1, it is relegated to my work office desk, usually with a pair of Audio-Technica A900X (very comfortable, I put cushy velour replacement pads on them). It gives a great warm classic "Marantz sound" and a pleasure to listen to without fatigue for long periods. This setup is...
  2. JHern

    Marantz HD-DAC1

    I finally demoted my Marantz HD-DAC1, it served me very well for many years. The reason is that I bought a MiniDSP SHD for my loudspeaker system, and that liberated my Topping D90 to be used on my desk with cans after acquiring the A90 to go along with it. The difference is much much greater...
  3. JHern

    Topping A90/D90 stack vs Topping DX7 Pro

    I think this is a regional group of state-sponsored enterprises in audio tech, rather than a “company.” China has been organizing start-ups this way across a broad spectrum of commerce. It is different than the private venture capital model in the US, which is more “Wild West” and has less...
  4. JHern

    Topping D90

    Can you describe what settings and source you were using? The D90 AKM4499 is sensitive to the filter selection, and also the input bitrate/depth.
  5. JHern

    Your “wow” headphones

    Yes they have a relatively low impedance and good sensitivity, no special amplification is absolutely required. Still, I especially enjoy them plugged into the Marantz HD-DAC1, which has the ability to paint an intimate audio landscape with these cans across a very wide spectrum without sounding...
  6. JHern

    Topping D90

    Where I live (Japan) the original was 60,000 Japanese yen, the MQA was 70,000 Japanese yen, and the new version (also has MQA) is 90,000 Japanese yen. 90,000/60,000 = 1.5 ... or 50% higher price than the original...my arithmetic checks out just fine. Sorry you were paying much more for the...
  7. JHern

    Topping D90

    123 vs. 120 SINAD, the latter of which was already well beyond audible in terms of transparency. And it is 50% more expensive than the original D90. I guess one can consider this as a fun technical achievement, even if it has no practical bearing on actual listening. Topping had to move away...
  8. JHern

    Your “wow” headphones

    I completely agree. I bought some used a few months back, and they are simply superb. The combination of spatial imaging, articulation, detail, and bass thump is ridiculous. These headphones are like a massage for my tired ear drums.
  9. JHern

    Topping D90

    I made some quick recordings streaming Tidal MQA with my Sony PCM-D100. This is a simple small stereo system (Marantz M-CR603 to Dali Zensor 1s), but it should be able to see what is going on in the audio band of interest. It was placed closer to the speakers than nominal listening position, but...
  10. JHern

    Topping D90

    OK, understood. Thanks for elucidating. Indeed. Nice, I hope you don't mind if I borrow this framing some time in the future. The search continues. Now you're getting into my specialty as a scientist. ;-) DNA actually helps to make my point, it gives instructions for molecular processes...
  11. JHern

    Topping D90

    Maybe, maybe not. I have not prejudged it. What I can tell you for sure is that, for the most part, the D90 output sounds immaculate through a variety of chains. In some cases, I'm hearing texture and timbre that is extraordinary. The only issue is that it seems to aggravate my right ear, which...
  12. JHern

    Topping D90

    Interesting and thoughtful response! I understand and agree with what you're saying about quantifiable and unquantifiable realms, also from a deeper philosophical point-of-view that extends to just about everything in life. From Ken Burns’s Vietnam documentary: A hyper-focus on quantifiable...
  13. JHern

    Topping D90

    I have been listening a lot again today, and it is like the sound tends to agitate the tinnitus in my right ear (it is usually tolerable). I have a Sony PCM-D100 portable recorder that I can use to test this further. I was just reading an article about using it to record ultrasonic bat squeaks...
  14. JHern

    Topping D90

    I have been using a Topping D90 (MQA version) for about a week now, and I still need more time before I can make a final decision about this DAC and its value. It certainly ticks many boxes in terms of functionality/features. But I have to hear it through many different familiar sources before I...
  15. JHern

    Schiit Happened: The Story of the World's Most Improbable Start-Up

    This has to be one of the most epic forum threads in the entire history of internet forum threads. To be honest, there is little chance I could ever read all of it, but I give utmost kudos to those who have done so. It is basically the Schiit Bible, as far as I can tell. But, unfortunately...
  16. JHern

    Marantz HD-DAC1

    Well said! I completely agree with this, hi-fi is too often full of hot air. An entire field of hyperbole and poetry has developed around it, but this is understandable with the high dollar figures involved...it is marketing. I'm a semi-professional photographer, and we see the same dynamic in...
  17. JHern

    Marantz HD-DAC1

    After our previous discussion about Audirvana I've been looking at other sources, including streaming. Long story short: I moved to Japan just after streaming really took off, but once here I found that Japan IPs were blocked ("not available in your region"). Of course I tried VPN but the...
  18. JHern

    Marantz HD-DAC1

    For sure, it depends on what you're comparing it with, and also the music, headphones, and other particularities. It could be that you already have a great source for your listening setup and don't need the improvement that I find. My comparison is with basic iTunes playback, but from the same...
  19. JHern

    Marantz HD-DAC1

    Thanks for the correction! After learning my mistake, I've done a bit more reading on the HD-AMP1 today, and it seems to have many differences in architecture. As such, I wouldn't expect it to be very similar to the HD-DAC1. I've never listened to the HD-AMP1, which also has a dedicated...
  20. JHern

    Marantz HD-DAC1

    I've had the Marantz HD-DAC1 on my desk since 2014. It is a lovely little device, provided you know what it is intended to be, and to do...and what it is not intended to be, and to not do. This isn't meant as a be-all end-all reference HP amp, nor is it even a be-all end-all DAC. And it is an...
  21. JHern

    Audio Technica ATH- ES 10 Impressions Thread

    I'm listening to Tool Undertow right now on my back-up pair of ES10s, plugged into a Marantz HD-DAC1 coupled with Audirvana+ on MBP.   Simply awesome...   Yes! I'm listening to Tool Undertow right now on my back-up pair of ES10s in the office, plugged into a Marantz HD-DAC1 coupled with...
  22. JHern

    Audio Technica ATH- ES 10 Impressions Thread

    Anyone use the Sony PHA-1A with the ATH-ES10?
  23. JHern

    Audio Technica ATH- ES 10 Impressions Thread

    Dear All,   My ATH-ES10 with ES11 lambskin pads have been holding up well the past few years. The headband pleather is flaking off, but not enough to be uncomfortable. I suppose I should try to replace it, but not a priority. I have been kind of spoiled lately, listening to a pair of Maestoso...
  24. JHern

    Tough headphones for 4 year olds

    I just received them, for my 4-year-old daughter...she is using them with the iPad as I write this, and seems to be happy. I also ordered another pair for her best friend (birthday present). I will report back here for posterity, so that anyone else searching the forum can find out how the...
  25. JHern

    Tough headphones for 4 year olds

    Thanks all for suggestions, the problem with in-ear on young kids is that they just can't stop fidgeting with the cables (twirling, pulling, wrapping around arms, fingers, other body parts, etc.) while they're listening. They keep yanking them out every couple minutes, meaning that a parent must...
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