Recent content by MN8372
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Audeze LCD-5 Review, Measurements, Interview
I have both and like both. Hard to say one is ‘better” than the other. For what it’s worth the Caldera is a more popular headphone on Head-fi these days and so from that perspective the “safer” blind purchase if you can’t audition both. And cheaper too. The LCD 5 tends to polarise people a...- MN8372
- Post #6,731
- Forum: High-end Audio Forum
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ZMF Caldera - New Planar Magnetic from ZMF!
Love my Supratek 300B pre into Dukei CFA3. Made a big difference. More holographic (as expected) but also more punch and mid-bass. Listening to my Calderas with this combo right now. Sounds amazing. Having a good run with the Calderas at the moment. For the past few months I preferred my...- MN8372
- Post #6,676
- Forum: High-end Audio Forum
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Reply to review by 'MN8372' on item 'iBasso PB5 Osprey'
Thanks for the review. Entirely agree with your comments. Mine isn't fully burned in yet (probably only got 10-15 hours on it so far). Will be interesting to see if the bass opens up like you mentioned. I can easily see this combination beating a lot of desktop systems out there for a lot...- MN8372
- Head Gear rating reply
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Ibasso PB5 the next dedicated portable Amplifier
I can’t speak for Trance_Gott but the PB5 works surprisingly well for me with the Susvaras. I didn’t even think to try until I saw your post. With the Susvaras I tend to look out for a few key features that perform poorly on lower quality amplifiers 1/. Lack of mid-bass impact. 2/. Poor...- MN8372
- Post #238
- Forum: Portable Headphone Amps
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Evolving the UM Reference: A New Chapter for the Mason Series—Mason Nuit Étoilée & Soleil Tombé
The one thing that bugs me is when people comment along the lines of ”just don’t buy it”. Or “people who complain about this IEM were never in the market to buy it in the first place”. It misses the point. I will happily admit I’m not in the market for these IEM’s. But they are still...- MN8372
- Post #101
- Forum: Sponsor Announcements and Deals
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KG CFA3 headphone amp
Not sure I entirely agree with the more mellow description. My system with a tube pre is not more mellow/recessed to my ears. It’s more holographic but the mid-range is not recessed and the mid-bass is actually elevated. It’s not a more “relaxed” listen. Although this may be tube...- MN8372
- Post #1,790
- Forum: DIY (Do-It-Yourself) Discussions
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ZMF Caldera - New Planar Magnetic from ZMF!
I use the mesh with the suede pads. I’m one of the 10% that needs the mesh - not because the Calderas are too bright for me overall (I don’t mind a bright headphone and I don’t think the Calderas are a ”bright” headphone) but because I was hearing quite a bit of sibilance which I know wasn’t...- MN8372
- Post #6,155
- Forum: High-end Audio Forum
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HiFiMan Susvara
5 things that helped me to get more bass/solidity/punch: - Dekoni fenstrated sheepskin pads - Arctic Cables Aperion v thick copper cable - Dukei CFA3 - Supratek 300b preamp (with Audio Note tubes) - Running the EC 512 DSD filters in HQ Player All 5 steps helped quite a bit. The best value...- MN8372
- Post #23,419
- Forum: High-end Audio Forum
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HiFiMan Susvara
As has been said by many on here, it’s amazing how the Susvara scales with better gear. Previously I thought the gap between the ZMF Caldera and Susvara was not that big with the Calderas playing in the same tier. But ever since I got my 300B tube pre-amp a month ago (running into my CFA3 amp)...- MN8372
- Post #23,285
- Forum: High-end Audio Forum
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ZMF Caldera - New Planar Magnetic from ZMF!
I don’t think the Caldera is a “bright“ headphone. Its overall tonality is neutral/warm. But it does have a brief treble peak which caused problems for me - manifesting itself in sibilance (especially with female voices). Some people hear it some people don‘t. For me it is a “warm bright”...- MN8372
- Post #6,007
- Forum: High-end Audio Forum
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KG CFA3 headphone amp
Appreciate your feedback and comments and agree with a lot of what you have said. However, I actually like the CFA3 by itself. I find it to be full bodied and not thin or bright. I just think it sounds better with a tube pre in front. Yes there may be some distortion but to my ears it...- MN8372
- Post #1,749
- Forum: DIY (Do-It-Yourself) Discussions
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KG CFA3 headphone amp
This gain thing is interesting. Currently running high gain on the pre-amp and low gain on the CFA3. With the Calderas they really come alive. The bass thumps way more - everything sounds more vibrant.- MN8372
- Post #1,739
- Forum: DIY (Do-It-Yourself) Discussions
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KG CFA3 headphone amp
Thanks for the tip about adjusting the manual gain. The slightly loose bass was mostly with my Calderas (less so with my Susvaras). I’ve increased the gain to about the mid-point on the dial and the bass is now much tighter. A big difference and immediately noticeable.- MN8372
- Post #1,738
- Forum: DIY (Do-It-Yourself) Discussions
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KG CFA3 headphone amp
DHT Cabernet from Mick just arrived…The wood is really nice. Nicer than the pictures online. It does all the things that others have already mentioned on this thread. More holographic / more texture / more lifelike timbre. More sense of “presence” especially with live recordings. You can...- MN8372
- Post #1,736
- Forum: DIY (Do-It-Yourself) Discussions
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HiFiMan Susvara
If anyone is looking for a good value copper cable to pair with the Susvaras I can recommend the Arctic Cables Apeiron. A very thick 15.5AWG copper cable. Compared to my silver/palladium cable it makes the Susvara sound thicker, with more mid bass, a sweeter treble and more natural tone. The...- MN8372
- Post #22,712
- Forum: High-end Audio Forum