I thought I'd start a thread for owners of, and people interested in, the Linear Tube Audio (LTA) UltraLinear+ (UL+) and Z40+ flagship amplifiers and integrated amplifiers: https://www.lineartubeaudio.com/products/zotl-ultralinear-integrated-amplifier...

What would be your recommendation for an amplifier (tube or SS) for the Focal Utopia 2022 (only), that is priced under approx $10k? I've been considering the following options, but it's difficult to gauge how they compare, since at this price point most products will have superlative reviews...

Just wondering if anyone thinks it's a good or bad idea to wrap their DAC in an Oyaide Sendust EMI absorbent sheet: http://www.oyaide.com/ENGLISH/AUDIO/products_category/emi/pg530.html

I'm looking to upgrade from a Chord Qutest. I'd like to get a DAC with an integrated headphone amp this time, so most R2R options are off the cards, including the Holo May (which I would have otherwise considered). My main headphone is a 2022 Focal Utopia. I've narrowed it down to 3 choices...

A sanity check question: can a simple common USB-A to USB-C adapter attached to my source (a Raspberry Pi 4) affect the signal quality in any way? The RPi4 only has USB-A ports, and the iFi iDefender I plug into it has a USB-C male, necessitating this adapter.

So, I understand that loudness is supposed to be the only thing that power dictates, not other characteristics of the sound. However, here's something I tried: I took my 32ohm-impedance/94db-mW-senstivity headphones (Hifiman Arya SE) and drove them directly from the 1Vrms output of a DAC...

HE1000v2 owners: would a portable source that can put 250 mW and 3Vrms into it (i.e. at 90db sensitivity, 35ohms impedance), be enough to drive it to full potential or near-full potential? Objectively this can drive it to 114db (more than loud enough), but I'm curious if subjectively it is...

Not a question for @jaakkopasanen specifically, but I thought I'd tag him. I'm using the AutoEQ Hifiman Arya Stealth convolution filters with HQPlayer. I was wondering, what's the best way of using a stereophonic to binaural crossfeed along with the convolution (unless the convolution filter...

I have a DAC with RCA outputs (Chord Qutest) that I'm looking to connect to a pair of powered speakers (Bluesound Pulse Flex 2i) that only have a 3.5mm AUX input. I suppose I need a mono RCA to mono 3.5mm cable (i.e. two of them, one for each speaker, which will be on either side of the DAC)...

So I've been trialing HQPlayer up-sampling with my Chord Qutest. Virtually every review I've read says that up-sampling improves things (e.g. soundstage) vastly, and there are even reviews comparing the effect (even favorably) to the $5k Chord M-Scaler. For example @GoldenOne prefers HQPlayer to...

Here's a question that may be interesting. I currently have a very "analytical" stack: Topping D90SE+Topping A90. If I wanted a more "musical"/"refined"/"smooth" sound, I could: (1) Switch the D90S with a "smoother" or more refined DAC, say an R2R (though I'm considering a Qutest), while...

I just upgraded from my 2013 Hifiman HE-400s to Hifiman Aryas. I'm currently using an old Schiit Modi 2+Magni 2 stack. While my Arya is loud enough on these (with the volume knob turned very high), I understand the headphone benefits from more power. I would have gotten a Schiit...

I'm shopping for an IEM, and I'd like to go wireless. Most wireless IEM manufacturers (Jaybird, Plantronics, Beats, etc) seem to be marketing convenience, waterproofness, workout-friendliness, etc, and not sound quality. The regular 'audiophile' manufacturers e.g. Sennheiser, HiFiMan, etc seem...

I was looking at the Schiit Wyrd, and how it cleans up noisy USB connections. And so I asked myself - am I getting USB noise?   I set this up -   24/96 WAV of silence -> MacBook Pro Late 2013 -> iTunes with BitPerfect -> Schiit PYST USB cable -> Schiit Modi -> Schiit PYST RCA cables ->...

I'm not totally new to headphones - I own a HE-400, which I use with Schiit Modi + Vali.   I'm looking to buy my second headphone, and it will be an AKG - I'm considering the K551 and K545. I'm aware that the K545 is more portable than the K551. I would prefer a portable headphone, but only if...

Hello folks.   I have a Schiit Modi + Magni, and listen to 24/96 audio with my HE-400 headphones. I'm thinking of buying the new Schiit Loki and trying out DSD64 sources (played with Audirvana). Do you think my amp and headphones (that is, Magni and HE-400), are resolving enough that it would...

Hello folks.   I have a Schiit Modi + Magni, and listen to 24/96 audio with my HE-400 headphones. I'm thinking of buying the new Schiit Loki and trying out DSD64 sources (played with Audirvana). Do you think my amp and headphones (that is, Magni and HE-400), are resolving enough that it would...

I recently bought the HE-400 headphones and a DACport LX DAC. I need an amp.   Eventually I'd like to buy the Schiit Lyr, which is reportedly very good with the HE-400.   However, I can't afford that right now, and I'm looking for a cheap amp to act as a temporary solution.   Could...

Hello folks,   I've narrowed down my search for a DAC+amplifier for my brand new HE-400s to the following options: (JDS Labs) ODAC+O2 DACport LX + [(Fiio) E11 OR JDS Labs cMoy]   I can get either combination for just less than $300.   Which option would you recommend? I'm...

I'm starting to like my new HE-400 - bought last week after much discussion on Head-Fi.   Now I need a DAC and Amp - either integrated or separate - both are acceptable to me.   I'm quite aware that hundreds of options exist. Since the HE-400 is my ONLY audiophile headphone, and will be...

My HE-400, purchased after long discussions on this forum, arrived today.   These are my first 'audiophile' headphones. Coming from a $20 pair of Sony cans, I expected to be blown away by the $400 HE-400. Unfortunately, I was not. Yes, they do seem rather better than the Sonys - maybe 20%...

Is a new HE-400 available anywhere for cheaper than $399?

I have ~$800 to spend on Headphone + DAC + Amp.   I listen to mostly classical music.   I had almost decided on:   Sennheiser HD650 ($385) + DacPort LX DAC ($250) + JDSLabs CMoy Amp ($60) = $695 for now - with the idea of replacing the CMoy with the Bottlehead Crack later.  ...

Razordog Deals (http://www.razordogdeals.com/) presently seems to offer the lowest prices on several Sennheiser headphones, taking into account their $50 discount. For example, a NEW HD598 can be obtained for $200, which is $50 less than Amazon.   Is there anybody here who has done business...

I will be purchasing a headphone and mainly listen to solo classical piano (and some piano concertos too, but that's not primary).   I am considering the Senn HD598. Would you guys recommend it for this purpose?   What else should I be considering?   Budget is $250.   Any advice...