Actually I'm sure that they expect a real, technical benefit, not just sound effects. Otherwise amp emulators would be more popular. And don't project your epectation that a sound as accurate and neutral as possible be unenjoyable before you try it! I guess your experiments so far are limited...

«Re-processing» is an ugly word for mere DSP, as it implicates a massive signal deterioration, including the infamous breaking of «bit perfection». But if you categorically dismiss DSP, you're also not allowed to use equalizers or digital volume control. Among those there are enough...

The stock cable sounds comparatively rough and hard. I went from the Lavricables Master Silver to the Grand and from there to the Norne Silvergarde S3. Each step was accompanied by even more detail – without any loss of smoothness –, what seemed like an extension of the bandwidth towards high...

Sorry – the correct spelling is Xcessor.

I get these «electrical shocks» with most of my Campfire IEMs (1x Atlas, 2x Andromeda) – sometimes just from one driver, sometimes from both –, but only if the source/amp is connected to the mains (and your feet or another part of your body are earthed), never with battery power. I suspected...

Picked mine up today. Atlas «diamond» bass driver plus some BA tweeter sounded too good to resist. I already own the original Andromeda and the Atlas. The latter is my favorite IEM, although sometimes my preference switches to the FiiO FH7. Note that I equalize – even the freshly acquired Dorado...

Yes, don't fear experimentation! An important concern of mine within above post – which is sort of the result of my own experimentations.

As has already been said, you can't bypass the Hugo₂'s headphone «amp», since it is identical to its line-out stage. Which in fact is also an amp in the wider sense, but one that is present in every DAC, even those without a headphone output. This combined function is its great strength, as it...

Now we're getting somewhere! Which paradigm are you talking about?

And that's exactly not exactly what I propose as an alternative. Instead of obfuscating polemic you could have posted something constructive. E.g. why you personally are not willing to try the proposed approach promising to optimize both aspects at once: high fidelity and listening pleasure...

Compared to what?

Actually you can have both at the same time (and without the expense for an extra amp). I have explained it multiple times. But it's not well received

Maybe you just need to set the player's USB mode to «Storage» instead of «USB DAC». On the other hand in this case I don't even see the M11 Pro as a drive on my Windows computer. It may also help to reinsert the card – or to remove the player and reconnect it. Or to reboot your laptop.

Thanks for your honesty! It's a relief for me, as I was seriously puzzled. And you seemed to confirm those who proclaim that the DAVE's output stage is not up to the task when it comes to driving headphones – which completely contradicts my own experience. Now I can absolutely see how someone...

Actually I'm already fully served with Rachmaninov Symphonies and Piano Concertos (also in 24/96), but out of interest I would buy the track with the critical «clipping» if you can safely name me the matching recording and format (including the exact position). I'm registered at eClassical...

Can you send me the Wave or Flac file from this Rachmaninov SACD's CD layer – via cloud (and PM)? The M Scaler doesn't steal 3 dB from the DAVE's output power, it just reduces the gain – power stays the same. The M Scaler definitely has nothing to do with the clipping – that's what the gain...

Hi Christer Some time ago I've asked you to send me the respective files (or excerpts), but for some reason it didn't happen. I say it's impossible for the DAVE to clip with the Utopia. It anything, it's his ear drums clipping.

The V2 pads make for at least 60% of the V2 sound (through the slight driver angling) – a welcome bonus for me, in addition to the better wearing comfort. You may want to add an easy modification developed for them.

Yes, that's correct – as thehutch has already pointed out earlier.

I'm another one who likes the HEDDphone on the Hugo₂.

In short: Yes. The Hugo₂ definitely has (more than) enough juice, and the HE1000se is very efficient. A better cable is recommended, though.

Dont forget that you're not bound to your headphone's factory setting! (In case it's still too bright.)

Good move! I also felt the M Scaler made the sound brighter, but didn't equate it with «worse» – it was just brighter. It took me a few seconds to reduce the treble on my equalizer by a few µdB. Synergy is a dangerous thing (given that no audio component is really neutral, let alone sound...

You can't bypass its «amplifier section» – both headphone output and line output are directly connected to the DAC's analogue output stage. You can just add another amplification stage (for whatever purpose). And there's no «DAC only mode», just a volume preset to 3 volts max.

It's dangerous to take one single FR graph as a reference. Here's another, massively deviating one, which has served my own EQ efforts: That one can also be found on the net: The only clear common feature of the three is the dip at 6 kHz. I've had really good succes with this...