[xirxes]

So my stealth has arrived at my dealer. I'm picking them up in two days. But I'm still in a conundrum with dac/amp upgrade to get to "endgame" setup. I'd love some advice.

currently I have schiit magnius and Modius and run balanced xr

I'm thinking dac upgrade first, and then amp when $ allow (thinking an hpa4 in future)

I'm looking at rme adi-2 or benchmark dac3 as most likely candidates.
Both have pros and cons.

Can anyone give thoughts impressions recommendations or alternatives for me please?

Once I've got the new phones I'll give my impressions compared to aeon2 opens too.

RME has my vote, Three good other options depending on price point, Holo May the Matrix X-Sabre Pro or even Wells audio Tube dac

 

[deuter]

So my stealth has arrived at my dealer. I'm picking them up in two days. But I'm still in a conundrum with dac/amp upgrade to get to "endgame" setup. I'd love some advice.

currently I have schiit magnius and Modius and run balanced xr

I'm thinking dac upgrade first, and then amp when $ allow (thinking an hpa4 in future)

I'm looking at rme adi-2 or benchmark dac3 as most likely candidates.
Both have pros and cons.

Can anyone give thoughts impressions recommendations or alternatives for me please?

Once I've got the new phones I'll give my impressions compared to aeon2 opens too.

Nice, congrats on the new headphones. You in lockdown?
I would recommend a DAC Upgrade too, given people have reported equalizing the Stealth headphones I believe RME allows you to do that?
If looking for a DAC only, you have so many options. Eg: Denafrips is an easy recommendation, just choose the model depending on your budget.
Also look at Chord TT2, most people use it in an amp/dac combo with really excellent performance.
I personally use something a little Niche, A Musical Paradise MP-D2 MK3 DAC
I have always enjoyed the Lampizator and the Holo Spring, have heard excellent things about the Border Patrol DAC.

 

[Jimthecoffeeguy]

Nice, congrats on the new headphones. You in lockdown?
I would recommend a DAC Upgrade too, given people have reported equalizing the Stealth headphones I believe RME allows you to do that?
If looking for a DAC only, you have so many options. Eg: Denafrips is an easy recommendation, just choose the model depending on your budget.
Also look at Chord TT2, most people use it in an amp/dac combo with really excellent performance.
I personally use something a little Niche, A Musical Paradise MP-D2 MK3 DAC
I have always enjoyed the Lampizator and the Holo Spring, have heard excellent things about the Border Patrol DAC.

Yup,lockdown still
I don't eq so far but rme has that option along with higher res/bitrate etc so may be a bit more furureproof? It Also has the eq display which would be nice.
Not really interested in chord, and want a compact desktop system.

I'm pretty sold on the rme and dac3 I think, but what a rough choice.

Matching benchmark system with no frills and simplicity, or rme/benchmark with extra features at a lower pricepoint.

Such a hard decision. Argh!

 

[DarginMahkum]

Another one just posted to the CanJam thread:

That is how trustable the personal impressions are. I don't want to into another measurements discussion, though.

 

[Alcophone]

rme has that option along with higher res/bitrate etc so may be a bit more furureproof?

Holo Audio and Denafrips are even more future proof with 1536 kHz instead of the RME's puny 768 kHz

 

[ThanatosVI]

Another one just posted to the CanJam thread:



That is how trustable the personal impressions are. I don't want to into another measurements discussion, though.

Has always been like that though.
Look at the Elite impressions for instance, they are all over the place even if those first impressions compare them to the same headphones.

Abyss 1266 Was similar in the beginning.
From "sounds weird and off" to "sounds amazing" everything Was covered

 

[vonBaron]

Stealth can't play fast and complex parts in a song, then they sound flat and compressed.

 

[DarginMahkum]

Has always been like that though.
Look at the Elite impressions for instance, they are all over the place even if those first impressions compare them to the same headphones.

Abyss 1266 Was similar in the beginning.
From "sounds weird and off" to "sounds amazing" everything Was covered

That really shows the necessity for the consumers to learn (at least those that cannot easily demo gear) how to interpret measurement data, and how that translates to their subjective taste. Also the manufacturers should provide the measurement data with background information like the measurement rig, compansation etc.

 

[Fegefeuer]

Stealth can't play fast and complex parts in a song, then they sound flat and compressed.

Which song?

Did you have the Stealth inhouse?

 

[alxw0w]

I'm wondering maybe there are some defective units ?
That was the case with first production bath of ether2 - some units were extremely dark/muted sounding.
Otherwise I don't know how there are so polarizing opinions.

 

[vonBaron]

Which song?

Did you have the Stealth inhouse?

Every...
I just returned them from loan.

 

[vonBaron]

I'm wondering maybe there are some defective units ?
That was the case with first production bath of ether2 - some units were extremely dark/muted sounding.
Otherwise I don't know how there are so polarizing opinions.

I really hope so that is the case.

 

[DarginMahkum]

I really would like to hear the impressions from @newworld666 ...

 

[ThanatosVI]

I'm wondering maybe there are some defective units ?
That was the case with first production bath of ether2 - some units were extremely dark/muted sounding.
Otherwise I don't know how there are so polarizing opinions.

I'm not convinced about that.
Meze Elite and Audeze LCD-5 are just as polarizing.

On the Elite it's mostly about the Bass, ranging from Bass light to as strong as Empyrean.

On the LCD-5 it Ranges from Borderline bright, to typical Audeze house sound.

It's harder to believe that all these manufacturers have severe unit Variation problems, than believing that those subjective early opinions have to be taken with a shitload of salt

 

[paradoxper]

Every...
I just returned them from loan.

You are worse than me. No positive takeaways with the Stealth?