Feliks Audio Elise Impressions Thread – a New Start (please read first post for summary)

[mordy]

Hi aqsw,
 
"My T1s screw up my whole system. They are silver, but I think I may keep them anyways."
 
There are several options:
 
1) just close your eyes when you are listening.
 
2) Turn around your listening chair so that you don't see your system while listening to the headphones.
 
3) You may want to do both when listening to the EL12 Spezial Octopus Edition.
 
I think I remember the motto of your avatar Alfred E, Neuman: What, me worry?

 

[UntilThen]

How about warming up everything together. One source, 2 amps, 2 headphones. 
 
One song - pick any headphone. 

 
George Benson Breezin' on Tidal Masters. Nice.
 

 

[UntilThen]

Can't believe I've just started listening to MQA format songs today even if what I hear is but a sniff of full blown MQA. I feel like a cave man who have just discovered muffin. 
 
Led Zeppelin Vol 1.
Tutu - Miles Davies
 
These are like jewels of the Nile on MQA. 

 

[richdytch]

I might need to get one of these Meridian thingies just so I can do a blind MQA test. I have to admit, I'm a sceptic. A stupidly high sampling frequency sceptic though, not a bit depth sceptic. In fact there's some thinking that sampling frequencies over 88kHz actually increase distorion. I'll have to try and find it.

 

[UntilThen]

It's cheap here.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Meridian-Explorer-2-USB-DAC-Headphone-Amp-Brand-New-RRP-199-/232219533674?_trksid=p2141725.m3641.l6368
 
You try it and let me know if it's worth it.

 

[UntilThen]

  Don´t want to go too much off-topic here, but I found this album to be very good indeed to hear the differences between MQA and non-MQA. Very distinct.
 
https://listen.tidal.com/album/2400318
 
Airy, more dynamic, fine resolving....

 
Listening to this and enjoying it immensely. 

 

[UntilThen]

Another that I love on Tidal Master
 
So much difference between Tidal Master and the Youtube version.
 
 

 

[hypnos1]

The RSD tubes arrived two days ago. The adapters have been spotted meaning that they didn't take the slow boat. We'll see how they'll manage the last mile or ten.

 
 

  hI H1,
 
Tempting with the EL6 ...especially as it's basically an EL12 with a plattfuss base .....
 
Let's throw in some logic here lol: Just like an EL12 Spezial sounds different than an EL12, it seems logical that an EL6 should sound different than a double power EL3N - no?
 
The EL6 is the very well behaved kid on the EL12 block. None of the idiosyncrasies of the various EL12 tubes. The problem is that they are rarer than hen's teeth, and if you find one they go for megabucks.

 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vacuum-Tubes-PHILIPS-Miniwatt-EL6-1-NIB-NOS-/360770172575?hash=item53ff93f69f:g:kroAAOxyBXNSZCNk
 
Only $226.00 + $10 shipping.
 
I was lucky to find a couple of used ones at very modest prices. Somehow I am convinced that somebody is sitting on a several cases of NOS EL6 tubes somewhere to sell for around Eur20..-, but I haven't found that seller yet lol.
 
Meanwhile I am sitting unscathed in my glass house because there is nobody (yet) than can argue with me about the great sweet sound of the EL6 tubes.

 
Aaahh Mordy...different logic lol

...mine goes something like :
 
By all accounts there are just two main design families  - 1. Original Dutch Philips (EL3).  2. Original German Telefunken (EL11).
 
Then, both manufacturers made versions for those who required double the power output : Philips EL6, as big brother to the EL3; TFK EL12, as big bro' to the EL11.
 
The two designs do differ - mostly in the plate shape : Philips usually oval, TFK usually round. This does bring differences in final sound..."House sound", as some would say.
 
And so, therefore, I think it's fairly safe to say that the EL6 is indeed more likely to share EL3(N) family characteristics, as opposed to the TFK ones...and thus will have different appeal according to individual taste...and would go some way to perhaps explaining your "sweet sound" description, which does tie in with the EL3N sound we've come to know LOL

 
So, M, all things considered, I'm still not falling into temptation (thankfully!!)

....especially at those usual sorts of prices!!

...
 
ps. Good news on your own Euforia notification...things are really beginning to heat up now lol!

...I wish her safe journey...once she ships!...CHEERS!
 
pps. As you're the only one with the EL6 at the moment, we can't really be sure yet just how much more "trouble free" they might be lol!

 

[tjw321]

Noooooo - my favourite thread on head-fi is going down the MQA rabbit-hole!
 
I've tried the Meridian Explorer 2 from a source where it was very easy to toggle MQA on and off, and with a proper MQA source file I could hear no difference between playing the FLAC file direct, and playing it "unfolded" 4 times as an MQA file. And playing the MQA file directly as a FLAC file actually increases the noise floor since the additional MQA data is inserted as noise into the FLAC.
 
The biggest difference (IMHO) is that the MQA files come from better masters, on the whole. That is the biggest plus of MQA - that it is persuading the record companies to make better quality masters available.
 
Also, don't forget that MQA is actually a lossy format. The unfolding is not lossless.

 

[Frederick Rea]

I already have something really small,

Hello dear friend My problem here is to listen to the difference between 24 bits 96 Khz and 24 bits and up, up samplings. I couldn't hear anything. Yes between 16 bits and 24 or 32 are the differences for my ears. And another question is the mastering process of the disc or file, not if it has some work on algorithms like HDCD or MQA. If we choose some of the best audiophile records (like ECM, or ACT Music, HD Tracks, Chesky Binaural, and not so on), we have the best to ELISE or else. Transparency, realism with profound impact controlled bass and a crisp not hurting treble. HDCD needs hardware with HDCD chip to decode, MQA don't need anything till 24/96 (if received from Tidal HIFI masters desktop App or others) but need hardware for upper bits/samples. Do you think this narrow up's value the money for an upgraded hardware? I will put the question on mastering treatments (HDCD, MQA) alghoritms, could we do it with personal equalization, in a very well mastering peace?
Regarding MQA, what garantees me that the master is better than these days mastering feactures, that MQA says that they go for the origins to exclude unwanted individual treatment made from abuse "masterers". Aren't we all?
HDCD is still alive even if it isn't announced. Example: some Lucinda Williams new records and so on 
It's a never end question I think
So good music is what we want by means of a special Amp ELISE

 

[pctazhp]

   
This is how I will compare Euforia and Elise. I don't need a psychiatrist because with a name like Lobster, who needs a psychiatrist. 

With sincere apologies to our esteemed doctor friend, this give me big laugh

 
Am now thinking of pulling the trigger on this:https://smile.amazon.com/Fun-Express-25-120-Plastic/dp/B0016KYXYW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1489061995&sr=8-2&keywords=lobster+toy. If I order it I'll do an in depth comparison with Ms. Octo*****.

 

[Frederick Rea]

https://youtu.be/cQf2dKiA80M

 

[pctazhp]

  Noooooo - my favourite thread on head-fi is going down the MQA rabbit-hole!
 
I've tried the Meridian Explorer 2 from a source where it was very easy to toggle MQA on and off, and with a proper MQA source file I could hear no difference between playing the FLAC file direct, and playing it "unfolded" 4 times as an MQA file. And playing the MQA file directly as a FLAC file actually increases the noise floor since the additional MQA data is inserted as noise into the FLAC.
 
The biggest difference (IMHO) is that the MQA files come from better masters, on the whole. That is the biggest plus of MQA - that it is persuading the record companies to make better quality masters available.
 
Also, don't forget that MQA is actually a lossy format. The unfolding is not lossless.

I don't know nothing about unfolding, or in the immortal words of Sam Cooke "Don't know much about....." But I do know listening to Tidal Masters is wonderful. So if I'm not heard from again I will have disappeared down the rat hole

 

 

[Frederick Rea]

 
I don't know nothing about unfolding, or in the immortal words of Sam Cooke "Don't know much about....." But I do know listening to Tidal Masters is wonderful. So if I'm not heard from again I will have disappeared down the rat hole

 

Yes indeed

 

[HPLobster]

 
With sincere apologies to our esteemed doctor friend, this give me big laugh

 
Am now thinking of pulling the trigger on this:https://smile.amazon.com/Fun-Express-25-120-Plastic/dp/B0016KYXYW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1489061995&sr=8-2&keywords=lobster+toy. If I order it I'll do an in depth comparison with Ms. Octo*****.

 
That´s quite alright, it made me laugh hard too 

I´m primarily a neurologist and will switch to psychiatry probably next year....that´s when things will really start heating up here