[ThanatosVI]

That's a very cool DAC. Is there anything in particular that led you to it?

A lot of research on head-fi mainly.
I want my next DAC to be endgame and R2R for that analogue charme.

The wavelight uses R2R for the Analogue section and FPGA for the Digital to Digital conversions.
It can upsample and unlike most other upsampling DACs many even prefer the hybrid Mode over NOS. (Most others are always prefered in NOS mode i.e. the previously considered Holo may)
FPGA seems also quite future proof at least in theory. And as of now it is capable of all relevant sampling rates.

On top of all that is Rockna also working on a streamer which will perfectly fit together and use the same chassis.

From the looks it is also a beautiful piece especially in the Black Version

 

[Chris Kaoss]

A lot of research on head-fi mainly.
I want my next DAC to be endgame and R2R for that analogue charme.

The wavelight uses R2R for the Analogue section and FPGA for the Digital to Digital conversions.
It can upsample and unlike most other upsampling DACs many even prefer the hybrid Mode over NOS. (Most others are always prefered in NOS mode i.e. the previously considered Holo may)
FPGA seems also quite future proof at least in theory. And as of now it is capable of all relevant sampling rates.

On top of all that is Rockna also working on a streamer which will perfectly fit together and use the same chassis.

From the looks it is also a beautiful piece especially in the Black Version

Sounds similar to my R28. ^^
But obviously more expensive.

 

[iFi audio]

A lot of research on head-fi mainly.
I want my next DAC to be endgame and R2R for that analogue charme.

The wavelight uses R2R for the Analogue section and FPGA for the Digital to Digital conversions.
It can upsample and unlike most other upsampling DACs many even prefer the hybrid Mode over NOS. (Most others are always prefered in NOS mode i.e. the previously considered Holo may)
FPGA seems also quite future proof at least in theory. And as of now it is capable of all relevant sampling rates.

On top of all that is Rockna also working on a streamer which will perfectly fit together and use the same chassis.

From the looks it is also a beautiful piece especially in the Black Version

I've asked you about it because a good while before my iFi days I had for a while Rockna's first battery-powered S/PDIF converter. I think it was called Hydra and it was very good. Thanks for anwering btw

 

[ThanatosVI]

I've asked you about it because a good while before my iFi days I had for a while Rockna's first battery-powered S/PDIF converter. I think it was called Hydra and it was very good. Thanks for anwering btw

Do you mean the Audiobyte Hydra?
That's very similar technology from a subcompany of Rockna.

Most noteable difference is that it also uses FPGA for the Digital to analogue conversion.

It's more affordable, maybe I will also consider this device. It's still a while till I can afford it (or rather till the wife accepts another purchase of that value)

 

[iFi audio]

Do you mean the Audiobyte Hydra?
That's very similar technology from a subcompany of Rockna.

Yes, the same engineer/CEO behind Audiobyte and Rockna

 

[rev92]

Hey guys

Here's my look at the Meze Empyrean - my favorite headphones of all time

https://ear-fidelity.com/2020/10/10/meze-empyrean/

 

[iFi audio]

Hey guys

Here's my look at the Meze Empyrean - my favorite headphones of all time

https://ear-fidelity.com/2020/10/10/meze-empyrean/

That's a cool work and I agree, Empyreans are a complete product overall.

 

[tinariwen]

Hey, thanks! Yeah, it's so odd, but a lot of my current headphones are not that amp/dac picky at all. Sure, I definitely prefer them all with a specific pairing, but the nuances there are subtle.

With the Empyrean, upgrading my amp/dac even just a little bit made it more full bodied, more rich, and just better.

Everyone kept touting these as being super easy to drive, so, I had a cheap amp + a little Schiit Modi 3 back when I first got them and the bass sounded a bit uncontrolled, sound wasn't very cohesive and separated, and I actually remember having a bit of a mental breakdown because I became convinced that they were not that great.

When I got my new pair of Empyreans, first thing I did was use the same amp that I used before but I added a much better dac to it this time around. Already the sound improved a ton. It wasn't subtle, it was completely night and day. Then I started playing around with some better amps that I accumulated in the time since I last owned them, and, wow. These really scale in such a way that blows my mind.

I found the Lyr 3 to be a really good pairing with them, along with the Asgard 3. I then tried running my Bifrost 2 out to my Freya Plus and then into my Asgard 3, and it felt like the best of both worlds. Wasn't a fan of it with the Valhalla 2 though, but maybe it just doesn't like OTL amps

 

[tinariwen]

Introductory line
Han Sound NYX 8Thigh

Nice cable. Goes really well with the copper

 

[tinariwen]

One obvious element I did not mention: comfort. The Empyreans, besides their striking appearance, are the most comfortable headphones that I have owned or used. Sonic attributes mean little if one cannot or does not want to keep the headphones on.

So true. I've bought a pair of ZMF Vérité Closed which are also incredibly comfy, but when I switch back to the Empyreans the difference is immediately noticeable. Thing is, the VCs are amazingly comfy, too. They really nailed the design of the Empys

 

[tinariwen]

My Empyreans finally have the amplification they deserve.
My Cayin HA-6A arrived today and damn that combination is impressive!

That is a gorgeous amp. Been eyeing one up for a while!

 

[tinariwen]

Hey guys

Here's my look at the Meze Empyrean - my favorite headphones of all time

https://ear-fidelity.com/2020/10/10/meze-empyrean/

Great picture. I use the wall mount version of those stands and the fit the Empy really well. Was worried about stretching the leather with other designs but they seem spot on

 

[rev92]

Great picture. I use the wall mount version of those stands and the fit the Empy really well. Was worried about stretching the leather with other designs but they seem spot on

Yea it's doing a perfect job for the Empyrean, no stretching of the headband or squishing the pads. Highly recommended

 

[DaYooper]

Yea it's doing a perfect job for the Empyrean, no stretching of the headband or squishing the pads. Highly recommended

So who makes that stand and where can one purchase it?

 

[rev92]

So who makes that stand and where can one purchase it?

These are ROOMs FS Stand.

https://www.thomann.de/pl/search_dir.html?sw=rooms&smcs=d3ead3_1143

I hope that linking is okay here, of course im not affiliated with neither Thomann nor Rooms.