cross-posted from the forum that shall not be named:
I've been dicking around with mid-fi stuff for about 2 years (like the mojo, etc) and bought and returned a lot of stuff. In reading reviews / posts I've perceived this "musical" experience others are having, but I wasn't ... and I wasn't sure if it's the gear, my ears, or my head.
Anyway, TLDR - the Jot setup I have now could be endgame for me because it's finally to the point where the music is emotional again: I can FEEL the kick drum or, with just a tad suspension of disbelief, believe Lou Reed is right in front of me. I don't know what others mean by "euphonic", but for me this is it. (of course I'll make sure by purchasing ever more spendy hi-fi gear, but whatever, let's stay on topic as i'm trying to make a point here).
(1.) Nice set of cans
The key was first getting the right headphones for me which are the TH-x00 and to a certain extent the HD-600 which I kind of use as a reference; everything sounds "better" on the HD-600s, but it's not as musical as the TH-x00. It can depend on the track and blah blah blah, but in general the Fostex are my jam-cans. I tried the AFC, 650s, B&W P9s, and lots of other sub-$1k cans and learned a lot, but those two are my keepers.
(2.) Make 'em bounce
The next thing was getting the right DAC/amp. I'll skip the details, but eventually I settled on the Mimby / Jotunheim.
(3.) Strap 'em in!
It wasn't until I added the Eitr AND good cables that the magic happened. At first I went with "cables don't matter", then "sort of, but not with my mid-fi stuff", then "feck it, I think cables matter. a lot." And at that point I added Audioquest golden gate RCAs, cinnamon spdif, and carbon USB. To be clear (pun intended), I tried a lot of cables. I tried flipping them around. I tried DBTs. Cable matter - if they don't for you, that's cool, but they sure do for me (please use the "science" forums for technical pontifications in disagreement - also note all spendy cables had min 30 day return policies and I did return some spendier cables, so there's no risk to trying them). And it's weird because when I critically listen it's not a huge thing, but when I emotionally listen it's a huge thing. It wasn't until the AQs were in place that I realized, "holy schiit. this could be end-game right here. I don't even need an yggy or whatever!" (note: I'm totally still getting an yggy. let's not be unrealistic here). Final bit of "synergy"? I dunno.
Here are songs that proved to me - the kind of tracks that you think, "holy Schiit, THIS. THIS."
Crank it up.
- Perfect Day, Lou Reed - classic, intimate track to get things started
- My oh My, Punch Brothers - damn son! You'll forget you're not actually in the band by the end of this track
- Hot Butter, Nathy Peluso - holy sub-bass something just melted
- Big God, Florence + Machine - My wife for sure can never listen to this track, she's pissed enough
- Hit 'em Up Style, Carolina Chocolate Drops - this blue grass / folk remake of Blu Cantrell is awesome on youtube, watching the violin bowstring hair fry off, and this chick at 3m+ just blasts
- Tangerine, Rebecca Pidgeon - grab a cocktail, your best ascot, and watch the sunset
- Empty Temples, The Sword (Low Country) - pull up a hay bail to the fire, bring your guitar, and get ready to play melody
- Divine Moments of Truth, Shpongle - closest thing to a mushroom trip without mushrooms. By 30s you're hearing colors, and by 2m don't look at anybody! Snakes will crawl out of their eye sockets. I warned you.
- In the Mix (orig mix), Funk the Beat - turn out all the lights and grab a flashlight to jump around with but be careful - there's no predicting what your ass is gonna do with this track
- Last Night in Los Feliz, Niia - this chick will sing right through you on this track
Bonus track:
Back in the early 90s I was in NorCal and on Sunday mornings I used to go down to the ferry building area and there were these bleachers by the water and random people would show up with whatever instruments and just jam for hours. But always people with bongos. This track reminds me of that, and with the right system - whoa.
- Sangandongo, Niagra
MBP > Tidal Hi-Fi > AQ carbon > Eitr > AQ Cinnamon > Mimby > AQ Golden Gate > Jot > SE TH-x00 or Bal HD-600
More headphones coming, but not needed