[hakushondaimao]

Is that place (Hot Wax?) on 10 St. NW still there? Walked past on my way to SAIT, picked up a few good discs there too.

Still there, but gone mostly vinyl. The Poster Shop (14 St. and 12 Ave. SW) isn't too bad for CDs... mostly older rock, folk and indie.

When you're next in town give me a buzz... Beer would be good.

 

[hakushondaimao]

@Selenium
 I haven't seen a picture of your Lab, You got any photo's fro us,

Lab! Lab! LAB!

 

[acain]

Ill show you mine if you show me yours!!

 

[mosshorn]

That moment when you can't find a single 1/8 to 1/4 adapter in your entire house, and you have new gear coming in with 1/4 jacks. Ugh.

 

[twister6]

SAIT! I went to NAIT for Architectural and Urban Planning back in the day!

You guys see this? FiiO's new DAC/amp, Q5.

http://www.head-fi.org/t/772186/fiio-q5-flagship-dac-amp-an-dual-dac-usb-optical-coaxial-line-in-share-the-same-amp-module-with-x7#post_11707678

 
A bit confused with this one, where FiiO is planning to share modular amp design between X7 and Q5.  It kind of makes sense with Q5 to keep DAC section fixed and introduce a replaceable amp modules with different connections, power/impedance rating (like E12A vs E12 vs E12DIY), including regular and balanced wiring.  Perhaps like a principle similar to E12DIY where OpAmp is socketed and you can replace it to change sound sig.  But with X7, would it already come with internal amplifier driving HO?  Then, would they consider a modular amp as an add-on that going to by-pass internal amp routing signal to external one?  So convenience of this external amp is only a little snap-on module instead of rubber-banded stack up?  Is that how you understood it?

 

[nmatheis]

I understood that X7 has no internal amp - just the various amp modules.

 

[acain]

Different amp mods how Hifiman has it in there dap's?

 

[nmatheis]

Different amp mods how Hifiman has it in there dap's?

Yes, that's how I understood the X7 will be.

 

[hakushondaimao]

Switching from low to high gain, and then volume matching there is a very noticeable difference in sound

Tried this with the Altone 350s and my X3ii this evening, and you're right. Bass was far less boomy on high gain... very listenable without EQ. Thanks for the tip!

 

[Hisoundfi]

Tried this with the Altone 350s and my X3ii this evening, and you're right. Bass was far less boomy on high gain... very listenable without EQ. Thanks for the tip!

Treble is much better and more tolerable as well. Glad we could unleash their potential

 

[nmatheis]

Tried this with the Altone 350s and my X3ii this evening, and you're right. Bass was far less boomy on high gain... very listenable without EQ. Thanks for the tip!

Good call, Vince!

How's it work with A250, Eric?

 

[hakushondaimao]

Good call, Vince!

How's it work with A250, Eric?

 
They're up next... I can only listen to one pair at a time!  

 

 

[nmatheis]

Faster, faster!!!

Just kidding. Take your time, Eric. I won't have the A250 back for a few more weeks anyways.

 

[hakushondaimao]

Good call, Vince!

How's it work with A250, Eric?

 
High gain tames the 350 beautifully. It becomes nice and revealing, with controlled mid bass and articulate mids.
 
The effect on the 250 I find less impactful. The bass is less controlled, and mids comparatively more veiled (recessed, less bright). Not sure if this is the single BA not being able to provide the detail and mid/high emphasis that the 350's double BAs can.
 
To tell the truth, I'm not finding either 350 or 250 as boomy as I found them on first listen... Perhaps I've experienced some brain burn listening to the ESS phones as much as I did in the past couple of weeks?

 

[hakushondaimao]

Actually really liking the 350 all of a sudden...
 
Now if only we could de-viagra the cables, and get rid of the microphonics!