What impedance and gain settings are you using on the Homage?
At work I use the Bifrost 2/64 and Homage combo and it sounds really good. It could be that on the Homage your gain setting is too high and is causing it to distort. It has 3 levels of gain (on the VU meter it should ideally be under 0 and not go into the red zone). Experiment with different gain / impedance settings to see if that helps.
Have you tried using the Eversolo as your DAC to see if you get better synergy, or switching between XLR or single ended between the Homage and the Bifrost?
You can also try the different outputs on the Eversolo? If you are using USB to the Bifrost you can try Coax or optical to check if you hear a difference.
Hi everyone, I'm finding I'm just not satisfied with my desktop setup. There is a lack of what I'll call clarity to it. I find I am hearing a fair amount of distortion at higher volumes and the sound signature is a bit 'soft'. I am running Auteur Classics through a ZMF Homage amp, Schiit Bifrost 2 and Eversolo DMP-A6 (as streamer only). Roon Nucleus is the source. When I run the Auteurs through my DAP (FiiO M23) I can get my preferred sharpness and clarity.
I am wondering if anyone has a suggestion as to what component swap might make the most difference? Is it the op-amp driven Homage or something else? I was thinking of changing to the Amp/Dac combo Ferrum Erco 2, which is well reviewed, but not sure where the biggest improvement might come. Look forward to your suggestions.
I'm thinking the different dac type coupled with a higher output impedance on the Homage is what's causing things to sound different. The Bifrost is a multibit dac vs the usual delta sigma units in most DAPs. That alone could be what you're hearing. But on top of that the Homage has adjustable output impedance to help dial in the dampening factor of the headphone. The DAP's output impedance is likely less than 1. If your Homage is running high output impedance that will have a noticeable effect on sonics. It's also a more powerful amplifier than the DAP, which will fill in the sound more. Could just come down to the sonic difference between a fully powered vs slightly underpowered headphone. That definitely will affect sonics. Lots of things possibly at play here, need more info to help narrow down.
Hi everyone, I'm finding I'm just not satisfied with my desktop setup. There is a lack of what I'll call clarity to it. I find I am hearing a fair amount of distortion at higher volumes and the sound signature is a bit 'soft'. I am running Auteur Classics through a ZMF Homage amp, Schiit Bifrost 2 and Eversolo DMP-A6 (as streamer only). Roon Nucleus is the source. When I run the Auteurs through my DAP (FiiO M23) I can get my preferred sharpness and clarity.
I am wondering if anyone has a suggestion as to what component swap might make the most difference? Is it the op-amp driven Homage or something else? I was thinking of changing to the Amp/Dac combo Ferrum Erco 2, which is well reviewed, but not sure where the biggest improvement might come. Look forward to your suggestions.
I don't have experience with any of your gear but I know that it is all good quality and respected in the community. What others probably haven't mentioned yet is just how easy it is for poor interconnects and power to suck the life out of the sound. A lot of cable companies marketed towards audiophiles make products that only hurt the audio chain. Instead of messing with your components, I would try upgrading your power source for your DAC and your interconnects going to your amp. I use audio quest NRG power cables and blue jeans LC-1 RCA cables. Try to find some with a return window, if you can't let tell a difference than you know the interconnects aren't the problem.
Also good to remove any cheap power bricks from your chain.
Hi everyone, I'm finding I'm just not satisfied with my desktop setup. There is a lack of what I'll call clarity to it. I find I am hearing a fair amount of distortion at higher volumes and the sound signature is a bit 'soft'. I am running Auteur Classics through a ZMF Homage amp, Schiit Bifrost 2 and Eversolo DMP-A6 (as streamer only). Roon Nucleus is the source. When I run the Auteurs through my DAP (FiiO M23) I can get my preferred sharpness and clarity.
I am wondering if anyone has a suggestion as to what component swap might make the most difference? Is it the op-amp driven Homage or something else? I was thinking of changing to the Amp/Dac combo Ferrum Erco 2, which is well reviewed, but not sure where the biggest improvement might come. Look forward to your suggestions.
I would try pad swapping first - as it's easiest/cheapest, and most impractful. Just ask ZMF support for advice which alternate pads may be best to try and order a coupld of those. The second component I would then try to swap is the amp and look into a tube amp.
Hi everyone, I'm finding I'm just not satisfied with my desktop setup. There is a lack of what I'll call clarity to it. I find I am hearing a fair amount of distortion at higher volumes and the sound signature is a bit 'soft'. I am running Auteur Classics through a ZMF Homage amp, Schiit Bifrost 2 and Eversolo DMP-A6 (as streamer only). Roon Nucleus is the source. When I run the Auteurs through my DAP (FiiO M23) I can get my preferred sharpness and clarity.
I am wondering if anyone has a suggestion as to what component swap might make the most difference? Is it the op-amp driven Homage or something else? I was thinking of changing to the Amp/Dac combo Ferrum Erco 2, which is well reviewed, but not sure where the biggest improvement might come. Look forward to your suggestions.
The Homage's gain switch settings go: up (highest gain) middle setting (lowest gain) and down is the mid-gain. A bit out of order if you were not aware. In using my ZMFs I found the gain works best at the mid-level, switch is down. The impedance switch down helps the planar Caldera sound better but with the higher impedance dynamic drivers I could not tell much difference whether it was up or down. I pair it with a Geshelli J2 DAC which has a switchable output gain on high and it works well. I pair the Bifrost 2/64 to a Violectric V222 as my favorite solid state combo on the desk.
Hi everyone, I'm finding I'm just not satisfied with my desktop setup. There is a lack of what I'll call clarity to it. I find I am hearing a fair amount of distortion at higher volumes and the sound signature is a bit 'soft'. I am running Auteur Classics through a ZMF Homage amp, Schiit Bifrost 2 and Eversolo DMP-A6 (as streamer only). Roon Nucleus is the source. When I run the Auteurs through my DAP (FiiO M23) I can get my preferred sharpness and clarity.
I am wondering if anyone has a suggestion as to what component swap might make the most difference? Is it the op-amp driven Homage or something else? I was thinking of changing to the Amp/Dac combo Ferrum Erco 2, which is well reviewed, but not sure where the biggest improvement might come. Look forward to your suggestions.
I would think the culprit is the Bifrost. Had one that I had used successfully for years in a speaker system. When I put it into my headphone system, I found it sounded muted and muddy (in my system with my ears). Switched to a Geshelli J2S with Sparkos SS2509 op-amp and it’s like night and day.
Hi everyone, I'm finding I'm just not satisfied with my desktop setup. There is a lack of what I'll call clarity to it. I find I am hearing a fair amount of distortion at higher volumes and the sound signature is a bit 'soft'. I am running Auteur Classics through a ZMF Homage amp, Schiit Bifrost 2 and Eversolo DMP-A6 (as streamer only). Roon Nucleus is the source. When I run the Auteurs through my DAP (FiiO M23) I can get my preferred sharpness and clarity.
I am wondering if anyone has a suggestion as to what component swap might make the most difference? Is it the op-amp driven Homage or something else? I was thinking of changing to the Amp/Dac combo Ferrum Erco 2, which is well reviewed, but not sure where the biggest improvement might come. Look forward to your suggestions.
I would think the culprit is the Bifrost. Had one that I had used successfully for years in a speaker system. When I put it into my headphone system, I found it sounded muted and muddy (in my system with my ears). Switched to a Geshelli J2S with Sparkos SS2509 op-amp and it’s like night and day.
Well thanks...this was the answer. I removed the Bifrost and the DAC in the Eversolo clearly outperforms it with the Homage. I am wondering if getting the Geshelli would make an even greater improvement. Thanks very much for the suggestion!
I'm thinking the different dac type coupled with a higher output impedance on the Homage is what's causing things to sound different. The Bifrost is a multibit dac vs the usual delta sigma units in most DAPs. That alone could be what you're hearing. But on top of that the Homage has adjustable output impedance to help dial in the dampening factor of the headphone. The DAP's output impedance is likely less than 1. If your Homage is running high output impedance that will have a noticeable effect on sonics. It's also a more powerful amplifier than the DAP, which will fill in the sound more. Could just come down to the sonic difference between a fully powered vs slightly underpowered headphone. That definitely will affect sonics. Lots of things possibly at play here, need more info to help narrow down.
Thanks erics75, you were clearly onto something here - what a difference using the Eversolo DAC. My experience with this DAC was underwhelming in my speaker system so I was very surprised to hear the difference. I bow to your expertise here with great thanks.
Thanks erics75, you were clearly onto something here - what a difference using the Eversolo DAC. My experience with this DAC was underwhelming in my speaker system so I was very surprised to hear the difference. I bow to your expertise here with great thanks.
It’s really interesting that we are finding that DACs may sound great in a speaker system but not in a headphone system or vice versa. I wonder what makes that happen?…
It’s really interesting that we are finding that DACs may sound great in a speaker system but not in a headphone system or vice versa. I wonder what makes that happen?…
It’s really interesting that we are finding that DACs may sound great in a speaker system but not in a headphone system or vice versa. I wonder what makes that happen?…
It’s really interesting that we are finding that DACs may sound great in a speaker system but not in a headphone system or vice versa. I wonder what makes that happen?…
It’s really interesting that we are finding that DACs may sound great in a speaker system but not in a headphone system or vice versa. I wonder what makes that happen?…
I know what you mean. My main system (speakers + sub & headphones) is driven by the MHDT Labs Orchid with the best Brimar CV5331 output tube (which requires an adapter) I could find. Those speakers (Harbeth 30.1s used in a nearfield configuration) sound absolutely glorious with the Orchid, but somewhat less so driving various headphone amps & headphones.
However in my side system (headphones only), the Metrum Onyx (which uses different tech and costs >2.5x what the Orchid cost) sounds amazing with the same amps & headphones.
Comparing the sound of a given DAC w/headphones vs speakers involved mjultiple variables:
speakers vs headphones
speaker amps vs headphone amps
speaker cables vs headphone cables
and a preamp vs none
With all those variables it's kinda hard to suss out cause & effect ....
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.... Wild Arse Guess .... proximity of headphone drivers to ears puts premium on time coherence, natural decay of chords & notes .... 
