Alchempissed
New Head-Fier
FWIW (with the Canons) I cannot notice much considerable difference with a Qudelisk over an iPhone dongle; however, there is FAR more capable volume and headroom with the Q, let alone proper EQ etc. Clarity may be increased as such, but it really comes down to the quality of the files you are playing, the mastering that was done, whether or not it was compressed to death etc. (Excuse me, let alone cables and eartips but that is not my wheelhouse)
Some albums or tracks sound amazing, some you can hear how badly they fudged the mix/had poor equipment (I still love 60's Kinks). For instance, the original mastering of All Things Must Pass was laughable, nearly unlistenable on some of the infamous wall of sound tracks. So I wouldn't say that these are forgiving, but hot damn they can tolerate the heat of heavy metal.
I was able to go full-tilt, first ten rows of GA at a concert loud with Tool's muddy Aenima mix and it still didn't distort or reach sibilance. Oddly enough, some Porcupine Tree tracks clipped from the famed mixer himself.
This is without FLAC files.
I just got a new SSD, laptop etc, so I can only imagine how much crisper/clearer it will get with FLAC.
House of Cards by Radiohead... the bass and percussion track made me feel like I was at one of their Basement performances. Truly remarkable bass presence. This was at 120 on the dips.
I was able to go max volume on Master of Puppets and my ears weren't treble severed; I just felt like I was at Gillette stadium next to a stack but ten times clearer.
So far, so mightily impressed and humbled.
Haven't even burned them in; though admittedly, my brain may be fried.
Sorry for the novel,
Cheers!
Some albums or tracks sound amazing, some you can hear how badly they fudged the mix/had poor equipment (I still love 60's Kinks). For instance, the original mastering of All Things Must Pass was laughable, nearly unlistenable on some of the infamous wall of sound tracks. So I wouldn't say that these are forgiving, but hot damn they can tolerate the heat of heavy metal.
I was able to go full-tilt, first ten rows of GA at a concert loud with Tool's muddy Aenima mix and it still didn't distort or reach sibilance. Oddly enough, some Porcupine Tree tracks clipped from the famed mixer himself.
This is without FLAC files.
I just got a new SSD, laptop etc, so I can only imagine how much crisper/clearer it will get with FLAC.
House of Cards by Radiohead... the bass and percussion track made me feel like I was at one of their Basement performances. Truly remarkable bass presence. This was at 120 on the dips.
I was able to go max volume on Master of Puppets and my ears weren't treble severed; I just felt like I was at Gillette stadium next to a stack but ten times clearer.
So far, so mightily impressed and humbled.
Haven't even burned them in; though admittedly, my brain may be fried.
Sorry for the novel,
Cheers!
Last edited: