Click to view our Accessibility Statement or contact us with accessibility-related questions
PRODUCTS YOU MAY LIKE
Trending Posts in Audiophile
harrykane01
World Of Shanik
The World of Shanik, known for its fusion of culinary excellence and elegant design, now offers a diverse range of products to enhance your lifestyle. From the exquisite turntable cheese board, perfect for entertaining guests with style, to the nightstand organizer wood, keeping your essentials neatly arranged, to the custom tequila shot glasses that add a personal touch to any gathering, Shanik continues to innovate in both form and function. Since its inception as a celebration of good food, good people, and sophisticated design, Shanik has evolved into a trusted destination for those who appreciate quality craftsmanship and tasteful living.
Apr 25, 2024
robbertwilson
Shop Premium Women Golf Shirts at ApparelnBags
Be the trendsetter on the golf course with our stylish collection of custom polo shirts for women. Whether you're swinging your way to victory or simply want to rock that sporty chic look, our polo shirts for women are here to make you stand out. Moreover, we understand that style and quality go hand in hand. That's why, from golf shirts for women to long sleeve polo shirts for women , we handpick the best products to ensure you experience comfort and durability. Also, our women polo shirts offer the perfect blend of style and functionality, so you can focus on your game without compromising style. So, grab your favorite polos today. Remember, it's not just a game; it's a lifestyle, and our polos will help you ace both!
Apr 25, 2024
SsButerbal
Ringing in PC38X's
I recently got this headset, and wow is it good. My only issue is when certain people talk on discord, I can hear a really high pitched ringing. I fiddled with a bunch of settings, computer audio and discord, and nothing seems to solve the issue. It is primarily if not all in my right ear only. Is there something wrong with my headset, or was that ringing always there I can just hear it cause the headset is THAT good? I haven't had any issues with any other application, though I have yet to test if I can hear the ringing on a different version of discord, say on my xbox instead of my pc. Only other issue I've had is occasional static, but I can't tell if it's from the headset or the show/game/etc.
Apr 24, 2024
itsamepe
Sennheiser PC37X randomly goes bad after disconnecting the cable ?
Greetings, Yesterday I was using my headset like normal with my macbook, just listening to music and on a call with people like usual, and the headset was perfectly fine. The stock wire that came with the headset is extremely long and yesterday it annoyed me very much that it kept getting tangled with itself, so I decided to see if the cable is replaceable. I pulled out the cable from the headset and saw the adapter, and looked online for a replacement. Upon plugging it back in, the audio sounded extremely muffled and washed out. Im not sure what I did wrong to make it mess up like that as I've always taken good care of it, ive had it for about 2 years and its always just been chilling on my desk, but anywho I thought the cable just went bad and ordered a replacement. The replacement came, and the issue is still persistant, so I am not sure what the issue is I've tried multiple different headsets and the issue is not with the port, and I also tried it with my windows laptop and...
Apr 23, 2024
MrChiSox
Big changes coming to my tiny little music room, I've recently purchased a new stack. Currently figuring out where to locate it all and ordering up the necessary cables, it won't be too long before I'm up and running. I am now the proud owner of a brand new stack. It's a European brand called Earmen. Amp, DAC, Streamer & Linear Power Supply. It won't be long!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MB15yM4UptQ
Apr 23, 2024
Briankan
Recommendation for my next headphone set? I have Koss 95x
Hey all, What would you recommend I get next and why? I have Koss ESP-95x electrostatic massdrop headphones. These are my first and only audiophile set. I love them. I think my only real requirements is $500 or less for the headphones and that they have a little more low end. I don’t need thump but these are really light on lows…but the experience is still awesome. Also any recommendations on an amp? I only have my electrostatic thingy. I am using the Topping D50 DAC. thx!!
Apr 22, 2024
Simthaniel
Rigs
Modded headphones with qudelix at the core
When I received the Qudelix 5K, I had already modified a pair of Superlux HD-681 headphones. I previously soldered my own balanced connections to the drivers, providing multiple ways to connect and...
Apr 14, 2024
Drop Refurbished
Like-new products you can trustDrop Rewards
Get $5 for every 500 points you earn! Learn more
Drop Keyboard Club
Become a member and expand your keycap collectionCollaborate With Us
For Brands & DesignersFollow Drop
Thanks
There are some technical advantages to using separate tubes per channel in a headphone amp, but they live on the far end of the diminishing returns value curve. This design states a channel separation figure of -85dB. That's more than sufficient for phones, imo, where there is near zero on-head L/R channel bleed. Unlike speakers in a room where we hear both with both our ears. Want to guess the channel separation figures for speakers in an average room? It's low - really low. Or in specsmanship terms, very bad. ;-) Some purchase crossfeed devices/software with headphones to reduce the extreme channel separation that the -85dB value represents. Go figure.
Consider the vinyl grail of audiophilium - the average $500 cartridge only achieves 25dB of channel separation. In the mid range. In the bass it's pretty much mono. And yet many claim to enjoy the imaging / soundstaging of vinyl playback over speakers.
For a $249 tube amp, that supports tube-rolling, be grateful for the single tube cost-saving. There's other design compromises to worry about at this price point. Or not. It's a moderate cost aural pleasure device designed for sonic enjoyment, not lab level specs analysis.
2. Convenience, primarily. For those with XLR connector cabled phones. Also has the advantage of not shorting on insertion/removal which the TRS phone plug can do - it's good to have the volume down/ unit off when plugging/unplugging phones with those picky amps that have zero tolerance for shorts. Or shirts. Or sweaters. ;-)
With the darkvoice, you wouldn't run low impedance stuff because you hear a hiss. I don't even think you'd run planars because it's just doesn't mix well. High impedance dynamic headphones work great. For everything else, there's solid slate like Schiit. Personally, I wouldn't touch anything hybrid. It's better just to have separate devices. Solid slate when you want sterile and accurate music. OTL when you want warm and dark music. This drop seems like you get a budget tube that can play everything and somethings just don't mix. Look at the Schiit hybrids. Those are a skip. It's either go ss or tube. I think it's really a hybrid to keep the cost down and to be entry. The track record with entry stuff on here is to skip. Just like the he350 MD released was entry and that was an easy pass. When you see entry endgame id think the Schiit stack. You get the best bang for you buck and it's cheap to be entry, but good enough to be your permanent setup for the long run. You can either hit the summit right after or get stuck in midfi purgatory. This was my mistake, I didn't do entry or summit and stayed middle. I can't go down lower and I can't go up higher because I'd have to sell off like 4k in headphone gear.
Despite the MD feeding frenzy, this isn't the time to buy, if you're not certain what you're getting into. This unit, being a hybrid, will sound very different to a darkvoice which is all hot tubes. If you're using lower impedance phones the darkvoice will tend to be very dark - as in rolled off top end. In that case, in this price range, you're better to consider a hybrid unit. If you're using high impedance like the Senn 600/650/800 then the darkvoice will be more linear at the top end.
It's all too easy to step onto the hype-train. But, there's other platforms. Could pickup a used Schiit Vali 2 for half the price. Or if you're curious about tube-rolling the G1217 Sunrise/Solstice support a far wider variety of tubes than this CTH.
The big problem I find with buying audio gear over the internet, including MD, is that you can't audition before you spend. Lots of people can use words to describe what THEY hear, but may not be what you hear. Or want to hear.
Expect to waste some money - I've bought hyped-up gear that left me cold. That's the way of personal taste.
Selecting and listening to headphone gear is the most personal sonic experience in the audio hobby. And that's what makes it so appealing to me. Unlike other hobbies, I only have to please my own ears. What is the best headphone listening system for me, is the only thing that I need to care about. And you should too. Care about my needs. LOL!
Have fun and enjoy the music. And the hate!
PS - The Darkvoice only uses a single pre stage tube and a single output tube. Need to spend more $$$ for dualies.
PPS - Unit doesn't ship until early next year. James, that gives you lots of time to burn through lots of tubes in many other amps. Then come back here in early February 2018 and order. Or wait until early March and buy a used CTH to add to your dozen plus head amp collection. ;-)
Please define 'much'. 70%? 80? or 99%?
Please define 'tube' sound. Is it a mushy 'tube-warmth' sound awash in 2nd harmonic distortion? Is it a sweet detailed sound with a lush, deep soundstage?
Then we can discuss specific topologies that can reveal tube character (and the various families of tubes) in a preamp section. And how much the preamp voltage amplification section affects the sound versus the current output stage. And what is the price range for correct amount of much tube sound?