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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
brothamike
A decent set of IEMs
I am in the midst of a 300 hour burn-in but, I will say I am enjoying how this set sounds so far. Before I received these which was btw late by a few weeks, I purchased a Sony/Kimber Kable MMCX...
Apr 12, 2024
merrick97
Should I exchange the PC38X for better headphones?
I bought the PC38X headphones FOR GAMING and they are great, but I have NO use for a Microphone since I don't do competitive gaming and I was wondering if there were better headphone options at a similar price without a headphone, where (presumably) more of the cost was put into making it sound better. I also find that my PC38X don't get quite as loud as I would like and I was wondering if a cheap amp like the iFi Go link would draw a little more volume out of my phones. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BN6MM822?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details I went with the PC38X since it was considered the best bang for buck headphones. I care most about using spatial apps like DOlby Atmos and DTS Headphone:X. Suggestions are welcome.
Apr 11, 2024
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I'm very intrigued by this DAC. However, I have both the ODAC Rev B/O2 amp combo, and a straight up O2 amp, both from previou drops here on Massdrop.
To be perfectly honest, I'm not a fan of how they sound. While the numbers and measurements are good, and it is a competent performer, I find it sounds somewhat clinical and mechanical. I find it lacks a sense of soul.
That's my personal feeling on the performance. Others do find satisfaction from the ODAC and O2, so it's not for me, that's all.
I'm curious if this amp is essentially a remake of the ODAC design. Important to know, because I would personally rather not purchase one if the sonic performance is similar to the ODAC.
Any reviews we can reference to get an idea of the personality of this DAC? That would be most helpful.
Thanks.
ODAC and SDAC are both budget DACs, and 79.99$ is not a big amount at risk here to try it out. Some early reviewers says it sounds better than the Modi and the ODAC. I guess we will only know when it is released to the consumers that have ordered it on this drop. I also matches the looks of the O2 that I bought a few weeks ago from Massdrop. Enough said to take a 79.99$ chance on this item...
While I definitely agree with you about changing the overall system sound via amp and headphone choice, I respectfully disagree with thought that all decent DACs sound the same (you had specifically mentioned tonal balance, but I believe that's the gist of what you said).
In my experience, I have noticed clear differences in musical presentation among DACs. Among those I have used are the ODAC, Modi, Teac UD501 and UD503, Denon DA-300 USB, Grace mXX, SMSL M8, amongst others. I do hear differences in presentation. This is all in the context of the same supporting system.
I don't know if there's any difference in frequency response. The differences lie more in things like sense of space in the soundscape and around instruments, the naturalness of the textures of the instrumental and vocal sounds, the naturalness, speed, and depth of note decay, the complexity and richness of the harmonics, the musical flow and sense of rhythm in the song or piece, etc. Things like that.
I don't know too much about the technology of digital playback. I just plug in the DAC, maybe play around with the filters and settings, and listen to music.
I found, particularly, that the ODAC did not bring me the enjoyment that I found in some of the other DACs I own.
On my computer, I had a hard time discerning the difference between the Modi and an original Audioquest Dragonfly, so I won't say I hear a difference all the time. But most of the time the differences led me to prefer one DAC over another for long term listening.
That's my experience, anyway.
I did not enumerate the other different components used by each DAC, like the Op Amps, which are probably all different in each aforementioned DAC model. In the case of the SDAC, the op amp is a Burr Brown OPA1652.
In other words, all of these DACs are different, using different components. So your dislike the ODAC (Original or revisionB, I don't know which you tried) that doesn't mean that you will dislike the SDAC in the same way. For 79.99$, you should give it a try. That is what I'm doing, I have ordered the standalone SDAC.
By the way, the original Dragonfly uses the same DAC as the original ODAC, the ESS ES9023 24 bit Sabre DAC with Delta Sigma architecture and Texas Instruments USB controller TAS1020B. Current Dragonflys use the ESS ES9010 32 bit DAC (Dragonfly Black) and ESS ES9016 32 bit DAC/AMP chip (Dragonfly Red) with USB controller Microchip PIC32MX. All different configurations...
Live and learn, I guess.