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Macc006
23
Sep 12, 2018
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Didn't know they stacked Schiit that high. Seeing a lot of their stuff in here, come to think of it. Interesting.
Sennheiser HD600 + balanced custom cable from Best in the Verse, who appears to be closed. =( (Anyone know the next best place for custom cables?)
I don't use the Vali 2 or Wyrd anymore so they're now a makeshift headphone stand. :P The cassette deck isn't really used either. I only put it there to rip some old tapes I have.
As for the speakers, yeah yeah I'm working on it. Need a bigger desk first.
(If wondering, the old DS Lite on the left is plugged in because it has been running what I'm sure is the last demo ever downloaded from the Wii's Nintendo Channel since its online services went down in 2013. It's gone forever once power is lost; I can't bring myself to turn it off...)
Sep 12, 2018
rastus
1391
Sep 13, 2018
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Macc006That's a lot O'...
Sep 13, 2018
Macc006
23
Sep 13, 2018
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rastusI'm fulla...
Sep 13, 2018
RayF
22214
Sep 13, 2018
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Macc006Looks like you've been take'n their schiit for a while now? Time to give 'em back some of their own!
Sep 13, 2018
emilsal
27
Sep 14, 2018
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Macc006I need a breakdown of in and out of whats going on here. :)
Sep 14, 2018
ddd_80
6
Sep 14, 2018
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Macc006I got a balanced cable for my 6xx's from Periapt for $65. Construction is OK, sound is good (better than stock cable), but cord is stiff, unlike a braided cord. Good cable for the money. I have an LQI UP-OCC copper cable for my HE-4xx and m1060 headphones - costs $159. Good construction, even better sound, and flexible. Very good value for the money. Aesthetically they are boring, but I highly recommend them. Just ordered a Norne Audio custom cable for my Aeon flow closed - cost $255. Don't have them yet, but I'm sure they're incredible. I was going to buy a Norne Audio cable for the 6xx, but thought it's stupid to pay more for the cable than the headphones. Then again, you get what you pay for.
Sep 14, 2018
RayF
22214
Sep 14, 2018
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ddd_80Kool-aid: damn near free; Upgrade cables: expensive!
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Sep 14, 2018
Macc006
23
Sep 14, 2018
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emilsal
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You asked for it. Words incoming: The source is that big sommabish.
It outputs fiber optic to an optical splitter: https://tinyurl.com/y6vtuv75 One port splits off to the receiver of the z906 (https://tinyurl.com/y7dzjddo) which provides (cheap) surround sound for both the desktop and all the consoles. (The consoles all go into a switch box, which outputs RCA to the receiver.) The other optical port splits off to the Modi 2 Uber DAC: http://www.schiit.com/products/modi-2 The Modi then goes to the Loki EQ: http://www.schiit.com/products/loki The Loki then goes to the SYS switch: http://www.schiit.com/products/sys The SYS switches between the Jotunheim (http://www.schiit.com/products/jotunheim) and the Valhalla 2 (http://www.schiit.com/products/valhalla-2).
The Valhalla 2 isn't balanced so I just leave a 1/4"-XLR adapter hanging off of it.
The Jotunheim does have the balanced USB DAC card in it, and it would be nice to just use that and output to the Valhalla with its pre-outs, but I'm using optical on the Modi for two reasons: 1. The USB ports on my motherboard are failing and throwing USB power overload errors, and I'd rather not run the risk of zapping my Schiit until I throw another USB PCIe card into my computer (or build a new one). 2. Minor point, but no putzing around with drivers, Windows forgetting where stuff is, or having to change playback devices in Windows' Sound settings (both the speakers and the stack receive a signal at all times).
That cassette deck only has one output, which is going to the Jil ADC: http://www.schiit.com/products/jil Jil then outputs USB back to the computer (through the USB expansion card to avoid the aforementioned zapping).
As I said above, the Vali 2 (http://www.schiit.com/products/vali-2) and Wyrd (http://www.schiit.com/products/wyrd) aren't used anymore and are just there to hold the headphones at this point. I only got the Wyrd due to a misdiagnosis of my system, before I found that the physical USB ports on the mobo are failing.
[lifestory]
The Vali 2, Modi 2 Uber, and HD600s were my starting point when I began last year. I discovered the audioverse through my subscription to LTT and seeing this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32-X4sDzLXw Out of curiosity, searching for other reviews on the Magni/Modi led me to ZReviews and this video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFOd9p-6oZc), and later this video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-2w0vlmhk8), and Zeos now owns a share of my soul. Several days of researching later I decided to go with the Vali, Modi, and HD600s. Over the course of a year my BS meter has been calibrated and I'm up to speed.
[/coolstorybro]



Sep 14, 2018
Macc006
23
Sep 14, 2018
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ddd_80Thanks, I'll check their site out, but I'm more so referring to custom lengths, materials, cosmetics, connections, that sort of thing. Cable "performance"... I won't get into that here.
Sep 14, 2018
emilsal
27
Sep 15, 2018
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Macc006Wow. Just wow. all of that In just over a year?
Sep 15, 2018
Macc006
23
Sep 15, 2018
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emilsalI like to experiment and learn new stuff. =) I recently dove into RGB mods on retro consoles as well. (I've been a vintage game collector for a long time.) Combining that with the audio adventures, this video has been extremely relevant to me lately... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZK8Z8hulFg
It doesn't help that my setup(s) and requirements keep morphing and evolving. Befitting to my avatar, being the Mark of Tzeentch; ever-changing. ;)

Sep 15, 2018
emilsal
27
Sep 15, 2018
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RayFsome us get cables to use with our balanced equipment
Sep 15, 2018
emilsal
27
Sep 15, 2018
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ddd_80Cosign on periapt. Well built cable for the price. Excellent customer service too.
Sep 15, 2018
RayF
22214
Sep 15, 2018
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emilsalNothing wrong with that--so long as you don't start claiming you can hear a difference ;- )
Sep 15, 2018
emilsal
27
Sep 15, 2018
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RayFI find that the using the balanced out from my jotunheim i dont have to turn the volume as high. I think thats the intent? Sound-wise I think it sounds the same.
Sep 15, 2018
emilsal
27
Sep 15, 2018
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Macc006LMK if you want to unload the Vali. I want to try tubes but don't want to spend too much in case i don't like it.
Sep 15, 2018
emilsal
27
Sep 15, 2018
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Macc006I've had good luck from this seller on ebay. He's based in the UK and he does custom lengths, color materials, connectors etc.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Sennheiser-HD6XX-HD580-HD600-HD650-HD660s-Balanced-or-unbalanced-Occ-cable/232875138609?hash=item3638709e31:g:2EIAAOSwxrpbWXgu
I had an 8 core silver cable (blue/black/white attached to my 6xx) balanced 6 foot length for bout 80 shipped to the US made by him.
If you want a well built copper cable in your choice of length, connector and color sleeving check out periapt like @dd_80 mentioned.
Sep 15, 2018
RayF
22214
Sep 15, 2018
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emilsalI did too!
Sep 15, 2018
Macc006
23
Sep 16, 2018
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emilsalThanks for the eBay recommendation. Damn those are cheap, I'll check them out.
Regarding the Vali 2, if you want to try tubes, Vali won't give you a good idea of what they can do. It's a good amp, but it's not a tube amp. It's a hybrid tube amp with a lot more emphasis on the solid state part, to the point where it's hard to even tell the difference between it and say, a Magni. It's almost a Magni with a tube attached, which you then need to replace. Though it's certainly a lot more refined than those cheap little 12 volt "tube" amps you see everywhere.
Since you have powered monitors, you could use the Vali 2 as a pre-amp for those and give them some tubiness if you're into that.
I would recommend something like the Dark Voice or the Valhalla 2, or a cheaper but proper tube amp. Go all the way. Schiit even has a 15 day trial on all of its gear if it doesn't do it for you.
Tubes can be nice if you're after certain things, perfect clarity not being one of them. They can extend the sound stage, which is nice if you have something like HD600s, which love them some tubes. They also take the edge off of tracks that are too bright or fatiguing. Or maybe you just want to make things sound a bit different and weird.
("Tube" tally: 8)
Vali 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHOG0MOcwTU DarkVoice 336: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65r9Q21Yxno Valhalla 2: https://youtu.be/cEIXGd0Cmhw?t=20s
(If you don't know ZReviews, yes they're long, but they're thorough, and he doesn't bullschiit.)



Sep 16, 2018
kmlane
9
Sep 20, 2018
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Macc006What a stackaroo!
Sep 20, 2018
SgtStakas
0
Jan 9, 2020
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Macc006That set-up looks pretty... Schiit to me.
Jan 9, 2020
RayF
22214
Jan 9, 2020
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ddd_80You know how you can tell when I a guy who claims a balanced cable makes a difference is lying? When he says so!
Jan 9, 2020
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