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Post by PinkFloyd on Dec 15, 2012 21:33:55 GMT
SAC or DAC? Come on man, are you on the wine? ;-)
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Post by Deleted on Dec 15, 2012 22:04:11 GMT
SAC or DAC? Come on man, are you on the wine? ;-) Ian has probably been helping his XYL to make Xmas puddings! ;D Sounds like he is about ready to hit the DAC.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 15, 2012 22:19:46 GMT
Whoops. The joys of using a jiblet/tublet/rabbit ............ Sorry, a tablet on the internet. The bloody thing corrects my spelling incorrectly. Plus the fact that I have indeed polished off a bottle. (or two)
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Post by PinkFloyd on Dec 15, 2012 22:40:51 GMT
Tizer?
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Post by Deleted on Dec 16, 2012 7:46:50 GMT
When. That was ' wine' uncorrected.
Beer comes out fine.
Whisky is good!!
Spellcheckers that auto correct are a pain. Especially when you have to type with one eye open.
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mrarroyo
Been here a while!
Our man in Miami!
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Post by mrarroyo on Dec 16, 2012 10:53:22 GMT
At $300 USD w/ S&H I am starting to get interested. Has anyone compared the S2 against the highly modified Jaycar or an X-Can V2? Hi Miguel As good as the Jaycar was at the time, I would expect this one to outperform it,provided that you can change the output resistors to suit the headphones if necessary. Against the Class A HA, I would expect it to be the other way around, as the Class A HA is a no holds barred design with 2 separate power transformers, a separate PSU PCB for each channel, and individual JLHs for each channel. Regards Alex Just for that you should start building ME a Class A HA.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 16, 2012 10:58:19 GMT
Hi Miguel As good as the Jaycar w >:(as at the time, I would expect this one to outperform it,provided that you can change the output resistors to suit the headphones if necessary. Against the Class A HA, I would expect it to be the other way around, as the Class A HA is a no holds barred design with 2 separate power transformers, a separate PSU PCB for each channel, and individual JLHs for each channel. Regards Alex Just for that you should start building ME a Class A HA. Not forgetting the old rabbit!!! You're up early, Miguel. Something worrying you?
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Post by PinkFloyd on Dec 16, 2012 20:01:07 GMT
Whoops. The joys of using a jiblet/tublet/rabbit ............ Sorry, a tablet on the internet. The bloody thing corrects my spelling incorrectly. Plus the fact that I have indeed polished off a bottle. (or two) Tonight is my last night of looking at the computer with one eye.... having a detox next week (starting tomorrow) so will be spending Christmas onwards (hopefully forever) totally alcohol free Note to self: "never try to drink a woman out of your mind, it don't work!"...... anyhoo Ian, take it easy on that stuff, one eyed surfing is NOT a habit you want to get into I've almost finished a replica S2 power supply so I'll be able to share notes with you as I have the other S2 here There will be a "little" christmas present on it's way to you for the T1 too..... just a "Little" something to add to your collection of "Little" things No! I'm not going to give you a hint what it is, you'll have to wait and see A total "one off" and a gift to a friend. Even though we have never met, I consider you a good friend and a true gentleman. Mike.
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ronzo56
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All you need is love. But money helps too.
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Post by ronzo56 on Dec 16, 2012 20:06:48 GMT
Well why everyone else is asking put me on the list for a Class A HA. Of course Alex will have to sell all of his belongings to pay for the shipping. Best wishes Mike. I think life looks (and sounds) better with a clear head. Cheers, Ron
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Post by PinkFloyd on Dec 16, 2012 20:43:10 GMT
Cheers Ron...... I agree and I also disagree..... things are sometimes MIND BLOWING when you've "partaken" in a substance of your choice..... have you ever seen Floyd "live" after consuming a few cups of magic mushroom tea?
Thing is..... you can't really remember that vibe with a clear head.... you can only describe (in an offhand way) how "intense" it was at the time.
I'm a bloody idiot like a rat in a cage who keeps pressing the "do not press this button or you'll get shocked"....... the older I get the more stupid I seem to become and I keep pressing that same old button..... WHAMMO! same thing happens every time.... always results in a shock to the system.
I seem to have a built in destruct mode which is triggered by certain experiences in my life.... I can (an do) realise when it's all becomming a problem (ie: too much booze) and get back to normality for a while..... the problem I seem to have is constantly thinking that "it'll be ok next time"..... this time I realise that ONE drink is one too many and I can never drink again.
Some of my most intense musical "experiences" were experienced under the influence of alcohol or marijuana but I totally agree..... a "clear head" is the only way to go if you want to see it "as it is".
Hope all is cool with you.
All the best, Mike.
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Post by PinkFloyd on Dec 16, 2012 20:59:36 GMT
Without wanting to stir up a hornet's nest I would go with that Aune S2, I would hit the BIN button NOW..... I would RUN, not walk, to my buy it now button and press it with absolute confidence that you are getting one HELL of a good amp for an extremely good price.
I have been farting about on this forum since day one trying my best to bring DIY headphone amps / bang for your buck products to the eyes of the masses..... it has been a very time consuming, pleasurable and interesting journey.....
I can 100%, wholeheartedly, assure you that (for the money) the Aune S2 is worth every penny (or cent)..... if you can get one SHIPPED to you for $300 then you would be mad not to go for it (IMO)........
Just my tuppence ha'penny worth (two cents).
Mike.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 16, 2012 21:09:09 GMT
Ehhh??!!! - have you really? . Dave.
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Post by PinkFloyd on Dec 16, 2012 21:10:45 GMT
Ehhh??!!! - have you really? . Dave. No.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 16, 2012 21:14:30 GMT
Without wanting to stir up a hornet's nest I would go with that Aune S2, I would hit the BIN button NOW..... I would RUN, not walk, to my buy it now button and press it with absolute confidence that you are getting one HELL of a good amp for an extremely good price. I have been farting about on this forum since day one trying my best to bring DIY headphone amps / bang for your buck products to the eyes of the masses..... it has been a very time consuming, pleasurable and interesting journey..... I can 100%, wholeheartedly, assure you that (for the money) the Aune S2 is worth every penny (or cent)..... if you can get one SHIPPED to you for $300 then you would be mad not to go for it (IMO)........ Just my tuppence ha'penny worth (two cents). Mike. I agree with Mike. Only a few of the members are heavily into DIY. This HA is possibly the best that has been made available to RG for review.It looks great, has a PSU that hasn't been skimped on, and the presently available low prices are unlikely to last. If both Ian and Mike say it performs VERY well, then I would expect that it really does. I feel sure that Candy would take care of any concerns too. Alex
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Post by Deleted on Dec 16, 2012 21:21:59 GMT
It really is, Ron. Mike is absolutely right about the amp. The little differences that are there at the start kind of grow with time. Amps tend to be pretty good all round these days. With those small differences, you need to be pretty aware to detect differences but once you know what they are, they become glaring and make all the difference.
Mike has the right idea by saying that you need time and listen while you're relaxed. If you tackle an amp (or DAC for that matter) feeling that you''re on test, it can be hard to know what to say.
It also helps to have a wide experience of different amps at different price levels so you gain a perspective. I am happy to listen to anything that comes my way, cheap or expensive, because it sets my radar.
I'm not stuck into just expensive gear and never have been. However, once the radar has been set, you instantly recognise those subtle differences That become large with time.
The S2 is a superior amp for sure. I will be going for it myself eventually. It has a really balanced and extended sound with a fantastic dynamic attack. If Mike gets any more out of it with a Pinkie it''ll be one of the most dynamic headphone amps I''ve heard.
Even a superior power supply can make these things lift which is why I use the Little Pinkies. You know then that the supply is big enough.
That Canadian price is really good for something of this quality. I always try to tie quality and price together which is why I listened with no idea of price in the first place.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 16, 2012 21:38:14 GMT
Mike, that's really kind of you. You know we all care about what happens to you in spite of distances etc. As Alex said previously, we all love you to bits really and it kills us all to see you in pain. The worst thing is pleasure and pain are so linked and close together at times. As in the woman thing. You have had a rotten time so who can blame you looking for pleasure in a drink? I don't. I do it myself sometimes although I'm lucky that I'm not an alcoholic and have no real tendencies. For me, it's a treat and occasionally I go a couple too far, but I'm lucky in that I'm none the worse for wear afterwards. Once I have to focus through one eye, I stop!!! You were being manipulated through the Summer anyway and being the nice guy that you are, you went along with it and tried so damned hard to change yourself for her while she did not a great deal to fit in with you, to be frank. One day, you'll hit the jackpot. Never give up. It would be really nice to see you happy again and being yourself. That's what we all want for you really.
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ronzo56
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All you need is love. But money helps too.
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Post by ronzo56 on Dec 17, 2012 0:08:51 GMT
Cheers Ron...... I agree and I also disagree..... things are sometimes MIND BLOWING when you've "partaken" in a substance of your choice..... have you ever seen Floyd "live" after consuming a few cups of magic mushroom tea? Thing is..... you can't really remember that vibe with a clear head.... you can only describe (in an offhand way) how "intense" it was at the time. I'm a bloody idiot like a rat in a cage who keeps pressing the "do not press this button or you'll get shocked"....... the older I get the more stupid I seem to become and I keep pressing that same old button..... WHAMMO! same thing happens every time.... always results in a shock to the system. I seem to have a built in destruct mode which is triggered by certain experiences in my life.... I can (an do) realise when it's all becomming a problem (ie: too much booze) and get back to normality for a while..... the problem I seem to have is constantly thinking that "it'll be ok next time"..... this time I realise that ONE drink is one too many and I can never drink again. Some of my most intense musical "experiences" were experienced under the influence of alcohol or marijuana but I totally agree..... a "clear head" is the only way to go if you want to see it "as it is". Hope all is cool with you. All the best, Mike. As I am American and totally paranoid that my government (or Murdoch) is reading every word I write, let me just say that I do understand what you are saying. The rest I will send in a PM. All my best to you for tomorrow, Ron
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ronzo56
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All you need is love. But money helps too.
Posts: 316
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Post by ronzo56 on Dec 17, 2012 0:40:26 GMT
It really is, Ron. Mike is absolutely right about the amp. The little differences that are there at the start kind of grow with time. Amps tend to be pretty good all round these days. With those small differences, you need to be pretty aware to detect differences but once you know what they are, they become glaring and make all the difference. Mike has the right idea by saying that you need time and listen while you're relaxed. If you tackle an amp (or DAC for that matter) feeling that you''re on test, it can be hard to know what to say. It also helps to have a wide experience of different amps at different price levels so you gain a perspective. I am happy to listen to anything that comes my way, cheap or expensive, because it sets my radar. I'm not stuck into just expensive gear and never have been. However, once the radar has been set, you instantly recognise those subtle differences That become large with time. The S2 is a superior amp for sure. I will be going for it myself eventually. It has a really balanced and extended sound with a fantastic dynamic attack. If Mike gets any more out of it with a Pinkie it''ll be one of the most dynamic headphone amps I''ve heard. Even a superior power supply can make these things lift which is why I use the Little Pinkies. You know then that the supply is big enough. That Canadian price is really good for something of this quality. I always try to tie quality and price together which is why I listened with no idea of price in the first place. Well you have me convinced. I agree, amps are getting to be splitting hairs, more with speakers I think. Headphones seem to be a little more selective. Now all I need is a note from you and Mike to my wife saying it's a really good idea if she buys me the amp for X-mas. How I will be so much easier to get along with and how much money she is saving by buying it on a holiday special. ;D Cheers, Ron
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Post by Deleted on Dec 17, 2012 1:10:37 GMT
If she can afford to do that without using your own money, then she must have a job that pays better tnan a teacher in your neck of the woods.
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ronzo56
Been here a while!
All you need is love. But money helps too.
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Post by ronzo56 on Dec 17, 2012 15:21:39 GMT
Oh how wish it were but true. But Cal is still recovering from the Wizards of Wall Street, hence the alternate strategy. I am saving us money by spending money, because it's on sale.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 17, 2012 20:35:21 GMT
Hi Ron The whole bloody world is still trying to recover from the wizards of Wall Street with their immoral and shonky practices. My Super has been savaged too, and is never going to recover now. I guess they had good teachers from the banking sector ? Kind Regards Alex
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Post by nonaim on Dec 18, 2012 20:19:32 GMT
Hi Rabbit, Nice reveiw,you've just helped me make up my mind, I'm definitly getting one of these headphone amps when funds allow but in the meantime how would you say it compares sound wise to the Neco bossfet v2.1(my only other SS amp). Thanks.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2012 21:26:28 GMT
Hi Rabbit, Nice reveiw,you've just helped me make up my mind, I'm definitly getting one of these headphone amps when funds allow but in the meantime how would you say it compares sound wise to the Neco bossfet v2.1(my only other SS amp). Thanks. Hi Alan, My Bossfet is fed via a Little Pinkie (like most of my gear) so it has plenty of power available to deliver good transients, cleanly. In fact, I have been listening to some very high quality files that Alex did for me where the original recording is completed with minimal gear and very little (if any) compression. The result is a sound that is enormously dynamic and for that kind of dynamic difference, you need an amp with plenty of headroom. I really like Neco's amp and it has a nice, clean sound. By comparison, I'd say that the S2 delivers more 'heft' into the sound in the bass and sounds more 'present'. The music seems closer via the Aune. It makes the K601 really sing, which is not an easy task for many amps. There is even serious weight from a K601 which is one of my favourite as well as my most frustrating headphone. It really is fussy about the signal fed to it where many other headphones seem to hit a happy average kind of sound and don't vary enormously. The K601 is very amp dependent and when you get a good match, it becomes a very musical listen instead of a clean, slightly synthetic listen. The Bossfet gives that clean signal, but not the real guts of the music imo. Few amps have done this for me on the AKG. The Panda comes to mind and the amazing DAC32 from John Kenny. That made them sound exquisitely musical and this S2 does the same. It's an honest up front sound that brings the band slightly closer and makes the impact a great deal more direct. While I use the K601 to monitor a lot of gear, I am well aware that many would use other headphones. However, if a headphone is going to play up or show weakness, the K601 will do it ruthlessly whereas other headphones like the HD650 will still sound good and grow with the source, they basically hold their warm and mellow sound via most gear. The K601 seems to go further into the minutia of recordings imo if the source is picking the minutia up. This amp delivers the subtleties and has oodles of power (more than the Bossfet) in order to give lovely strong transients. The power supply really hasn't been skimped on. (Although I know Mike is looking at a Pinkie for it) I swear by the Pinkies for amps since I have found that once you get some serious power behind a headphone, it seems to deliver much more in terms of clout and stability in the bass attacks (in particular) and the somehow seem less prone to shriek. However, the power supply to the S2 is a serious piece of kit in itself and good power supplies are not cheap. The S2 has become one of my favourite amps in a short while. It's immediate which is also how I felt about the DAC32. I wish the two coincided because I'm certain that it would have been a fantastic combo. However the DAC32 which I loved is around £500 and is (for me) getting to the point of a bit high for computer/digital music. This amp at around £250 is at a more competitive price point and it is bringing some similarities to my music that the DAC32 did. I've talked myself into one as well. When this one leaves, I think at that kind of price for that sound, I would be very happy with it. However, I do still like the T1 from Aune enormously as well. Again similarities but the S2 goes up a notch in terms of extension (both ways) and sheer presence.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 19, 2012 11:54:38 GMT
Hi Ian I agree with you that the JKDAC is superb. I bought one to use with a laptop and was so impressed that I am currently using it in place of my Buffalo DAC, its that good.
Just wanted to point out that its closer to £400 as JK quotes his prices in Euros, being from RoI. Being a little box it may look expensive, but as you know and have said very clearly its right up there in the SQ stakes!
Syd
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Post by Deleted on Dec 19, 2012 19:30:27 GMT
Hi Syd, sorry - wrong price. I had a really good time with it. It just seemed to improve whatever I put through it. One of the most impressive pieces of gear I've heard in a long time. (You lucky fella!!!)
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