Home Theater/Personal audio thread...

[Clipdat]

Yeah, I couldn't make up my mind and I had several ~$500/pair bookshelf speaker sets picked out. When I saw these go on sale, it was a pretty easy decision. They have a 30 day audition period, so I can send them back for a full refund (minus the return shipping cost) if I don't like them.

I was looking at these too but at $1k/pair, a little too much for my budget: https://www.svsound.com/products/ultra-bookshelf

Anyway, I'll be sure to post up some listening impressions of the MA speakers once I get a few weeks of listening time on them.

Originally Posted by Vracer111

I find price is often a factor for me in picking up gear, makes it easier to decide if there is no preference to the choices. If there is a particular piece that I do want though, I try to get it used if it's a higher priced item that makes sense to do so, like reputable headphones, DACs, or amps. For lower priced, tend to buy new.

Let us know how they sound when you have a chance to become familiar with them.

[Clipdat]

So I ended not caring for the MA B2s at all, they will be going back to the retailer. Shrill/sharp highs with sibilant vocals and anemic lacking bass/low end reproduction. Not a fan.

I've ordered a pair of these to try next: https://www.polkaudio.com/products/lsim703

[Vracer111]

Oooo LSis... nice. I really like my RTis - when paired with the right source and amp VERY clean and nice bass with lots of great dynamics in the mids and highs. Don't know which I like better, my modded TH-X00 PH headphones or the RTi A5 mains in my HT... Interested to hear what you think of the LSis.

Recently got in a new cable for my HD700...No more janky annoying stock cable!

[Clipdat]

Gorgeous cable to go with gorgeous cans! Nice pickup.

Will definitely post up some impressions of the LSiM 703s, they arrive on Saturday.

The place I returned the MA B2s to explained to me that since I had not logged 100+ hours on them, that I "wasn't hearing what they were capable of". It also cost me $70 to ship them back via FedEx, so that sucked.

I'm pretty sure I actually was hearing exactly what they were "capable" of, and didn't like it at all. Just not a fan of the Monitor Audio "house sound" I guess.

Originally Posted by Vracer111

Oooo LSis... nice. I really like my RTis - when paired with the right source and amp VERY clean and nice bass with lots of great dynamics in the mids and highs. Don't know which I like better, my modded TH-X00 PH headphones or the RTi A5 mains in my HT... Interested to hear what you think of the LSis.

Recently got in a new cable for my HD700...No more janky annoying stock cable!

[Vracer111]

Got in the Schiit Loki today (straight traded my Meier Audio JAZZ-ff for it) and already like it very much with only the few hours I've spent so far with it. Works very well with all my phones except the TH-X00PH, which was actually expected - my modded PH is basically perfect, any attempts to EQ doesn't make it sound any better. For the Philips SHP9500, Monolith M1060, and Sennheuser HD700 though, really helps get them to basically how I want them to sound.

[Clipdat]

Nice, glad it's working out for you.

Coming from a DJ background, the idea of a high quality three knob eq like this isn't anything new, but reading about it, it looks like they designed it as well as they possibly could.

Originally Posted by Vracer111

Got in the Schiit Loki today (straight traded my Meier Audio JAZZ-ff for it) and already like it very much with only the few hours I've spent so far with it. Works very well with all my phones except the TH-X00PH, which was actually expected - my modded PH is basically perfect, any attempts to EQ doesn't make it sound any better. For the Philips SHP9500, Monolith M1060, and Sennheuser HD700 though, really helps get them to basically how I want them to sound.

[Clipdat]

@Vracer111 you gotta check out this song on your headphone rig! PM me and I'll send you a link to the 320.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XJBDX3Z0BY"]Tycho - Awake - YouTube[/ame]

[Vracer111]

Nice flowing song with good bass and detail, will look up some others later.

Any initial impressions of the LSiM 703s?

This weekend I got onboard the electrostatic train, in for a set of Koss ESP950s from Massdrop...which I have heard before at a headphone meet and liked. Already ordered the Vesper earpads for them which will probably be here by the end of the week, headphones won't arrive until probably late December. Now just need to get an adapter cable extension for use with STAX amp and a STAX amp (323S, 323X, or vintage SRM1-MK II).

[Clipdat]

I have not unboxed the speakers yet, have not been feeling that great the past few days.

Nice call on the Koss headphones, everyone seems to love them!

Originally Posted by Vracer111

Nice flowing song with good bass and detail, will look up some others later.

Any initial impressions of the LSiM 703s?

This weekend I got onboard the electrostatic train, in for a set of Koss ESP950s from Massdrop...which I have heard before at a headphone meet and liked. Already ordered the Vesper earpads for them which will probably be here by the end of the week, headphones won't arrive until probably late December. Now just need to get an adapter cable extension for use with STAX amp and a STAX amp (323S, 323X, or vintage SRM1-MK II).

[Clipdat]

I felt a bit better today, so I finally unboxed them and hooked them up earlier tonight, and I'm definitely impressed with them so far! Fit and finish is top notch and the veneer is gorgeous.

Right out of the box, they sounded a lot better than the MA B2s. I was really surprised at how great they sounded with zero hours on them. I guess I'm in for a real treat, if they are only going to get better from here.

I only listened at lower volumes, but I was liking everything I was hearing. Highs were accurate and present, but not harsh and accented like the MAs. Bass was also noticeably better, night and day difference on the low end reproduction. Mid range frequency sounded good as well, with male vocals sounding very realistic. Definitely a much warmer speaker than the B2s.

Only played them for about 3 hours, but already really happy with them!

Originally Posted by Vracer111

Any initial impressions of the LSiM 703s?

[Vracer111]

Did some modding last night...

Inside, Outside, Installed

Finally got around to venting the top of the second Gustard H10 for passive cooling. Not 100% done, but just touchup is needed on the outside edges of the holes and then black out the exposed aluminum with sharpie.

Did manage to find a good condition STAX SRM-323S driver unit locally (brought my DAC to check it out and he had SR-L300 Stax to listen with) and ordered the ESP950 to STAX adapter cable. The ESP950 should be here Monday, and hopefully adapter cable very shortly afterwards if not then as well. Regardless, I'll listen with the Koss E90 amp first.

[Clipdat]

How did you make those holes in the metal?

Originally Posted by Vracer111

Did some modding last night...

Inside, Outside, Installed

Finally got around to venting the top of the second Gustard H10 for passive cooling. Not 100% done, but just touchup is needed on the outside edges of the holes and then black out the exposed aluminum with sharpie.

Did manage to find a good condition STAX SRM-323S driver unit locally (brought my DAC to check it out and he had SR-L300 Stax to listen with) and ordered the ESP950 to STAX adapter cable. The ESP950 should be here Monday, and hopefully adapter cable very shortly afterwards if not then as well. Regardless, I'll listen with the Koss E90 amp first.

[Vracer111]

With my drillpress, drill bits and countersink bit. Marked hole locations on blue tape protecting surface, used center punch to mark hole centers and drilled by hand.

[Clipdat]

Nice job! Looks super professional like a CNC mill did it - very accurate!

I need a drill press in my life at some point for mods like this! A lot of times manufacturers for whatever reason don't include vented panels when they should. Recently had to do something similar to this and added 64 holes to the front of my computer case so that the intake fan can grab more air.

Originally Posted by Vracer111

With my drillpress, drill bits and countersink bit. Marked hole locations on blue tape protecting surface, used center punch to mark hole centers and drilled by hand.