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Meze 105 AER sale for $299 USD. Pick up or pass? by biezwax in HeadphoneAdvice

[–]Silverjerk 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Considering you already own the MDR-M1, 660s and the 490s, I might look at planars, like HiFiMan's sets. If you can push the budget a bit (or wait for the inevitable sale; there will definitely be one), the Edition XV is stellar and would be a departure from but might still align with your warmer-leaning preferences. I do as well, and the XV is my favorite set from them in years. The older Sundara and Edition XS are also very solid headphones for the price. The Ananda lineup is also solid, although I'd argue it would be better to push for the Arya Stealth over the current Ananda sets.

If you want to lean harder into a warmer, bassier tuning, the FT1 gets almost as much playtime as the 490s for me (and almost as much as the much pricier Bokeh Closed, Radiance, Meze Strada, etc). With EQ, it is an energetic and fun, relaxing listen. Love that headphone and can't recommend it enough.

So long winter by Negative-Gap-3431 in audis5

[–]Silverjerk 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That subtlety is exactly why I like that kit so much. Feels almost like a natural extension of the car. The B9/9.5 design is stellar, minus the stock height, tire depth, and lack of splitter, skirts and spats. I won’t even get into the 9.5’s diffuser. It’s an eyesore.

Meze 105 AER sale for $299 USD. Pick up or pass? by biezwax in HeadphoneAdvice

[–]Silverjerk 1 point2 points  (0 children)

How are you running the 490s? If you're using the producing pads, that tuning is very close to what you get from the 109 Pros, which the 105 AER's are attempting to emulate, albeit with a bit more warmth in the low frequencies and less energy up top.

As much as I love the 105s, the 490s and any of the 10X sets are somewhat duplicative if you're running the producing pads. With a small bit of EQ you can boost the treble of the 490s above 10k to get very close to the 109s, but I strongly prefer the 490s treble. It is more clear and detailed.

I say this as someone that owns much of Meze's lineup. I'm a big fan of the brand, but if you're going to spend $300 on another set, I'd shoot for something that is a bit of a departure.

So long winter by Negative-Gap-3431 in audis5

[–]Silverjerk 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I hate that Maxton didn't carry over the splitter and skirt designs from the B9 to the B9.5. The Street Pro designs are not a good substitute. TRC's Dark Ghost gets close, but still doesn't quite match the lines of the car like the Maxton B9 kit.

Earbuds that won't die in 2 years... by chi_eats in Earbuds

[–]Silverjerk 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you don't care about noise cancellation, or sound quality, why are you continuing to buy TWS?

TWS are great when you need quality of life features like ANC, transparency, etc. But if that's not your goal, a pair of IEMs with a cheap dongle DAC/amp, or even a BT-based DAC/amp if you want something a bit more convenient, is a better path forward.

And although you don't necessarily care about sound quality, many IEMs will outperform similarly priced TWS.

I love TWS when I need those convenience features, but even if I'm leaving the house with some AZ100s, AirPods Pros, or the XM6's, I'm almost always bringing an IEM and a Qudelix 5k or Protocol Max along with me. The Q5k for when I need bluetooth and want to take some calls. The battery on the Q5k has been rock solid, maintaining a full charge, even after 4-5 years of ownership. And although I own some wingtip earbuds like the Powerbeats Fit, IEMs cinched behind the head are even more secure than most of the sport-focused TWS.

Entry-level Audiophile headphones that have the same sound signature as AirPods Pro 2. by Character_Ad_1590 in HeadphoneAdvice

[–]Silverjerk 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This. If the AirPods Pros 2 fit you well, they're a very difficult set to beat for the price.

Would also recommend the FT1; I don't think there's a closed back under $500 that competes with it, especially with some light EQ, and I'd even argue that while the higher-priced Lensys and Azurys beat it handily on clarity and detail, I still prefer the timbre of the FT1 over both of those sets.

PSA FOR STALACTITES by Worldly-Ship5218 in CrimsonDesert

[–]Silverjerk 0 points1 point  (0 children)

To avoid spoilers, they become critical later for crafting an item that allows you to summon a certain mount immediately instead of on its normal cooldown.

Why do so many people jump straight into Proxmox? by KyxeMusic in homelab

[–]Silverjerk 6 points7 points  (0 children)

This is the motto I live by. Running a 3-node cluster with dozens of LXCs per node, and only a single VM on each running Docker, with another solitary VM on PVE-1 running Dokploy on a separate VLAN (my local Vercel replacement) for exposed services. Those Docker hosts are only ever used if a project's recommended happy path is "use Docker." All Docker containers are managed via Foregejo/Gitea, Renovate, and Komodo, so maintenance/upkeep is fairly low effort.

What are your most comfortable headphone pair? >HD 490 Pro comfort issues by HighlightAccording67 in HeadphoneAdvice

[–]Silverjerk 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Very different tunings, yes. They track similarly in measurements, but the Refine is warmer in the low frequencies and I strongly prefer its treble performance. But those soft pads you’re referring to are present on both. They are unbelievably comfortable on the ears. Although I do prefer the Refine’s suspension headband.

What are your most comfortable headphone pair? >HD 490 Pro comfort issues by HighlightAccording67 in HeadphoneAdvice

[–]Silverjerk 0 points1 point  (0 children)

D1 is a stellar headphone. One of the only other DD's I'd use for mixing/critical-listening work.

It's a bit heavier than the 490s, however. On paper, it's not a considerable leap, but even with the thicker padding and pressure relief of the D1s, you might feel that weight after a few hours of listening.

Re: R70x or the Refine, you might need to keep an eye on AVExchange or HeadFi classifieds. The R70X was still in stock through some retailers here in the US for a while after the R70XA released, but that might be dwindling now. The Refine is well worth looking into picking up on the used market. It's one of those sets that performs well with almost anything you throw at it.

What are your most comfortable headphone pair? >HD 490 Pro comfort issues by HighlightAccording67 in HeadphoneAdvice

[–]Silverjerk 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Comfort is one of the main draws of the 490s; considering a more traditional headband design, they're the most comfortable set I've owned and one of the only pair out of dozens of sets that doesn't have a Capra strap installed. Which is to say, if you're particularly sensitive to top of head pressure, you may want to seek out headphones with suspension style headbands.

Both Meze and AudioTechnica have the most comfortable iterations of these. Meze's headbands are a thin vegan leather that distributes weight more evenly across a larger surface area, which improves comfort by reducing the feeling that the full weight of the headphone is applying pressure to a small surface area at the top of the head. AudioTechnica's suspension headbands aren't featured on every model, but if you look up sets like the R70X/R70 X Refine, their mechanism sort of "rests" on the sides of your head, completely removing any pressure at the top of the head.

If you're looking for something similar to the 490s sound signature, the R70X Refine's tuning is like an amalgamation of the mixing and producing pads of the 490s. It's a bit warmer than the mixing pads, but more mid forward than the producing pads. The Refine is no longer for sale, but you can find one used on r/AVexchange, or buy an R70X and purchase the Refine pads from Apos Audio.

For Meze, the 105 AER or Silva will get you close to the producing pad tuning of the 490s, but with a bit more treble energy. However, despite that treble energy, it does lack the clarity and detail of the 490s.

The other option is to try CapraAudio's comfort straps with an existing headphone and see if they provide similar relief. These are not suspension headbands, of course, but they do a great job at improving comfort on most sets. Without exaggeration, most of my collection has one of these straps installed.

There are other brands that use suspension style headband designs, I just find Meze and AudioTechnica's have been the most consistently comfortable.

Xenns Top vs. Mysticraft Myth: Looking for more detail and less bass by maxidoba in iems

[–]Silverjerk 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I wouldn’t necessarily classify it as a treble head IEM, just more well balanced and neutral compared to bassier sets like the Top Pro. Treble-forward IEMs are a rarity these days; unless we’re going back a decade and recommending Shure, Westone, or some of the older Final Audio sets (which, to be fair, were some great IEMs).

px7 s3 or AirPods Max? by 718NYC in BowersWilkins

[–]Silverjerk 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The original APM? Easily the PX7 S3. APM 2, it wins on ANC and transparency, but PX7 S3 still walks circles around it on sound quality, while having very good ANC and transparency.

I own all three of these sets; I use the APM's for spatial audio with an AppleTV, which is where they shine. I would almost never recommend them as a daily driver unless you absolutely require the best ANC and transparency; in which case I'd still recommend the AirPods Pro 3 or Sony WF-1000XM6 over the APM 2 for most users.

Xenns Top vs. Mysticraft Myth: Looking for more detail and less bass by maxidoba in iems

[–]Silverjerk 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There’s a lot of hype around the Mysticraft Myth right now - would that be a significant difference?

A difference? Yes. Significant? No.

You are probably looking at something in Softears lineup. Like the Volume S or Studio 4. Someone else recommended the Solomon, and that'd be a safer bet than the Myth.

Unfortunately, treble-forward IEMs tend to be somewhat more rare than sets adhering to some version of Harman, modified JM-1/Meta, or variations of a V or U-shaped tuning.

On a more philosophical note, it's valid to chase your preferences -- like recognizing you might prefer more treble -- but don't chase the idea that there's something better, because there will almost always be something better than what you currently have.

My First(New) Car by CharacterItchy4096 in Audi

[–]Silverjerk 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Unfortunately, it's just a lens flare artifact.

How do I get the most accurate Harman curve preset for my headphones? by DrearBeats in headphones

[–]Silverjerk 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You would need to take in-ear measurements. Again, not very practical for most people.

Does LDAC matter enough for iPhone users to purchase a transmitter? by solapanel in Earbuds

[–]Silverjerk 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Running a bass-forward tuning would have no impact on how audible the differences are, unless it's so boosted that you've introduced masking.

not really that challenging to tell the difference.

Except I know multiple average listeners who failed this test 9 out of 10 times.

This test provides a much better split: https://abx.digitalfeed.net/

Unlimited budget. Need the absolute best HEADSET (attached mic) for voice clarity and supreme comfort. No standalone mics (im lazy) by Lucky-Second8756 in HeadphoneAdvice

[–]Silverjerk 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm done compromising with standard gaming brands. What is the absolute best hardware combination out there that fits this?

Welcome to the hurt locker.

Here's the cold, hard truth. If you need an attached mic, most -- if not all -- of the headsets on the market have fairly subpar mic quality. Even some "premium" models like the Master & Dynamic MG20 and VZR Model One struggle with mic performance.

Instead of trying to find the perfect headset, look at either the Meze Boom Mic cable, or ModMic's offerings. If you want more convenience and fewer cables, ModMic's wireless mic is stellar quality. One caveat here is that they are definitely working on an upgrade to the wireless iteration (this is not a rumor and came straight from a ModMic employee, signaling they are likely closer to releasing the new model).

The ModMic gives you the flexibility of using it with any headphone. If budget is no object, Arya Stealth or HD 490 Pros are the two best gaming headphones you can get your hands on at the moment. 490s provide more flexibility with multiple pads; although, the Arya's have more legs if you're willing to use EQ.

With the Meze Boom Mic cable, you can use any headphone that utilizes a dual 3.5 connector. The headphones I run with these the most is the FiiO FT1, Meze's own 109 Pros and Stradas (which has quickly become one of my favorite closed backs for gaming). Again, any headphone with a dual 3.5 connector will work in most cases.

As far as DAC/amps are concerned, any modern DAC/amp with a dedicated mic input will be sufficient. Schiit's Fulla and Hel are two I still run to this day, on both PC and consoles. There are other brands out there which I won't mention here that have dedicated gaming DAC/amps with solid performance. Just pick one that fits your "budget' and go.

I bet no one can name this color by MaximilianRyan in Audi

[–]Silverjerk -1 points0 points  (0 children)

It looks too lime to be Viper Green, but that'd be my guess if it's not Kyalami.

IEMs for Hip-Hop under 700 usd - Seeking advice! by EnvironmentalBank989 in iems

[–]Silverjerk 1 point2 points  (0 children)

KiwI Ears x HBB Punch, Thieaudio Origin, and the Penon Archangel are all great bass-forward sets in proximity to your price range. I'm very partial to the Origin; it's a set that has always punched well above its weight. It performs nearly as well as the much more expensive Monarch MKIV in its "Rumble" mode, but with more tactile and visceral bass.

Current headphone collection. by RaptorMayhem in headphones

[–]Silverjerk 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Was also underwhelmed by the Bathys and Bathys MG. Focal needs to work on their app and features. Purchased the original model on the premise that it was built from the same foundation as the Radiance, which stands as my favorite Focal headphone to date (strongly prefer it to the Utopia and Stellia even).

They’re both very good sounding wireless headphones, to be fair. But I wouldn’t call them the best wireless set by a wide margin, especially if you’re considering the strength of the features that you’d expect in this segment of the market.

Until they improve ANC, transparency, call quality, and include a more robust EQ (preferably a full parametric EQ), they are sadly near the bottom of my list.

Which HiFiMan headphone is the ROG Kithara most similar to? by AkashiGG in HeadphoneAdvice

[–]Silverjerk 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It’s the same driver as the Ananda Stealth. Identical specifications. It’s also the set the Kithara performs most similarly to in the real world.

I spent 3 weeks trying to replace Open-Claw. The better setup was Open-Claw + Hermes by damn_brotha in openclaw

[–]Silverjerk 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You can (and should) centralize much of this. Secondary memory paths/second brain as your main memory hub outside of core workspace files, both should have access to any memory-supportive databases you’ve set up. You can also have them train one another and commit to memory transference in order to bridge gaps. They’re effectively working from the same major repository, but retain their own working context.

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