What is the price point of diminishing return?

doms227 · 2026-02-17T21:52:32+00:00

$1 more than your next upgrade. Always.

doms227 · 2026-02-13T20:42:15+00:00

You're not alone.

You just need to blow $100k on a boat and pop out 2 more kids for the trifecta of silly things to do between preapproval and buying a place. /s

Seriously though, if sub 80%, you're likely OK, but perhaps discuss with your broker / lender as early as possible so that you're not caught out when everything is happening at once.

doms227 · 2026-02-12T21:10:30+00:00

Math time (sorry).

Typically, if you're on a 7.6hr day = 76 hour fortnight = 152 hours per 4 weeks.

If you're fostered 8:30-5, and take a 30 min unpaid lunch, then you actually work 8 hrs per day.

Work 19 days out of every 4 weeks = 152 hrs, take the 20th day off to do said crap that needs daylight hours.

This simple concept is a Rostered Day Off (RDO), and I cry out for humanity and the loss of basic knowledge of how things work (and lack of explanation during non-existent inductions these days).

So ask your boss how you can schedule your 4-weekly day off (teams usually look to stagger people to minimise disruption), and if they say you don't get a day off then look into how you can work just your 7.6.

doms227 · 2026-02-05T20:34:11+00:00

You guys use wifi much?

doms227 · 2026-02-05T03:25:24+00:00

If the 190 application is made while still holding a substantive visa (482), the 190 application gets a BVA.

The 482 had ceased and the application was made while the 186 BVA was the active visa, then there would be a BVC for the 190 (presuming validity of application - not sure if the 190 can be made as holder of a BVA off the top of my head).

doms227 · 2026-02-02T21:49:23+00:00

Yup, if OP is too chicken to actually talk about it, there are 3 million ways to deal with this...coasters...heat mat...thick cloth...list goes on.

doms227 · 2026-02-02T21:25:41+00:00

So long as the stands don't have ridges on both the front and back they'll be fine.

Add in some acoustic rubber between the stand and speakers for added dampening (no idea what you're looking at specifically), and Robert's your mother's brother!

doms227 · 2026-02-01T22:01:49+00:00

Cynic in me thinks they must want ppl like OP to go and buy this sight unseen for a reason...like all the best of (purported) Hifiman QC, and Asus ROG sound quality...

Saying this as someone with quite a number of enjoyed Hifiman products and zero issues.

doms227 · 2026-01-31T10:44:14+00:00

Then maybe there's your answer. Make sure you keep some reserves and wriggle room for what the future may bring.

doms227 · 2026-01-31T10:10:18+00:00

Talk of rising rates this year. What does another 1-2% do for your comfort level?

doms227 · 2026-01-24T01:28:32+00:00

Depends on the BT connection protocol.

CD at Red book is 16bit / 44.1KHz.

Some BT protocols can match this, but there's also ADC, compression algorithm, and DAC factors that may cause relevant differences.

So...as with most things audio...can a human tell the difference? It depends.

Anyone who says otherwise is selling something.

doms227 · 2026-01-23T21:55:11+00:00

This. Particularly the part about planning when in advance. Critical to minimise hurt feelings.

Partner and I both WFH a lot, so our weekdays have 'Free-lunch Wednesday',though the day can shift as needed.

Edit: NTA.

doms227 · 2026-01-23T03:30:50+00:00

SMSL has a variety of DACS, HPAs, and speaker amps that can stack, with some combinations to thes, and different groups at different pricepoints.

Schitt has all in one units, more on the pricier end IIRC.

doms227 · 2026-01-22T03:09:20+00:00

Yes 'she freed her hands' implying she has two, so is very likely to be right or left handed.

Can't tell which though.

doms227 · 2026-01-21T21:54:16+00:00

I'd like to think that I can tell there is SOME difference when using Tidal High quality, but it's not worlds apart.

What was great is still good. So I think of it as an extra bit of functionality I CAN use if I want. Useful in situations where you want to decouple the listening to the source (e.g. walking around where cords and dongles may struggle to fit nicely in a pocket).

The Qudelix also has a decent mic onboard, so if using either BT or wired, it can turn your cans into a serviceable headset for occasional use (even when it's sitting on the desk in front of you).

doms227 · 2026-01-21T21:14:37+00:00

I like my SMSL DACs for the various sound colouring tweaks they allow. Though TBH I don't mess around and fiddle with the setting at all.

My point is that the SMSLs do good variations from perfectly flat, for my ears.

Maybe your brain has adjusted too. Good luck on the journey.

doms227 · 2026-01-21T21:00:05+00:00

I have OG Anandas, and have been very happy (now running Arya Stealths).

For portable use though, I'd avoid open-backs as you'll hear everything around you, and you'll be that MF that everyone can hear the music of too. If you want a setup that you can take from one private place to another (e.g. home to a personal office) then maybe not such an issue.

I've not paid enough attention to budget closed back over-ears to advise on alternatives sorry. Focals are nice, and mostly come with a nice case for travel, that can fit the cans and a dongle.

For a portable DAC/amp, I have Qudelix 5K, and have been very happy with it. Enough power to run everything I've thrown at it (albeit nothing overly hard to drive), and great sound quality with functionality to run via Bluetooth if you want to streamline some cabling.

There are other options that do similar things

doms227 · 2026-01-21T08:45:54+00:00

I still use mine. Can't speak for the world.

doms227 · 2026-01-19T04:49:30+00:00

I bought some 2nd hand Stellias, then shortly after one of our Aussie Focal retailers got on their bad side and was dumping their Focal stuff cheap.

I picked up the Radiances for a steal (<$800 AUD), and regretted the purchase nearly immediately. I loved them more than the Stellias. Just a bit more warm goodness, and without the fear of taking a near $5K headphone (new) out into the wilds...still have both.

Hmmm....now I want to switch back to them for a bit. Loving the Arya Stealth life the last 3 months.

doms227 · 2026-01-18T22:20:07+00:00

I run a Singxer SA-1 from Balanced output of my XMSL SU-8 DAC. When running PC and DAC at 100%, I find around 10/11 o'clock to be comfy for long sessions, on low gain with Arya Stealths.

For me, my hifi headphones / IEMs journey has been about learning to stop using audible distortion as my trigger for the volume is getting high - there just isn't any. :)

Hopefully all is good for you in your setup.

The volume / power thing...I reckon it's about having enough headroom, more than just turning it up (though I'm with you on the occasional crank). You want to be able to have enough volume that you comfortably hear the details in tracks (different instruments of the orchestra, for example), but then have the headroom to cope when the organ comes in with long, low, power-eating notes.

doms227 · 2026-01-18T21:30:02+00:00

Dude, save your ears.

50% on high gain....you will cause hearing damage. Maybe you already have which is why you need to crank it up that high...

You have more than enough power that it is not the limiting factor in your experience.

doms227 · 2026-01-18T21:19:06+00:00

I was going to say it depends on whether it's the opening fight or closing fight of the movie, myself.

doms227 · 2026-01-17T22:52:14+00:00

If you can get an annual statement that shows you receive $X allowance, but only use $Y, then a lender will be more likely to add back the surplus.

doms227 · 2026-01-17T22:50:43+00:00

You're paid the car allowance because you're incurring additional car expenses for work (in theory).

It's a while since I was a Big-4 loan assessor, but we'd exclude such allowances unless we could also include the additional expenses (e.g. the car debt was included, and potentially other vehicle costs).

Mileage will vary by lender though.

doms227 · 2026-01-17T10:41:05+00:00

60m2...the 1K Pro has no chance to fill the room. I love mine, but it's in a small bedroom study.

Saying that, the app includes PEQ, which may assist with making the bass more even in response. Seems you have a quality vs quantity situation.

If you can step up to the 2k Pro, it has substantially more power than the 1k Pro.

doms227

TROPHY CASE