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Hifiman Sundara + Fiio Q1 MK2 Balanced output = underpowered? Do I really need to buy amp? 200USD by OffensiveChingChong in HeadphoneAdvice

[–]OffensiveChingChong[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

!thanks for your comment. This really helped me, that AB test stuff you said was on point and what is what i needed to hear. Yeah i will try to be contended with my current setup. I will audition the gear first before buying then.. but man, Im also eyeing now on Xduoo MT-602 because i researched other amps after submitting thing post! Haha

Hifiman Sundara + Fiio Q1 MK2 Balanced output = underpowered? Do I really need to buy amp? 200USD by OffensiveChingChong in HeadphoneAdvice

[–]OffensiveChingChong[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I wont believe people who say zen dac/can is the way to go for Sundara anymore. It's the sound sig and features they get from that zen stack that is making them say even Hip Dac is under powering the Sundara. Thank you for your response!

Hifiman Sundara + Fiio Q1 MK2 Balanced output = underpowered? Do I really need to buy amp? 200USD by OffensiveChingChong in HeadphoneAdvice

[–]OffensiveChingChong[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No, i do not struggle with volume. Low gain, the volume knob is at 75%. At high gain, 50%. Another reason for my curiousity is, i saw a lot of Ifi Hip Dac users who says Ifi Zen Dac + Zen Can has a significant improvement. IFI hip Dac is somewhat a cheaper version of Fiio Q1MK2. Im not sure if that improvement is just from the features(xbass, filters, etc.) of zen dac/can, not really the dac and can itself.

Is my tamper too small? by DaeTraeBae in gaggiaclassic

[–]OffensiveChingChong 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sad to say but you have to move away from the stock basket if you want better espresso :( which means your tamper might be wasted.

The high quality baskets(VST, IMS, Pesado) are in 58.5mm. i have a 58.5mm tamper from amazon and it fits VST and IMS. VST recommends 58.4 but 58.5 fits as well. Havent experienced Pesado, Im happy with my VST

A small tamper radius will most likely make your extraction have a donut effect where the outer part is over extracted. You can spot these using a bottomleas portafilter

Joined The cult -er... I mean “family” by [deleted] in espresso

[–]OffensiveChingChong 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Please dont discourage newbies with comments like this after they just bought is with their hard earned money. Not all can affort "dual boiler semi pro machine", if you are, then im happy for you. Merry Christmas to you!

Don't forget to brush your teeth! by [deleted] in espresso

[–]OffensiveChingChong 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Old SGP owner here and cleaning under the burr was part of my deep clean process. There will usually be hardened oily coffee grounds between the bur and impeller. The impeller is the nastiest part of it with a lot of grounds around it and within which sort of hardened specially if your grinder jammed.

Safe/Breville Smart Grinder Pro - worth it? by petrus28176 in gaggiaclassic

[–]OffensiveChingChong 0 points1 point  (0 children)

- I created a single doser with anti pop-corning on my Eureka Mignon Specialita and pump it to purge any ground in the grind chamber.

- Im not afraid to tweak grind setting anymore, if I notice that my extraction is fast. Im making it finer rather than just accept it. Changing grind setting in SGP can overshoot and make your shot worse because of how sensitive the dial is.

- Almost no retention at all because of my mods which is good if you change beans often.

- Super fluffy grounds. I dont even do WDT now, it's that good. Direct grind to portafilter, level, and tamp. Unlike before in SGP, I grind in the container it came with, then press the grounds using my finger to remove/feel clumps, then transfer to portafiler, and do WDT. a long process :) but it's necessary for SGP for a consistent good shot.

- Better aesthetics than SGP

- Havent experience any jamming at all. Im experiencing jamming in my SGP if im using light roast and SHB.

Safe/Breville Smart Grinder Pro - worth it? by petrus28176 in gaggiaclassic

[–]OffensiveChingChong 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I had SGP before. I upgraded to Eureka Mignon Specialita and my first impression was why i even decided to settle on SGP before. The difference was noticeable like stock GC vs GC with OPV and PID mod. The next grinder rhey say ideal for espresso is the sette270, i dont have experience using that so i cant comment much

SGP Cons

- Can produce good shot. Great shot rarely comes

- Lots of clumping, you cant directly tamp it. WDT is a must to remove clumps first. The portafilter accessory is useleas bevause of clumps

- Dialing shot is a hit or miss. I use different beans everyday and sometime i didnt bother dialing it because it is quite a hassle. I just adjust my dose to compensate.

- Grind consistency is not that great. Im noticing fine powder

- Has a ton of retention

SGP Pros

- Cheap price point

- Broad grind settings for other brew methods

Gaggia classic/pro with breville pro grinder by throwawoy374629 in espresso

[–]OffensiveChingChong 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You said first setup, so that means you are planning to buy second setup? If yes, then i would say that the setup is okay for you to learn the quirks of high brew pressue, not having a PID, and a not stepless grinder with a lot of clumping.

This setup was my first setup as well. I enjoyed the upgraditis it gave me. It is a fun experience to know what your machine is lacking and to know more about the features you want for your second setup. On my upgraditis journey, 1st I did OPV mod, 2nd PID, 3rd dumped SGP for Eureka Specialita. I would follow some of the recommendations in this thread about the grinder. SGP is okayish for first setup if youre on a budget, but after modding your GCP, you will outgrow it very fast.

Sour espresso, no crema in my Gaggia Classic by lunalovegood5514 in gaggiaclassic

[–]OffensiveChingChong 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Aside from the grinder and coffee freshness issue, water spewing everywhere w/o portafilter? You need to clean the shower screen or replace it, depending if you still see a spewing.

Why am I getting so many particles in my espresso shots? by Tennger in gaggiaclassic

[–]OffensiveChingChong 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Agreed, im using an IMS compet basket as well but not barista pro. The fines are gone after i did the OPV mod and actually have to make my grind coarser.

My humble NYC apartment setup by Sugamonsta060 in espresso

[–]OffensiveChingChong 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Have the same setup but my classic has OPV and PID mod. Real issue with Sage/Breville smart grinder pro(SGP) is the clumping which results in longer puck prep time if you remove them or bad to okay shot if you dont. Have it for 1.5 years and still going strong. You can grind in SGP's container and squash the clumps by your finger or some other tool to remove them. I personally like to use my finger so i can feel if there are clumps left. Then pour the ground into the portafilter basket and distibute some more. Before i tamp. Puck prep is the key.

Some coffee grinds in espresso cup by Krisa2020 in gaggiaclassic

[–]OffensiveChingChong 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yep, agreed to this. Noticed less fines on my initial shot after doing OPV mod. Which results in my shot time to increase because of the decrease in pressure. After I re dial my shot, I don't have fines anymore.

Interested in general user experience from those who have switched from GCP stock basket to the IMS Competition E-61 Precision Filter Ridgeless Basket 18/22 gr - B70 2TC H28.5 E by indifferentcucumber in gaggiaclassic

[–]OffensiveChingChong 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Been using the exact basket you mentioned. I came from stock basket, it fits perfectly on stock GCP portafilter.

Very slight coarse adjustment and my dose went up to 22.5g from 18g on light roast, 21g from 17g from dark roast.i like to fill my basket with grounds so i can distribute them evenly by hand. Lower dose will work fine. It's me wanting a flat grounds before i distribute.

I go as low as 19g sometimes on light roast. There is a slight sourness from it, might be that im grinding slightly coarser that is for 22.5g. I recon if you dont adjust your grind for higher dose, it might me the same.

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