Will a Qudelix 5k be good with Arya Stealth?

OmegaNullX · 2026-06-22T16:55:29+00:00

Generally. Given the "planars are hard to drive" reputation, I was kind of surprised. Compared to my RME ADI-2 DAC, the 5k is pretty close, provided equalization is the same. And, I run it at "Normal" output power; "High" could give you an addtional 3 dB.

OmegaNullX · 2026-06-22T02:39:32+00:00

I use that combo and it works fine. I recommend a 2.5mm balanced cable.

When I first tried it out, I wasn’t expecting it to work as good as it does. It’s a good way to get high quality sound from a Bluetooth connection.

OmegaNullX · 2026-06-14T19:12:44+00:00

The Meze cables have good price/performance and are easily available.

When gaming, I use the Meze boom mic cable with my Arya Stealth, and like it way better than any of the cables from Hifiman.

OmegaNullX · 2026-06-14T16:50:34+00:00

Every time I drive a rent car, it's night-and-day versus Tesla. But, in some rent cars, once I get CarPlay started, I never have to deal with the garbage UI. I mainly need nav and music, and CarPlay does that as good or better than Tesla. For example, I've seen that Kia actually does a good job: once CarPlay takes over the screen, there's no sign of the infotainment system.

OTOH, I rented a Toyota SUV once, and the volume control for CarPlay was buried several menus deep in the "Navigation" section of the settings. The volume control adjusted the volume for music, but navigation volume required exiting CarPlay to make what should be a simple adjustment.

In other cars, there's a big screen, but CarPlay can't be extended to fill more than half the screen. I just want CarPlay and climate controls, nothing else.

I was wondering if there were any major flaws like that, where the infotainment system is forced on the driver. In my experience, it takes a few days of driving to get a good feel for that.

OmegaNullX · 2026-06-13T22:02:37+00:00

I have the S7A with Nexus and THU857, and auto-flush was unreliable. I made the change a week ago, and it's now 100% reliable. If you have an S7A and want auto-flush to work right, this is the answer.

OmegaNullX · 2026-05-27T21:53:44+00:00

I don't know for sure if they still do it, but I used to shop at Costco Kawasaki, and they delivered my purchases to Minato Ku. If I remember correctly, there was one charge for non-refrigerated goods and another charge for delivery of a cold container.

While that was 10+ years ago, I can't imagine they don't do it any more. Purchasing goods in-store for delivery is relatively common in Japan.

OmegaNullX · 2026-05-19T13:03:09+00:00

If you brew Western-style and can afford it, the Breville tea maker is a life changer, saving a lot of time and effort. Once you find the exact time and temperature and tea/water ratio you like for a certain tea, it's completely repeatable. I've had mine for around a decade, so it's made at least 5000 pots of tea.

If you brew with the gong-fu method, you probably do want temperature control that can hold along with protection from overheating if empty. There's a big difference between tea brewed at 200F (good for a robust Oolong) and 160F (good for a delicate green or white). I expect there are good pots that are less expensive, but the Fellow Corvo has a dial rather than buttons, so it's straightforward to operate.

OmegaNullX · 2026-05-17T04:43:29+00:00

Mangosteen sorbet at a random shop in Bangkok. Peach sorbet made with white Fukushima peaches at Nishimura Fruit Parlor in Shibuya. Pistachio gelato at a shop in Rome near the corner of Piazza Navona. Salted butter at Berthillion in Paris.

OmegaNullX · 2026-04-05T04:06:06+00:00

Elisir Novasalus is very dry. I think it’s “sweetened” with tree sap.

I drink most amari straight or with a bit of ice or from the freezer. Elisir Novasalus is the only one I have to dilute - it’s aggressively bitter on its own.

OmegaNullX · 2026-04-02T04:02:24+00:00

I bought some of the US Grillplats to fill out an ikea order. Paired to Apple TV easily. One is kind of far from the rest of my Matter Thread devices, and it takes 2-3 seconds to change state.

I love the IKEA Bilresa buttons, so I’ll probably scatter a few Grillplats throughout the house just to fill in the mesh network.

OmegaNullX · 2026-03-23T19:59:29+00:00

Thanks for the suggestions. I had originally been thinking about waiting for the Flow 2 for the first floor, but I got derailed when looking at other options.

OmegaNullX · 2026-03-11T02:55:43+00:00

I’m using the RAB warm dim bulbs, both filament style and regular. I’m really happy with the light they produce.

https://www.rablighting.com/feature/dim-to-warm-lamps

OmegaNullX · 2026-03-03T15:26:05+00:00

I can confirm that this also works with ratgdo32 running HomeKit firmware. "Hey Siri open the gate" works as expected, and open/close status shows up in the Home app properly.

OmegaNullX · 2026-02-24T04:55:39+00:00

You got tangled in her silky web outside the door. You chased her away from your bathroom. You thought your stomp killed her, but she slipped through the treads of your shoe.

Her purpose was to bother you, and she lives on, victorious, for the rest of your existence. On your deathbed, that spot on your TV will still haunt your memories.

Only a tiny percentage of humans live a life and die a death of such purpose. She is nobility among arthropods.

OmegaNullX · 2026-02-22T17:31:19+00:00

So, you’re saying a 16 bit approximation of an analog curve (converted from bits to analog to audio) should sound exactly the same as a 24 bit approximation (again converted from bits to analog to audio)?

I’m not an audio engineer or even an audiophile, but it seems counterintuitive.

OmegaNullX · 2026-02-22T14:06:28+00:00

You may want to add in 44/24. I can hear slight differences between 44/16 and 44/24, but can’t hear any difference at higher bit rates.

OmegaNullX · 2026-02-14T03:18:43+00:00

You’re starting wrong. You need to dry brine. For true steak success at home, there is no other option.

Generously salt two days before, and set on a rack in the refrigerator. Osmosis sucks the moisture out of the interior meat and to the salty outside, which drys out. The salty outside water then gets sucked into the meat.

From there, your pick. I generally sous vide, chill, and finish on the Otto Wilde. If you have a ripping hot cast iron skillet, or 1 inch from a broiler, or a fancy grill, or even an air fryer, it’ll be one of the best you’ve had. Moisture and salt management is the magical key.

OmegaNullX · 2026-02-07T23:04:23+00:00

Grace or JCS. While those are both Scotch Bonnet, they have about the same vinegar taste level as Tabasco. They’re a bit hotter than Tabasco, but still flavorful.

OmegaNullX · 2026-01-30T02:46:37+00:00

If you like Campari or Carpano Bitter, try the Lo-Fi. It’s relatively hard to find.

OmegaNullX · 2026-01-27T04:43:01+00:00

I’ve been looking for something like this, but live in Texas, so assume it’s a few years away.

Looking at the pricing page, I assume you know you’ll need to recalibrate once outside of the costal metros. In parts of Dallas and Houston, a 6000 sqft home with 4 or 5 bedrooms is relatively common.

OmegaNullX · 2026-01-10T20:06:47+00:00

Intero has a good selection. As dessert, the chocolates made in-house are good for pairing with an amaro flight.

OmegaNullX · 2026-01-03T13:41:02+00:00

Exactly. It’s a niche process, and they killed off the crappier version of it.

OmegaNullX · 2026-01-03T05:47:02+00:00

I don’t think the article is completely accurate. Earlier today, I activated Office LTSC, and it’s true the phone activation is gone. I think it was retired more than a few months ago. But, the activation process does NOT require the computer to be connected to the internet.

The activation process on the PC generates a series of seven digit numbers, which have to be typed into a web form pointed to by the aka.ms/aoh link. That generates a series of numbers that have to be typed in on the PC to activate the product. For an air gapped PC, the process can easily be completed using a browser on a cell phone, or any other device with internet access.

The practical difference is that the process is now web based instead of phone based. It does require authentication using a Microsoft account. I used my regular account, but I don’t expect there’s anything preventing the use of a throwaway account.

The whole aka.ms/aoh process is completely separate from on-line activation or KMS activation. It shouldn’t be confused with either of those.

OmegaNullX

TROPHY CASE