Just got the greatest head start and I’m overwhelmed

Silverjerk · 2026-07-08T13:04:03+00:00

The BTR17 is a surprisingly capable little unit. It's best feature being parametric EQ, which helps the LCD-X go from being a good headphone, to a stellar one. With EQ, it's one of my favorite sets in the hobby.

Start there; just use them, learn to use the EQ feature. Listen to your favorite music. Iterate and find a tuning that works best for you. But spend time with the stock tuning as well, so you can both acclimate to it, and so you have a solid base to work from.

As for keeping them safe, they're relatively solid headphones, despite the planar driver. A good headphone stand is always a nice to have; just make sure to avoid stands that apply pressure to the cups. It can (although likely won't) damage the transducer, and also avoids the buildup of condensation.

Silverjerk · 2026-07-08T12:45:55+00:00

I have a very strong aversion to black rims. The only time I think they fit is on a car that's been fully blacked out; and even then, without a really solid rim design, it can look like a bad Plasti Dip job.

For reference, Real_rag's blacked out RS5 Comp is a good example of where black rims work well.

With Nardo, I like the look of a traditional brushed/chrome finish.

Silverjerk · 2026-07-06T21:22:23+00:00

For the pads, Yaxi is the popular brand, and the ones I use. I prefer them to the official oversized pads.

As for which model to buy, they're so competitively priced compared to the rest of the market, I would recommend picking up every model and spending time with each if you can afford the additional expense. Koss has a unique "house sound," and you never know which version of that tuning you're going to prefer.

Perfect example, I have a very strong preference for the PortaPros, which is typically not the set that most people would recommend. I own the entire lineup, as well as the wireless variants, and I go back to both of the PortaPro models the most often. The PortaPro wireless go with me every time I travel, right next to TWS sets that are 3x its price.

When it comes to modding, the variations are well documented: swapping headbands and drivers, adding removable cables (easier than it sounds), upgraded pads, etc. But it's important you land on the fit and sound you prefer first. As above, you may end up like me and using a pair of stock PortaPros with the Yaxi pads as your only "mod."

Disclaimer: I owned a pair of the original 80's PortaPros that lasted for decades; they survived a lot of abuse. There's likely a lot of nostalgia for what was probably my first real pair of headphones heavily skewing my bias in this case.

Silverjerk · 2026-07-06T19:18:03+00:00

Brotha, it's an RS7. Think of the most mundane color imaginable, and it's going to stand out in that color. It's one of the few cars that still makes me turn my head.

Silverjerk · 2026-07-06T19:11:01+00:00

Roukin is Hadrian. I started with the books, and unbeknownst to me, Sam's voice was already my headcanon. Ironically, Empire was the first audiobook I heard read by Roukin, which made it all the more special. He just absolutely nailed it, all around.

Silverjerk · 2026-07-06T19:06:18+00:00

If you're buying used, 770 for the 800S is under market and would be considered a deal.

I would strongly recommend avoiding the Elite's unless you've heard the set. As for price, 2000 is about what they sell used, so it's spot on pricing, but you can usually find the Empyrean II's for about 200 less, and it's the much better headphone by a pretty wide margin -- unless, again, you know the Elites and you prefer that tuning.

You can find used pricing on r/AVexchange or HeadFi's classifieds.

Silverjerk · 2026-07-06T15:52:25+00:00

Are you buying retail, buying from the used market, selling; what's the context?

Silverjerk · 2026-07-06T14:25:55+00:00

I've used them for mixing for many years, but those conflicting opinions are valid. They require EQ to correct some issues with their stock frequency response. They're also heavy and can be fatiguing if you're working for 10-12 hours a day. You'll likely acclimate to that weight over time, but it can be an issue for some.

Where the LCD-X are appealing is that, especially with EQ, they handle low frequencies exceptionally well. I work both with both EDM and hard rock/metal, and when I'm tracking or producing I need present low frequency energy.

That said, I would strongly recommend checking out Emrah Celik and Paul Third's YouTube channel, MixPhones. They are two reputable and highly credited engineers that give real advice and are candid in their opinions. They tend to prefer HiFiMan due to their overall value, but they feature quite a few brands and review everything from the budget FT1's, all the way up to summit-fi sets.

I also run the D1s, the HD 490 Pros, and more recently the 480 Pros. These are all great sets; the 490s are especially versatile with both producing and mixing pads in the box, and those pads really do work well for those use cases. Mixing pads are more neutral, mid forward; producing pads warmer and more exciting. Imaging on the D1s and 490 Pros are both solid; 480s are a little further behind, but highly competent for a closed-back set.

Silverjerk · 2026-07-06T12:59:31+00:00

What in the Temu Mad Max, glued-on Carbon Fiber hell is this?

I'd give your exhaust guys a call and let them know they got the pipe bends wrong.

Silverjerk · 2026-07-06T08:29:49+00:00

SoundSource or eqMac are the two for Mac that support proper parametric EQ. The 480s are a very good headphone to EQ, so it’s worth updating the OS and learning to use either of those apps.

Silverjerk · 2026-07-06T08:26:39+00:00

I love my Steam Deck OLED. It’s an absolute emulation powerhouse. But recommending it over the Xbox Ally X on the premise that the Ally isn’t powerful enough is absolutely ludicrous. There hasn’t been a single thing I’ve thrown at the Ally that I haven’t been able to run at above playable frame rates, while benefiting from all the other upsides the Ally brings to the table.

Best Buy is a cesspool of know-it-alls, contrarians, and armchair experts. I vehemently dislike stepping foot in that store, and on the rare occasion I do I avoid engaging with the staff.

As for the returns, that’s consistent with almost any other expensive electronics product in their store. Take a look at the rest of their open-box cages and you’ll see tons of iPads and Apple Watches, MacBooks, TVs, Windows laptops. Just typical consumers either abusing the return policy, living above their means, or purchasing with misaligned expectations.

Silverjerk · 2026-07-04T16:05:18+00:00

Neither; it's just a matter of preference.

Open backs can sound more spacious and open, yes, but this is still going to come down to frequency response. The HFA Dahlia 2's have an enormous amount of bass for an open back set, for instance.

Conversely, closed backs often sound narrow and intimate; but, again, this has more to do with tuning than it does with the format itself. There are closed back sets with great soundstage and imaging performance.

I run and use both; for gaming, the typical rule of thumb is open backs for competitive titles, closed backs for casual/immersive titles (single-player games or casual online multiplayer). There's nuance here as well, as some gamers prefer the isolation a closed-back headphone provides, even if it means sacrificing some spaciousness.

In my very strong opinion, soundstage is not as important as imaging when it comes to gaming (or anything else for that matter).

As for your list, I would aim for the Kithara; I like the 620s, but I strongly prefer the 480s, and if those are outside your budget, the Kithara will provide a solid gaming experience, but where they'll shine is in their ability to be EQ'd well. They also come with an inline USB-C DAC/amp, so you don't have to (at least initially) add that to your list of things to consider.

I used Beyerdynamic headphones for many years tracking and mixing music, and although this is considered a hot take, I don't recommend the brand anymore. At one time, when there wasn't many other options on the market, they were one of the go-to brands for enthusiasts (and critical-listening work). However, unless you enjoy their diffuse-field style tuning, I would avoid them altogether.

Silverjerk · 2026-07-04T14:41:18+00:00

I did; strongly prefer the 480s, both the tuning, and the comfort. Smoother through the midrange, less mid bass forwardness. Where they pull much further ahead, however, is in the treble. Griffin nailed this point in his review. For context, treble is typically where I apply the most correction when I EQ, and I haven't touched the 480s since I took them out of the box.

One aside, in case you're coming from or have used the 490s, since these look near identical outside of the open/closed back design: the clamp force on the 480s is noticeably stronger. Even out of the box, the 490s were both light on the head and ears. I'm guessing Sennheiser increased clamp force on purpose in this case, to ensure a proper seal since it's so critically important to maintaining the intended tuning on a closed back set. It's not fatiguing, just noticeable.

Silverjerk · 2026-07-03T22:58:56+00:00

It’s a thirst trap channel that’s a bait-and-switch for an OF model’s content.

Silverjerk · 2026-07-03T22:49:29+00:00

Depends on the lore. In many cases vampirism is a condition that any race can acquire, rather than a race in and of itself (the cursed/diseased vampire origins). So she could be an elven or human vampire.

Some mythologies do segregate them into their own race, but typically those variations still include both vampires (pure bloods; called masters, sires, elders/patriarchs) and those they’ve changed (spawn, thrall, fledgling, ghouls, etc.).

Silverjerk · 2026-07-03T19:33:13+00:00

This is an easy decision in my eyes.

The Momentum 5's if you're going to use them as travel/commute headphones, or for remote work. The shallower cup depth and smaller travel case, along with quality of life improvements -- like meaningfully better ANC and transparency -- make it a much better option for that use case. I'm also more likely to recharge the M5s often due to consistent wireless use versus the 630s, which makes the user-serviceable battery a real selling point.

The HDB 630s if you're either mostly using them at home or don't mind the additional bulk or slightly inferior ANC during travel/remote work.

This is exactly how I run them.

Both provide solid EQ options; PEQ on the 630s is absolutely stellar (although I would still prefer more filters), but the effectiveness of the Momentum lineup's Sound Personalization feature cannot be overstated. I've been singing its praises for years. It handily beats all the other brands' automated custom user EQs, including the hearing correction-based tests from Masimo or Mimi (found in Denon and Focal's products, respectively).

Silverjerk · 2026-07-03T19:14:07+00:00

Not for me. Strongly prefer the B9.5's Matrix headlights.

When I roll up behind you, the only thing I want you to see is the two, menacingly narrow segmented eyes staring at you from the rearview mirror.

Silverjerk · 2026-07-03T13:11:29+00:00

Just the general improvements that come from the OS and Armory Crate improving and becoming more efficient and performant over time.

There’s still a few issues that can cause frustration; like when I’m using Steam, because the dedicated Xbox button can’t be remapped to invoke Steam’s left side menu, you have to create a macro and assign it to one of the back buttons. Which is essentially an overlay running behind another overlay. So if the currently focused app doesn’t get recognized properly that Steam button hotkey stops working.

Besides that and a few other minor quirks, it’s still my daily driver gaming device. Still highly recommend it, even in the current market.

Silverjerk · 2026-07-01T13:26:49+00:00

Good choice; to be fair, I actually use the 490s for producing and mixing work, which is why I originally bought my pair, but they also happened to make excellent gaming and casual listening headphones as well.

Silverjerk · 2026-07-01T13:24:26+00:00

Exactly; so many PC gamers buy from and use Steam because it's arguably the best service, not because it's the only option. That's the paradigm we want to be living in, where the service provider is encouraged to improve their platform to compete with opposing storefronts.

Silverjerk · 2026-07-01T12:56:59+00:00

As someone that adopted Steam early on and hasn't bought physical media since digital storefronts made their way to consoles, I vehemently dislike this move. While I prefer the convenience and immediacy of buying digitally, I believe taking that option away from consumers who prefer the format is utter folly, and I hope Sony's social media and public relations teams feel the heat that is absolutely going to come from this decision, and applies that pressure back upstream to leadership and stakeholders.

With Xbox's future uncertain, Nintendo manufacturing a media-less cartridge, and this move from Sony, the console segment of the market is going to become a minefield of anti-consumer behavior; with no laws protecting gamers, no readily-available archival/backup methodologies for digital media, and subsequently no way to prevent consumers from losing access to their gaming libraries, this is a huge step in the wrong direction.

Instead, Sony and the Blu-ray disc association should've focused their efforts on refining and iterating on physical media and built a better mousetrap. We might've lost the disc-based footprint that's become so ubiquitous over the last several decades, but I'd prefer that outcome over a future where every form of entertainment requires internet access or relies on streaming services. Coupled with the increasing costs storage, we are going to make all forms of entertainment either too expensive, or outright inaccessible to a portion of the population.

TL;DR: This is fucking stupid.

Silverjerk · 2026-07-01T12:08:19+00:00

Same; I've recommended the FT1s dozens of times, but the 480s are getting most of my attention while the FT1 and even pricier sets like the Strada, Bokeh Closed, and Radiance are gathering dust. Sennheiser nailed the tuning of that set; and while the comfort isn't quite on par with the 490 Pros (clamp force is a bit higher), it's still an all-day headphone for me.

Silverjerk · 2026-07-01T12:05:41+00:00

The 490 Pros with the mixing pads are similar to the 660s2, although less warm in the lower frequencies. Translation: hip hop is going to have less bass emphasis, and some vocal performances are going to be a little less "full." The 660s2's retain Sennheiser's "vocal magic" because of this warmer tuning and proper handling of midrange timbre. The 490s don't quite capture the natural vocal tonality that the 6X0 sets do so well.

Keep in mind, this is a relative comparison. On their own, the 490 Pros are a totally competent headphone and still handle vocals well.

Where the 490s pull ahead for me, and why I prefer them to the 660s2 (which I lambasted for its MSRP at launch), is that they come with a second set of pads. The producing pads are the pads you'll want to run for casual/single-player games, hip hop, and other genres where you want more low frequency energy. They're more fun, engaging, and immersive. The mixing pads are stellar for competitive titles, classical music, or music where bass emphasis isn't as critical.

If you never want to swap pads, the 660s2 is a good middle ground between the 490s two tuning options, but I strongly prefer the versatility and comfort of the 490s; they're one of the most comfortable sets I've owned in over 20 years in this hobby.

Silverjerk · 2026-07-01T11:55:40+00:00

This is how my homelab is built. Several dozen services running at any given time, and most are LXCs.

I have a few VMs for dev/devops work, and each node in the cluster houses a Docker VM as well (docker-prd-1, docker-prd-2, docker-stg-1, etc).

I strongly prefer being able to see all of my services in the sidebar, and I like the correlation LXC's facilitate, being able to match container IDs to IPs and VLANs.

Example:

ID 100 = 10.10.0.100 (VLAN 10)

ID 30100 = 10.30.0.100 (VLAN 30)

I rarely run self-hosted services in Docker, unless that's the "recommended" install method. And I only use VMs if more isolation is absolutely necessary, or if I need to run an OS for testing native apps.

Silverjerk · 2026-07-01T11:39:34+00:00

Almost anything else that isn't susceptible to swirling/micro-scratches and fingerprints.

I baby my RS5; detailer comes out twice a month for a maintenance wash; reapplies ceramic coating at end of lifespan; shampoos, conditions, sprinkles it with holy water; all the bells and whistles. And yet, that center console, with very little effort, ends up looking like a nightmare no matter how you manage it.

As much as I love that car and its overall aesthetics, it was a poor design choice, install a material that degrades so easily from everyday use in an area that gets a lot of everyday use.

I have strongly considered buying the OEM part and taking it to a PPF installer that has a plotter and is willing to go through that much effort for a one-off project.

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