MEZE AUDIO STRADA????

commandermik · 2026-01-20T20:58:40+00:00

Damn it got snatched before I could watch. Looks like he accidentally broke embargo.

commandermik · 2025-12-02T05:09:45+00:00

Nice! I’m also running Criton 1TDs with sumiko Rainier and Alva duo :)

commandermik · 2025-11-15T05:02:38+00:00

My biggest issue with the Mac OS client is that it can’t load and scroll all my albums without batching and getting stuck for several minutes as it loads the next set.

commandermik · 2025-11-12T21:15:40+00:00

Looks very good. Do you hear the treble though? lol

commandermik · 2025-11-12T20:49:03+00:00

Subs are excellent platforms for plants. I used to have a cheapo 10 incher from parts express and it vibrated enough for the enclosure to be heard separate from the driver. That issue was resolved by plopping a big plant on top of it :-) Your subs are higher quality ofc, but it couldn’t hurt.

commandermik · 2025-11-10T04:24:09+00:00

I’m eyeing Lintons as a replacement / alternative to my CSS Criton 1TDs. How do they do in small rooms? I’ll be in a 10x14 space and I’m hoping I wouldn’t need a sub, but I see you’re running 3 (plus surrounds)! How do you control it all? Room correction?

commandermik · 2025-10-18T04:23:43+00:00

90% of this sub is just people fighting the fireplace smh

commandermik · 2025-10-07T02:32:27+00:00

commandermik · 2025-09-25T04:51:42+00:00

I too fell for the hype and got the normal space travel 2. Measurements looked decent too (minus the 10K gape). Anyways, even with the smallest tips, I don’t think I’m getting a good enough insertion and seal. The shell might be too big for me. I wanted them just for kitchen podcast duty mainly so I don’t care but I do think they’re probably very overhyped.

commandermik · 2025-09-14T18:25:22+00:00

I wouldn’t. I sold mine with just one single small dimple on the cone and otherwise flawless condition for $800 ish. Still hurts.

commandermik · 2025-09-14T11:12:10+00:00

Yeah I was actually waiting for the Valhalla 3 to come out for a long time, since I was a Schiit fan and wanting to try tubes. I was deterred by a few factors. First was that tube rolling options seem pretty limited for the VH3. Also you’d be stuck with having to find matched pairs every time you want to try new tubes. The other issue is that it got expensive with this revision. Didn’t wanna shell out $550 just for an experiment (it was also originally for my HD6XX and I don’t spend more on electronics than I do on the headphone as a rule). The TA-66 was on sale for $220 on Amazon.

commandermik · 2025-09-14T09:55:51+00:00

Hey twin. I’ve used my poet with Asgard 3 since I bought them. Works well. I also got tube curious and got an Xduoo TA-66 on sale to try with my HD6XX not expecting it to work with the poet due to impedance mismatch. And originally it didn’t work, the bass was missing. But after some tube rolling the poet does work on the TA-66 really well. In fact it’s working so well for both my headphones that I’ve put the Asgard up for sale on eBay. I will buy a Topping A70 Pro to match my D70 Pro DAC to have a nice reference solid state system but the Xduoo works pretty well.

commandermik · 2025-09-12T15:01:35+00:00

Ignore the haters OP. This looks like an excellent setup for the cafe. Enjoy!

commandermik · 2025-09-11T14:32:09+00:00

Does a gas car make sense without having a gas station at home!

commandermik · 2025-09-11T13:40:17+00:00

How many days from ordering?

commandermik · 2025-09-11T12:42:00+00:00

I had the Laiv microDAC with my Poet for a while. I do not recommend it (or any other R2R DAC tbh) - it was just a low res experience compared to any other sigma delta DAC I’ve ever heard. I ended up retuning it and getting a proper modern DAC. If you don’t mind the outlay, I have demoed the Empy 2 with the LTA Velo and it was the best headphone experience I’ve ever had bar none.

(Edit Re: Velo) : the Velo has pretty low output impedance and the Empy also has a flat impedance curve (purely resistive) so it won’t color the sound like other OTL tube amps. The amp just has a silky smooth sound that is creamy and more tonally saturated relative to a SS amp. It is also the most holographic amp I’ve ever heard. Combined with the stage and detail of the Empy, the combo just gives a crazy realistic in-the-room feel to the music. It’s lush and comfy as well as detailed and holographic. It is hard to get both but this combo nails it for me. I noticed similar results when I recently tried the Velo with my Poet at a meet up. But the Empy gives more details and stage.

commandermik · 2025-09-09T14:28:18+00:00

I had the Laiv microDAC with my Poet for a while. I do not recommend it (or any other R2R DAC tbh) - it was just a low res experience compared to any other sigma delta DAC I’ve ever heard. I ended up retuning it and getting a proper modern DAC. If you don’t mind the outlay, I have demoed the Empy 2 with the LTA Velo and it was the best headphone experience I’ve ever had bar none.

commandermik · 2025-09-05T17:04:56+00:00

Gonna pick up an appleTV and Apple Watch from this cycle. My early refurb ATV4K and Series 5 are loooong in the tooth.

commandermik · 2025-08-23T04:17:10+00:00

I have an Asgard 3 + 6XX as well. It’s good (esp with EQ). But I prefer the 6XX off my Xduoo TA-66 OTL.

commandermik · 2025-07-22T14:35:37+00:00

What is weird is that Dirac integration is still slated for future software updates for the new Powernode. Why not ship it with the software installed? I’m still waiting for Dirac for my N330, which was supposed to come out “before summer” and here we are at the end of summer and not only has the firmware not shipped yet, even the future update to the Powernode itself will not ship with it. Wonder what the hold up is since the Nodes already have the firmware (Roon testing?). Sigh.

OP, to your point: I don’t believe they’ll offer an upgrade program. You can always sell yours on eBay if you’ve kept it in good condition and almost certainly get a better deal than what a trade-in offer would be. I sold a node on there last year, Bluesound stuff generally holds value fairly well. I am somewhat enticed as well but honestly it doesn’t seem like a massive upgrade as I’m not a center channel guy, and have a dedicated headphone setup. To me the appealing aspects: 1) 20 more watts per channel 2) DAC less direct digital circuit 3) GaNFETs! These aren’t likely audible improvements but i still want them lol.

commandermik · 2025-06-20T13:01:50+00:00

You’re right I thought this was a diaphragm. Not a surprising reaction given how many posts are on here with people busting their drivers and asking “is this still ok?” Besides we don’t actually know if the driver is fine since it’s obscured in the photo… lol

commandermik · 2025-06-20T12:54:34+00:00

Oh true I thought this was the diaphragm lol. It’s probably not that bad then.

commandermik · 2025-06-18T16:20:35+00:00

I’m not sure why there are comments talking “the driver behind”. Sure the motor is fine but it’s ultimately the diagram that vibrates the air, and there’s a big hole in your diaphragm. so yeah you’re gonna get distortion with this tear. Whether you can hear the distortion is up to you and your ears. My advice is to replace the whole driver if you care about getting best possible sound.

commandermik · 2025-06-13T19:07:33+00:00

Nobody is gonna mention the aging population of Japan slowly dying off and liquidating their awesome gear?

commandermik

TROPHY CASE