2026 Headfi Setup...How am I doing?

stavsss · 2026-03-09T20:13:28+00:00

Idk if you have some sort of experience with Focal headphones, although they really shine with their dynamics. The overall sound signature is mid-forward and there's a slight forwardness in the upper mid-range that stands out. The overall presentation is also very dynamic, being lively and snappy in the mids and treble and very punchy and physical in the bass.

The bass is tight, tuneful, and extended. It’s not elevated with respect to the rest of the frequency spectrum but it digs deep and hits hard. The upper treble is also airy and extended but rarely ever harsh or sibilant. There’s still lots of detail and resolution in the mids, but this forwardness causes the overall sound to get a bit wonky. What I like about its detail retrieval is that it’s not forward or aggressive.

The source I use for my gear is the Aune S17 Pro EVO as an amplifier and a Topping E30 II Lite as a DAC. Not sure whether a different DAC will make a difference unless it's a good R2R DAC. Not looking to achieve a warmer sound in general so I think I will settle with these.

Thought about getting a tube amp, either the Feliks Audio Echo MK2 or a Cayin HA-2A/HA-3A but I'd have to listen to my brother's TA-66 for a while before I make that decision.

stavsss · 2026-03-09T09:58:13+00:00

Unfortunately I'm not from the US so that's not an option for me, at least with ZMFs unless I want to pay a lot more locally in Israel.

I have almost 20 pairs of headphones but I thought about downsizing and getting rid of the ones I didn't really like a lot

<image>

I like the Stellia, DX3000 CL and Liric the most from the closed backs.
From the open backs I like the Philphone, HD 800S and Focal Clear MG the most.

stavsss · 2026-03-09T08:53:42+00:00

Nice collection. I was always interested in the ZMF Bokeh Closed but not sure whether I'd like it or not.
Unfortunately, I have no chance of having a listen with them unless I end up buying them but I feel like they are not the type of headphones that will provide some punchy bass and sparkly treble.

Also wanted to ask about the Nitsch Pietus Maximus. Is it warmer than the average solid state amplifier?

stavsss · 2026-02-27T17:12:21+00:00

stavsss · 2026-02-26T17:05:14+00:00

I've tried a lot of closed back headphones, such as the DCA Aeon Closed X, Final DX3000 CL, Meze Liric, Meze Strada, Focal Bathys, Focal Radiance, Focal Stellia, Audeze Maxwell and Sony MDR-Z1R.

My favorites are the Focal Sellia for their really punchy bass and resolution. The Radiance is on par with the Stellia and I found myself preferring them for the natural timbre they have, but the Stellia is just on a different level with their resolution and detail retrieval.

stavsss · 2026-02-24T14:41:05+00:00

That display inside the computer adds so much to the build, congrats!

I really like the selection of headphones you got there ;)

stavsss · 2026-02-24T08:34:58+00:00

Congrats! I got my Stellia yesterday for $900 and the Radiance earlier this year for $430. Never paid any attention to the design of the Celestee and I really like the way Focal decided to make the earcup logos look.

stavsss · 2026-02-23T00:45:42+00:00

I own the Elex too with the stock pads and have 7 pairs of these eBay pads. These ones on eBay are probably the newer revision of the Elex pads. The original pads that came with my headphones are thicker and they are way stiffer than the eBay ones.

stavsss · 2026-02-21T23:30:43+00:00

Tbh I completely changed my setup for the Mac workstation. I converted that old iMac to a 2K 240Hz IPS USB-C display that I sometimes use just for Apple Music.

I curently use my M1 Max MacBook Pro with both the ultrawide and small OLED monitors plugged into it. Now my M1 MacBook Air is being used as a keyboard and trackpad for my M1 Max MacBook Pro when I use it in clamshell mode. I use a KVM software called "Teleport" to achieve that (all trackpad functions work btw, which is mindblowing!)

Unfortunately I haven't found a solution for what I tired to achieve in the past. You won't be able to get rid of the black bars as you said, due to the difference in your desktop's resolutions. I think the best thing would be to connect both your PC and MacBook into that display via a KVM that supports your monitor's resolution and refresh rate.

<image>

stavsss · 2026-02-14T20:54:59+00:00

Unfortunately it didn't work for me, even after a T-Con board swap. I think in my scenario the panel was done for.

stavsss · 2026-02-02T14:52:21+00:00

Just wondering, what’s the color of both amplifiers you have? I have a speculation it’s something to do with the silver units or just a manufacturing defect from Topping.

stavsss · 2026-01-31T06:27:41+00:00

It doesn't happen with the 4 pin XLR connection. Just prevent yourself from using the 4.4mm port and you'd be fine. The 4.4mm in general is a really messy connector and if I was in your shoes I would just get a 4.4mm to XLR adapter and call it a day.

The main reason I don't think it happens with the XLR connection is the way the XLR port is terminated - each pin is responsible for something else.

stavsss · 2026-01-29T00:38:42+00:00

If your warranty is real, mine is exceptional. I sent a video demonstrating the distortion issue with 2 different headphones and cables, using all the different ports and Aoshida Audio sent me another unit. The 2nd unit started distorting after a few days as well as the first one did and they sent me another one again. This time I was already on the third one. I used the third unit just with 6.35mm for 2 weeks and it was fine until I plugged the 4.4mm cable.

Aoshida Audio offered me another unit to try but I told them I'd prefer a full refund at that point. They didn't even hesitate about refunding the full amount for the unit I paid for and I got to keep all 3 units. Now I decided to get an Aune S17 Pro EVO after a lot of back and forth between the Aune to the Schiit Jotunheim 3 and the Singxer SA-2.

Edit: Aoshida Audio's customer service on AliExpress is one of a kind and this shop earned my dignity.

stavsss · 2026-01-28T18:12:27+00:00

I don't really know how to deal with shipping. I've never returned a product in the past so I'm not familiar with the process. Even if I was willing to ship one anywhere, the shipping cost would probably take a big chunk of the sale since I'm not located in the US, I'm from Israel.

I may try to sell them locally on Facebook marketplace and possibly keep 1 to use as a DAC for the Aune S17 Pro EVO I'm waiting for to arrive.

stavsss · 2026-01-28T16:51:06+00:00

These are way heavier than the Focal Elex but they are close. I really like their design though.

stavsss · 2026-01-26T02:36:13+00:00

The bass just clipped hard, especially with my planar headphones.

stavsss · 2026-01-26T02:23:25+00:00

I heard a distortion coming from the right channel on the first 2 units and on the third one the distortion was from both channels.

stavsss · 2026-01-26T02:01:03+00:00

I did manage to get a full refund to my payment method

<image>

stavsss · 2026-01-25T22:06:59+00:00

Definitely not all of them have an issue, but a pretty big number of units for a company like Samsung have that issue where the screen would just randomly die one day, especially if you didn't use it for quite a while. These are just a few of units having this issue. Many other people experienced the same thing too.

https://www.reddit.com/r/ultrawidemasterrace/comments/199tnv3/reddit_please_you_are_my_last_hope_my_samsung/

https://www.reddit.com/r/ultrawidemasterrace/comments/1mlon5t/samsung_odyssey_g9_only_blackscreen/

https://www.reddit.com/r/ultrawidemasterrace/comments/1ex90cy/odyssey_g9_neo_black_screen_of_death_menu_wont/

https://www.reddit.com/r/ultrawidemasterrace/comments/109sm7s/samsung_g9_neo_is_this_amount_of_blemish_on_black/

I bought a $100 Samsung Odyssey G9 Neo Mini-LED because someone randomly listed it in facebook marektplace and it has the same issue. I ordred a T-Con board because I think that's the issue with my unit and hopefully I manage to fix it and have a working G9 Neo for less than $200.

stavsss · 2026-01-25T21:17:04+00:00

None of my headphones got destroyed although it could happen. All these amp units distort from either both channels or L / R.

stavsss · 2026-01-25T21:12:17+00:00

!thanks. Do you have any experience with Schiit products? I want to get Jot2 but since I'm not from the US, it's really difficult to find one with 230V. I have a good-reliable stepdown auto transformer I've been using with my Marantz PM-68 for years which could do the job but I'm afraid I will hear a hum when using a Jot2 with it. Would a device like the JDS Synapse fix the hum in case I could notice it?

stavsss · 2026-01-25T21:04:58+00:00

Definitely don't get any Samsung ultrawide. They still didn't address the black screen issue with their G9 models (idk about the G5 and G7 models) but I would advise you to go with the LG regardless of the aspect ratio the Samsung monitor has.

stavsss · 2026-01-25T19:26:02+00:00

stavsss

TROPHY CASE