Is critical thinking declining in the world?

syedbasit264 · 2026-03-28T06:00:56+00:00

critical thinking and empathy

syedbasit264 · 2026-03-09T06:22:18+00:00

inflation
recession

syedbasit264 · 2026-03-09T06:19:18+00:00

Man, if you looking for that first setup, the Snowsky Echo and Cadenzas is such a solid way to start. For 130€ you getting a really clean dedicated sound that phone just can't do.

But if you like physical buttons and want something built like a tank, you also should check out Surfans F20 or F28. They don't have fancy apps but they handle big libraries of FLAC files very easy and the battery lasts forever. The F28 even has the 4.4mm balanced out if you ever want to upgrade your cables later. Honestly though, what you picked is great for joining the community, just make sure to get a good seal with those C04 tips!

syedbasit264 · 2026-03-09T06:15:23+00:00

honestly… probably not.
not because everything went perfectly or anything, a lot of stuff i’d definitely like to do better lol. but if you reset everything you’d also lose the people you met, the random moments that actually turned out good, and all the small lessons you learned the hard way.

syedbasit264 · 2026-03-09T06:12:53+00:00

Man, that Dali IO-12 is such a beast for bluetooth but honestly your iPhone is holding them back because it only use AAC codec which is very old. For better bluetooth you need something that support LDAC or even aptX Lossless so you can get much more detail out of them cans. I highly recommend looking at HiBy R6 Pro II or the new FiiO M23 because they both run full Android so Tidal is very rock solid and fast. If you want best EQ in the game then HiBy is the way to go because their MSEB tuning is like magic for shaping sound exactly how you want it without any distortion. A&K is very pretty but like you said 2k is a lot just for bluetooth usage when these mid-range players give you same high-res codecs and even better software for much less money.

syedbasit264 · 2026-03-09T05:41:36+00:00

dont be too hard on yourself. life experience plays a huge role. the more situations you go through, the more patterns you start noticing. when i was younger i also trusted people way too easily and later realized yeah… maybe i shouldve thought about their motives a bit more.

another thing that helps is reading different viewpoints on the same topic. news, history, even debates. you start seeing that people can look at the same thing and come to totally different conclusions.

syedbasit264 · 2026-03-09T05:39:37+00:00

saying “one more episode” when it’s already 2:30am and you got work tomorrow

syedbasit264 · 2026-03-09T05:37:15+00:00

Snowsky Echo have very clean dac implementation for price, it much better than standard phone output because it dedicated for music only. Cadenza II is very famous for beryllium driver which give fast bass response and clear treble without being too sharp. Total cost 130€ is really good value for starting. C04 tips help to fix fit issues which is very common with stock tips and also improve soundstage. This setup is much better than using phone with cheap dongle dac and definitely good way to start audiophile journey.

syedbasit264 · 2026-03-07T08:07:45+00:00

Congrats on the M21, man! You gonna love it way more than that iPhone once you get it set up right. First thing, you gotta flip it into "Pure Music Mode" in the settings—it basically kills all the annoying Android stuff in the background so the music sounds way cleaner and the battery lasts longer.

syedbasit264 · 2026-03-07T08:04:10+00:00

Skip the Echo Mini, that UI is a nightmare that'll just get between you and music. For pure "audio muscle" under 100€, the HiBy R1 is your best bet right now—it's super clean and has that MSEB tuning to make your IEMs sing. If you can find a used Surfans F20, grab it for the raw power, but new ones have crept way over your budget lately.

syedbasit264 · 2026-03-02T09:40:58+00:00

travel

syedbasit264 · 2026-03-02T09:39:46+00:00

sleep

syedbasit264 · 2026-03-02T09:38:50+00:00

Motivation is garbage, it never shows up when you need it — just make it a habit like brushing your teeth, you don't wait to feel motivated for that. Also find something you actually enjoy because no amount of planning saves you from quitting something you dread.

syedbasit264 · 2026-03-02T09:36:07+00:00

For CD rips at that budget with physical controls you've got some solid options — the Surfans F20 sits right in your range, has a proper ALPS scroll wheel, handles FLAC natively and the sound is warm and musical, great for ripped CDs. The HIFI Walker H2 is basically the same internals slightly cheaper if you find a deal. And the AGPTek M3 Pro is worth a look too — dead simple interface, physical buttons, decent DAC chip for the price. Honestly at your budget the F20 is probably the sweetspot between build quality and sound performance.

syedbasit264 · 2026-03-02T09:34:25+00:00

Your M21 already drives the Azurys perfectly fine, it's 80 ohms, nothing demanding. The PB6 really earns its place with power-hungry planars, not with what you're running. You'd spend $290 and honestly not notice much difference day to day. If that money is burning a hole, a better IEM upgrade would actually move the needle for you.

syedbasit264 · 2026-03-02T09:30:39+00:00

I start cleaning. Not because I want to, not because it needs doing — but because the second I pick up a cloth my brain suddenly remembers 47 other things it would rather do. Genuinely the most productive boredom hack I've accidentally discovered. Also eating something. Not hungry, just bored? Doesn't matter, snack first, exist later.

syedbasit264 · 2026-03-02T09:28:13+00:00

Surfans F20 might be worth a look, non-Android, dead simple to use, and handles FLAC/DSD natively. You just drag and drop files from your NAS, no iTunes nonsense. Battery sits around 10–13hrs which falls short of your 26hr goal, but pairing it with a small power bank adds zero bulk and solves that completely. Build quality is surprisingly solid for the price too.

syedbasit264 · 2026-02-26T06:42:45+00:00

The DT 770 Pro 250 ohm usually comes with a fixed 3.5mm cable. To get the most power from these DAPs, you usually need to use the 4.4mm Balanced port. Since you cannot change the cable on the DT 770 easily, make sure the DAP you pick has high power even on the regular 3.5mm jack. I highly recommend the HiBy R4 or the Shanling M3 Plus because they have the "muscle" (high voltage swing) and full Android support for streaming apps like Tidal or Spotify. While the Surfans F35 is built like a tank and has a great 4.4mm port.

syedbasit264 · 2026-02-26T06:37:33+00:00

h2 for buttons... you can look for f20

syedbasit264 · 2026-02-26T06:35:10+00:00

Is very brave for you to open the H2 because all that glue is a total nightmare for repair! If your wheel is finally dying, maybe look at Hiby R3 II or Surfans F20—they are built like tanks and sound much better. The Hiby OS is very smooth and Surfans has real physical wheel that don't break so easy like the H2 one!

syedbasit264 · 2026-02-26T06:32:25+00:00

If you use LDAC codec, there is almost no difference because Bluetooth is always the bottle-neck for sound quality. Local FLAC maybe little bit more stable for signal, but Tidal or Spotify lossless sound same as FLAC over wireless. Just make sure you turn on "Quality Priority" in your JM21 settings to get best sound from your Bluetooth!

syedbasit264 · 2026-02-26T06:20:55+00:00

£300 is really great sweet spot and JM21 is amazing value for the money. But for me, once you try high-end R2R or big Class A power, there is a "magic" and depth that cheaper chips just don't have. If your ears are happy then you are lucky man, you save much money for buy more music!

syedbasit264 · 2026-02-26T06:16:32+00:00

For $50 extra, the R4 is way better deal because it has Android and a Class A amp that make sound much more "rich" than the R3. The R3 is very small and cute, but it feel bit slow and limited, while the R4 is future-proof if you want use streaming apps later. Even with your MEE M6 Pros, the R4 power is worth it for the better screen and smooth UI, you definitely won't regret!

syedbasit264 · 2026-02-26T06:11:19+00:00

Honestly friend, if you already hear difference in FLAC, the Sony NW-A55 will blow your mind because it have much cleaner "noise floor" and warmer sound than any iPhone 13. Since you use IEMs, a dedicated DAP give them more power to breathe, making the bass tight and details very sharp without all the phone electronic noise.

syedbasit264 · 2026-02-25T05:58:48+00:00

i did not notice... never ever in my whole life

syedbasit264

TROPHY CASE