XMAX918

XMAX918 t1_ivc1v9m wrote

Headphones: M40x: unsatisfactory (confort and channel imbalance) X2hr: unsatisfactory (piercing highs) Portapros: very satisfying sound, comfort can be improved, will try yaxi pads, afraid they'll break tho. They sound a little veiled but tolerable.

IEMs: Zs10 pro: Extremely fatiguing, disappointed with them. Not buying from KZ again. Jabra 75t: Ok for bluetooth. Convenient and decent for the price.

Dac/amps (headphones): E30+L30: Decent stack, not worth the money anymore, slight annoyance with channel imbalance on L30 at low volumes because of analog volume pot. S9 pro: Good power for portable, harsh trebble, not experiencing the battery drain people are talking about, runs hot and build quality is only ok. Dx3 pro+: Very satisfied with everything except internal board is kind of loose. Everything else is perfect for me. Well worth the price. Bluetooth is insane too.

Speakers: Eris E5: Tbh, just skip on all "studio monitors" although these were an OK pair to start with. These need a sub. MediaDesk mkII 2.1: Fun 2.1 system. Doesn't play too loud but sub produces nice low end for the size. Mids are a bit too recessed. Micca RB42: Very limited due to their small size albeit impressive for 4 inch. Weird bump in mid-bass/lower midrange region. B&W DM-601 s3 + Temblor T10 sub: Insane sound no need for more atm. Everything I like in speakers. B&W is still KING.

Power amps: SMSL Ao200: Don't loose your time with Class D save some money and buy a real amp. Bryston 3B-ST: A LOT of GOOD power. Will drive anything. Get a Bryston if you can it's a safe choice.

TLDR: Semi satisfied audiophile. If you have recommendations for portable dac/amp solutions (~200-300$ CAD) and headphones with frequency response similar to Portapros but with more comfort and details (~300-400$), I'd be interested in hearing them. I don't like harsh or piercing trebble (young ears) and tend to enjoy warm sound signatures more.

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