Recent content by ClicketEKlack
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Hiby R6 Pro - serious upgrade to popular DAP
Tidal's glitchiness and incompatibility grew so frustrating that I switched streaming services. Might be easier than switching DAPs. Apple Music and Qobuz are great.- ClicketEKlack
- Post #4,006
- Forum: Portable Source Gear
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Focal Utopia General Discussion
FWIW, the pictures of the Mass Kobo 465 flagship being demoed at one of the Can Jams showed the DAC Mr. Masuda chose to show off his amp to the world was an OG Topping D90. So one of the world's premiere amp designers was fine with a mid-fi DAC. Very telling.- ClicketEKlack
- Post #20,521
- Forum: High-end Audio Forum
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Focal Utopia General Discussion
I use a 4.4mm to XLR adapter for my DSHA-3FN and it sounds absolutely fine. I tested A/B tested it on my A90 and couldn't hear a lick of difference. Isn't the termination of ANY cable basically an adapter anyway? If there were some mystery mojo that caused problems with adapters, how would any...- ClicketEKlack
- Post #20,443
- Forum: High-end Audio Forum
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Nitsch DSHA-3FN / ECP DSHA-3F Impressions
It sounds stellar with a $500 Topping DAC too.- ClicketEKlack
- Post #35
- Forum: High-end Audio Forum
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Focal Utopia General Discussion
I'd imagine this would be excellent.- ClicketEKlack
- Post #20,399
- Forum: High-end Audio Forum
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Focal Utopia General Discussion
I would recommend any good-measuring DAC (I'm of the school that DACs are DACs until anyone produces objective empirical research that says otherwise), plus the Nitsch DSHA-3FN. It's smoooooooth but incredibly revealing. The fact that it was designed specifically with the Utopia in mind to...- ClicketEKlack
- Post #20,395
- Forum: High-end Audio Forum
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Shanling M8 Android Portable player
Well played. That made my day!- ClicketEKlack
- Post #5,797
- Forum: Portable Source Gear
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Shanling M8 Android Portable player
Wonder if you have any insight into what's happening: I charged my M8 to 100% and turned it off. The next morning, when I turned it on, the battery was at 84%. Does this mean the battery is dead or dying? Is there some sort of firmware problem?- ClicketEKlack
- Post #5,795
- Forum: Portable Source Gear
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Shanling M8 Android Portable player
Apple music is a mess now. Often, the app shows the song playing, but no sound. Then you switch to another album or Qobuz and it's fine.- ClicketEKlack
- Post #5,794
- Forum: Portable Source Gear
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Focal Utopia General Discussion
Before chasing any out-of-production amps, you can check out Nitsch -- they're doing another run of the DSHA-3FN, which is specifically tailored to Focals. I demoed a Feliks Euphoria, and it wasn't even a horse race with the DSHA. I haven't tried any DNA amps, but the Nitsch does amazing things...- ClicketEKlack
- Post #20,240
- Forum: High-end Audio Forum
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Focal Utopia General Discussion
What about the NAIM Uniti HE? I tried it with the OG Utopia and it was stellar. It’s tuned to have synergy with Focal. The footprint is small, and it does everything well. Had I been starting out, I would have bought it, but I already had a good DAC and just needed a better HP amp.- ClicketEKlack
- Post #20,167
- Forum: High-end Audio Forum
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Focal Utopia General Discussion
I've flown many times with Utopia in their case. Never had an issue.- ClicketEKlack
- Post #20,128
- Forum: High-end Audio Forum
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A master DAC killer, SMSL SU-X
What's odd about SMSL and Topping rolling out higher-end stuff is that they're starting to contradict their raison d'être in their own marketing. The whole budget Chi-Fi methodology held that if cheapo resistors and chips measure as well as primo resistors and ladder decks, then the "high-end...- ClicketEKlack
- Post #36
- Forum: Sponsor Announcements and Deals
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A master DAC killer, SMSL SU-X
The original name was the SMSL SU-CKS.- ClicketEKlack
- Post #3
- Forum: Sponsor Announcements and Deals
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THE COMPOSER OPEN BACK FLAGSHIP by AUSTRIAN AUDIO
What appeals to me about the Composer is what drew me to the Utopia -- the ability to drive it with almost any amp or DAP. If you travel for work, the Susvara is pretty much useless, unless you plan to carry a steamer trunk's worth of expensive, fragile, and fiddly gear. Having a TOTL headphone...- ClicketEKlack
- Post #1,533
- Forum: Headphones (full-size)