Sound quality alone, Saga+ would be superior to the Midgard. The reason is that a BJT tube buffer is the best implementation for a preamp application. With Midgard, you're using a circuit that's meant to drive headphones rather than maximizing the buffer amplification (Saga+) that gives the...

Depending on how much gain that tube preamp has, it can possibly clip the Stellaris from too hot of an input, but being a SET amp, that's less likely to happen

Don't forget he's also using a Holo Audio May which puts out around 5.8 volts. If you have a DAC that only puts out 2 volts single ended, you won't get the 70-80% of max volume of the Sus. Probably even at max volume, you'll lose dynamics with just a 2V input to the Stellaris when driving...

The Forge runs the Susvara on 300ohm taps without losing the midrange magic

They’re equal after extensive A/Bing on USB outs! However, I want to save the SP2000’s battery and using it as a DAP and streamer takes quite a toll on the SP2000. You won’t be missing anything with M1,2,3 Macbooks

This is exactly why I keep saying you can’t correlate subjective impressions/preferences to the threshold of audibility, no matter how you slice and dice them up

M1 MacBook Pro. Works flawlessly with the Unison USB

Chord DAVE exists as Chord’s TOTL DAC

For me, summit-fi league doesn’t mean TOTL. A Chord Hugo 2 TT is considered summit-fi for most people but isn’t TOTL by any stretch. Using that analogy, splurging 1K on an IEM gives me and most people that extra step to cross the mid-fi tier and enter the gates of the summit. There’s a reason...

Diminishing returns in IEM is already at the $20-$50 ChiFi IEMs, and above that it goes downhill pretty quickly. The last 5% is just PURE preference especially in the summit level. Me personally, I'm hitting 95% of Orioulus Trailli and ALL of 4K IEMs and up with my Campfire Bonneville, but for...

Even Jay (a YTber that reviews ultra high end stuff) don't see the value with the switches, audiophile ethernet cables and advises everyone that it's the least important part in the system. As for me, I'm perfectly happy with my Macbook Pro on battery as my "headless" streamer providing perfect...

Preference alone makes the whole subjective reports inaccurate. You can NEVER correlate or line up subjective reports to established thresholds EVER no matter how you slice and dice it up

I wouldn't consider a $1,xxx mid-fi though but Fathom on the summit level is definitely a great one

Thanks! It's one of a kind with me at the right place and at the right time! Captured with just an iPhone 12 as you can see on the lens flare on the lower center :)

Looks like 0.7