I still want to know if that bi-directional could be software controlled?

Thanks man, appreciate it 🙏

Really hoping they have another run of limited edition woods. The base wood looks really bad imo, and they don’t do custom orders anymore :/

Thanks! The person I bought the Flows from actually was selling them because he bought Vérités - they definitely seem like a sweet set. Cool list of gear!

Every single aspect of how an audio device sounds can be measured, it's just that not all those aspects are measured or published. They are instead oversimplified into marketing statistics that are easier to understand (and hide inconsistencies).

For example, I was using a very nice sounding audio recorder (Sound Devices MixPre 10II) to measure the performance of a mic preamp I had built, using a loopback with REW. It showed unexpected distortion in the sub bass. I measured again with the mic pre out of the loop and the rise in distortion was still there. I sent my graphs to Sound Devices asking if my recorder was broken, but they confirmed my results. The device was in spec (and sounds "good"), but it has significantly more distortion in the sub bass than most modern audio interfaces. So while it has excellent THD spec, that is not telling the whole story.

Yeah diminished returns is definitely something to keep in mind in this hobby and others as well. I think unless they're being used daily for professional purchases where you absolutely need that 'min-max', the difference is very subjective to what you value it to be.

I held out on the Blessing 2 and they were already considered an affordable splurge for the longest time as is, and I've overlooked the sale for $270 on Amazon as well as ShenZhenAudio in the past. I think the Blessing 2 were worth the blind buy (though I easily could return to Amazon if I didn't like it) with absolutely no regrets asides from not getting them sooner, and sits well in that price point where I feel comfortable for the value. For anything above the $400-500 price point, I think I would personally have to test drive them for a bit before making that purchase. Especially since the Blessing 2 seems to fill that niche that a lot of people have between the more budget options (sub $200) and the kilobuck.

Remember when i was trying to decide between going for Sundara's or 1990 pro's.

Glad i went for the beyer

I've had arias for a few years and I only have the slightest chipping. Makes we wonder how folks are managing to get them to do that!

I’ve had the clear, elex. LCD2C, Sony MDR-ma900, hd800, EM-U teak, and I’ve tried the LCD3, th900, ZMF auteur, and vérité. I like the EQd LCDX over all except the verite. Which I may end up getting, idk yet haha.

Just a few things: The EM-U teaks were really awesome though, and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed them. Think I should’ve kept them and gotten Lawton cups or something.

Elex punches way above its price too, and makes the clear a stupid buy imo.

I also had a bunch of “mid fi” stuff too but it’s really not worth mentioning for the sake of comparison.

As for headphones I’d really like to try: the newest version of the utopia, hedd phone, empyrean elite, LCD5, ie600s and Sony Z1rs.

oh, okay. Then by all means, go ahead and get yourself the macro keyboard and have fun with it.

I agree with you. There are so many misconception and just flat out wrong info, floating around on this forum.

Audiosciencereview measured Apple dongle and found that it has good SNR and THD. SNR and THD can be measured. But there are other even more critical factors, like how the device sounds.

People claim DAC and Amp are (or should be) transparent. So that every DAC and Amp should sound the same. Apple dongle is as good as any other DAC/Amp.

Look, Apple dongle is $9. If someone needs a dongle for their phone, just get it. But don't BS that this dongle is a great replacement for $100 entry level desktop DAC/Amp.

Every DAC and Amp I have tried sound different. Most are so close that I cannot say which is better or worse, just different. Apple dongle is no comparison vs >$30 dongles and also desktop DAC/Amp. Thin, lacks dynamics, less punchy, muted treble, less open/airy. And it lacks power. It is measured to have 31 mW at 32 ohms and 3.6 mW at 300 ohm. Not sufficient for some headphones, like Hifiman's Sundara. Not enough volume even at 100% volume; and sound is compressed (because it is clipping).

So far I have Hook X and Elixir. Nothing crazy and both low impedance. It's not that it's not loud enough.

Curious to know what headphones you were using before the LCD-X! I feel like that's the headphone I would buy if I was in that price bracket, so wondering if you had something with a similar profile previously, or went for a change.

Love IU

I haven’t received them yet, so I’ll probably update this when I put the pads on and try them out for a while. It appears that they improved the sound noticeably going off of all the comments / reviews I’ve read.

Well I wouldn't say that, but thx. Please give an update if it works out.

Nice stuff! I have the same DAC and a couple of headphones, including the LCD-X, and I end up using them the most too! So my question is: Did the change of pads really change anything? Cheers!

Yeah that's all fine (and standard) but what I'm saying is the difference is enough that it is clearly noticeable, so not in the zone of audiophile wishful thinking. Again I only bought this because the Apple dongle clearly sounded worse than my desktop setup (MOTU ULmk5 into SSL SiX).

Also there's a lot more to audio than frequency response and THD, such as frequency dependent distortion and ringing after transients. I'm sure if I measured just the FR of both these devices they'll be +/- 1dB 20-20.

erm what IEMs are you using exactly where the US Apple dongle is not enough, if I may ask?

Like for real even my EU one is plenty enough.

Are the kilobuck headphones better? I mean, sure. But diminished returns already hit incredibly hard in this hobby, even before you factor in gear that far out-performs it’s price point like the Blessing 2.

I got mine on sale for like $270 from Amazon, and if I had to make an ultimate decision these things at the price I got them at is practically unbeatable.

I was recently in a position where I wasn’t listening to my “good” headphones for a week or two (moved into a new home), and after using the blessing 2 pretty much exclusively during that time just for convenience sake, I’m more inclined than ever to settle happily with them and move the rest of my gear to have funds for other hobbies honestly.

The thing is I am trying to fill my desk with stuff as it looks too empty with just my Echo spot and controllers sitting on top of it and this is one of the thing I wanna get for it.

That's actually good to know since it's been a lot of back and forth between the two tiers for Tidal. I prefer to just have my music offline so I'm not tied to needing cell reception or WiFi when listening wherever I go.

> Also I can help set a baseline where you go from with the Parametric EQ... But I understand if you're not interested

I think I'll try to figure out a bit more about sound first, just to see what I like/dislike. But when the time comes to jump into that rabbit hole, I'll definitely reach out. Thank you for the offer!

I think part of it is that people assume there are some variables that can skew the results (like volume being unmatched, it being hard to A/B test without cognitive bias, etc) and that at the end of the days it's anecdotal. I'm not saying there isn't a difference or that you're experiencing placebo but, for me personally anyway, it's much more logical and reliable to take this with a grain of salt and rely on objective measurements in a controlled environment instead. Ideally we'd be able to see a measurable difference in frequency response on a professional measurement rig with as many variables removed as possible. I've yet to see that, but maybe I'm just not aware of that being done.

I've seen that a lot as well on Reddit and other mediums about the Blessing 2 too. I don't have that kilobuck exposure yet, though I've been offered to borrow my cousin's Unique Melody and 64Audio IEMs when I visit next time just to experience the higher end of the price bracket. Hopefully the Blessing 2 will be enough for me to not dive too deep into the rabbit hole.

I could not find a seal with them. No matter what i tried, i felt no bass at all.

Maybe because i use glasses and have a big head.

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