EvShrug Audio

[mental juniper]

Explore gaming audio with me! From the Gregorian chants and drums of Halo, to the orchestral swells of a Final Fantasy, or the technological marvel of Spatial Audio (surround sound) in games, celebrate is the most instinctual, emotional, and immersive aspect of gaming with me!

Hi everyone! I’m on an adventure to New York City right now, to attend a headphone trade show called CanJam to see what’s new and exciting in the high end and mid-fi (more affordable) space. I’ll be pushing myself to make some social content, but feel free to chat!

Also… two years ago, I did a “Headphones 101” seminar for anyone new to HiFi Audio (WHY HiFi?!), this is a great place to start if you want some background. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=O9mjwsyW0M4&list=PL4bc2SQk0h2TrE0K07t2WI5by66ArtDAb&index=1&pp=gAQBiAQB

[mental juniper]

Ok, I just learned that it’s a good idea to take an aspirin when your body is in travel distress, to be able to hear better 😂

But it’s a fun event! Have you ever seen so many headphones like this? And there’s FOUR lanes like this!

[rare falcon]

How long does it take for an audiophile to change a light bulb?

Answer : Forever, because he can't get past the double blind testing.

[mental juniper]

One of my favorite Head-Fi threads is this self-deprecating one. We’re not making fun of Typical Head-Fi’er Andy, Andy is all of us at some point (lots of the photos are lost, but there are still many treasures to be found!): https://www.head-fi.org/threads/meet-typical-headfier-andy.571326/

[rare falcon]

I’m all about the Chi-fi these days 🤣

[mental juniper]

I wanna hear the BLON BL-03 mark II’s and new Crinacle IEMs, but generally I prefer the comfort of full-size headphones (I have small ear canals).

[rare falcon]

Oh yeah I think I ordered the blon on massdrop.

My main non iem cans are hd560s

Also have a pair of ATH-M50s that are 20 years old (original owner!)

[mental juniper]

The new one that just released this year?

[mental juniper]

Yeah I quite like the HD 560S, it’s fairly linear like a baby HD 600, but it’s surprisingly fun because the slightly heavier transducer has Less sub bass roll off.

[rare falcon]

Idk. BL-03 II

[mental juniper]

My oldest HiFi headphones are the Etymotic ER•6i which are… oh, actually I got them in 2005, so in a couple months they will also be 20 years old 😂

[mental juniper]

Yup those are the new ones! Curious what you will think!

[rare falcon]

I have simgot ew200, truthear hola, tanchjim one (actually these just bot the dust already), 7hz salnotes zero.

For iem

I can’t find my truthear holas though and I really like them…

[mental juniper]

https://tenor.com/view/baby-sad-cute-adorable-what-gif-16292342

[mental juniper]

Oh wow! I heard CrinEars Project Meta and their lower priced IEMs to come out later/soon, very much like the tuning, very strong performance for the price!

[drifting lantern]

I thought you didn't like/do IEMs!

[mental juniper]

Well, they’re not my choice of marathon wearing accoutrements, and frankly there’s so many that flooded the market that I can’t keep track of them all, but I know OTHER people prefer them over full-size circumaural headphones.

[drifting lantern]

For me, it seems like budget/affordable IEMs can be really great where full-size headphones that are affordable are way more likely to to be bad

[mental juniper]

Also… I didn’t confront him about it, but CrinEars’ chief used to be a well-known reviewer with the “Crinacle” handle, and I took issue with his frequent “hot takes” and inflammatory video thumbnails and titles that really steered away anyone who might’ve considered headphones that “I” felt served a niche. But, when representing his own company, he was confident but not forceful, and said “if you have any comments or critiques, I want to know. In fact, I require it!” It’s his philosophy, but I guess his confidence still keeps him from seeing how an unfair but confident review could hurt his business/put him out of business.

[mental juniper]

Yes, there’s not much margin in low-end headphones, and just the added materials add to the cost. That said, I think there’s a lot of cheap junk in any form factor, but I’ve seen a few cheap gems in both (BLON BL-03 and stuff from Tin Ears and KZ Audio sometimes are a hit, but I also have found budget gems in the Koss Porta Pro and KSC75, Sennheiser HD 202).

In CrinEar’s case, the Project Meta is firmly in the Mid-Fi pricing territory (aiming for less than $300), and the Project Daybreak sounds really close at a price tier aiming to be less than $200. I might have found the man to be harmful before, but I respect good products when I see/hear them, and these had a nice frequency balance, timbre, and overall cohesiveness that some kilobuck IEMs don’t achieve.

(I love the new turtle hat!)

[drifting lantern]

There are dozens of people out there who will avoid videos for hot takes and clickbait! Dozens of us!

[mental juniper]

Dozens!

[drifting lantern]

I stopped watching Adin Walls over it even though I don't mind his videos

My big problem with IEMs is that my ear canals are small and so a lot of popular IEMs kill me.

I bought and tried Truthear Hexas and they hurt so much

[mental juniper]

Oh yes! I have this same problem! I even made the expensive experiment of custom silicone IEMs, but i still never reached the “forget I’m wearing anything” status some claim!

That’s why I prefer Etymotic, Westone, and Shure… the bore diameter of the nozzles on those are 40% narrower, so you get more flexibility with tip size and the small tips are especially small. I also like foam, Comply doesn’t feel scratchy to me at all.

@granite fjord Your new cable is for the HD 560S, right? Let’s see a picture!

[mental juniper]

Hey, you did get the OpenHeart one!

[granite fjord]

ye

[mental juniper]

OpenHeart Buddies 🖤

[granite fjord]

the cable looks nice

idk how long headphones normally last, but I hope its longer than my gaming headsets I had in the past.

[rare falcon]

My Audio Technicas are 20 years old...

Had to replace ear cups, but still working!

[granite fjord]

[rare falcon]

I've had My Sennheiser HD560s for 3 years or so. I think that pro audio headphones last a good amount of time if you aren't careless with them.

[granite fjord]

I used this cable, but my cable got damaged I think, when there was a slight bend the left ear cup went off

[granite fjord]

I think my 560s is 4 years now

[mental juniper]

Yeah, that's usually where they bend the most. But, some people still have headphones from the 90's. You just gotta replace the pads every once in awhile, you probably won't have the same issue that fullsize speakers have (which themselves have been known to last 30-40 years and still going with a little maintenance!)

[mental juniper]

I love the way the keyboard and headphones are color coordinated :3

[granite fjord]

I like my headphones, so detailed and clean.

https://tenor.com/view/dank-memes-gif-26430130

[drifting lantern]

I need to see if I can find a way to make my headphones match. Everything else does.

[mental juniper]

I’ll have to see if I can think of any other headphones with blue or preferably teal accents

https://audio46.com/products/dekoni-audio-blue-fostex-dekoni-hifi-audiophile-planar-magnetic-headphone

[drifting lantern]

Maybe someone has replacement 3d parts for my HD 558s

Since all the blueish green is filament, the obvious answer is... https://ploopy.co/headphones/

[mental juniper]

(Honestly, these are based on good headphones, but they’re modded in such a way that they’d mostly appeal to bass heads. I think the all black ones or the wood-cup ones sound more balanced.)

[mental juniper]

Kinda cool, I’ve seen other start-ups using 3D printed headphones, but haven’t seen that one yet.

[drifting lantern]

I am not a super audiophile but I don't go for bass. I kinda like neutral-ish stuff so far

[mental juniper]

Yeah, but audiophiles are more likely to go for neutral or balanced frequency responses.

But; audiophile isn’t a dirty word in this thread! Just because you care and enjoy, doesn’t mean you’re obsessive or easily duped ❤️

Nor do you have to go on a never ending chase 😂

I like that greenish blue, but other than fashion headphones I’m not sure what would match (V-Moda, maybe a special edition ZMF or Rosson Audio order) without making custom parts.

[granite fjord]

@rare falcon gotta say, can't go wrong with the 560s.

[lilac surge]

did i find some fellow audio enjoyers

[mental juniper]

You sure did! Are those possibly 64Audio or FIR CIEMs?

[lilac surge]

My new baby's, Fatfreq Grand Maestros

[mental juniper]

New? Congrats!

[lilac surge]

Upgrading from my old 64audio Nios since I'm travelling a lot more now

[mental juniper]

Portable luxury

[lilac surge]

Had these for just over a month now so not that new I guess 😅

[mental juniper]

@granite fjord How do you like this cable? 😉

[mental juniper]

Still would feel new to me!

[lilac surge]

i actually want to find a new (probably cheaper) cable at some point... These stock ones are super nice but man are they heavy

[mental juniper]

Yeah honestly they’re thicc for IEMs 😄

Digg it! https://www.instagramez.com/reel/DGq8hDDMqal/?igsh=NjV3MDR4ajB5MjR4

[lilac surge]

thats wild

[granite fjord]

I like the look of it.
But I was expecting it to be metal, it’s got some plastic coating in it or something.
I have a feeling it could bend in the future just like regular rubber cables.

[mental juniper]

You mean, get a kink in the cable? Yes, it can happen to any cable, but in this case the metal core is much thicker than usual (and there is a clear plastic jacket over the wire, probably mostly preventing corrosion).

But, I would like to iterate, I got into audio because of gaming! https://www.instagramez.com/reel/DGRQizVKPnQ/?igsh=MWtoanIweDVxenBwcQ==

[mental juniper]

Song = Wicked Game, performed here by the gamer (not sure who!), originally sung by Chris Isaak

[drifting lantern]

Got some new ear tips for my tiny ears on today

[granite fjord]

https://tenor.com/view/pepe-headphones-music-gif-14789865

[mental juniper]

@granite fjord by the way, after watching that Crinacle video you shared, I would like to take a moment to agree that motherboard audio is problematic and often bad (I’m frankly intrigued by his Apple Dongle killer), I find the Harmon Target curve’s tuning is good for gaming (tho I don’t stick with it for all situations), and you don’t have to fuck off even though he ends his video that way.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItR4R6DVrO4

@exotic sphinx They’re crepuscular, like a damselfly. Personally, I like it better than the original, but it’s hard for me to imagine what little thing in an ear would look good… perhaps IEM companies should consult with earring designers 🤔

Personally, when I saw the BLON BL-03 and its smooth mirror finish, I really liked that because it mirrors your skin tone and any of your surroundings, basically it coordinates with anything (including sunny or dreary days, night or neons). I think flat black IEMs are as divisive as black nail polish; everyone that sees it will either love or hate it, it’s not as neutral as white.

[granite fjord]

Ye, I use the Apple dongle with my 560s, it’s probably enough for me.

[mental juniper]

Well, I bought three Apple Dongles because my first one broke… the one he showed looked a lot more durable and cost just $5 more.

And, you’re not alone in liking Crinacle. He and DMS are probably the most popular headphone reviewers, and both are now trying to make their own products.

[granite fjord]

I did like the look of the one he showed, I think it was called the JWT or something, the one with the fancy wire.
Looks like it would be a bit OP for a 560s.

[mental juniper]

The one he showed was like $15. Cool that TruthEar was bundling it with those IEMs.

[granite fjord]

Oh, I think I was thinking of this video

https://youtu.be/a-jlS_OlSUg?si=H6G3WG1ZKJqv0di8

[mental juniper]

Yeah, that $15 one (second from the left in the thumbnail) is included in a bundle option on the TruthEar Zero Blue 2 for just $5 extra. He referenced that dongle video in his TruthEar video.

[granite fjord]

Ye that one

I’m not sure how much difference it can make over the Apple dongle

[mental juniper]

sometimes a difference makes all the difference. If the cable doesn't fray as easily, that's already worth 3x the price for me. I also find the highs to sound strident with many headphones driven off the apple dongle... smoother highs would be more enjoyable for me. And, if the JCally JM6 is twice as powerful, it might be better because the apple dongle can be kind of weak or quiet with some headphones (a 2V dongle would be ideal for line-level output).

But, me personally... I like a dongle that can be wired or wireless.

[granite fjord]

What about with the 560s?

[mental juniper]

Wired dongles are great for transporting, nice and compact to bring to work or school, plug into a laptop or tablet, and off you go. Having the option of wireless, though, is best if you're going to listen while walking with your phone in your pocket. As you can imagine, the headphone cable has to stick UP so it can go out of your pocket, so either the wired dongle can get bent and stressed as it tries to fold over in a pocket under the phone or it has to stick up and probably outside of your pocket, where its exposed to other kinds of stress. So, I prefer wireless, so that the pocket imprint is something more like a pack of gum with a headphone cable coming out of it (some people also use these in the watch/coin pocket, or even strapped to a headband)!

[mental juniper]

A friend of mine made a power calculator here: https://www.hear.audio/2019/06/01/headphone-power-calculator/

[granite fjord]

[mental juniper]

The HD 560S has a medium impedance level, but fairly high sensitivity, so if we type it's specs into the calculator...

Crinacle specifies the EU Apple dongle as having a .5V output, but to reach a 120 dB peak (pretty loud, but useful for quieter recordings, or recordings with a high dynamic range from quiet to loud), the HD 560S requires 3.16 V rms.

I think the american Apple Dongle has a 1 V rms output.

[granite fjord]

I’m in AU, so EU is not relevant to me

[mental juniper]

Well, I don't know what the Apple Dongle specs are in your region 🤷‍♂️ Can you find out?

[granite fjord]

1V prob

🤷‍♂️ ¯_(ツ)_/¯

[mental juniper]

Prob

[granite fjord]

Most likely

[mental juniper]

So, yeah, a bit over 3V is ideal for the HD 560S

[granite fjord]

So you’re saying I might need more!!???

[mental juniper]

In some cases... but its not all about the volume, it's also the distortion and specs of the amp and dac. Quantity, but also quality.

[granite fjord]

I see

[granite fjord]

question for the king audio pro @mental juniper.
if you had the 560s, would you just use the Apple Dongle, or would you upgrade it to something else?

[lilac surge]

may as well try it with the apple dongle and if you're not happy with it, look at upgrades

[mental juniper]

He’s got one, I think.

Personally, I think the Apple Dongle is a good baseline, better than motherboard headphone jacks and controller headset jacks, and it’s so cheap that I think it’s the minimum quality most people should accept unless they’re just doing a phone call or YouTube (the mic input on the Apple Dongle is nice for calls as well).

But… it’s really not the highest quality possible, there are better options out there that bring more flavor, sensation of size, and less flatness than the Apple Dongle. The HD 560S and many other headphones besides are capable of more 🤷‍♂️

[lilac surge]

it really is hard to beat a free/cheap dongle haha

i have the L&P W4 and Cayin RU7 along with my apple dongle and a cheap kiwi ears allegro i got for the ayaneo stuff that doesn't have a 3.5mm jack

honestly they all sound similar enough that I almost never carry the L&P or Cayin with me anymore

beyond just outright volume and maybe dsd playback compatibility (which I dont care about), these all sound good enough

[drifting lantern]

Do we really need a nicer dongle than the one that comes with the Miyoo a30? Surely it's top tier.

[lilac surge]

definitely endgame

even comes with a free handheld

[granite fjord]

Like these?

[mental juniper]

I wanted to hear the Luxury & Precision W4, but honestly the Cayin I’d be interested in is the RU-6… kinda unique for being a tiny R2R (multibit) DAC, and by all reports it adds more flavor in a fun way than a typical DAC (though others are better for the most hiss sensitive IEMS).

[mental juniper]

You know, I haven’t heard that one… and it’s possible that it’s equal to the Apple Dongle, just slightly larger 😂

[drifting lantern]

I'm absolutely convinced that if I plug in that a30 adapter, there is a chance that audio will come out.

[mental juniper]

I can hear a difference with DSD, but… not enough to care about either, haha. It’s a hassle to store (HUGE!), requires more specialized gear (like you pointed out, a DAC and player capable of handing the format), and it drains battery faster because the decoding is more processor intense. So, a slightly more crystalline sound isn’t worth it for me there, either, because I also listen to music “on the go.” 😁

[mental juniper]

Those are better, the L&P W4 and Cayin RU-6 we were talking about are better still, and then there’s the whole world of desktop DAC/amps for people who don’t need the portable/transportable aspect.

For me, I have a desktop setup with the Mojo 2 (which can do double-duty as a desktop or portable DAC/amp), so I’d be looking at stuff to use “on the go” and for that I’d be willing to trade some of the fidelity I can’t hear while walking around in order to get the convenience of a bluetooth dongle.

[granite fjord]

those ones are pricey

[south dagger]

11/10 picture for your post

[south dagger]

also finally watched your presentation, this was awesome. More interpetive dance moves next time too 😁

I learned me a thing or two

[mental juniper]

I think I have a moderate philosophy: Bluetooth dongles are better sounding than the components built into Bluetooth headphones, but give the user more flexibility and less clutter than a wired dongle.

it is an argument in favor of the jack of all trades, ha ha 😁

[mental juniper]

Will do, Stubbs! Thanks for the shout out my man!

[granite fjord]

not sure if i should get a JCALLY to upgrade my apple dongle or not

dunno if they'll be better

[mental juniper]

I honestly think that it would be a very, very small step from the Apple dongle. If I was going for something better, I would want to make a larger leap so that it is a more apparent difference.

[granite fjord]

oh

[mental juniper]

If I had nothing, I would get those JCALLY dongles, but otherwise they are practically just a side grade rather than a substantial upgrade.

[granite fjord]

oh i see.

[mental juniper]

I don’t know if I was able to hide it it was obvious, but I did those interpretive dance moves because I actually had a whole Keynote presentation ready to go, but it did not work with the projector. So I just gave that whole presentation off the cuff and improv’d it.

[south dagger]

Its better that way, more fun!! 😆

I usually end up doing that style also

for better or worse

[mental juniper]

Getting work done so you can get to the fun!

[lilac surge]

You guys use TMR? https://tmraudio.com/

Keep browsing new speakers even tho I really don't need em...

[mental juniper]

I don’t know them, probably because they focus on 2-channel (speaker) systems and don’t sell headphones. Looks like a fine hifi company, I like that they have open box/demo special sales.

[lilac surge]

they do a decent amount of headphone gear too, picked up a mint condition Ragnarok 2 and LCD-4s from them a while ago

but yeah primary focus on 2 channel gear which is the true end game of headphone enthusiasts

[granite fjord]

https://tenor.com/view/dank-memes-gif-26430130

[mental juniper]

I’m seriously hoping tonight my associate arrives early enough to relieve me so I can either write or record an audio product review tonight. I’ve been mulling over talking points and an outline for weeks, at this point it’ll feel good just to get it done.

[granite fjord]

Have you ever considered the 560s?

[mental juniper]

Turns out, my associate never came to work, because she injured her back and needed to go to the ER 😱

[mental juniper]

I tried, but I didn’t end up finishing my Questyle M18i (a high-end dongle DAC) review tonight, so instead here’s a cat that’s been kissed by a rose: https://www.instagramez.com/reel/DHCBVnqogf4/?igsh=emY4aWlobjFmbWlk

[mental juniper]

I had a great writing session today after work and dinner... the Questyle is shaping up to be a very interesting comparison versus my most expensive DACs and Amps, but is it good for gaming?

[mental juniper]

OOh, a virtual surround plugin for Decky?
I've tried many over the years, from well-known HRTF's like Dolby Headphone and Creative Labs' CMSS3D/SBX, to lesser known ones like Yamaha's Silent Cinema built into their receivers or even the Smith Realiser A16, so I'll HAVE to give this a listen and evaluate. It's particularly cool that it'll be an app to work with most games, so that you can use whatever external DAC/amp hardware you have (best you can afford!) to unlock the most potential possible from the algorithm and headphone.

#developer-news message

@ionic obsidian I've got to test it, but feel free to post a copy of your updates here for a little extra attention to gaming audio!

[ionic obsidian]

Oh cool. Yea definitely. The latest version hit the Decky stable store today. At the moment this is only being developed for the Steam Deck. I believe there are some differences with other Linux distos for other handhelds that are causing problems and I will likely be working through those for the next release that should hopefully ensure support on things like the ROG Ally.
Also, there have been plenty of issues with proton/pipewire. So not all games really output more than 2 channels even if you select options like "5.1 surround sound" in the game. The plugin will tell you what the app is outputting and I think there are a bunch of github and gitlab issues open for this for proton and pipewire, so hopefully we see improvements on this over time.

[mental juniper]

Awesome.

With the caveat that it wont work with all games, I'll surely give this a try on my Deck. D'you know a couple popular games that outputting 6 or 8 channels?

[mental juniper]

Maybe the recent Hitman trilogy/world of assassins? That seems to have nice sound design (and important to the core gameplay)

[granite fjord]

https://tenor.com/view/pepe-headphones-music-gif-14789865

[mental juniper]

I do like/prefer wired headphones, but you definitely need to be careful with them 😅

https://www.instagramez.com/reel/DD4ZeGCIuXy/?igsh=dDFvN3dqYWFiY2I3

[granite fjord]

sadly I can't use IEM's coz I wear glasses, it would hurt the top of the ears and get annoying

[mental juniper]

Some IEMs don’t wrap the cable up and around your ear, and some that do wrap your ear have cables so thin and light that glasses wearers (like me) won’t notice the cable. However, my ear canals are narrow, and my tender flesh is easily irritated by eartips and the edges of IEM shells 🐚

[mental juniper]

Thanks to @spare jacinth , I’ve been reminded of this absolutely bonkers unboxing from over a decade ago: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LlvmAgchSJU&t=6s

[spare jacinth]

ooooh yeah
ive seen them do popcorn before too
definitely better for the planet
thats for sure

🫡

[mental juniper]

Yeah, but it was stale popcorn, getting into the $300 device’s ventilation and RCA ports…

@granite fjord It’s possible

[granite fjord]

[mental juniper]

Ok, I’m writing a thing so that later I can write more gaming accessories things. But that means I’ll be away from here for a bit, unless I’m asking for help remembering a word/have writers block 😅

[spare jacinth]

oh crap.... yeah, thats less good

😓

[mental juniper]

I eventually got it all cleaned out 😂
I still have the Schiit today!

[spare jacinth]

im sorry to hear that!

have you tried eating apple sauce and drinking some sports drink to keep your electrolytes in check?

https://tenor.com/view/andreaeagan314-gif-23726621

[mental juniper]

It’s an old version of this DAC, for anyone who is at all surprised to know there’s an American company named Schiit Audio: https://www.schiit.com/products/bifrost?srsltid=AfmBOoqhAr1T3VyALbBSz-OFxXIwDUsGqN2LTCXq7sgCjU-b69rchrSV

[spare jacinth]

i know

... would have been slightly funnier without that explanation tho ; 3

[mental juniper]

I figured Little Mr. DT 990 would know, but I’m dropping “hints” for the rest of the class 😉

[spare jacinth]

HEY!!!

Dt 1990 Pro ; PP

[mental juniper]

Beyerdynamic DT 1990 tighter clamp version, sorry 🤣

[spare jacinth]

💪 🤤

not quite an orpheus... but good enough for now ❤️ ❤️

btw, my psp go battery is FINALLY on its way

he shipped it and DHL estimates it arrives tomorrow

feels like a day before christmas right now ❤️

[mental juniper]

https://tenor.com/view/pusheen-gif-13636046318449852809

[spare jacinth]

so happy

[mental juniper]

Is your psp able to turn on with the old battery?

[spare jacinth]

well... it was a few months ago when i checked, battery was toast, barely ran for an hour, but not so unexpected from a CRAP oem part

tested it a while ago and it didnt anymore

i assumed the crap battery has finally died

didnt take a charge either anymore

[mental juniper]

I let my PowKiddy go for a few months, possibly the whole winter… was glad I was able to recharge and turn it on successfully last week

[spare jacinth]

yeah... batteries are always such a nightmare

see why i want better battery tech so bad now??

something that keeps a charge for years unused, doesnt die, doesnt get spicy and has more capacity ❤️

[mental juniper]

Wasn’t Sony the developer of the lithium ion battery?

[spare jacinth]

sounds reasonable!

[mental juniper]

Made it for their camcorders or something?

[spare jacinth]

i do not know, but all of that sounds like something sony would do

[mental juniper]

This feels like a theme for retro handhelds: https://song.link/i/1506287276

Not RH, but just retro in general

[granite fjord]

https://tenor.com/view/pepe-headphones-music-gif-14789865

[spare jacinth]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHPFDLTa7cg

dances

https://tenor.com/view/cat-dance-dancing-cat-chinese-dancing-cat-funny-cat-meme-cat-gif-18059553370350307210

[mental juniper]

Yes, the JSAUX Modcase with front cover fits in the GENKI Saya sling bag… great pairing, because the full Modcase protects the thumbsticks on my Steam Deck

[mental juniper]

One of the finer things in life…

[mental juniper]

@iron charm I was using this little device from FiiO today ☝️

[iron charm]

whats it called

[mental juniper]

It’s the mid-range FiiO BTR15. My phone, PC, or game console is still the audio source, but this DAC/amp dongle can be connected to the source through USB or Bluetooth. It’s super compact and versatile!

I say midrange, because there’s also the cheaper FiiO BTR12 and higher end BTR17.

If you’re looking for a dedicated music player that can play songs loaded onto a MicroSD card, I think the Shanling M0 and M0 Pro are really cool super compact music players: https://a.co/d/aJkhVsS

It’s real small! Like, fit in the watch pocket of a pair of jeans 👖 small. It also has 2-way Bluetooth… I like an all-wired setup with HiRes music when possible, but sometimes it would also be fun to use Bluetooth to connect the Shanling to a phone or Nintendo Switch to hear the audio being played from there.

[granite fjord]

https://tenor.com/view/pepe-headphones-music-gif-14789865

[mental juniper]

New review! Perhaps the simplest and most mobile way to drive big headphones like the HD 800 and HD 650 to satisfaction…. But there’s one thing that might be an issue for gamers. https://hear.audio/2025/08/01/questyle-m18i-review/

[mental juniper]

@grim pecan What’s your latest adventure in IEM land?

[grim pecan]

Just playing with eartips and EQ settings. The Tang Sangcai Nobles may be the most comfortable fitting tips I've used thus far. Though their sound signature is quite unique, heh; seems like it neuters the sub-bass a bit in favor of vocals and highs (and to a degree, mid-bass)

[mental juniper]

Huh. I wonder if the lack of sub bass is due to a seal thing. But good enough sound with great comfort is really important with IEMs.

[grim pecan]

Could be!

[hushed shore]

You got some great photography skill.

[mental juniper]

Some is accurate!! Thank you!

[snow kernel]

is this battery powered

also i will read just not on my phone

[mental juniper]

You can use it via USB or battery powered, and Bluetooth mode is battery powered.

[snow kernel]

ah

ive been looking into a dongle for my tablet but this is probably not the way to go for that purpose

i have a Q5K too so

[mental juniper]

Well, I guess you can plug it into USB power anytime (there’s two USB-C ports!), and I guess it could be useful to connect it to power Bluetooth mode if you’re feeding it power while squirting music over to speakers 🤷‍♂️

Oh, also, I tested and it does not provide passthrough power to charge a phone if I use both USB ports 😁

[mental juniper]

It serves a similar purpose to the Qudelix, but the 5k’s specialty is the mountain of DSP features in its app, while the Questyle is a major upgrade in sound quality and power.

[snow kernel]

fair enough

[snow kernel]

i think on my tab I’m better off with a dongle then probably for on the go. Anything you recommend there?

[mental juniper]

I’m not sure why you think it wouldn’t be good for a tablet… honestly, if the company doesn’t ask for it to be returned, I’ll probably MOSTLY use it with my iPad.

The Cayin RU6 sounds extra special and warm if you want a USB-only DAC dongle. It’s a R2R DAC, basically doing conversion the hard way, but the result for you and me is a very warm, organic, “analog” sound.

[mental juniper]

@snow kernel & @grim pecan I just heard of a new budget wired-only dongle… it’s got the smooth Cirrus logic DAC chips and a programmable EQ: the TRN Black Pearl

https://a.aliexpress.com/_mL2S0Gp

[grim pecan]

Heh, that's been on my radar for a bit! The programmable EQ definitely makes this interesting (though I wish the apps didn't require you to set up an account). I usually see this for $32-36, admittedly

...never mind, seems like the tarrifs have hit it

[snow kernel]

that isn’t that much more expensive than the apple dongle. Will consider it for my S25

assuming the S25 doesn’t include a dongle

[mental juniper]

Yeah, that price is surprising me. Google search shows it at just $33, but when I click the link it costs about $24 more in the app.

I wonder if that’s some kind of thing related to how many coins I’ve saved up… they just raise the price of everything by how many coins I have 😂

[grim pecan]

Mostly using a JCALLY JM12 with the firmware of the Fiio JA11, heh

[mental juniper]

(But yeah, could be tariffs)

[grim pecan]

(And a Tempotec Sonata HD III for home use)

[mental juniper]

Considering how easily the apple dongles break, yeah you may as well. The FiiO JA11 mentioned by Starstorm is pretty good; there’s so many JCALLY dongles out there that I wonder which ones are legit (and… it does merit saying the FiiO is really durable).

[grim pecan]

Heh. The JM12 actually uses the same chip as the JA11 in its core

[snow kernel]

if i want as compact as the apple dongle

that jm12?

Or ja11?

im confused

explain in simple but not too simple

[grim pecan]

The JM12 can be had pretty cheap, and it's pretty small! You can flash the firmware of the JA11 to give it programmable EQ, apparently

[mental juniper]

Apple USB-C Dongle = baseline for cheap & decent audio

JCALLY JM12 Max & similar = Many options with same components inside, different brands (looks?) on the outside. Upgraded driving power vs Apple Dongle.

FiiO JA11 = similar/same components as the JCALLY, but FiiO is an established brand with tech support and warranty. Upgraded driving power + durability vs Apple Dongle.

[snow kernel]

so I should be getting fiio unless i want to save a bit more money

[mental juniper]

I’ve been happy with 9/10 FiiO products. Well, they’ve all been decent and functional products, but most have been truly excellent for the price.

I’d say the TRN Black Pearl has more features and value for the price, but it’s the new thing and I only just learned of it yesterday while watching a budget gear value recommendation.

[grim pecan]

True

And the BrightAudio store on Aliexpress has delivered again; they have it for $34 still, and the coin discount can put it at $20

(Wish they could deliver the Twistura D-Minors I got from them faster, though)

[grim pecan]

So erm... help. In the process of trying to use my Aliexpress coins, coupons, and store credits, I bought a cable "lucky bag" for $6 and a TempoTec Sonata BHD DAC for $15. Help

(I pray that lucky bag does NOT get me a Bluetooth module; I don't want more things with batteries I can't easily replace!)

[mental juniper]

So, you need help stopping audio purchases, or validation to buy more?

[mental juniper]

From the Sonata BHD product page
“You can got what the influencer said on audiosciencereview”

[grim pecan]

I admit, I only really bought it moreso because they're normally a LOT more expensive outside sales (I mean, come on, $63?!)

[grim pecan]

Probably stopping. Think I have enough, heh

[mental juniper]

Naaaaah

[grim pecan]

(OK, I MIGHT get a Tanchjum Bunny DSP since I kinda want IEMs with a good USB-C cable)

(Also, the end of de minimus will probably stop me anyways)

[mental juniper]

But maybe enough to take a break for awhile, really test your current devices to grok their quirks and character.

I thought De Minimus already ended?

I think I’m going to pick up a LEGO Japanese Maple tree. They’re usually $60+, but I can buy it from Sam’s Club for just $45

[grim pecan]

It'll end for territories outside China tomorrow

[grim pecan]

Also, ooh, cool set! Kinda want to get into Lego one of these days, heh

[mental juniper]

Something for the hands to do while the ears are listening, haha! But no, really… I find the process of building with Legos to be meditative, and even if I don’t particularly try to get creative with building my own scenes, I do think these Botanical kits in particular make nice decorations. Especially at work, where my lab gets no sunshine and the air probably is unhealthy.

[mental juniper]

Lucky bags are fun. I see there’s another one from HiFiGo for IEMs:
HiFiGo Aliexpress Back to School Mystery Box Blowout! Grab Yours for $56.99 — Limited Stock, Epic Audio Surprises Await!
https://a.aliexpress.com/_mLmc0XB

[grim pecan]

So, been playing with two different audio things recently...

Twistura D-Minor: Some interestingly designed IEMs with changeable nozzles. More V-shaped compared to most other budget IEMs out there that use the Harman curve, and therefore gives a character all on its own. Still kinda prefer the sound of the Zero:2, and there was some issues, but seems great so far!

Tempotec Sonata BHD gen2 (not marketed as such, but there was an older Sonata BHD, so... yeah): A rather awesome sounding audio dongle/headphone amp. Has three modes for headphones of all impedences; wasn't sure where my KPH40s fell at 60 ohms, so I just put it in "middle impedence" for now. Kinda wish I had gotten the TRN Black Pearl (which had the programmable EQ), and for some reason, the Windows volume does NOT affect it; only the volume buttons on the device do. And admittedly, it feels cheaper than the Sonata HD III I'm moving from. Still like it, though

[mental juniper]

Oooh interesting, the volume controls are independent from Windows? That may mean it has USB Audio Class 1 (UAC1) instead of the 2.0 protocol. UAC2 has host-control over volume and access to higher resolutions (meaning it can reproduce frequencies higher than 22 kHz, filters and recording quality are far more important than hi-res), but the benefit of UAC1 is wider compatibility… you might even be able to plug it into a Switch or PlayStation 4/5!

[grim pecan]

Heh, true

Apparently, I heard that the BHD Pro does the exact same thing; no matter if the Windows volume is 2 or 100, the volume will remain consistent

[grim pecan]

Also, for the Twistura D-Minors, I find eartips with wide soundstages (i.e. Dunu S&S, Divinus Prism) really shine on it

[grim pecan]

(Also, I'm suspecting one of the stock eartip types the Twistura D-Minors came with are basically all-clear variants of the TRN T-Ears. If true, I may have been too hasty in dismissing them, heh)

[mental juniper]

I haven’t gravitated towards IEMs much, so this is all valuable info; thanks!

[grim pecan]

You're welcome!

[mental juniper]

I came across someone who liked their cheap Tangzu Waner, wishing for a full sized closed headphone with a similar tuning. The problem is, there aren’t good closed headphones anywhere near $30 IMO 😂

At least, not any more… I used to like the non-critical but fun HD 202, but that’s discontinued.

[grim pecan]

Heh, true

It's funny how the cheap IEM market is flooded and the cheap open-back market is dominated by Koss (though Fiio and Roseslsa have tried to put a dent on that), but as for closed backs... not sure

Still love how thanks to a random coupon from Drop, I was able to get my KPH40x for $25

[mental juniper]

I got a big discount on a 75% keyboard from a Drop contest (actually, I won the Keyboard Club for a year at $1, then won the $100-off coupon), but unfortunately I kinda hate it. If I wake the computer with the keyboard, the computer will wake but the keyboard isn’t recognized until I re-plug in the USB 😭

Seems to usually work if I wake with the mouse though.

[grim pecan]

So, the mystery bag cable arrived, and it turned out to be... the Celest Ryui. Wish it were the pro version since it had USB-C and WalkPlay capabilities, or heck, a 4.4 cable so I could use the port on my Sonata BHD, but I'll take what I can get (especially as the cable normally retails for $30 and I got it for $6, heh). It's basically a nicer version of the stock headset cable my Wyvern Blacks came with, heh. Which also means it DOES change the sound to be less bassy and more vocal-focused (quite possibly one of the few out there to actually change the sound, for some reason). Right now, it resides on my Twisturas, heh

[mental juniper]

It boggles my mind that people will sometimes acknowledge that a cable can make the sound worse, but deny that it can improve the sound 🤓

[mental juniper]

“Dad says Bluetooth headphones are bad for me, is that true?”

https://www.reddit.com/r/headphones/s/fiXAMfD0WC

“I’m afraid of getting sucked into audio gear and lose the fun of music!”

https://www.reddit.com/r/headphones/s/sIyUZ7Mltm

[mental juniper]

Alright @south dagger , I’m back after some consultation & research: Good music players for Linux.

Audirvana is good, and Roon also works on Linux if you’re paying the subscription (Roon is probably the nicest and easiest).

I also just found out about Strawberry, which is open source and allows bit-perfect playback, can transfer music to mass-storage USB players & iPods, seems to have all the bells & whistles:
https://www.strawberrymusicplayer.org/

Unfortunately, I forget who else asked about music players on Linux 😅 But I’m going to try this on my Steam Deck!

[south dagger]

Fantastic, man!

Will have to try it

[mental juniper]

Trying to be a contributing member of the community 👍

[mental juniper]

Thanks @south dagger , my wife also just gave me a push to make more content. My passion never went away, and it might be my only way back to doing the kind of work I want to do.

[south dagger]

Good luck in your journey, sir! I agree with your wife. 🔥

[mental juniper]

I’m honestly kind of surprised, my off-the-cuff EDC bag review has more views than most of my audio videos, despite putting in work to try to build an audience 😅

[south dagger]

People like straight up off-the-cuff vids and chats. I'd explore that more if it's vibing with your audience.

[mental juniper]

You think it was the style more than the bag subject?

https://tenor.com/view/jurassic-dinosaur-raptor-scary-reptiles-gif-12677951

[south dagger]

Hard to say really, i'd just analyze your metrics and see what videos resonated best and had the most watch hours

[hushed shore]

Might be random question but…when listening to YT on Bluetooth a button press should be able to skip ads yeah or am I misremembering, I can never get it to work.

I’ll listen to YouTube walking around the house and stuff and have to go back to my IPad just to press the skip ad button, but thought maybe there was a way to press it from headphones buttons, like pause and back, forward etc.

[mental juniper]

Hmm, I think YouTube specifically wanted to make it hard to skip ads… you might be able to program an IINE or 8BitDo micro controller in keyboard mode to skip ads though!

[mental juniper]

Here’s a sweet rock homage to Metroid! This link will lead you to the song on most streaming platforms or stores: https://song.link/i/1170750169

[hushed shore]

Thoughts on Jabra Evolve3 85?

Real expensive, but there’s a 50% off I found, guessing they are only good if you into all the AI functions rather than just listening experience.

released this month and is already on sale nearly 50% off. So got me curious. Seems to be a more home and everyday use thing than purely workplace.

[grim pecan]

Meanwhile, me feeling the urge to get TRN Dolphins, heh. (Aliexpress coins are a dangerous thing)

(Wanted the Dunu Titan X, but gonna wait till the coin discount for that gets bigger)

[mental juniper]

Released this month, already a massive sale. I don’t have a high opinion of Jabra, and that seems even more sus.

[grim pecan]

Welp, bought them yesterday. I need help

[hushed shore]

I received used Sony XM4 I only paid 140 AUD today. Came with the case and everything. I think I got a good price.

After the ANC, I know the sound on these is not too amazing, a bit better after EQ tweaks.

But this is my first ANC that wasn’t a sub 100 AUD Sonoflow, Soundpeats, Taotronics tier.

[mental juniper]

If you’re in a noisy area where you need anc… nothing will sound better 😂

I think a major distinguishing factor of good vs bad ANC headphones is also if they bring extra fatigue. I think Sony is pretty good about that, but a more mild ANC is also helpful.

[grim pecan]

TRN Dolphins coming today, wheeee

[grim pecan]

Something silly as I exit my obsession with buying eartips...

[mental juniper]

Maybe it’s the lack of sleep talking, but I don’t understand why he thought Wario was eartips or how it would be a meme 😂 It’s just really confusing!

Speaking of confusing, the Qualcomm naming debacle!

#rh-media-feed message

A little context: I have a beef with Qualcomm. Grell audio used one of their new (at the time) chips for True Wireless Stereo (TWS) in ears, and it promised a lot of features including more advanced Bluetooth audio codecs, support for multipoint connections, greater stability and fidelity etc. Well, a lot of the promised features weren’t there once the product was available (had to pre-order a large number to get any), and they NEVER released firmware to add them (like multipoint pairing). Further, the connection stability with the reference design was CRAP.

I firmly believe the Qualcomm Bluetooth module was what got me laid off and basically out of the audio industry.

The audio industry is struggling overall though, because Apple is dominating in the $200 price range, and China is literally releasing a flood of hundreds of new models every year, salvaging designs from their manufacturing clients and all too often making clones with their own brand. There’s a lot to like about China, and their manufacturing industry is huge and essential, but if a company finds a trustworthy manufacturer they stick with them!!! Dekoni got pretty lucky.

[grim pecan]

That is true. Chi-fi is crazy these days... it feels like when I settle with a good pair, a new, better one comes out

[hushed shore]

Have you tried foam ear tips? They’re all right.

[grim pecan]

Heh, I have a few times! They are nice, but they can get... messy, to say the least

[hushed shore]

I am finding I am using my Sonoflow more than my Sony, only because I can be rough with them, and use while nearing sleep on pillow without worrying if I break a hinge is fine they are cheap enough.

I bought fabric ear pads and top padding for them too, they stay cooler longer than the normal ones…wondering if I should get fabric pads for the Sony’s I have normal fake leather ones coming soon (third party).

I hear you screw up ANC if you don’t use the official Sony style normal pads though.

[mental juniper]

I keep coming back to Comply

I do generally like SpinFit tips, and I’ve tried some Japanese-import tips that I forget the name of right now…

[mental juniper]

But generally, I have unusually narrow diameter ear canals, and it seems like it’s getting MORE narrow as I get older. I tend to prefer the more narrow-bore IEMs as a result, like Etymotic, and wide bore IEMs like the Audeze planars are physically too big to fit: forcing it hurts real bad and they pop out within seconds 😂

[mental juniper]

Ok, WOW, KDE Connect is a solution to a lot of problems!

• Airdrop-like Send files
• Continuity-like synced Copy/paste
• share notifications
• Run commands like remote shut down
• Remote control music
• Use your phone as a virtual trackpad
• find my phone chimes, check battery level
• a Linux user friend says he can browse his Anbernic's file system.