Current Setups (let’s get this out of the way first): Past Setups, here for historical reasons.
It’s easier to diagram things out, so I might as well show that instead (hopefully up to date, 11/20/23):
If you prefer it in text (likely more up to date, I’m too lazy to update the diagram all the time):
– Main Listening Room: My most realistic and enjoyable setup, but can’t use it all the time
Digital:
Home Switch -> UpTone EtherREGEN (w/ Mojo Illuminati V3) -> Totaldac d1-switch -> Antipodes K50 (running Squeeze server & player) -> Totaldac d1-sublime
Cables:
Commscope Teraspeed Fiber + Finistar SFP
Esprit Aura RJ45
Echole Limited Edition AES/EBU
Purist Audio Design Dominus Luminist RCA & Dominus Diamond Power (for the DAC and K50)
Triode Wire Labs The Obsession Power (for the network gear)
Separate 20a circuit, Purist AC Power Extension, all Totaldac have live-powers.
Analog:
Totaldac d1-drivers-mk2 -> LAMM LL1.1 Signature -> LAMM ML3 Signature
Cables:
Purist Audio Design Dominus Luminist RCA, Dominus Diamond Speaker, Dominus Diamond Power
Amps direct into wall, separate circuits, multiple Synergistic Research Orange Duplex & Purist AC Power Extension.
Tubes & Tweaks: Stock tubes
LAMM: SRA Ohio Class XL+2 bases for ML3, CMS QXK Black Platinum for LL1.1
Totaldac: CMS QXK Black Platinum
Antipodes: CMS QXK Black Platinum
Transducers: Verity Lohengrin IIS & LB-acoustics Mysphere 3.1 (custom cable) on both amps
– Alt HP: Top tier performance, but in headphone form
Digital:
PC -> Totaldac d1-digital-mk2 -> Berkeley Alpha Reference Series 3 OR Sonore opticalModule Deluxe (w/ Mojo Illuminati V3) -> Sonore Signature Rendu SE optical Tier II -> Ideon Absolute Time -> Lampizator Horizon
Cables:
Commscope Teraspeed Fiber + Finistar SFP
Esprit Aura RJ45
Final Touch Audio Sinope USB (for the Horizon setup)
Audience FrontRow USB (for the RS3 setup)
Tara Labs RSC Air Evolution AES
Audience FrontRow HP Power (for the Horizon and RS3)
Triode Wire Labs The Obsession Power (for everything else)
Separate 20a circuit
Tubes & Tweaks:
Lampizator – Takatsuki 274B, Brimar CV1988 Black Glass, Tung-Sol KT170, Graphite Audio IC-35 Premium
Analog:
Robert Koda Takumi K15EX -> Riviera AFM-50 & Aries Cerat Concero 25 845 -> Direct Headphone Tap / Speaker Switch (w/ WBT Nextgen Sig posts, Cardas Rh XLR, Goldpoint Sw, & Kimber wire) -> Borresen 01 & headphones OR Mass Kobo 394 II.
Cables:
Audience FrontRow XLR & RCA (for the Koda, Riviera, & Aries Cerat)
Snake River Cottonmouth Gold RCA (for the RS3/EVO to 394 II)
Audience FrontRow Speaker (for to tap boxes and speaker)
Audience FrontRow HP power (for Koda, Riviera, & Aries Cerat)
Triode Wire Labs The Obsession (for everything else).
Headphone Tap Cables: Danacable Lazuli Nirvana Tap, DHC Prion4 Tap
Separate 20a circuit.
Tubes & Tweaks:
Robert Koda – Graphite Audio IC-35 Premium
Riviera – Siemens 5814 Triple Mica, Ansuz Darkz T2
Aries Cerat – Elrog ER845, Ansuz Darkz T2
Borresen – Ansuz Darkz T2 Supreme
Transducers:
LB-acoustics Mysphere 3.2 (on the Mass Kobo or Riviera), 3.1 (on Aries Cerat)
Hifiman Susvara (on the Riviera or Aries Cerat)
Focal Utopia (on the Mass Kobo or Riviera or Aries Cerat)
Final D8000 Pro (on the Mass Kobo or Riviera or Aries Cerat)
97′ Sennheiser HD600 (on 394 II, or out of a Sound Devices USBPre2 when I’m lazy)
Borresen 01 (on the Riviera or Aries Cerat)
Koss KSC-75 (on everything)
Headphone Cables:
LB-acoustics – Kimber Axios Hybrid, Custom
Hifiman – DHC Prion4
Focal – Danacable Lazuli Nirvana
Final – Brise Mikumari Ref. 2
Sennheiser – ALO Hybrid
– Portable Setups/IEMS: For either on-the-go, or work trips/travel
Sources: Luxury & Precision P6 Pro OR Lotoo PAW Gold Touch Ti -> sometimes Mass Kobo 424 (either off batteries or Fidelizer Nikola2)
Cables:
Brise Yatono-Mini Ultimate 4.4mm to 4.4mm
Plussound X8 Gold Plated Hybrid 4.4mm to 4.4mm
Moon Black Dragon Mini v2 3.5mm to 3.5mm (and 4 pin 3.5mm to SPDIF Coax)
Audioquest Carbon A to C and C to C USB
Transducers:
Oriolus Traillii JP (on P6 Pro and/or 424)
Rhapsodio Infinity MK2 (on P6 Pro and/or 424)
MMR Thummim (on LPGT TI and/or P6 Pro)
Hyla Sarda (on LPGT TI and/or P6 Pro)
Focal Utopia (P6P -> 424 or WA8)
LB-acoustics Mysphere 3.2 (P6P -> 424) or 3.1 (LPGT TI -> WA8)
Final D8KP (either to either)
Also Koss KSC75, the true GOAT.
IEM Cables:
Oriolus – Stock PWA
Rhapsodio – Dita Celeste Kondo
MMR – Eletech Aeneid
Hyla – PWA Blackicon Silver Gold
– Leftovers: things without a dedicated setup
Sources: Cayin RU7, few random budget to midrange dacs, and few midrange studio amps
Transducers: Beyerdynamic DT880 600 ohm (Jena 1222), Koss ESP950 (Vesper Hybrid), Sony MDR-V6, Koss KSC75, Guideray GR-i18
– Non Hifi Desk Gear: other stuff at my desks
PCs:
Nothing special about the PCs used (just older Dell precision fleet laptops), mishmash of Acer, Dell, & Samsung monitors
Mics:
Fancy – 70’s AKG C414 EB -> Vintech X73 -> Empirical Labs Distressor -> Prism Lyra 2
Daily – Beyerdynamic M160 OR M201 -> Modded Warm TB12 -> Warm WA76 -> Prism Lyra 2
Keyboards:
“Actual Grail” – IBM Model B 3101
“Daily Grail” – Norbauer Heavy Grail aerospace w/ Professional HYBRID internals, aged Pro 2 domes, stock sliders & caps
“Klassic” – Merisi Ottantaquattro silver w/ alu plate, L+F+SS Cherry MX Hyperglide Black (Geon Triple Stage 62.5g), TX AP Rev 4 stabs, GMK Handarbeige
“Royal” – Geonworks F1-8X v2 Regal w/ plateless oring, L+F Cherry MX Hyperglide Black, ZealPC v2 stabs, GMK Regal
“Sleeper” – JER A-06R2 vintage white w/ L+F Vintage Cherry MX Blacks, Durock v2 stabs, ePBT 3000SAT
“Cost Cut” – IBM Model F 3104 B2
“Blackout” – Axiom TYP60SL black spinel w/ alu plate, Haimu Pastel Sky, TX AP Rev 4 stabs, JTK Griseann
“Tight Fit” – RME Studio Alas 60% green w/ alu plate 50a oring, HMX Cloud 63.5g, TX AP Rev 4 stabs, Hammerworks CRP R4 Xerox 6001
“GG” – JLabs Augur purple w/ fr4 half plate, L+F JWK Hoshizora, TX AP Rev 4 stabs, SP DCS WoB
“Constant” – JJW Derivative Mercury w/ alu plate 50a oring, Cherry Nixies, TX AP Rev 4 stabs, GMK Fundamentals
“Ol’ Unreliable” – Leading Edge DC-2014 w/ Complicated Alps SKCM Blue
“Symbollocks” – Jacky Piggy 60% ewhite w/ brass plate, L+F Bolsa Zaku II, C3 Equalz v3 stabs, SP SA Spectra alpha & ASCII mods
“Balance” – Nazaré 1-60 e-white w/ alu plate, HMX Sillyworks Hyacinth V2U, TX AP Rev 4 stabs, GMK Muted 2
“Soft Dome” – HHKB Hybrid Type-S w/ BKE Redux Ultra Light domes & Snow caps
“True Weeb” – NEC PC-8801 mkIIsr w/ Complicated Alps SKCM Blue
“Brass Weight” – Project Kepler TKL 9006 w/ cf plate, L+F Novelkeys Cream, ZealPC v2 stabs, SP SA ASCII alpha & Spectra mods
“Happy Realforce” – Sho S60 HG fucked sandblasted w/ brass plate, Deskeys housings, sliders, #5 silencing rings, BKE Purple V2, Cipulot EC Pro2 PCB, Cherry Stone
“Angel” – Cable Car Designs Angel black w/ POM plate, L+F Bolsa Corsa Tactile, TX AP Rev 4 stabs, NicePBT Shinbun
“Imposter” – ZealPC Zephyr 65% R2 purple w/ brass plate, Cannonkeys Neapolitan Ice Cream, ZealPC v2 stabs, GMK Deep Space
“Modern FM” – New IBM Model F104 w/ Industrial SSK caps, short spacebar
“SPACECOM” – Ace Saturn60 R2 moondust w/ alu plate, Haimu Pastel Thistle, Durock V2 stabs, SP SA ASCII alpha & Spectra mods
“RGBPC” – Mode Envoy Polycarb w/ copper plate, Gazzew Boba U4T, Durock v2 stabs, KAT Refined WoB
“Flex” – Wilba.Tech Salvation Business Gray w/ fr4 plate, L+F Dangkeebs Blue Velvet linear, TX AP Rev 4 stabs, JTK Night Sakura
“Edge” – cruel world CW60 LE Skunkworxxx w/ pc plate, Gateron Lunar Probe, TX AP Rev 4 LP, CannonKeys Bastion 60 PCB, ePBT Pastel
“8 key” – proto[Typist] J-01 Rev1 navy w/ cf plate, L+F Thic Thock Marshmallows, C3 Equalz v3 stabs, GMK Hammerhead Light
“Copolch” – Wilba.Tech Thermal+ milk w/ alu plate, Gateron Baby Raccoons, Durock V2 stabs, PBTFans Purpolch R2
“Bog (late 80s) Standard” – Acer KB-101a w/ Complicated Alps SKCM White (need to clean them)
“MX Blue but Epic” – NMB RT-8255C+ w/ Hi-Tek 275 2 Eye Black
“FoF” – Qoda Studio Modern M0110 silver w/ brass plate, NovelKeys Cream Clickie, Durock V2 stabs, SP DCS Dark Sky
“Prancer” – Modern Dasher D60 w/ cf plate, Linearized Alps SKCM Black, Close enough alps caps
“Click Hell” – NCR G80-3000 w/ cf plate, Kailh Box Jade, Zeal stabs, tape & case weights, Cherry Stone caps
“Fingerprint Magnet” – Qwertykeys Neo65 purple w/ alu plate, FLCMMK Ice Mint, case + plate + PE foam, GMK Red Samurai
“SAjr” – Vortex PC66 QMK 65% w/ fr4 plate, SP Star Magic Girl Classic, Zeal stabs, silicone dampening, SA Calm Depths
“Testbed” – KBDFans KBD67 MK2 black w/ brass plate, ZealPC Zealios V2 67g, ZealPC stabs, MKUltra case & plate foam, whatever caps I have lying around
Varmilo VA87M w/ Cherry Clears, tape and weight modded, GMK Carbon
Microsoft 4000 & Logitech G19s
2x MAX Falcon 20 macropads w/ Cherry Browns
(Looking for Daji Ocho Cuatro 2 XL, Duality TKL, TGR Jane v2 ME, Noxary 280, shoot me a message if you’re selling any of these)
Brief Bio:
I have no issues rambling on about audio for as long as you let me, but don’t really have anything to say about myself lol. I guess I’ve been a part of this hobby as long as I can remember, as was most of the people I was around, I guess I started getting really deep into it many years ago and haven’t really stopped since. It’s quite hard to leave in fact, and I don’t think I could even if I wanted to.
I started out surrounded by 2 channel setups, but found myself favoring headphones early on and have continued to focus on headphones ever since (although I’ve been bitten by the 2ch bug, and it’s starting to win over now). The first “serious” cans I was gifted were a pair of hand me down a 90s Sony MDR V6, and then an original 97′ Sennheiser HD600 (and IEM wise Etymotic ER4S), and once I started making some disposable income to fuel this addiction, branched out from there. Technically had a 580 precision before the 600 but those were more of a loan than a gift lol. Many many different headphones later, those two still stick with me (although both pretty warn from their age), although I can’t say I use them all that much given what other options I have now, but I do still think they hold up for their respective price points. For what I currently use/have, check out my forum profile. I can’t really remember all the cans and associated sources I’ve cycled through, but it’s a significant amount lol.
Early on, I also grew an infatuation with source gear and how prominent of a role it could play in some systems, and the concept of scaling and how I could further elevate what transducers I already loved with better and better sources. That still very much holds true to this day, and admittedly largely dominates what I talk about and what I’m interested in for my own personal setups. The higher I went up, the more and more important I found it to be, I can’t stress enough how much it can potentially make or break a higher end setup. Currently (if you can’t tell) I can’t get enough of what various DACs and digital sources contribute to my setup, but I make sure to not neglect other aspects of the chain as well, after all it’s only going to perform as well as it’s weakest link.
From a preference perspective, since I grew up around a variety of different gear, I don’t really have a strong established preference toward the gear I listen to, I just appreciate high quality sound regardless of voicing and tuning as long as it’s well done. I could be content with either side of the spectrum or right in the middle, all depends on the system and the synergy between that system. If I did have to figure out some defined preferences I have, I do place heavy importance on a lot of things in the time domain: overall spatial recreation, realistic timbre, unrestrained dynamics, and generally a sense of overall directness and incisiveness that I think really contributes to the realism of a specific unit. Tonally I do tend to prefer a slight warmer and richer lean if I had to pick given my current systems, but I really don’t care too much about this anymore, as I feel that the more intangible aspects contribute a lot more to the overall sound and coloration than simple tonal balance/frequency response.
The more I learn about this hobby and the more I experience, the more I realize the less I know lol. Every question seems like the only answer is “it depends,” there’s merit to most all ideas/designs/concepts and the answer typically lies in the middle, most things aren’t absolute, trusting your own ears is the most important thing you can do in this hobby, focusing too much on the “truth” of this hobby typically leads to even less understanding, the easiest answer is typically not the best one, an open mind is the best way to approach this hobby, etc etc etc. There’s a lot of general advice that could be said here, but it really depends on the person and their own experiences for what’s actually valuable. Just making sure to do what leads to the most enjoyment for you is a good way I’d summarize, this hobby is inherently selfish, make sure to prioritize your own enjoyment first since what works for someone else might not work for you, and vice versa.
I’ve been watching and lurking in the online community for a long time, but only recently did I really sort of dive in and start becoming an active member both here and on another forum, and it’s been pretty fun actually getting in on the discussion for once. Met some great people in person and online, really enjoy just talking and hearing about most things in this hobby, though I like to keep things more casual than not lol.
I should have addressed music a bit sooner considering it’s 50% about the music and 50% of the gear for me (or at least I try to keep it that way). I tend to find myself listing to a large amount of orchestral music (typically classical and up), ambient, most electronic of most all types, classic and modern hip/hop & rap, experimental jazz, and more. I really tend to listen to any genre as long as it sounds good to me. The only genres I might say I specifically avoid or tend to not enjoy as much is more modern country and things that focus too heavily on vocalists and the human voice (although I do love opera lol). Not sure why, but I am not the type of person overly concerned about lyricism and vocal performance, perhaps it’s from a previous mastering side gig that mainly had me dealing with vocals and speech, doing something for a living does tend to reduce my enjoyment of it as a hobby lol. I’ve got quite a large music library that’s constantly expanding, still very much interested in hearing new sounds out there, there’s so many these days.
I guess for some non audio info, I generally find myself interested in most all tech, although after working with tech as a career, I find I’ve become someone younger me would hate, someone that just wants something that works and is willing to pay for convenience lol. I can’t say I experience that trait leaking over into audio, I just hope it stays that way lol. I also enjoy swimming, and uh, that’s about it I guess. I feel like all I really do and care about is audio and listening to music, don’t really consume any visual media, just listen to music almost all the time.
I apologize about the more amateurish and simplistic writing, not really my strongest skill, hopefully it’s readable enough lol. Just prefer to be more direct and concise if possible, but that’s not always possible given the subject, so I tend to favor a more no nonsense and informative approach to try and get as much information across as I can. It’s all just my opinion and experiences anyways, that’s all I can really provide, so make sure to take that as such. At this point most of the stuff I want to write about is very difficult to put into words, the higher you go, the harder it is to articulate what you hear after all lol, so hopefully it still comes across well enough to have some sort of substance.
Thanks for stopping by the site, means a lot, I hope you enjoy your time here (and potentially join in on the discussion on the forums as well)!
Past Equipment:
Have had quite a lot of stuff lol, so much so that I actually can’t document it all on here because I genuinely have lost track of some of it, but I’ll try to see if I can list it out. For my own sanity, it’s only going to be things that I: 1. owned for at least many months, 2. things that I somewhat liked and isn’t going to include stuff I wasn’t impressed by and wanted to sell, 3. isn’t going to include loaners, demos, tours, etc, as it all has to be stuff I bought that I kept in my house and in use for a decent while. So while that’s omitting a lot of stuff I’ve heard still, it’s good enough for now lol. Going to try and be in order of what I owned from past to now, but I can’t guarantee it will be 100% accurate since I never bothered to keep track of when I got stuff, only mostly what I got lol. Really more showing personal journey progression (meaningful or not) rather than everything I’ve ever owned, although hard to document progression without also including some of the things I said I wouldn’t include, but I digress lol.
DACs & Digital Sources:
(first 3 shared with my father and I but felt like including)
Theta DS Pro Gen V (w/ Meridian 500 MKII)
Sonic Frontiers SFD-2 MKII (w/ Audio Alchemy DTI Pro + Sonic Frontiers SFT-1)
Krell KPS-20i
–
Some NAD CDP (C541i?)
Lavry DA11
Weiss DAC2
Berkeley Alpha Series 2
Berkeley Alpha USB
Bryston BDA3 (love/hate)
Holo Spring 2 KTE
Sonore UltraRendu
Holo May KTE
Crane Song HEDD Quantum
Lavry Quintessence
Aries Cerat Kassandra II Ref
DCS Network Bridge
Berkeley Alpha Reference 2
Lampizator Big 7 MK2 BAL
Totaldac d1-direct w/ D1-Driver
Nagra Classic DAC
Audio Note DAC 5 Special v2
Mola Mola Tambaqui
Nagra HD DAC + MPS
Rockna Wavedream Signature Balanced
Lampizator Golden Gate II
Auralic G2.1 + Leo GX.1
Bricasti M21 Platinum
Mojo Mystique EVO Pro 21
Totaldac d1-digital-mk2
Ideon 3R Master Time
Lampizator Pacific
Berkeley Alpha Reference 3
Antipodes K50
UpTone EtherREGEN w/ Mojo Illuminati v3
Ediscreation Silent Switch OCXO Extreme
Sonore Signature Rendu SE optical Tier II
Totaldac d1-twelve-mk2 w/ D1-Driver
APL DSD-MR MK2
Berkeley Alpha Reference 3 (yes again)
Lampizator Horizon
Totaldac d1-switch
Totaldac d1-sublime
Ideon Absolute Time
Prism Lyra 2
Random stuff I had owned for awhile as well but not notable:
MHDT Orchid/Pagoda, Schiit Bifrost 2, Topping D10/E30, iFi Zen/Pro iDSD, EarMen Donald, Monolith Liquid Spark DAC, Soekris 2541/1541, Resonessence Invicta Mirus Pro SE, Allo Revolution DAC, Denafrips Ares II, BAT REX 3 DAC, and others
Headphone Amps:
WIP
Headphones:
Literally too many to recall all of them
DAPs:
Creative Nomad Jukebox Zen NX
iPod classic 5th gen
Zune 120
Hifiman HM-801
Altmann Tera Player
Lotoo Paw Gold
Cowon Plenue M2
Questyle QP2R
Lotoo Paw Gold Touch
iBasso DX220MAX
Questyle QPM
Luxury & Precision P6 & P6 Pro
iBasso DX300MAX
Hiby RS6
Lotoo Paw Gold Touch Ti
Cayin N7
Random stuff I had owned for awhile as well but not notable:
Fiio X5 II, Q1 II, M11, and others, some iBasso I can’t recall, and others
Portable DAC/AMPs:
Ray Samuels Emmeline SR-71
Cypher Labs AlgoRhythm Solo DAC
ALO Rx MK2
Vorzuge VorzAMP PURE II
Bakoon HPA-21
ALO Continental Dual Mono
Chord Mojo
iFi micro iDSD BL
Chord Hugo 2
Woo WA8 Eclipse
iFi xDSD
Stax SRM-D10
Analog Squared Paper TUR-06es
CEntrance HiFi-M8 V2
LessFox BX-2 Plus
Phatlab PHAntasy II
Mass Kobo 424
Brise Tsuranagi
Random stuff I had owned for awhile as well but not notable:
Fiio Q1 II, A3, Little Bear B4-X, Luxury & Precision W2, Cayin RU7, CEntrance DACport HD, and others
IEMs:
Etymotic ER4S
Victor HP-FX500
Shure SE315
Sennheiser IE80
Sony MDR EX1000
InEar ProPhile 8
Hyla CE-5
Stax 003mk2
QDC Anole VX
Final A8000
StereoPravada Spearphone SB7
Final LAB II
Hyla Sarda
Earsonics Grace
oBravo EAMT-1 c
MMR Thummim
FiR VxV
Rhapsodio Infinity MK2
JVC FW10000
Oriolus Traillii JP
Final A4000
Penon Turbo
Random stuff I had owned for awhile as well but not notable:
Fiio FH3, Meze Rai Penta, iBasso IT03, Guideray GR-i18, FLC8s, Tin T2, Ikko OH10, and others
Purely Speaker Amps & Preamps:
Some older Rotel receiver I can’t recall the name of
Bryston 4B ST
Parasound Halo A21+
Parasound Halo P6
Luxman L-590AXII
Accuphase E800
Aries Cerat Impera II Ref
Aries Cerat Diana Forte
First Watt J2
First Watt F8
LTA ZOTL Ultralinear
Bricasti M28
Grandinote Demone
Pass Labs XP-32
Parasound JC1+
Lamm LL1.1 Signature
Lamm ML3 Signature
FM Acoustics FM155 MKIIR
FM Acoustics FM108 MKII
Riviera AFM-50
Wavac EC-300B
Robert Koda Takumi K15EX
Aries Cerat Concero 25 845
Random stuff I had owned for awhile as well but not notable:
Rogue Apollo Dark Monoblock, some random lower budget stuff for HT or others but really nothing notable, only recently have I been able to get into and put attention toward speakers (but always got demos in when I could throughout lol).
Speakers:
Zenith Allegro MC4000
JBL L100
SVS Ultra Bookshelf
Harbeth P3ESR
ATC SCM19
BMR Philharmonitor
Dynaudio Special 40
Harbeth Monitor 40.2 40th AE
Raidho D1.1
Voxativ Hagen AF-1n
Spatial Audio X5
Joseph Pulsar2 Graphene
Verity Lohengrin IIS
Borresen 01
Voxativ Pi 2 AC4X
Omega Compact Alnico
Random stuff I had owned for awhile as well but not notable:
Tekton Perfect SET, Elac Navis ARB-51, Pioneer HPM 60
Yes, regretfully, I do (not) have a tier list: https://www.sonusapparatus.com/2023/05/m0ns-shit-list/
Not a reviewer and not writing reviews, just opinions and experiences of someone in too deep for fun. Prefer to keep things concise (sometimes), casual, and hopefully enjoyable, not much more to say here lol, more active on the forum
Add me on XMPP at m0nm0n@hookipa.net