Haha! That's exactly right, except I'm actually wearing a sweater. It kind of does look like a robe since the camera cuts off my sexy parts. ;D

Thank you so much, man! I LOVE IT TOO!! Totally agree. Check this out XD kzfaq.info/get/bejne/qLxmjNKZzMC6ZqM.html

Yeah man that's been a running theme on this channel since it started. I think it's one of the things that sort of sets me apart a little from others in that I do my best to answer all questions, replies, etc. KZfaq is a powerful platform, but it isn't perfect. I don't get notified of a lot of replies and have to go in and manually search sometimes. I feel bad because I'll see the thread weeks (or sometimes months) later that just ended abruptly because there was no reply notification. Add to that as the channel grows, it becomes increasingly harder to get to everyone but I will continue to do my best! Thank you so much for your words of encouragement man!

Hey man thank you! I think ATOM or Black Label would be great :) Here's an ATOM article: homestudiobasics.com/ifi-zen-vs-fiio-k5-pro-vs-jds-atom-vs-bravo-ocean/ and Black Label: homestudiobasics.com/ifi-idsd-micro-black-label-review/

Thank you man!

Thanks man! Yeah ZEN CAN is just an amp; you'll need a DAC. The Zen DAC was meant to be paired with the Zen CAN for more power, so I would def get that! Check out my official review and consider using one of the links in there to purchase :) Really helps out the blog and channel. Let me know your thoughts! homestudiobasics.com/ifi-zen-amp-dac-review/

Also make sure to snag some RCA to RCA cables and you should be all set. :) They will plug from the back of the Zen DAC into the Zen CAN. If you're unsure what a DAC is, check this: homestudiobasics.com/what-is-a-usb-dac/ Also, you may ask, is the Zen DAC also an amp? Yes, the original Zen is an Amp/DAC combo. SO you can use it as that, or hook it up to a separate amp. Since you already have the Zen CAN, you need it regardless.

@@HomeStudioBasics Tnx for your help mate, appreciate it! I just can't order via link, cuz they won't ship to my location (Slovenia - EU).

Yeah I've been thinking about picking up the Sukira balanced cable from amazon for around $50. Is there anything else you would suggest that's maybe a bit more affordable? Also I've been looking into balanced vs. unbalanced as I want to see if there's actually a difference or if it's just another case of placebo (or even a form of subtle snake oil). I really want this channel to focus on what matters in audio, and that's first and foremost your source hands down. Everything after that matters less and less. I talked about the hierarchy of importance in another video, but basically any Amp or DAC is a distant fourth. I feel like people are losing sight of these basic concepts and getting sucked down the rabbit hole without really needing to. The way a song was recorded is absolutely paramount to how it's going to sound through a device, and that's never going to change.

@@HomeStudioBasics - Yes, the Sukira 4.4mm balanced cable from amazon is the lowest price I'v seen.

@@Lockk9 Do you like it? Read some stuff about noise and I know how annoying that can be with the HiFiMan braided cables.

@@HomeStudioBasics - I did not have any noise issues with the Sukira balanced. It's (Fulfilled by Amazon) so you have 30 days to return it if you don't like it.

I agree on the balanced 4.4mm cable. I have the zen hooked up to my computer via the provided usb. Upgraded the power source to an ifi power strip. Super quiet floor. Running a 4.4 to xlr cable out into my loxjie p20 with upgraded power supply as well. Using Tidal with the MQA firmware uploaded on the Zen DAC. Balanced xlr adaptor cable out the p20 (upgraded GE tubes) to Sennheiser hd650’s. I also can hook up to just the Zen via 4.4 to xlr adaptor. This ridiculous combo is worth every penny. The sound is astounding.

Unfortunately not because the Zen Amp/DAC only has outputs. Instead try a Zen CAN or L30 (just amp): homestudiobasics.com/topping-e30-l30-vs-ifi-zen-can-signature-6xx/

Thanks Chris!!! Why were you looking for an alternative to the G6?! Hhaha I'm demoing that one now and love it. Let me know!

Hey man! Thank you! Yeah if you already have that setup, I'd probably bypass the Zen. It's not really an "upgrade" per se, but more of a side-grade. It is a different flavor from the Objective 2 (perhaps a bit warmer), but I wouldn't call it a sound improvement or anything. As far as the E10K being a weak point, no not in my opinion. I've demoed over 40 Amps & DACS and I still recommend the E10K because it's clean and sounds fantastic. I don't care what some snob says - THEY'RE LYING! Lol. I think folks need to start understanding that when they spend lots of money on higher priced dacs/amps, they're usually getting scammed out of their money. And I'm not just saying this. I've tried many of them! I mean, of course, there are some exceptions but truth be told, the differences from product to product are fairly marginal. Ask yourself this: Why are there hundreds and hundreds of them (if not thousands) and they're constantly coming out with more and more, but yet somehow no one's ever satisfied? Have you seen this video I did? kzfaq.info/get/bejne/ocBxh81p3ZiyZIU.html Anyways, yeah, if you want to upgrade to the THX, go for it. But always keep my words planted in the forefront of your mind. Am I kind of telling you to be satisfied with what you have? Yeah, a little. But only because I know and have the experience to tell you that with full transparency. That said, do I want an end game amp/dac for my own desktop? Sure. But after that I'm done with it. I've heard so many of them that I have very little desire to try more.

​@@HomeStudioBasics Right on man. I have not watched that video you left in the replies yet, but I see what you mean. I think I'll just shift my focus towards building up my record and lossless catalog instead, and then if I ever manage to save up enough for a THX or something like that, I could go that route eventually. Thanks for everything you do!

Hey man! Thank you so much! I can't for the life of me remember haha. It was at Audio Advice and they've since sold the Bryston. That's a great question though. I will have to ask them. Did you check out the Amp? You can find it at Moon Audio: www.moon-audio.com/bryston-bha-1-balanced-headphone-amplifier.html I see one fella in the reviews is using the Cambridge DAC Azur D. I don't normally get all "audiophile" about this stuff, but in the case of the Bryston, if you're going to spend that much on the amazing amp, I'd def research what to pair it with. I can help! As far as Cambridge, I've only personally had experience with the DAC Magic 100 but that may be cheating the Bryston a lil lol. I will do some digging and get back with you. :)

@@HomeStudioBasics Hello, any update? I am debating on picking up the Bryston BDA-2 or the SPL Director Dac Mk 1 as my dac and then using my current Flux FA-10 as the amp. However, I can also return the Flux and instead get the Bryston HPA-1 but that will be double the cost. What do you recommend?

Hey man which Schiit Stack?

@@HomeStudioBasics i got the zen dac, but i wasnt sure if i should have gotten the k5 pro or the magni hersey or 3+ and modi 3

Hey man! Yeah! I love the K3, but having both I mostly just use the K5. The K3 will drive the X2HR just fine, but the K5 is so much better of an overall investment for the long term considering how versatile it is. Did you happen to see my comparison of the 2? I think it will help you decide. Consider using a link in there to get the K5! homestudiobasics.com/fiio-k3-vs-k5-pro-review-comparison/

Yeah I kind of meant to put the Ocean in there but forgot. I'll check your review out!

Hey man! Probably an ATOM :)

Hey man thank you! Not sure as I haven't used that soundcard.

No worries man you're English is fine! Yeah you're in the right ballpark! Check out this video: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/bL6nqsinlsezZ2w.html I would say it's between K5 Pro and G6, leaning towards G6 because of how versatile it is. What puts it over the top for me is the Scout Mode, SBX, EQ feature with the app, and mic input. If you don't care about any of that and are more of a budding audiophile, the K5 Pro is amazing. Love it and use it almost daily. Be on the lookout for another article I'm about to finish up as well that goes into this a bit. The order of the DACS in the video I linked you is fine but in reality the G6 probably should have been second (E10K is still perfect for those who want to spend under $100). So If I were to re-order: 1) E10K, 2) G6 3) K5 Pro, 4) ATOM 5) Zen All great products!! It's very hard to rank them. :)

Thank you for the nice comment! Keep me posted on things.

250 ohm btw and Also I've been looking at the atom but i need a dac also then i guess so would it be better to go with something like the k5 pro?

Hey man! Thanks so much! Yeah I'd go with either the K5 Pro or Creative SoundblasterX G6. With the G6 you can plug it right into a PS4 via USB without the need for an optical cable. Instantly recognized and all that, great sound! Do you mostly game at your PC or on console?

@@HomeStudioBasics Alright, Forgot to say but its only on pc not for any consol so far atleast. would you still go for the G6? Thanks tho!

Hey man! Do you listen to DSD files or plan to in the future? And do you plan on listening balanced in the future? If so I'd go with the K3. The K3 also has optical out but I don't know if you'll ever need that. If you just want to get your feet wet the E10K is still my favorite for desktop usage and would work well with a 770. Simple and straight forward. Also have to ask what are you listening through now?

​@@HomeStudioBasics Nope, I don't really plan on listening to DSD or use balanced. Would you still recommend the 770 for under 150 bucks? (only closed back) On desktop I use my gaming headset, which is a Hyper X Cloud but when I only listen to music I mostly use my iBasso IT01. I have an old DAC (U-SABRE ES9023) but I don't feel like it makes a lot of difference tbh haha

@@SackDesign Yeah I'd just go with the E10K for now and see what you think. It's a DAC that you will keep around even in the future because it can hook up to basically any amp that has RCA Inputs or a 3.5mm line input. I still have one here on standby because it's just very useful. And yeah the 770 is a great option but what kind of music do you mostly listen to?

Thank you so much man! Hmm.. From a power standpoint the K5 Pro has plenty for the majority of headphones. From a "good pairing" standpoint I can't really comment because I haven't heard the 2C. I have heard the rest of the line basically (LCD-2, LCD-3, LCD-X, LCD-4, LCD-XC, etc.) But still haven't paired any with a K5 Pro yet so that's kind of a tough one. The K5 Pro has a 1.2 Ohm output impedance so it's definitely not neutral. If you prefer a warmer tone then I'd say it will be really good. What are your thoughts?

@@HomeStudioBasics No worries mate, as long as the K5 Pro only adds to / keeps the relaxing sound of the 2C, I will be satisfied with that. I have been waiting for a K5 Pro since late December - should now be coming in a few days, but in that time I was constantly thinking of purchasing more expensive combos or stacks (specifically the Drop THX 789 + Grace SDAC, JDS Labs Element 2, Questyle CMA 400i, and the Magni H + Modi 3). However, I would always come back to the K5 Pro as my choice due to the outstanding value it provides. There are just so many options out there and I wasn't sure if the higher end options were going to be complete overkill for my needs as an audio beginner.

@@Charith117 How's it going? Get the K5 Pro yet? Absolutely yes! It's an insane value actually. I LOVE IT!

@@HomeStudioBasics It's brilliant, thank you for the recommendation.

Thanks man! The K5 one right?

Hey man! Wow I had to look that up; I didn't even know there was a 60x! HAHA. I used to own the 40x and M50's. Hmm. This is an interesting situation because yes, I would absolutely recommend the 6XX if you're new and want to get your mind blown, but do be aware - there's no going back lol. Once you hear the HD6XX you're libel to start venturing down the rabbit hole. Is that something you're prepared for? And yeah. For you, I'd start with 1) A 6XX, and 2) One of: iFi Zen, JDS ATOM, or FiiO K5 Pro. What program do you use to listen to music?

​@@HomeStudioBasics Thanks for your answer. The 60x's shares the same driver as the 50x's but (the 60x's) i feel like they sound waaay better than the M50's (idk why) but yeah, i'm really looking forward for that mind blowing stuff. I usually listen music in spotify and youtube (just casual stuff) all through my PC (ALC1220 which is "decent"). But i always feel that it's not enough. I was thinking if i should get the ifi zen first (it's cheaper than Fiio K5 pro and i couldn't find any shipment of JDS ATOM to my country - Chile -) and then the HD6XX's

Yeah I also find that something like a 0.4dB boost is much better. Anything more than that can start to muddy things up rather quickly.

Hey man! What would be your price ceiling?

I think I would go up to $150 I heard good things about the ifi zen dac

Hmm. I really love the G6 but haven't heard the G5. The differences are that the G6 has a lower output impedance which is not entirely neutral, but is more consistent sound wise across multiple different types of impedance loads. The G5's is 2.2 which by my estimation would sound considerably "warmer" I find the G6's sound to strike a perfect balance. It's not too crisp but also not overly warm. Are you going to be doing any gaming? If so, the G6 is definitely my top choice. If just music, then yeah I really love the Zen. This shootout would help you a lot in deciding on 4 of my favorite desktop solutions: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/kMt7jNF217TDZok.html Def let me know what you think! For 6XX, I would narrow it down to those actually. What are you listening to music through? Spotify, Tidal?

Hey man! Hmm. Black Label has a ton of power. One of my favorite amp/dacs for sure. Extremely versatile. I love the Zen too. Less power there. Black Label is very clean sounding amp, Zen is a bit on the warm-ish side. Which would you prefer but most importantly, what headphones are you trying to drive?

Home Studio Basics good morning and thank you for your prompt reply ! Sorry was my fault I don’t have headphone but I really want a dac for my computer to coennect with my desktop setup and with my speakers ! At first in my list it was also chord mojo ifi xdsd and black lebel but now the new one zen dac is also a very good as I can imagine ! Another important thing is that my speakers used to be crispy and clean in. The highs so the warm is something that is missing from my system but in any case your opinions will be much important .!

Hey man! My pleasure :) Thanks for stopping by! Hm.. Haven't heard the original E10. What are your impressions?

@@HomeStudioBasics It is a big jump from the onboard dac/amp to the E10, but i dont know if id feel the same gettin the zen. Already ordered btw, so will see.

Keep me posted man!

Hey Nani! How are you?? I just sent myself a test and the form is working. Strange. Anyways.. What kind of audio production are you doing? And what general price range would you like to stay in?

@@HomeStudioBasics maybe is my laptop, or browser, we'll never know... Well, I'm doing a course for audio in animations now, I'm not sure about the difference between that and movies or music (surely there's a difference) and my price range will go from 50 to maybe 100, as I want to get something I can work with pretty well and in the way I'll learn what I really need from a pair of headphones.

@@nanipayares Hmm I would definitely start out with a Sony MDR 7506 or V6!! You'll likely be blown away by the clarity but I will warn you: It could cause you to become an obsessive audiophile forever in search for the best sound and never being satisfied with what you have ever because the sound of the headphones is the omg the best thing I've ever heard and I have to have more because I can't believe how amazing it is and yeah this was the longest run on sentence ever. :P The great thing about one of those Sony's is that they will reveal stuff going on that you didn't think was there before. Again though, there's no turning back once you take the plunge. :D What do you think? Does that sound like it would be worth the risk? Heh.

Hey man! Thank you so much! I haven't heard the BTR5 but I think I will reach out to FiiO about that one. Why is the Q1 troublesome?

@@HomeStudioBasics Compare to Bluetooth receiver(BTR 5 is a Bluetooth receiver, can also used as USB DAC/AMP), it is troublesome I think, BTR 5 is way more portable, I've bought the BTR 5 already btw, I think it sounds a little better than Q1 as a DAC AMP, but the difference is not very significant, IDK how dragonfly red sounds like, compare to Q1, is dragonfly red much better?

DF Red is just a different flavor man. A bit more open and crisp but nothing extraordinarily different. :) Amps like Q1 and hip-dac are on the warmer side.

Haven't heard that one man.

Hmm haven't heard the 1990. I'm going to point you in the direction of a friend of mine - IntoitReviews: kzfaq.info/love/DhV3KByLSY2roqZ2aQ0XKg Tell him I sent you. He will be able to help you for sure!! I don't want to tell you something and then you not like the Amp you know? He has a lot of experience with the 1990 and different amps. Keep me posted!

@@HomeStudioBasics thanks

Hey man! Perhaps :) Will look into it.

Nice! Wrote those down. I will have to check out your tunes as well! Listening now to Polychromatic..

Hi Philip! It has less to do with the Zen and more the way metal is recorded (poorly in most cases). I did an extensive metal demo for someone and it really had nothing to do with the amp/dac. This is in large part what irritates me about dacs and folks who just can't understand (not saying you are, just in general) that the DAC in question is not that important. Maybe 4th or 5th on a list of considerations. Def will be making another video on this because people have to understand LOL. That said (and I've always said this), the Mojo was one of the few true upgrades in terms of sound. I still stand by that because it's absolutely the case. So for $315 YEAH! As the Mojo originally retailed for around $500. What do you think? Where are you located?

Home Studio Basics thank you very much for your really helpful reply. I really enjoy your videos and very much use them in my decision making with respect to audio kit. Your recommendation of the Zen certainly helped me decide to purchase one. You have confirmed my suspicions it was how it is recorded (I know you have mentioned this in a number of videos) as it is only a few bands and more specifically albums that it happens with. I prevail and Lacuna coil are 2 that no matter how much I try EQ it out, they will distort at any decent volume to some extent. I’m very much looking to get hold of a mojo but at full price it is a push financially. My main concerns with the mojo are around the battery as I won’t really use it as a mobile device but the Hugo, dave and above are simply out of my price range. I’ve read you can disconnect the battery which helps on heat generation and prevents battery damage as well. From your recommendation I will certainly look to purchase one as I love great sound and like many are on the journey to get the best out of the music but it is likely to be 2nd hand. They go on eBay in the UK for between £250-300 ($312-375) so seems like good value based on your much more well informed opinion. Thank you. I’m about to be a little more skint but enjoying great sounding my music!

What I will add is that since I bought the Zen DAC I have got a lot more into the quality of my sound to really squeeze the best out of it. I found that Boom 3D (EQ software) is a great addition to windows and the Zen. Initially I was using "equalify" in spotify but things like KZfaq videos sounded really pants and not getting the best out of the Zen. using Boom means I can enjoy great Zen tones across any music / videos I watch on my PC and laptop. Maybe EQ is something you could cover in the recording issue video you plan on doing?

@@philipsills5298 Yeah man that's a great idea! Maybe compare a few different EQ programs like Peace, The SoundBlaster Connect EQ, and Boom 3D. That actually sounds like it would be right up my alley. I'm going to check it out here in a bit. I will keep you posted.

Home Studio Basics - Brilliant, I look forward to it. :)

Yeah man! I use the combo of my AT LP60 > K5 Pro > Headphones. Love it! I don't currently have a pair of active speakers. I will be getting some pretty soon. I used to have the LSR 305's and had to sell them last year due to financial reasons. This is one of the main reasons why I love the K5 though. It's incredibly versatile. You can do so many things with it.

But the AT lp60 has a built-in phono preamp. My turntable (U-turn orbit) has not.... Are u sure? I read a little about it, and phono preamp is diferent from just preamp. If works will be perfect, i plug all my setup..... Mac, cdplayer, turntable, headphones.... Thanks man, great videos, great job!! Success!!

@@brunotateyama7303 Duh. Sorry man! Meant to mention that. I always forget that my turntable has one built in. It's so convenient! You're right. That is a good question. I wouldn't get it until you know for certain. I can do some more digging tomorrow :)

Nice! Yeah I mean I still kind of want to try it but not really lol. I'm getting tired of Amps and DACs XD What headphones you have?

I think that would be a fantastic choice man especially if you're going to go 4.4. I am about to do the same with my HD600!

@@HomeStudioBasics my pair of 660s is the only one with 4.4 cable, what I am afraid is that maybe the balanced output has more noise because of the power\,... I should wait for your opinion before I buy.

@@Tripokaridos22 Still think you can't go wrong with the Zen either way! Did you decide?

@@HomeStudioBasics i bought Zen and i am a little disappointed. Micro sounds better and louder on direct 3.5 . Zen sounds worst and lower on unbalanced with 3.5 adapter. Zen at 4.4 sounds a little louder just a bit but on loud volumes i can hear some kind of distortions ? Thats strange without the bass boost it sounds thinner than micro and with bass boost it sounds muffled on hd650 but just ok on 660s. Feels like micro is well balanced. I guess thats why micro cost 240 euro and zen 150 euro.

@@HomeStudioBasics by the way can u make a HD25 review? I just receive mine the anniversary edition

Hey man! 60e and 80e are pretty much the farthest I would go. I did enjoy the GS1000e but I don't think it's worth the asking price at all. I need to update my best audiophile headphones article to reflect that but that whole Grado e line is entirely overrated in my opinion. I'm actually going to do a big video on this topic so thanks for the reminder. Some people really like the 325e and 225e but Grado sound differences only come down to pads and nothing else. They all pretty much have the exact same sound signature with that stupid 2k peak that ruins everything. Outside of that it's a good sound signature. I would go 6XX and not think twice. Sundara doesn't really have sparkly treble though it's more laid back which I actually prefer.

@@HomeStudioBasics 6XX vs Sundara who takes it?

@@HomeStudioBasics i have Grado sr60e and may upgrade to the 80 cause from what I can gather off Z reviews sound demo and your review, the 80 is a more well rounded, softer sound than the 60, which even after break in, is I think a touch bright. I like the brightness of Grados, but i think 80 may have been the right move from the jump. I do like supporting Grado cause I like the company. I wish their $300 option was amazing. But from what i read its kinda being shat on by 6xx, Sendy Aiva, Sundara and all these newer offerings at the price. I think 58x at $150 and 6xx at 195 kinda changed the game cause those were basically $400 for decades.

@@HomeStudioBasics theres something about Grado you just pray for them to win big. You pray for that $200-300 winner that becomes the king of that midrange. Im sure their $2000 headphones are great but theres so much good stuff out now. My heart roots for Grado

@@MrAhuraMazda Yeah for sure. The 6XX can now appeal to people who have no idea what this stuff is about and blow their mind for cheap. I think it's pretty cool actually. Did you see my 60e vs. 80e comparison? kzfaq.info/get/bejne/a7uci9CZ2buse58.html And yeah I'd personally never buy a Grado after a 60e. Not worth it imo as there's much better headphones out there. I didn't find any differences between the 2 actually. Check the video though if you haven't! It is cool how Grado has remained relevant for this long and for that I def respect them a lot. I just don't like how their headphone line remains almost the same as you go up in price with no real improvements in build, sound, and comfort, and in fact gets worse with the L-pads.

Hey man! I just tried this with the K5 Pro but only because it has RCA ins which the D1 does not have. You would need those as your phone is the source and sending the audio to the Amp. The D1 only has outputs. It works with my K5 Pro but it's not in any way an ideal set up. I happen to have all the necessary wires with the most important being one of these splitters (not an affiliate link): www.amazon.com/Female-Stereo-Splitter-Adapter-Extender/dp/B07C3M2GXH Are you having trouble keeping your phone charged? It says "can keep" but I think you meant can't. Let me know!! You're probably going to want to go with something else. Maybe a Q1 MK II, NX4, or hip-dac would be up your alley. Lemme know what you think. Talk soon!

@@HomeStudioBasics That Nx4 will be perfect. I can keep my phone charged and the dac charged also.

@@TheoneDragon51 How's it going man!? Get the NX4?

@@HomeStudioBasics not yet, I just checked Amazon, it's suppose to come in today! Even better I am headed home today, once I make this delivery. I am looking forward to it.

Just now had a chance to listen to the NX4. I am really enjoying it. My Fiio 9 pros, really dig much lower on the low bass for rap. I did not know they could give that much bass. The bass boost it gives is just what the earbuds were lacking. That was my only complaint, I had about them running on my S8. My non rap music, the subtleties of my rock music really shine. I have been listing to my Paradigm monitor 11s all day so it was a nice to use my Dac and get a similar experience. This is my first Dac, well worth the price. My music source is Amazon prime the paid music version.

Yay!! That means I haz good video! You will enjoy Saturday's upload because my hair looks so awful you wouldn't even believe lol. I actually masked it by just putting B-Roll over the entirety of the video lmao, but there are still a couple spots where you can see it. 😂

Hey man! Check this shootout. Let me know if you have any questions: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/kMt7jNF217TDZok.html :)

@@HomeStudioBasics Thanks! ifi Zen is on the way.

Keep me posted on it man! Did you happen to use a link in the description?

@@HomeStudioBasics Actually, I check serverial video of yours, lol. It helps, thanks!

You're welcome!

Hey man so I assume you're going to be strictly on desktop?

@@HomeStudioBasics yes yes

Hey man I'd probably go with a K5 Pro. Plenty of power for any future headphone additions and has a slightly warmer sound which will help mitigate the 990's treble. What do you think? Check this article out and consider purchasing through one of my links if you really love the K5 Pro. I know you will. It's really versatile as you'll soon find out :) homestudiobasics.com/fiio-k3-vs-k5-pro-review-comparison/

Hey man yeah! I do :) I also rap for fun. Do you rap or make beats?

Home Studio Basics I rap and intend to make beats. Where can I find your beats/tracks? They are seriously great.

Thanks man! There are some here: homestudiobasics.com/beats-for-sale-3/ and here on SC: soundcloud.com/xtra-base-hitz Let me know which you're interested in!! I'm going to be adding a lot more to the player on my site. Hit me back up for sure with the ones you're into.

Would love to know the answer to this!

Magni will be more neutral and Zen a bit warmer so it depends how you like your music. I would skip the Magni and get an Objective 2 or ATOM for neutrality and Zen for warmer/musical type sound.

Hey man haven't heard the 58X but I think def it will be fine as I can run my 600's with an E10K no problem and they are 300 Ohm impedance. I believe the 58X is 150 and even easier to drive.

@@HomeStudioBasics Massdrop x Sennheiser HD 58X Jubilee yeah they are 150ohm. Maybe I I'll try to run them true motherboard, other wise I I'll get E10K. Thanks for answering

Yeah I forgot to mention that. PC's nowadays have way better internal dacs then they used to. Def try that first. :) I'm used to crappy internal soundcards myself lol.

Thank you so much man! Have you decided on one of these?

Or better yet, THX 888 by SMSL for just 280$!!!11 Actually, no joke.

@@TheSolidlad AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGHGHAHGKALJGALKSJFLKSAJLKFJSALKTIWU#)($#@)(#%()%#Q*()$#@)%#@(JFKLEJK#@O%#@)%(#@I)U$#@O$J#@OIJ$#LK@J$LK#@JLK$#@923-2---------------------32i932ll;;ls;s;lslsslkdnbbbbbbbbbbbbb,,x,cx,

Hey man! Are you liking the Q1 MK II?

@@HomeStudioBasics sure i like it pairing with my shp 9500 but i really want to know if it could be better

@@Mawin268 Hmm well the 9500 is super easy to drive so it's hard to justify spending a bunch but: I personally loved it with the Oppo HA-2 but that's been discontinued although you can still find it online. The hip-dac is a great option for a warmer type sound, and the NX4 would be a great option for something cleaner and more crisp. Maybe that's what you're after? Check this shootout and let me know what you think! A lot of good stuff in here: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/rZt4f9ekvczFXYU.html

@@HomeStudioBasics thanks for reply appreciate a lot

i like neutral sound

Hey!! Well I would say K5 Pro but that's not entirely neutral. Hmm. I would go with a combo of Objective 2 or ATOM for the Amp, paired with a DAC. What kind of PC do you have? If it's good enough, you could bypass getting a DAC and just get one of those 2 Amps for around $100.

Hey man! Hmm. Do you think you'd prefer a warmer sound or more neutral? What's your price range?

@@HomeStudioBasics Thanks for the reply! I think I would prefer a warmer sound, though I am open to both. My price range is from $100-$200. Lately I've been eyeing both the ifi Zen dac/amp and the topping mx3, but I can't seem to make up my mind.

My pleasure Rocio! I think the Zen will be great for the 400i! It's not completely warm, but sort of like a cross between neutral and warm. What program do you use to listen to music? The K5 Pro is also a great option. More power and more versatile. It's a tad warmer with a 1.2 Ohm output impedance as well.

@@HomeStudioBasics Thanks for your help! To answer your question, I don't use a particular program to listen to music. I am a newcomer to the "audiophile world", and am just trying to get better sound quality. I usually listen to music on Spotify and have a few FLAC files from Bandcamp. I think I will ultimately decide on the Zen. Also, I just want to thank you for your videos. They have been extremely informative, especially for a newcomer like me, and your dedication is very apparent, especially when you take the time to reply to comments. Thank you once again!

Yeah man my pleasure! I really appreciate your kind words. Let me know if you happen to purchase a Zen through one of my links. It really helps the site and channel out immensely. Keep me posted! Here's the article, which should help you pull the trigger: homestudiobasics.com/ifi-zen-amp-dac-review/

Hey man! Hold on let me check that real quick. I don't know what exactly you're referring to. Hang tight!

OOH I see. Yeah I could have worded that better, but notice the sentence after: "The Bonham + Page + John Paul Jones drop exceeded expectations and then some." I am definitely going to reword all of that. I will let you know when I'm done!

Hey man it's done. Let me know what you think!

@@HomeStudioBasics It's perfect! I fuckin loved this! Thanks

My pleasure man! You gonna get the Bryston?

XD XD Nicely played

Gabs Michel , yeah at $10 every “homie can check that shit out”, best $10 other than a bag of crack you’ll ever spend!

@@De132an There's no money better spent than blow my friend: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/a5xzddWczarTgqM.html

Hey man! No I was saying that the GENRE is the issue as Metal is typically not recorded well and/or overly compressed. In reality, any DAC/Amp has very little bearing on how your music is going to sound. The dac is there for flavor (i.e. warm vs. cool/neutral). Keep in mind those things are also pretty subtle and really only noticeable when you have 7+ amps lying around and you can go back and forth for hours. It's mostly about the source file and how it was recorded. A good headphone can make a good track sound even better, but a poorly mastered song and it's flaws will only be amplified (no pun intended) by an Amp. That's never going to change in audio and my goal moving forward for this channel is to help people understand those basic concepts. There's so much B.S. floating around (esp. with regard to how many f'ing amps there are now) that for me it's almost become unbearable. Also hiss for K5 Pro? No. I'm not sure where you're reading this stuff but its just not true. I'm going to stop now before I get irritated lol.

@@HomeStudioBasics mercy dude, i think decide to buy it ! thank you for all replys .stay safe

@@hesamsabetmand7677 Keep me posted and updated on it man!! You as well brother and my pleasure!

Home Studio Basics sure my brother💙

Yeah K5 Pro is a little bit hard to get right now and I'm not sure why. Hopefully that will change here soon. Is the Zen available? What do you normally listen through (source).

@@HomeStudioBasics Hi, glad you answered to my comment. I'm from Mexico, and yes, The Zen is available, but is double priced (not kidding about it). I normally listen to FLAC formats but also Netflix and I was looking for something that could be used in a future for my Smart tv and gaming like the K5 PRO

@@oliverneftaliandradeayala8504 Hey man! My pleasure. What about ebay? The K5 Pro will be my main amp/dac in the living room/entertainments center since it can connect to basically anything if I want to listen via headphones.

Haven't heard Modi multi or the other one!

Hey there! The hip-dac is for portable use. You can use it on your desk but you'll either have to keep it charged at the same time you're listening or keep charging it every 6 or so hours. It's mostly meant to be used with a phone. Here's my review/shootout with some other ones! Please keep in touch :) kzfaq.info/get/bejne/rZt4f9ekvczFXYU.html

Absolutely mate! Love it. It's my daily driver. And you can get balanced cables for the 6XX too if you want.

Home Studio Basics I got a custom cable from hartaudiocables on the way for my 6XX to use with my zen dac. Thing is such a beaut

@@Mrperfectwoo Absolutely! Love it man! How's your experience with them now?

YOOO!! Hey remember when you compared audio gear to a woman? Where is that post lol I need to save it for a later video and can't remember where it is.

@@HomeStudioBasics i think...hmm we were talking about SHP9500 and Fidelios being big sloppy titties and a good BJ, 9500s are like small tits but in great shape. But both are like high school hot. Then Sundara wojld be college hot. And Audeze and ZMFs are like Victoria Secret models

@@HomeStudioBasics let me try to find it

Hey man! That's actually a beat I did that I need to finish :) Would you be interested? Also your avatar reminds me of another beat I did: soundcloud.com/xtra-base-hitz/all-aboard-outro-my-page-is-about-to-get-weird-lol

Yeah dude I think that will be next!! Still need some time with it with music. Been doing wayy too much gaming here lately XD

@@HomeStudioBasics more time the better I say. I'm glad you're enjoying it. Thanks for getting back to me. Can't wait for the review 👍

@@Farpun NO worries man! Always. Gonna be fun! Thank you so much for your continued support of the blog and channel!

Have not man! Well I've heard about it but haven't heard it lol. Were you wanting to go the Separate Amp + Separate DAC route?

@@HomeStudioBasics I wanted to get a combo dac amp. After watching your video i was leaning towards the k5 pro but it's out of stock so I'm probably gonna get the ifi Zen for my he4xx. also looking at the k3 but figured the ifi would last me longer.

Going to get the fiio k3 for now and if I need to upgrade I'll get a more powerful amp for my he4xx

I ordered the k3 because the k5 pro was out of stock and now it's gonna be in stock may 29. Gonna use the k3 for a bit and return it for the k5

It's "Joe Deer-tay" Get it right!! LOL Love that movie. At this point it's pretty much a cult classic. Gets awful reviews but those critics can suck it! Have you ever seen Repo Man?

@@HomeStudioBasics never seen Repo Man. I'll see if I can find it streaming.

@@1badMucker It's another cult classic with Emilio Estevez. Just a brilliant film all around and incredibly bizarre. My dad and I watch it together every so often and crack up because of how outrageous it is.

They actually come in 250 and 80 I believe.

@@HomeStudioBasics yeah, I actually have both now. I haven’t tried the 80 ohms. They were just delivered. I’m trying to get the right combo for dac, amp, headphones. It’s not as easy as it looks.

Hey man! That's a tough one. I've listened to close to 100 and out of all of them if I could only choose one? Wow. Mr Speakers Aeon Flow with the Mojo I think would be the most jaw dropping moment I've had along side the 400i and Bryston. For most people I would recommend an HD6XX to start out! What about you?

@@HomeStudioBasics for me I really enjoyed the Z1R for a minute. The HD800S sounds great to but it gives me so much fatigue. Currently enjoying the focal elear via the sony wm1a. I didn't love the elear at first but now it's really grown on me. Enjoy it more than the Z1R at the moment. I really want to see where the future of audio is going. I feel like we hit the top of audio quality sadly. But I do hope that we can see better Sound quality improvements in the future. Sadly.. I think Bluetooth is the future. Which is cool an all but man I do have hope that we can eventually get Orpheus quality sound under 5k in the future.

@@TheFijianGuy Yeah man we're in a strange time for sure, esp. with regard to DACS which are starting to really piss me off for various reasons XD. I lied though. The Utopia is still the best headphone I've heard and it's far and away the best sound. One of the very few cases where you can throw out the law of diminishing returns. Still not worth $4k I don't think but for 2? Yeah it's a no brainer. End game for sure for most people. BT seems to be, but I think it's just that we're in the age of convenience now. People are mad lazy man they don't even want to plug anything in XD. I'm a bit old fashioned I guess. I don't really listen via BT unless I'm in the gym.

Hmm. Do you run Tidal? Go with Zen. If you need something that has more versatility can't go wrong with a K5 Pro. I never intend on selling mine if that's any indication. It can do so many different things. What do you think?

Home Studio Basics Yes, I use tidal, I'm just getting into this hobby, I just need a good amp dac combo for my hd 6xx.

@@harman8431 Gah it's hard because I just found out Zen works fine with Tidal Masters. It changes color to Yellow for files over 48kHz. Just make sure you have it set to exclusive mode (for either Zen or K5 actually). Did you decide?

XD

kzfaq.info/get/bejne/jKh-a86BzczJfKc.html XD No.

Home Studio Basics ⛄️⛄️⛄️

@@De132an Next time i do cocaine for you it's good u like !!

Hey man which one?

@@HomeStudioBasics Wow, fast answer. I didn't expect that. :) I bought the A3 for my Wolfson DAC IPod and the Oppo HA-2 SE for ...for... for what? Firstly i would like to use it with some mobile devices, but now i think it was a mistake and i had to buy the mojo. Maybe you could help here!? Actually i ordered the DT770 Pro with 80 and 250 Ohms for mobile and the DT990 Pro 250 Ohm for home. Today i found a Sony MDR 7056 (?). I don't know what to do actually. I burned so much money and couldn't relax to music. I hear phil collins, Tracy Chapman, Deep Purple, Bob Dylan and Carl Craig, Ricardo Vilalobos aso. Maybe you could help to find a decision. Thank you

Hey man! Hmm. Maybe just take a deep breath and relax, first. Lol. I am coming out with a 7506 video, so def stay tuned for that. Can you tell me exactly what you have now?

@@HomeStudioBasics That would be the best to chill first! ;) I love your videos! I actually have a Technics SL-PG 5 and a Denon AVR 1910 to hear music at home. Over Ear`s: BD DT770 80/250 Ohm, DT990 250 Ohm actually to test for 60 days. iPod 5th gen Wolfson DAC with diy mod (known as Vinnie rose red wine mod) with FLAC and ALAC files at FiiO A3 with Moondrop Blessing 2 IEM´s. And an Opportunity HA-2 SE unboxed since i bought it weeks ago. May i should buy the 7506 and a Mojo for the technics and mobile devices underway!? Or a (stereo only) new Amp. Maybe you could help me to find a solution. Actually i only can hear with headphones at home!