THE ORRONOCO AUDIO DIY

STAX SRM-252S amp and the headphones SR-L300 is an entry level in STAX line up. They have more beefy line up above that with the price tag very surprisingly expensive. And this STAX SRM-252S is actually a very good amp, but can this improve? We know that mostly in entry level product, the manufacture usually cut some corner in the components. If they are improve, how is the result?

This little portable DAC will soon end up on your main listening room for sure.  That statement is not kidding, I couldn't say anything more except this Mojo works for me and it should work with you as well.

In the headphones review last week, I mostly using this Schiit Modi Multibit as DAC then the analog output going through the amp. Yet, this Modi has lots of feature in the input section, almost all popular input nowadays such as, USB input, coaxial, and optical/ toslink input you can hook it up to this tiny DAC. The selling price is very tempting, it is only US$249. But how it is perform?

The next few post will be all about DAC. It is become a very important roles to the good audio system. The importance of DAC is because this is the first analog output to the next stages, which is pre-amp or amplifier until reach the speakers. That is why spending lots of money in DAC will draw back to the overall audio quality. Will not become a regret since the DAC will least almost forever in the normal condition.

This STAX SR-L300 & the amplifier SRM252S is the most expensive headphones compares to the previous line up I had. If you find it second hand  with the condition like this one, you  are definitely lucky.

I put a step ahead again after the Hifiman  HE-400 . More money burnt over that one and you got this Sennheiser HD 6XX. One question in my mind, is it worth for spending more while you already got the Hifiman? Let's take a look!

I test all headphones either with my CMOY amp or this Schiit Magni 3 amp. They have their own advantages but for sound wise, I could not agree more for the Schiit Magni 3 amp is superior against the CMOY. Sadly but true, I don't know why this Schiit Magni unit comes with hum noise after several minute operate. This happen even with the volume knob fully down and no input present. More over, if the gain switch set to the high position, the humm noise become more audible. Fortunately I already get this problem solved. Let's take a look.

The  ATH-M40X  is a very good headphones above it's price. Double up the money spent, you get for the higher spec headphones like this one, Hifiman Headphones HE-400. But is it worth for the money? Let's find out.

As I said, it will be headphone related all around on next few weeks and this is the DAC and headphone amp that will suit me as price to performance ratio winner! This is Schiit Modi Multibit DAC and the Magni 3 as an headphone amplifier.

I owned this headphone quite some time. This Audio-Technica ATH-M40x is cheap and suitable as all around headphone. It is about US$79 I guess and I have been using it since 2 years ago. The reason I never posting this headphone is because it is already so popular and I don't have to add it more. Since for the next post will be so much on headphone stuff, so I think I should share a bit my current daily driver headphone.