A Journey Down The Audiophile Head-Fi Rabbit Hole... WTF Did I Get Myself Into...?

(Upfront disclosure: this is a lengthy read. Those with attention for short-form content only can check out now. For those who choose to stay & proceed, I can't promise to impart all the secrets of the universe or ultimate enlightenment - though shall do my best to both pass on some valuable lessons & nuggets of wisdoms sourced through a compressed 7-month intensive in the space for those newer to this realm, and to incite some smiles & laughs from those who might be further ahead of myself on this path as sharing intimate reflections of the many twists & turns encountered as pursuing Divine ecstacy in the form of head-fi gear. Without further ado...)

I had no idea what I was getting myself into.

The exploration began 7 months ago, so innocently. I never foresaw a future in which "becoming an audiophile" was even a possibility. I still wouldn't identify as one... but that could just be denial. Surfing all sorts of hyperfocus waves researching various stuff has been a guilty habit for years, but I probably wouldn't have believed how many countless hours were to come immersed in ChatGPT, YouTube reviews and classifieds hunting for all these fancy little things to put in & over ears and shiny boxes to plug them into - and the existential conflicts/contemplations over practically (metaphorically) selling a kidney to get them. But most of y'all surely know how it goes.

It's a bit funny/ironic that I never saw this coming, as music had always been the foundational pillar in my life...

Key moments in early childhood etching a sense of magic into the soul - the essence of some of the first vinyl records; the monumental excitement of the first (Kiss' Greatest Hits) CD on xmas morning; others, forgotten yet leaving just as strong impressions on my mother, watching her small child gazing in awe at live performances. Embarking on the journey of playing - piano from 5, excelling at guitar in teens... performing in rock & jazz bands, composing, recording. Pivoting into the world of DJing, lost in the bliss of alchemical experimentations in the basement, entering DMC competitions, crafting creative mixtapes on an old 4-track recorder... later dropping out of university and turning it into a career. Dabbles into production until finally going all-in, now 15 years steady. There was never a moment music wasn't front & center in my life. Though while I grew up with a dad who always had some good stereo equipment and would've ideally gotten my own some day, there was never enough money in DJing to even begin thinking about the world of audiophilia.

But life has its twists & turns.

One moment, an iPod used for snowboarding falls off the kitchen counter and breaks. The next, you're balls deep in hundreds of AI threads and reviews with the intensity of an army general, mapping out upgrade paths and battling with the opposing parts of your psyche arguing for & against liquidating just a little bit more of your investments at a horrible time in the market to fund just one more upgrade.

Had Apple still been selling iPods and it an easy replacement - or had the jack on an old iPhone 8 been working well to maintain a stable connection - things mighta been pretty different right now. But a door to the world of DAPs and DACs had to be opened. First, a Questyle M15C dongle DAC. Fantastic. Fully transformative for both my Sony WH-1000XM5 and Audio Technica ATH-M50X. But still less-than-ideal for snowboarding, so a little further it went... Hiby R4 DAP. Functionally-practical, subtler upgrade. Done.

But.

Apparently, I just had to watch that one Andy'sAudioVault review where he mentioned how good it sounded with a particular set of IEMs...

"WTF are IEMs?"

That was the fvck!ng red pill. The accidental dip of a toe into the rabbit hole that spiralled into a mighty tumble. The question evoking curiosity propelling a deep dive to find the best bang-for-buck gateway drug at a justifiable price, not knowing whether I'd even like the IEM experience. Lethuoer S12 Pro. And everything changed.

---

The first few sessions - once overcoming a hurdle of tips and ear asymmetry - were nothing short of a sort of "seeing God" type experience.

After two decades of DJing, I'd honestly so rarely listened to music anymore. Always digging for it, scanning through quick as hunting for gems to play. Always focused on the job while playing, reading the room and engaged in alchemical calculus to determine what next song would build the vibe. Always doing something else while music played in the background... never just sitting down to listen with undivided attention. Then enter S12 Pros... revelation. It wasn't just a return to listening after 20+ years, but an unveiling of dimensions of music I'd never even been able to experience before. Those little works of planar wizardry didn't just enhance resolution & clarity. They facilitated a reconnection with something sacred I'd long forgotten. I wasn't just listening once again - but remembering how profoundly magical music can be at its best.

I was falling in love with music all over again. And ignorant of how quickly momentum with this new path would build.

As happens, before even settling into full appreciation of the S12 Pro, the wonder starting itching: "if a $185 IEM sounds this good... what do the ones in higher tiers sound like...?" When/how can I rationalize the experiment(s) to find out...?

Countless hours down the AI and YouTube vortexes later... Thieaudio Hype 4 MKII, the next best 'punching double its price' option on my list. Different universe. But the grand, intensity-focused philosophy, not my taste preference. Great learning experience, but not a keeper. Bless Amazon's return policy.

Next... Thieaudio Monarch MKIV hits the used market - the long-term target surviving countless rounds of research and ChatGPT debriefs. Way more than I wanted to spend. 'But the cost surely worth the peace of mind to put the wonder at rest, right?' Fvck it, ya only live once. 'After this, I'll finally be able to quit.' BUT, after weeks of watching the ad... the decision to buy came 12 hours late, after dude sold. And redirection: he offers a Unique Melody Mest Jet Black. Another 6 hour hyperfocus wave looking it up. First instinct: probably not the one. Second look... could be an interesting love-it-or-hate-it gamble on an exotic specialist. 'Alright. Let's see what the Ferrari-tier of IEMs is actually like.'

And who knew what a rollercoaster ride these tiny feats of engineering stuck in your ears could take ya on.

---

A year prior, I hadn't even thought about changing from a pair of Audio Technica ATH-M50X and Sony WH-1000XM5. Blink... and you're dropping thousands on gear you didn't even know existed let alone thought you'd need, hyperanalyzing technical details instead of simply enjoying the music... and rationalizing just one more pair in hopes it'll resolve the hangups with the last. Ha.

MJB's were phenomenal... when they worked for me... which wasn't the majority of time. Their grand holographic presentation and bone conduction, often too unnatural to my engineering ears with most songs (albeit absolutely amazing with others), accentuated ever-so-subtle audio imbalance due to ear asymmetries... just not a relaxing, effortless listening experience, overall. Surprisingly, my mind was blown returning to the S12 Pros, often still as impressed as at first. Preference for the planar style, clarified. And the itch of the question begins: what would an even better-executed planar be like?

More ChatGPT. More late nights watching & reading reviews, hoping to find something to talk me out of it. But when hyperfocus locks itself onto an idea, sometimes the only way to relieve an itch is to scratch it. Hello, Campfire Audio Supermoon. Thank you, kind seller on eBay for at least making it possible at a far more reasonable price than buying new. It's at least a little bit easier justifying this ongoing expensive hunt with "good deals." 🫠

To some relief, it actually felt like I might finally be done with the IEM obsession. Interestingly, the first thing Supermoons did was clarify the value of the Unique Melody - inspiring me to take down the ads to sell MJB. Both good, but different - and worth keeping both for at least a little longer. BUT. (There's always a "but," isn't there?) Another side-thread was brewing.

The ear asymmetries were driving me nuts. I'd been through different tips and found Azla SednaFit to work alright, but not 100%. I absolutely LOVED the resolution all three pairs of IEMs delivered, but both the fit feeling and sonic imbalance - with MJBs especially - became increasingly frustrating. Enter the question: how good could a set of quality over-ear cans get... enough that might prefer them enough to finish entirely with IEMs?

I'd only done a bit of digging, with Focal Clear and Audeze LCD-X as the couple options on radar - but too far out of a reasonable budget. Until saw used Clear OGs for $650 CAD. Another mini-existential crisis ensued - the angel on one shoulder, advocating 'financial responsibility,' devil on the other with sound logical justifications for a 'good investment.' Y'all know who won. And like that, a whole other Pandora's box was opened. It was mere child's play until this point, ha.

At first, I thought I was 'in the clear.' (Bad pun intended.) Initial impression with the Hiby R4: "nope. resell. sweet... another rabbit hole averted." Accustomed to the IEMs, the Focal's resolution couldn't even compare. Didn't like their tuning. Even had some brief buyer's remorse, wondering wtf I just wasted more money on unnecessarily, albeit grateful to at least have done the experiment so actually know.

But I didn't know. Oh boy, was I ignorant.

Second session... plugged into my dad's Hegel 190 instead. Tweaked some EQ. 'Alright. Actually, probably won't be selling anytime soon. Nope.' Ha. I still didn't love them, but an amp with a whole lot more power & capability gave a glimpse of more potential. Curiosity was sparked.

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One thing learned & developed in this journey: humility...

When I'd mentioned the Focal Clears to my dad, he said they'd probably need a proper headphone amp to drive them. Naively, I was like, "nah, the R4 should be fine, it's good." I was VERY wrong. The difference between the $350 DAP and $5000 integrated amp was not subtle. The Hegel - even if designed primarily for speakers, and even though owners saying it's headphone output is 'meh' - brought a different level of punch, clarity, depth. Still couldn't match the resolution of IEMs, nor revealed enough advantages in other regards to yet trump as a preference - though I was starting to see/hear the Clears' strengths... and why people love them.

But, there was also an intuitive sense they still had a potential the Hegel was not tapping. The question naturally arose: exactly how much better could a dedicated headphone amp be?

While taking everything ChatGPT says at face value is never smart, I foolishly embraced its initial answers too quickly, wanting it to be true when it said that a $1000 headphone amp could potentially give the Hegel a good run for its money. With that flawed idea in mind, a new hunt commenced. God only knows how many hours more of AI chats, reviews, contemplation, F.U.D. over how much this all may be damaging future financial security, and a first winning eBay bid later... an Aune S9C Pro was on its way.

Before it even arrived, the reality crept in that ChatGPT was wrong - and/or that it was my error to misconstrue "$1000 amp" with DAC/amp combo.

Running with the research momentum, the hunt continued as assessing the next best purchase. Aune S17 Pro, which supposedly pairs well with S9C...? Wait a bit longer until a used Violectric V222 hit the market...? Burson Soloist 3x...? Boom. Upgraded one available used at good price - reviews seemed legit - a solid contender at its price tier that 'should' unlock Clear's potential. But...hold off until the S9C arrives to test it alone. If can at least wait long enough so that it's not an "impulsive" decision, going through the motions of completing one experiment before spending another thousand on the next... yes, that'd be "responsible." That's what we'll tell ourselves once again.

And holy jeezus... did the S9C Pro experiment ever teach more in 5 minutes than dozens of hours watching YouTube reviews and grilling AIs ever could.

First, another humbling: dad was right again, having said the Hegel was better than I naively thought as believing a $1000 DAC/amp actually had any chance in comparison. The S9C might've been an improvement over the Hiby R4, but Hegel... yeah right. Flatter, narrower, nowhere near the punch, dynamics, or microdetail. Hopes were high with so many reviewers raving about how good it is, but next to the standard set by the Hegel... disappointment. Straight back up for sale. And forget the Burson Soloist 3x... at least temporarily. No point amplifying what ain't working to start with.

Yet, while the temptation of buyer's remorse was real, the actual direct experience of the experimentation was priceless. In particular, connecting the S9C up to the Hegel - A/B testing both their DACs side-by-side, using the Hegel's amp.

I hadn't dug deep enough during my research on the S9C to spot it uses a ESS DAC chipset; and even if had, woulda been clueless on what the ESS characterists are without the direct experience to connect with written descriptions. But throughout the S9C sessions, one word dominated my consciousness: sterile. AI debriefs revealed, yep, apparently that's ESS character. And isolating that DAC performance further next to the Hegel's... strong preference clarified. Didn't yet know what for, but not for ESS.

With limited exposure, all the descriptions of "warm, clean, neutral, dense, resolving," etc, etc. only mean so much - just as you can never truly know what something tastes or smells like until your own senses take it in. I'd taken guesses at what I thought I'd like as continually debriefing in AI threads and listening with what limited amount of gear I had been... but introduce one new box that unlocks a news dimension of direct experience within the first few seconds & minutes of listening... holy fvck. All the technical terms encountered during endless research, near-instantaneously coming to life. The guesswork around what this & that means and what'd suit my tastes, done. Compass, tuned. Direction, refined.

Meanwhile, another smaller side-experiment was unveiling sonic preferences as well...

While swinging between putting the Unique Melody Mest Jet Black up for sale and taking down the ads, during a phase of concluding to keep them, I figured it might be worth a cable upgrade. They'd only come with a cheaper NiceHCK FirstTouch cable - which had horrible microphonics. I'd already purchased a cheap Tripowin Zonie to see if it'd be an improvement, and it was. A/Bing between the two, I also found its character preferable - slightly fuller-bodied, warmer, quite nice. But it still looked & felt cheap, mismatched to a $2000 IEM. Another rabbit hole later, I discovered Eletech (the company that actually makes Unique Melody's stock cables). Eletech's vibe was dope - the artistry, the branding, and deeper dimension of philosophy brought to the endeavor through their naming products after Greek mythological figures. Looked good. Reviews were great. And given Unique Melodies are particularly sensitive to changes in different cables due to all the crossovers between bone conduction drivers especially, 'why not go all the way.' Almost pulled the trigger on their Cassiel model - appealing with the prospect of adding a bit faster attack, potentially nudging the MJB character a little closer to some of the planar qualities I appreciate, rather than double down on something a bit warmer... but stumbled onto a used Fortitude. $300 savings? And with Versa connectors so can use both 2-pin on MJB and MCCX on Supermoons? Done.

I knew it was going to be an improvement. But underestimated how much.Tested on the Supermoons first... Magic. I fucking cried.

Decent refinement adding Fortitude to MJBs too, but the compliment of increased harmonic body, smoothness, and warmth to Supermoon over its stock cable... wow. Well done, Eletech.

Yet the biggest upgrade it brought: shattering & shifting preconceptions I had about my preferences.

With all the IEMs tried, I'd used the Hiby R4's MSEB to sculpt a touch of lows / low-mids - consistently finding the slight EQ tweak to beautifully reduce masking in the range, improving overall mix clarity. Given that in eq terms, "warmth" typically refers to a boost in that same range, ChatGPT & I prematurely assumed "warmth" wasn't one of my preferences. (AI can be fantastic for research & debriefs...sometimes. But absolutely, entirely wrong, many others.) Fortitude flipped the script. The addition of richness & smoothness - harmonic warmth - Fortitude brought to Supermoon wasn't subtle. And flipping back to stock for comparison -> thin, weak, almost tinny. Different worlds.

Turned out I like harmonic warmth, alright... done a certain way.

And another key phase of the journey was unfolding to seriously confirm that.

The Aune S9C Pro went up for sale quick. No one bit, even at the same great price I'd grabbed it for. But in came a Facebook message: "would you consider trading for a Hifiman EF600?

Immediately, I shot the offer down. Knowing what I wanted was ultimately at a higher tier, I didn't see a point. I just wanted to recoup some cash, and didn't bother looking into its details.

Yet maybe a week later, the idea came to at least look at it.

If the Aune was gonna just sell anyways, why not consider broadening experience with something different in the meantime. So I looked. Potentially worthwhile. And on my 43rd birthday, trade done. Surprisingly, I quite enjoyed it.

The technical capabilities of the Hegel were still a significant step up, but the EF600 had a musicality to its presentation just making it easy to relax into the music. Body was moving, feet tapping, head bobbing. No (excessive) analyzing, thinking, and contemplating what this or that upgrade would be like. None of which could be said for either the Hegel or S9C's ESS sterility. It seemed evident that the warmer, smoother presentation of the Hifiman's R2R DAC worked for me. A/Bing with the Hegel as well - comparing both their dacs into both amps - the Hegel's DAC proved more clear & precise,but lacked the same kind of warmth. Of course, no time was wasted before asking, "now how to get what I like about the EF600's character... at a higher tier, with the clarity, precision, and punch of the Hegel... or better.

The EF600 was enjoyable, but it's performance ceiling, evident. So... the Burson Soloist I'd been eyeing earlier. I knew the amp would make a positive difference - possibly better than what Hegel amp could do. And there was only one way to find out. So go through the painful process of liquidating some investments for experimentation, we did. Sure enough, yup. Another level. Even kicked Hegel's ass. The Soloist performed. And at first impression, I understood the naming of its V7 VIVID opamps. Holy shit... intense. Perhaps a bit too much.

I'd assumed the EF600 R2R DAC into Soloist would just be a simple upgrade, preserving what I liked about the standalone EF600, but was in for some lessons. The nice, enjoyable, relaxing experience... uh uh. The Soloist was technically superior - but my nervous system did not prefer it's intensity. Fvck. And simultaneously, as the amp side of the equation improved, so it unveiled the performance ceiling of the EF600's R2R. Double fvck. Plans thwarted. Yet more money to be thrown into the void pursuing a 'solution' that'd not only be technically on-par with or better than the current standards sets, but get the body moving with an enjoyable listening experience as working harmoniously with/for my ears, brain and nervous system. I hadn't even considered there could exist such a type of criteria, but here we were.

Another extensive rabbit hole researching standalone R2R options and moral crisis over liquidating yet more investments at bad timing in the market, and the "answer" was clear: there was only one route to satisfaction... and once that trigger was pulled, then I'd finally be able to put this ceaseless hunt to rest and actually get back to listening to & enjoying the music. (Or so went the mind's narrative.) At the intersection of dozens more hours of AI chats, YouTube reviews, availability on Canuck Audio Mart, and a sold bar of silver later, the Laiv Harmony uDac was on its way.

I'd "confirmed" a preference for R2R warmth over ESS sterility. The Laiv had received a ton of praise, rising as the top option punching above its price in its tier. Paired with the Soloist's competence, it was bound to be the final destination, "about as good as it's gonna get at that tier." ("Right...?".) But things in life don't always come as easy as wanted/expected. Unfold that way, it did not.

The Laiv was good. Doing more A/Bing, it even kicked the Hegel's DAC's ass. And considering the Soloist kicked the Hegel's amp's ass - and that the uDac was R2R like the EF600 - I'd have thought things would be done. Wrong.

This was the technically-best DAC/amp setup I'd put the Clears through yet. But it was just... missing something. Resolution, separation, dynamics, punch... all a step up. But I just didn't enjoy listening as did with the EF600. All the technicalities were "better" - but my body just wasn't moving to the music in the same way. My nervous system was not at ease in the same way it was with the EF600. I had expected the same warmth, smoothness and musicality of Laiv's R2R - hell, that is half the reason I chose it over a Holo Audio Cyan 2, given it's reputation of just that. But I'd drastically underestimated just how much the amp side of the EF600 was contributing to what I liked about it - and it's character as with DAC & amp being voiced as an integrated unit. A couple grand gone. Technically superior system built. Still not satisfied. And not even enjoying it as much as the one a quarter of the price. Well shiiiiit.

Next step: try swapping in a couple of V7 Classic opamps in the Soloist. Would probably warm & smoothen things up a bit to make it easier on the nervous system, at the least. And it did. That customizability of the Burson was a strong selling point, being able to tweak its character with different opamps. But while the Classics did work a bit better in some regards, things also felt a bit neutered in others - as to be expected. It was easier to listen to - but still not as fully enjoyable as the EF600. The tradeoff of reduced dynamics & precision of all V7 Vivids was a real compromise. And there was a knowing: changing opamps might refine things a little in this direction or that, but wouldn't transform the fundamental character of the amp. The Laiv R2R wouldn't provide what it was I liked about the EF600. Nor would opamps in the Burson. Somehow, outta nowhere, I began having the sense of what probably would be the only thing that actually might: a tube amp. Fvck.

At this point, however, spending that much more on gear was unjustifiable. Another $250 on opamps, maybe. But quality tube amp - one that could actually deliver the performance I was craving at a parallel or higher tier to the uDac and Soloist... nope. Stumbled on a used Cayin HA-3A not too far away, almost lucking out when asking if he'd consider a trade and he actually had been curious about a Soloist... until his completely unfair valuations. Though also, from the (shitloads more) research done, I suspected that what I was ultimately wanting might only be possible with a proper flagship amp - Woo Audio 23, Feliks Envy... ten grand. Not happening anytime soon. Momentum of research & aquisition, halted.

In spite of all the inertia focusing on upgrades - simultaneously researching & planning upgrade paths for headphones as well during all this time, with Audeze LCD-X in the crosshairs once the DAC/amp foundation was set - the uDac was good. Testing Focal Clears on all this other gear, I'd been discovering more of what it was capable - as well as its limits/ceiling - and was craving more/better of my transducers, even if an upgrade there wasn't urgent. Though at the least, the Laiv DAC was satsisfactory. It was just the amp component in the chain mismatched for my tastes/preferences. Intuition whispered (or screamed) tube amp. But, there was also a doubt: would any gear actually satisfy?? Was I lusting for something that didn't actually exist?? Would there be any way to actually find what I was intuitively searching for, without spending a grand to fly out to a Canjam and test everything?? (A potentially dangerous proposition, considering that testing out gear in the higher tiers would probably generate yet more dissatisfaction with what I had and even greater temptation to keep sacrificing long-term investments to fuel this black hole of an endless hunt.)

Then, came an idea. A simple, easy, free test that might provide that answer to the latest itching question.

Over the years of producing music, I'd gotten tons of plugins... including many simulations of tube-based gear. Bam. A single experiment: run the Tidal signal through a few emulations of analog gear using tubes to see if that actually was the type of harmonic warmth I was craving. Yeah, it obviously wouldn't be the same as a real tube amp. But potentially, it could at least confirm if intuition was pointing in the right direction.

Oh man. Bingo.

Setup in Ableton, with a bit of tube simulation from Black Box HG2, Manley Voxbox, TubeTech CL1B.

FabFilter ProQ4 to get the EQ for Clears back to Harman curve... and some crossfeed. Holy shiiiiiit. Game change.

---

The SPL Phonitor E amp had been on my radar, curious about its crossfeed feature - and I'd discovered plugins could did the same thing. From the stuggles I'd had with the Unique Melody IEMs to some similar occasional challenges with the Clears, there was a suspicion that the extreme left/right separation of headphones was throwing my brain off at times - so I decided to run the crossfeed experiment at the same time as the tube simulation. Both subtle differences. But together... wow. The first three evening sessions, absolute awe.

Just a little crossfeed + a little tube harmonics = alchemical wonders. ✨

Finally... "there it is. There's the magic I was craving. Finally... this may be the beginning of really falling in love with this system."

And as though by Divine syncronicity, with confirmation of intuition that tube was the direction and new level unlocked with the key of love, an unexpected blessing came knocking at the door.

The Unique Melody Mest Jet Black IEMs had been up for sale for a few weeks, without any serious response. Then in, came an offer. Local trade... for an Auris HA-2FS tube amp.

He said he'd want some cash over top. Glancing at its price versus the MJBs, I figured he'd probably want more than I could justify spending. I was wrong. His valuation was incredibly fair.

Another full day of hyperfocus researching and flip-flopping with AIs on whether it would or wouldn't be a fit for what we'd assessed as my preferences & desires. A 10-minute demo at his place. Welcome to the system, sweet, sweet tube amp.

---

Surprisingly, the Auris' first impression wasn't as impactful as expected. Plugging the Clears in Hiby R4, Hegel, S9C Pro, EF600, Soloist, uDAC, the tube simulations & crossfeed - they'd all been quite apparent within seconds whether preferable or not. The Auris wasn't as easy to read upfront.

During contemplating the trade, I was tempted to decline given its reputation of being quite clean/neutral for a tube amp - not exactly the direction I was thinking. So off the bat, I was shocked with how much weight & body there was in its lows. Potentially too much for my tastes - but couldn't confirm yet. It was also obviously smoother than the Soloist - not as precise, fast, clear - which could've been reason to decline. I wasn't struck with the anticipated similar "omg this is it" impression the Soloist + tube simulation experiment provided.

But, there was enough of an energy to what I heard & felt in the brief demo to inform a sense of, "this could work. At the least, it's worth spending some time and potentially doing some tube rolling experiments with. Could sell if doesn't capture my heart. Let's do it."

What ensued: a rather fascinating realization:

Sometimes initial impressions of gear speak volumes - powerfully, accurately - for better or worse.

Others, it takes time to become properly aquaintened.

Sometimes it's 'head-over heels love at first sight.' Or "hell no" repulsion.

Others, it's a slow courting process of discovering depth & dimensions beyond surface impressions... being won over as exposed to a more complex personality through a broader spectrum of experience.

The first hour of the first session with the complete uDac+Auris+Clear system at home: "Soloist might be preferable, Auris possibly going up for sale." But impressions are often subjective - and subject to change with time. Sometimes the ears & brain are in certain states that are more/less receptive than others to gauge objectively, and things can change on the flip of a dime.

Whether it was a change of what (type of) songs I was listening to, my brain just adjusting to the Auris' different character, some cosmic flip switched, or who knows - about 90 minutes in... its value & strengths started rearing their heads. Couple hours later, winding down at 2am... in awe. Not the dramatic punch hitting all at once with fireworks & orgasmic bliss type of awe. But the kind quietly remaining after watching an absolute masterpiece of a film, having been led through the journey of character & plot development with all its ups, downs, twists & turns - no Hollywood slop forgotten by next week, but a true classic that touches your heart & soul as reminding of the slower, quieter artistic beauty still existing amidst the influx of superficial short-form 'content' in today's world.

For 7 months, I'd surely spent more time researching gear & planning upgrade paths than actually listening to music, and questioned if there ever was an end to this hunt for a system that'd satisfy. The Auris did it.

Even amidst the unsatisfying DAC/amp experiments with the Focal Clears, the preference for them over IEMs emerged. In spite of the reduced resolution and certain weaknesses of their own (bass quality, the main one), a whole other set of benefits won me over. The Hegel revealed some of their potential, sparking curiosity - and the intermediary DAC/amps each brought lessons. But with the Auris, it finally feels like I've arrived. And most importantly, like I've not just been falling in love with system - but finally, once again, with the music.

All the researching, hunting, and experimentation had arguably been self-masochistic. Chasing the shock-and-awe high of the first S12 Pro sessions as initiated into new dimensions of sonic resolution, laser-focused on the search for "better" like an addict... crashing every time hopes & expectations of the next perfect piece of gear being an infinite supply were thwarted by reality. And the hyperfocused perfectionistic tendecies engrained into habit over the last three years of engineering my own music were surely a gift and curse - providing experience to appreciate the finer details of what was being discovered in this new realm of head-fi gear, along with the same (often counterproductive) degree of obsessiveness over optimization. There's something profoundly comedically ironic about having been content with average headphones for decades only to get stunned with a $300 DAC/IEM pairing... and all of a sudden becoming increasingly nitpicky over & dissatisfied the finest details you weren't even aware of a blink ago, as throwing down thousands of dollars more in pursuit of excellence. Ha.

But, it's paid off.

And what this really all culminates to = reconnecting with the foundational passion for music. Deepening a relationship with it in ways leaving me in awe & appreciation day-after-day. Going to sleep satisfied A.F.... and excited to wake up to a new day of listening.

And... though the idea wasn't even on my radar until the EF600, the DAC & amp upgrades have proven priceless for producing & engineering.

I'd just been using the old Slate VSX headphones for mixing an album in recent months - not the greatest headphones to start with - and thought the Universal Audio Apollo Twin would already be 'as good as it's gonna get,' as a top-rated audio interface. Wrong again. Mind blown with the difference the EF600 made. Not only technically, but in terms of enjoying the process. Adding Soloist... again. And uDac... like putting on glasses, not realizing how blind my ass has been my whole life. For listening, the upgrades are amazing... but for actually producing/engineering... Game-changing. (And that was still just with the cheaper VSX cans. The LCD-XC, which finally made its entry recently... yet another humbling, as it makes me feel Iike I've just been unknowingly playing as an amateur until this point.)

Indeed, there'll be more experiments.

The tube rolling has already begun. Ripped through a dozen in no time - its own story for another time.

And oh yes, there shall be more headphones. (An Arya Organic already had it's 15-minutes before sent back. And LCD-XC almost suffered the same fate of disappointment, though its story took a hard twist as quickly proving its merit as a professional tool worth keeping - albeit failed synergy with the Auris amp, a solid fit with Burson Soloist and again-upgraded Sparkos SS2590 + Sonic Imagery 994 opamps.)

And if/when investments finally eventually harvest nicely, there'll probably be a flagship tube amp & DAC... or multiple.

But for now, I'm good. (Well, at least we'll conclude such for the sake of finishing this piece of writing, lest this diverge into another tangent of growing dissatisfaction with the Clears' bass weaknesses as becoming accustomed to Audeze's comparative advantages. Ha. 😵‍💫)

So here concludes the distillation of a 8-month intensive head-fi journey, as it transitions from research & aquisition to the listening (and working) stage.

If you've made it this - congrats on your exceptionally rare attention span. Ha.

And IF anything in here has sparked an interest in diving into the head-fi rabbit hole yourself, I'm both incredibly grateful for the opportunity to spread the love and sorryfor the potential impact on your financial health. 😂

Though if there's one thing intended to impart by sharing this whole journey, it's the conviction that IF you're a music lover, while the prospect of spending thousands on audiophile-grade gear might seem unfathomable, it can absolutely be worth it.

It may not always be a straight path to building a system that works exceptionally for your tastes, but it is a journey with immense amounts of discovery, learning and satisfaction.

And once you've got a DAC, amp, and transducers in place that really begin doing the music justice... bliss.

Life is too damn short to listen to music on anything less.

Life is too damn short to listen to music on anything less.

Life is too damn short to waste time listening to music on anything less.

☺️🙏✨