Lowyat.NET: Latest topics by scottiebabie

The Vintage-Retro fi Owners Club

scottiebabie — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 15:17:35 +0800

hi guys, though i've been outta country for a coupla years now, thought i'd still contribute to my ex fav haunt - Lowyat! my boleh hifi headfi journey started from a cambridge audio 540/530 (likely off with the model# as its been quite a while) cdp/amp combo thru a pair of elac speakers. the headfi portion consist of tri-stack headamps of LDII+, a PPAv2 diy'd by the doctor (long MIA'd but hopefully not KIA'd) & a chinese dac/amp combo whose make i've since forgotton. since then, i transversed from home rigs to porty rigs & now back to home + hyper porty rig.

'ways to make a long story short, i started on vintage fi a year ago & have bought & sold over a dozen of 30+ yr old amp/receivers. i still have 7 & have basically settled on these as my 'headamps".

to begin here's my triple deck "headamp" station
[attachmentid=2129346][attachmentid=2129347][attachmentid=2129349]

the bright flashy looking contraption at the bottom is a car booster power pack i adapted to power my mod'd MF V-DAC instead of using the standard walwart

the top is a mid end technic receiver which i find perfect for the HD650. 2nd down is the pioneer integrated which i find sounds great with iems, pk1s & some other lesser cans. bottom is the 'Sui integrated that sounds best with the hifiman orthos.

why get 1 when one can have 3! so let the games (& discussion) begin

ps:i still have a ton of pictars but lets get to them bit by bit ya.

Fast & Furious DH MTBs

scottiebabie — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 14:34:38 +0800

yo guys i just picked up what i hope is one kickass mountain bike. its a Yeti AS-X with Manitou Shermans up front & a 5th Element holding the rear. both are suppos to have upto 7" of travel & can handle a 10' drop like a walk in the park.

brakes are hayes 9s with 8"rotors & the standard deore XT powertrain. its freeride specific but i hears its goes DH very well & climbs decently too. im planning to do DH + some technical trails with serious drops.

havnt had a chance to ride it as i got it today & do a frt/rear brake bleed & refill tomorrow afterwhich i cant wait. serious speed on da slopes...heeeerrrr i come! LOL

anybody else at lowyat are into MTBs & have serious DH machines?

AMP3 - the New King?

scottiebabie — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 04:30:46 +0800

hi i just heard bout this new AMP3 DAP from where else but china. LOL. some at headfi's been calling it the best thing since sliced bread.

wondering if any of our lowyat opportunistic entrepreneurs mite think or adi has plans of doing a bulk or just plain importing it in for lowyatians? i think i'd be in fo a unit atleast if anyone gets crackin with this.

what says u??

A Few Words Of Advise From Da Bike Shop

scottiebabie — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 11:54:23 +0800

Caught this off a local buy&sell and thought u guys will get a kick outta it - its a must read, can't take credit for it but wish I could:

Whoo-hoo Vancouver, the sun is out! Let's discuss a few things before you fumble with swapping the unused ski rack for the unused bike rack on the Subaru.

So yes, you've noticed the sun is out, and hey!- maybe it would be cool to to some bike riding. Let's keep in mind that the sun came out of all 600,000 of us, so for the most part, you're not the only one who noticed. Please remember that when you walk into my shop on a bright, sunny Saturday morning. It will save you from looking like a complete twat that huffs "Why are there so many people here?"

Are we all on the same page now about it being sunny outside? Have we all figured out that we're not the only clever people that feel sunny days are good for bike riding? Great. I want to kiss all of you on your forehead for sharing this moment with me. Put your vitamin D starved fingers in mine, and we'll move on together to some pointers that will make life easier.

SOME POINTERS FOR THE PHONE:

- I don't know what size of bike you need. The only thing that I can tell over the phone is that you sound fat. I don't care how tall you are. I don't care how long your inseam is. Don't complain to me that you don't want to come ALL THE WAY down to the bike shop to get fitted for a bike. I have two hundred bikes in my inventory. I will find one that fits you. Whether you come from the north or the south, my shop is downhill. Pretend you're going to smell a fart, ball up, and roll your fat ass down here.

- Don't get high and call me. Write it down, call me later. When I have four phone lines ringing, and a herdlet
of people waiting for help, I can't deal with you sitting there "uuuuhhh"-ing and "uuummm"-ing while your brain tries to put together some cheeto-xbox-fixie conundrum. We didn't get disconnected, I left you on hold to figure your shit out.

-I really do need to see your bike to know what is wrong with it. You've already figured out that when you car makes a noise, the mechanic needs to see it. When your TV goes blank, a technician needs to see it. I can tell you, if there is one thing I've learned from you f***ing squirrels, it's that "doesn't shift right" means your bike could need a slight cable adjustment, or you might just need to stop backing into it with the Subaru. Bring it in, I'll let you know for sure.

- No, I don't know how much a good bike costs. For some, spending $500 dollars is a kingly sum. For others, $500 won't buy you one good wheel. You really need to have an idea of what you want, because every one of you raccoons "doesn't want to spend too much".

FOR YOU INVENTIVE TYPES AND DO-IT-YOURSELFERS:

- Just because you think is should exist, doesn't mean that it does. I know that to you, a 14 inch quill stem makes perfect sense, but what makes more sense is buying a bike that fits you, not trying to make your mountain bike that was too small for you to begin with into a comfort bike.

- If some twat on some message board somewhere says that you can use the lockring from your bottom bracket as a lockring for a fixie conversion doesn't mean that A: you can, or B: you should. Please listen to me on this stuff, I really do have your best interests at heart.

- I love that you have the enthusiasm to build yourself a recumbent in the off season. That does not mean however, that I share your enthusiasm; ergo I won't do the "final tweaks" for you. You figure out why that Sram shifter and that Shimano rear derailleur don't work together. While we're at it, you recumbent people scare me a little. Don't bring that lumbering f***ing thing anywhere near me.

A DEDICATION TO ALL THE HIPSTER DUCHEBAGS:

-If you shitheads had any money, you wouldn't NEED a vintage Poo-zhow to get laid. Go have an ironic mustache growing contest in front of American Apparel, so that I can continue selling $300 bikes to fatties, which is what keeps the lights on.

- Being made in the 80's may make something cool, but that doesn't automatically make something good. The reason that no one has ridden that "vintage" Murray is because it's shit. It was shit in the 80's, a trend it carried proudly through the 90's, and rallied with into the '00's. What I mean to say is, no, I can't make it work better. It's still shit, even with more air in the tires.

SO YOU'RE GONNA BUY A BIKE:

Good for you! Biking is awesome. It's easy, it's fun, it's good for you. I want you to bike, I really do. To that end, I am here to help you.

-Your co-worker that's "really into biking" knows f*** all. Stop asking for his advice. He could care less about you having the right bike. He wants to validate his bike purchase(s) through you. He also wants to sleep with you, and wear matching bike shorts with you.

- You're not a triathlete. You're not. If you were, you wouldn't be here, and we both know it.

- You're not a racer. If you were, I'd know you already, and you wouldn't be here, and we both know it.

- So you want a bike that you can ride to work, goes really fast, is good for that triathlon you're doing this summer (snicker), is good on trails and mud, and costs less than $300. Yeah. Listen, I want a car that can go 200 miles an hour, tow a boat, has room for five adults, is easy to parallel park but can carry plywood, gets 60mpg, and only costs $3,000. I also want a unicorn to blow me. What are we even talking about here? Oh yeah. Listen, bikes can be fast, light, cheap and comfortable. Pick two, and we're all good.

ABOUT YOUR KIDS:

Your kids are amazing. Sure are. No one else has kids as smart, able, funny or as good looking as you. Nope. Never see THAT around here.

- I have no idea how long you kid will be able to use this bike. As it seems to me, your precious is a little retarded, and can't even use the damn thing now. More likely, your budding genius is going to leave the bike in the driveway where you will Subaru the bike to death LONG before the nose picker outgrows the bike.

- Stop being so jumpy. I am not a molester. You people REALLY watch too much TV. When I hold the back of the bike while your kid is on it, it's not because I get a thrill from *almost* having my hand on kid butt, it's because kids are unpredictable, and generally take off whenever possible, usually not in the direction you think they might go. Listen, if I were going to do anything bad to your kids, I'd feed them to sharks, because sharks are f***ING AWESOME.

I hope this helps, and have fun this summer riding your kick-ass bike!

Music Valley SP1 - last update...

scottiebabie — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 17:00:13 +0800

since there isnt much info nor impressions on these new MV SP1s, thought i'd give u guys some headsup as i got these hot off the pony express yes'day. these buds sure travelled a lonnnng way to get to ma ears. also wanna say GodluvSxS was totally trustworthy & shipped my order as promised -not that i ever doubted u cos...IlovSxS too!

i'd leave the pictars to the official thread but suffice to say that there wasnt an affluence of accessorries -3sets of silicon tips plus a set of olive foamies- but more importantly, what it comes with works for me atleast. i'd rather have less that works than any much more which doesnt. O & there was also a velvet pouch with a MP3 adapter - not sure if that was includ with SP1s or thrown in by Godluvsxs.

fit was good as i found instant seal -i think- with the L silicons. did give the foamies a try later & it also fitted pretty well with a more 'organic' bass & surprizingly, without any attenuation in the highs. isolation was not bad even though it didnt block out all sound, it blocked out enuff - prolly 20db or so. not sure if its gonna be great on a train or bus but it'll serve my needs just fine. O & comfort was great. i've spent 3hrs listening to it now with nary a bother. though not tried as yet, i do believe its totally doable to lie or sleep with the SP1s.

now to the meat of the post - teh Sound! without any burn-in, bass was overblown & was the overwhelming factor. mids & highs though present, was playing a bit of hide&seek in the face of the thumpy bottom. nothing i didnt expect soo i put it back on the slow cookin burner.

now 35hrs or so later, there's much more balance to the equation. Bass (or mid bass to be exact) is still the 'big' bro but is def more reasonable in letting its siblings Mid & High take its place on stage. gone is the overwhelming thump to be replaced by a satisfying thud. mids are sweet & smooth. highs are fairly detailed & bereft of harshness or sibilance. these SP1s are musically pleasant & wont provide any rude surprizes. smooth warm romantic are the essence of its being.

IMO most 'low end' sub us$100 cans (and a lot of higher priced cans as well) suffer from the standard fare of truncated bottom & highs with the formulaic midbass tilt and the SP1 are no exception in this regard. that said, everything short of that is done well with bass having an abundance of visceral impact. micro details & treble extension will be short of standard bearers like the ER4s but then again, u dont get any abusive screeching or harshness. unless compared directly with top iems, i'd even venture to say that most music lovers wouldnt even feel anythings missing. mids & vocals are done exceptionally well with a very forward presentation . soundstage is again good with a noteworth enhanced depth of headstage and is only slightly less than the exceptional TF10pros.

let me state (with a note of caution) that these SP1s amp up extremely well. clarity headstage defination - all were improved & not insignificantly. the better the juice the better the end result. to this end, it can sound a bit slow & lumpy with standard DAP headouts but it'll give plenty of vol though. dont get me wrong as the SP1s will sound pleasant & musical unamped but its that much better amped.

inconclusion fans of Senn cx300 & Sony EX85/90 will love the SP1s as these are what the Senns & Sonys should have been. on the otherend, ER4 devotees will have to go look elsewhere. i got these SP1 as a knock around 'cheapie' (not soo cheap but cheap enuff to not hurt too much if i trashed it) iems for the gym plus other active outdoor activities. i've been doing 40-50kms road cycling workouts plus 2-4hrs sessions of all mountain xc/downhill biking lately & i would die without tunes for company. these SP1s are my solution & tested with a 20km ride today, i'd say they fared well. soo runners, take note hint hint wink wink

for the entry price of 180lingets, i'd say the SP1 do well, very well. i'd even venture to say that music initiates, rap'ophilics & even closet audiophiles will be quite pleased if not ecstatic with the quality of sound recieved for their money

Logitech Z2300 - Bigger Than Life!

scottiebabie — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 07:43:41 +0800

dont know whether this the correct forum or i should post at computers section but im sure the mods can move it if & when the rules require. soo here goes nuthin..

pick'd up this Logitech Z2300 cos the old Logitech 251 5.1 that came with my rig has been on the fritz (which was why i got i free in the 1st plz...aaabaaadan!). the left speaker connector seems to be possessed by the ghost of Kugan -wonder why he's possesing my rig LOL! it comes on & goes out to its mood. soo check'd round online & most sites raved bout this Z2300 for both its price & sound. also found the cheapest online price & got my local compu hypermart to match it. plus i gats 30day to return it if i dont like it. yahooooo!

got to say its comes in a pretty big box -for a 2.1- & setup was super easy with a minimal of wires to muckup the floor. what was best was the wired remote which has a huge vol dial & a small bass -controls the sub im guessin- & a headfon out jack besides the ubiquitous on/off. niceeee! hate the vol knobs on the sub cos i always bang me head gettin down under da desk or even the slightly friendlier reg vol on the right side sat speakers. theres nuthin like havin an all-in-one right beside ya keyboard. adi give it an A to start

hookup is super easy & no hassles. tunes were happenin in 2mins. dismantling the old 251s took me longer fer gads sake! give this an A++

now to the most importanto moment - the sound. 1st impression -zero burn-in- were not too bad. highs were def attenuated & bass was big but boomy/muddy. on the good, mids were very nice & clarity is excellent. turned it down to let cook 24/7.

turned it up again the next day after bout 20+ hrs & i must say i was pleasantly surprised. highs smooth rite out & seem pretty extended while the bass surly tightened up considerably. put on some tunes -mix of 320mps & lossless driven by my Asus Essence STX (goodstuff btw)- and it was.....niceeeeee. for what it is ofcos - its PC (as in Computer) Speakers incase the audiophiles start raising their eyebrows & begin mutterin unprintable expletives! highs are present with quite alot of detail, mids are smooth & clear while the bass is in abundance without the usual mud. overall a very pleasant music listening experience. i'd give music on this a deserving B.

movies next & it didnt dissappoint. vocals & conversations are clear & distinct while special effect, explosion & whatnot are strikingly served without being overdone as in other similiar PC speakers. the same holds for any games i tried. an A in my books.

in conclusion, its a pretty nice sounding rig for a 2.1 COMPUTER speaker system. can it be beat? fo sho but unlikely for $100us IMO. is it the end all be all for music? thats a bigggg negativo. indeed the Z2300 would qualify as lousy....compared with good standalone music speakers (name ya fav hifi speakers eg.sonas faber, pro ac, etc....) as any self respecting audiophile with mega linget rigs will testify. however the Z2300 would also be a very qualified awesome....compared with most ubiquitous active COMPUTER speakers in its price range.

though lacking in ultimate resolution, extension, coherency, soundstage to name but a few, it is eminently musical & would serve decently if not well for casual listening esp. while typing away or staring at the LCD. understandably stereo soundstage is limited -what with the speaker only 3ft/1m apart orso- but the depth is above average. there were countless times i was surprize by depth of its soundstage esp when the sats were flushed against the wall & i was only 3ft/1m away from both L/Rspeaker.

movies & games are where this rig shines its brightest. sounds are clear, precise and explosions & other spec effects are pounding. for a 2.1 that is.

another nice feature is the Z2300 plays loud. did i say loud...i meant LOUD! one can easily have a party in a mid size living room & not be underwhelmed. unlike most PC speakers which distorts & goes all fcuk up when pushed, the Z2300 goes & keeps going -much like the Energizer Bunny- till serious vol before any screeching starts happening.

what more can one ask from a 2.1 PC speaker rig?? for what it is, i cant ask for anymore. i give a very deservedly A . go audition it & i'l bet u would be very happily surprized.

ps:too lazy to snap pictars but its widely available online. so dont be lazy -like me- & go consult uncle google.

Monster Turbines - Gangsta Canals!

scottiebabie — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 17:48:19 +0800

when i got my UE TF10s last year, i really thought i was finish with earphones atleast till something breaks. afterall theres tons of other superfun stuff to spend $$$$ on - YES boys&gals there's life after audio. been into 'tuner' hondas, hyper mod scooter lately & recently, cycling . & YES believe it or not, ridding 30-60kph on the road is not just good for health, it gets me amp'd & i dare say FUN! & talking bout FUN, then there's downhill MTB but thats another story for another warm summer sunday

back to topic -audio tat is- our local hyper Elec store has these Monsta ~~Turbans~~ oops Turbines for like 40% off with a 30day return to boot. sooo i thought WTF why not give it a try. needless to say i grab'd a set with not much expectations thinking i can return em after a mth of playplay - Sweet or Wot

off the bat, these Monstas are totally Gangstas in packaging. i challenge anyone to say they have seen better packing regardless of price! these Monstas comes boxed lookin & feelin like a million bucks. to top it up, besides the 'rubber' flexy cable, the whole fon is made of metal. solid heavy full metal jacket stuff. already 2 A+'s without even listening as yet.

1st listen (zero burn-in) got my rapt attention. granted the bottom end -bass tat is- is slightly lumpy but everything else seems to be in attendence. solid sweet mids, detailed highs, good headstage/imaging & no sibilance to speak off. wow color me impressed

now after 20hrs or so of cooking, i finally sat down to have a serious listen although these Gangsta earcans are said to need 100hrs or so before blooming soo do take what i have to say with a grain of salt. 1st off soundstage are very 'open' for closed cans with imaging spot on precise. the illusion of depth is clearly defined & delineated.

overall sound is reminiscent of my memories of senn's HD6x0 series -perhaps more to HD650- with all the similiar attributes across the spectrum. these babies have a very bigg sound that belies its size. & o yes amping improves it significantly & much like the Senns, da Monstas do extremely well with bright detailed amps.

directly comparo with the TF10s, Monstas lose out in soundstage with & micro details albeit very slightly & discernable only bcos of my intimate relationship with da TF10s. otherwise everythings as good if not better. these Monstas are soo sweet sounding that the TF10s sound 'dry' though airier.

for now im gonna let it 'cook' for the next 80+hrs but if it improves anymore, me thinks the TF10s will be looking for a new home. these Gangsta Monstas are that good. they're the real McCoy folks soo grab a set if they do come on sale. they are everything the CX3/500 should be but aint. mine cost bout 350lingets or so - Monsta Deal fo sho

ps:O incase u thing everythings perfect, these Monsta's be Gangsta but perfect they aint -so far-. bass is still slightly overdone with some leakage to low mids. highs could be a tad xtra prominent but i'd take this as is over the chance of creeping sibilance. soundstage could be even wider & bigger but this is a close canal afterall. to be fair, im really splitting hairs finding faults plus they arent fully burnt afterall.

whats not soo great is the real issue of fit. the stock silicon tips dont do much for me & the included triflange's totally useless. i found much better fit with UE silicon tips though not perfect. i did however find the Sony EX tips to best so far - isolating with a tight seal but yet with total forget-its-even-there kinda comfort

O and i havnt taken any pictars as yet -sooo lazy la- but will do it if theres any demand soo let me know.

June 03 Update
Turbine pkg - 'white'meat in a 'black'UE TF10 & Asus Xonar Essence 'sandwich'
[attachmentid=1003621]

Turbine inner pkg - as solid as anything includ the Senn HD6x0 cases
[attachmentid=1003639][attachmentid=1003640]

Turbines itself with accompanying tips & stuff - BTW Turbine are full metal & is totally bulletproof
[attachmentid=1003641][attachmentid=1003642]

last but not least - da ONE TRUE MANTRA in all of headfi
[attachmentid=1003657]

60hr 'cookin' Update
sitting listening to these Turbines via Gmod>hypermod D1, these Turbines are anything but bass bass & more bass. my Turbines have now morph'd to something very balanced.

bass is there, very impactful & full but now devoid of looseness & mud.

mids are forward & as sweet as ever.

highs are clear with nary a harsh sibilant in sight but yet as detailed as any IEMs i have listen to.

headstage is wide & imaging is topnotch precise.

Conclusion:
these blingbling gangsta IEMs -or canals if ya really picky- are amoungst the top earcans i've had the pleasure of owning. sure its individual aspects if seperated will definately be better by other cans but consumed as a whole, the Turbines are as capable as anything i've ever experienced.

there's a sweet romantic Je ne sais quoi quality to its sound that none of my other balanced armature cans can compete - almost like a tube -or valve for some of ya- sweetness with the dynamic turbines & clinical dryness with BA. needless to say these Turbines have now become my goto for intimate & casual listening. i think the TFs will havta find a new home to ease its loneliness.

footnote:
do be aware that the sound of any IEM is directly proportional to fit & seal. unable to find satisfaction with stock tips, i found Turbine Valhalla with Sony EX tips. with them i get perfect seal with great comfort & most of all, exceptional sound.

another aspect is amplification. inadequate or improper amping can lead to bass muddiness that may overwhelm mid & highs. my experimentation has confirmed to me that these Gangsta Turbines are exceptional cans that is often marred by unexceptional DAPs.

besides individual hearing, ti bliv the above reasons are the main causes of varying opinions. YMMV as usual

FDS Shocker! with LS2 monster motor!

scottiebabie — Fri, 08 May 2009 14:01:27 +0800

hi Guys i waltz'd into my buddies shop today & when i saw this FDS sitting in a corner waiting for some bodywork - mainly customized fender flares to accommodate massive P285/40ZR18 steamrollers at the rear plus a bodykit. anyways my jaws dropped when i popped the CF hood & saw this....................
[attachmentid=951920]
[attachmentid=951916][attachmentid=951918]

heres da FDS wit CF hood down...
[attachmentid=951926]

a shot of tis rearend with cutoff fenders & steamrollers masquerading as tires...
[attachmentid=951930]

anyone care to venture some guesses as to wot tis particular engine is???
heres a teaser of the barenaked engine to give yous a hint...
[attachmentid=951934]

insane or wot!!

Mazda FDS RX7 wit 1JZ VVTi

scottiebabie — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 15:45:54 +0800

a fren of mine just blew the 13b in his JDM 92 FDS RX7. instead of rebuilding the 13b -which is both costly & will come with teh infamous rotary (un)reliability- he's opted to put a toyota 1JZ VVTi motor instead. the project hasnt began as yet but he as gather all the required parts & shud be starting soon.

just wondering if any of the fast&furious crowd is interested this project at all. if the reception's good, i'll document the whole project & post updates & pictars as they happen. we have a good buddie whos an incredible mod'er cum fabricator who'll be doing the custom mounts to fit the darn motor in.

let me know

belows are some pictars of our premod RD3S. everything u see on the car came stock from Japan includ. the Koenig wheels, whaletail, recaro type buckets wit 4pt belts on driverside, momo wheel, multiple gauges, turbo timer with adjustable turbo boost, etc..etc.

April 26th 09 update - The Quest Beginsss
da guys spend a day or 2 unbolting & removing de motor + tranny...mainly cos we were short of an engine hoist. its frakin impossible to do it otherwise esp since tis RD is rad lower'd (pardon da low quality pics as they were taken via me cellfon).

JDM Honda Dio ZX

scottiebabie — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 13:15:58 +0800

hey guys im new to scooters -or kapchais as they be known here- sooo i thought i'd share tis lil jem wit da fast&furious crowd. i bought tis beast very late last year & basically stored it till i broke it out of its hibernation a few days ago. its a JDM -Japan Domestic Model- Honda Dio ZX wit a few small mods by These GUYS.. pictars 1st....
[attachmentid=907352][attachmentid=907356]

heres a frontal sporting a replacement Super white H4-size Quartz Halogen bulb which is seriously bright (im shock'd to say)
[attachmentid=907359]

aftermrkt discs with low down front forks
[attachmentid=907370]

bigasss 28mm oko carbs with K&N type air filter
[attachmentid=907387]

severe butcher cutout of body panels to facilitate extra cooling
[attachmentid=907389]

custom mfgr exhaust
[attachmentid=907394]

1st off let me say tat my last bike was a Yammy R1 plus a slew of such types eg Fireblade 9RR, ZX7 & gosh a Bimmer RS1100R too. i've also ridden frens R6, ZX11, Hay..abuser, etc, etc soo i hope i am speaking from a view of some ridding experience. after all tat intro, i have to say tat tis lil 50cc (originally tat is ) scoot is DA FUNNEST THANG ON 2WHEELS i've ridden in town. i holeshot cars off lights witout breakin a sweat mainly cos tis thang weighs like nothing & handles like a 125cc gp bike!

O did i mention this beast -besides de above mentioned mods- has a 150cc big bore kit with Bridgestone racing Battlaxes?!! tis thang was mod'd by JiangWayne -which btw is highly respected local scoot shop- for racing initially which also meant tat the internals like CDI, pulley, rear shock, tranny&clutch & gadknows wot else were oso upgraded when de previous owner decided to sell it off insted. i think i pick it up for a song & scored on a nasty fun ride.

my bud who btw has a totally done up 93 JDM FDS RX7 comes back wit an ear2ear smile after ridding my scoot! all he's got to say was.....da scoots freakin unreal! and i'd have to agree wit da guy. this thangs has an insane powerband of nothing then....bang! full pop pullin to redline. it even lifts the frt wheels up on power alone! LOL.

dont get me wrong - superbikes are fun & totally crazy but its not happenin downtown whatwith speed limits, traffic lights, cars, trucks, pedestrains & ofcos da Fuzzz puttin a serious damper on fun. one hardly gets outta 1st gear before hitting another light. tis Dio on the otherhand, can be pinned any&everywhere! i cant tell how much it tops out at -speedo goes to 60kph & the needle's pin'd there after- but seat of pants guess is about 120-130kph which by then is more than a lil scary wot with the tiny wheels, light weight, lousy aeros & nasty windshears. its the gettin to 120kph tats the fun

anyone has any experience on tis or tis typa ride?

ps:O im thinkin of doin a wild paintjob on it -something in the vein of Rossi's helmet colors- to spice it up. waddaya thunk?

Millet Mini Max Hybrid Tubie

scottiebabie — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 12:31:00 +0800

hey guys i've made a deal (i think but no funds have changed hands as of yet) for the Whiplash Audio edition of the Millet Mini Max hybrid tube amp as show below

[attachmentid=887067][attachmentid=887068]

its an identical unit 'xept wit some NOS tubes. did my homework on headfi & all and the verdict by most its that is a very decent midlevel amp that can drive both low impedance & hi impedance cans with the appropriate low-hi gain output tubes (12FK6-lo & 12AE6-hi or 12FM6-all'round inbtwn). i had thoughts of getting a good porty amp (like da 3stones MiniBox E+ or similiar) but having 2porty amps in my poccession already, i figure da Millet MiniMax is a more viable acquisition.

im gettin it for a pretty decent bargain -IMO- soo it shuldnt be much of a risk incase i dont like it & wanna resell. the commercial Whiplash Audio version retails for $399us + shipping & woteva else btw. i went wit da commercial version cos i'd like to have a known quality build as opposed to the myriad of DIY'ers - not tat DIYs cant be as good ifnot better due to more 'boutique' components.

i've seen lotsa SOHAs being sold but anyone at Lowyat have any experience wit da MiniMax? any comments and/or tips will be highly apprecianado'd

Overhead Headband for Koss KSC75

scottiebabie — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 14:22:18 +0800

i love the el cheapo but el goodo Koss ksc75s -esp. PcWork's recabled version - but i must oso be honest & say i totally dislike (hate mite be too strong a word). if anyones like me, then here's a Tip & a Tweak (hey it even rhymessss).

[attachmentid=881528]

these el cheapo -$1.99us- headbands fit the ksc75 perfectly & fits really comfy too. i tried on a frens pair & it even improves the sound -better bass impact- as it clamps the headfon tighter & closer to the ears. as the band is metal, its oso real easy to adjust to fit ones head.

thought i'd give u guyz a heads up & you's can do a bulkbuy. im sure theres more than a few whos found the ksc75s earclips more than a pita -PainInTheAsssss-.

Asus Xonar Essense STX soundcard

scottiebabie — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 13:27:21 +0800

greetings my fellow headcase audiophiles, im thinking very seriously of adding a soundcard to my PC gaming rig & am planning to get a Asus Xonar Essence STX PCIe soundcard. below are the some of its highlights
[attachmentid=842624][attachmentid=842635]
- Burr brown PCM1792A 24-bit DAC offering -124db signal to noise ratio which is up 7db from -117db seen on the original xonar.

- AV200 HD audio processor supporting everything from Dolby Digital Live capabilities, 192KHz/24-bit audio & is designed to emulate and process any EAX effects in any game titles in software, all the way up to the latest EAX Advanced HD capabilities (aka EAX 5.0)

- Independent power sources for headphone line in and out insuring signal integrity is maintained always at every stage of the signal path.

- Swappable op amps allowing fine tuning of the cards sound quality to the users liking.

- EMI shielding allows the sensitive analog signal path to kept super clean and noise free at all times.

- New technology in grounding circuitry isolates ultra sensitive analog signal paths from interference and noise.

- Nichicon "fine gold" capacitors offer rich bass and smooth crystal clear high-end.

- Built in headphone pre-amp with software settable gain allowing for high quality headphones to be used without external pre-amp unit.

- Dedicated Texas Instruments TPA6120A2 headphone amplifier.

- Full size gold plated headphone jack and line in for Mic connection.

- analogue outputs for left and right speakers via RCA outputs (with an RCA to 3.5mm jack adapter provided with the board), headphone output and line-in jacks, SPDIF output with support for both coaxial and TOSlink connectivity allowing for multi-channel audio via Dolby Digital encoding.
[attachmentid=842631][attachmentid=842632]
there's also a big headfi thread wit lots of praises esp for its SQ with some even equating to de Meier Opera dedicated headfon amp & its supposed to easily drive anything short of AKG K1000 & perhaps K340

as it'll be ma 1st ever dedicated soundcard, i was wondering if any low~~yah~~yat denizens have playplay & experienced it personally? O & is it worth 650lingets or so it'll cost here?

UE Triple.fi 10pro Extravaganza

scottiebabie — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 17:00:15 +0800

to start off, i've taken a sabbatical offa headfi & promised meself not to spend needlessly esp. headphons & misc acquisitions & for most part, i've been successful for coupla years til recently i started gettin the upgraditis bug...again. anyways my latest acquisition is the much heralded UE TF10pro courtesy of a sale on de local craigslist (at a very decent deal too i mite add which helped eased the conscience somewhat ) .

1st off, i'd like to say the physical form structure of the TF10pro is indeed, daunting to say the least. after walking round lookin like Freakenstein for a coupla days, i finally succumbed to experimenting with the 'flipflop' mod + the host of tips including some T500 complys that came with the set.

i've never experimented with any IEMs that morphed their sound siggy soo drastically as these UEs. sonics ranged from laid back dark (complys) to sharp & brittle (large UE silicons). i finally ended up with the flipflop + UE M silicons to have the best compromise of SQ & comfort. i must say that the hardness of the UE silicons still gives me sore ears after a coupla hrs.

talking bout SQ, i have to say that these UE TF10pro's are undoubtably the BEST IEMs i've ever had. the 1st thing that took my breath away was the expanse of its amazing large soundstage exceeding the PL750 & IIRC rivaling my ex HD600. while i do gather that the senns is prolly average for fullcans, its incredibe that any IEMs can scale the same heights. i could swear that music extends atleast 6-8" beyond my ears.

because of its width, the depth perception isnt as spectacular though i can distinctly percieve the layering of instruments. with the correct tips + fit, bass is extended & full bodied while highs are just as spectularly airy & detailed. i must also add that while i read about the TF10pros vaunted mid suckout & i do hear it but on certain songs, i also hear vocals being prominently upfront on others. this leads me to think that TF10 mids are if anything, accurate & flat to be able to reflect the differences in the different recordings.

suffice to say that these TF10pros are sufficiently resolved (as good as livewires but without details being thrown in da face) but most of all, its musical & fun without being overwhelminly bassy nor bright. i could be suffering from new toy syndrome but its my very fav IEM to the point where i pick it up for not only onthego purposes, but even for my home listening to the detriment of my very lonely PL750s. needless to say, Mikey Likey - nuff said.

update:just tried on some sony M silicons & true to form, the sound again changed. this time, it went (ever so slight but perceivably) darker but with much better comfort. too early to tell as yet but i mite stil like the UE M silicons better sonically. feels like theres soo much tweaking to had with all the different tips - amazing!

ps:notice i basically compared these TF10pros to fullcans - they are indeed that good. anyone wishing to have the fullcan experience onthego should atleast owe it to him/sheself an audition with these babies. granted the fit & comfort mite be a b**** of a crapshoot but fitted properly...they are good. very good indeed even just offa mere cheapie Sansa Fuze

thought i'd post some pictaars to demonstrate my lousy handycam with da accompanying even worse photography skills but the ~~lowyah~~ lowyat server seems to be having slight issues though. let me know if anyone has a need to see & i'l try again

latest edit: finally ahh gats em upload'd soo here comes da crappy pictaars....
[attachmentid=823674][attachmentid=823675]
[attachmentid=823677][attachmentid=823678]

Funky Hybrid! pics update

scottiebabie — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 12:16:04 +0800

hi guys last week i was 90% mind made up to pick up a 02 Nissan Sentra B16 SER spec V but alas a Nissan owner i was not meant to be. all because i took a drive in this monstrosity this past weekend. before i declare the parts & model, lets see if the sharp hondaphiles here can pick it up....

The Engine Bay... [attachmentid=643333]

The Front... [attachmentid=643336]

The Trick Motor Mounts... [attachmentid=643338]
[attachmentid=643339][attachmentid=643340]

more pics to come but lets have some fun with this guessing game 1st. btw i only picked up the car yes'day & all i did was just an oil change & a mechanical inspection.

ps:no cigar for guessing the engine correctly but major kudos if anyone can name the make of the motor mounts (hint:there's only 3 companys that makes these for that engine )

[b]updated pics[

more engine bay...[attachmentid=643425][attachmentid=643426]

frt&back...[attachmentid=643427][attachmentid=643429]

profile...[attachmentid=643431]

& finally da side...[attachmentid=643434]

Nissan Sentra SE-R spec V boytalk...

scottiebabie — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 15:24:47 +0800

hey guys i just took a testdrive in a 02 Nissan Sentra SE-R spec V. thing that impressed me most was its handling - car corners like its on rails...stock trim! pulls decently hard but motor doesnt rev like a nicely done B/K series honda but SR25DE (spec V motor) definetly has the edge in torque. car comes standard with a 6spd LSD tranny on top of the requisite factory recaro-like buckets & 17" wheels & go-fast rubber. factory rates the HP at 175 stock. all in all fairly decent for a stock factory ride.

mines black with 110k kms & im prolly picking it up next wed. anyone here with any experience with the beast?

WARNING On Potential YUIN Earphones!

scottiebabie — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 14:58:58 +0800

Welcome To The Ultra..ZONE

scottiebabie — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 22:15:35 +0800

just a feeler thread to see if anyone here at LYN have or atleast heard an Ultrasone headphone. i just pulled the trigger on one (at ebay) and it should reach me in a week or so. there's a ginormous thread over at headfi.org on these cans and after reading some, i admit im so piqued that i bought 1 .

as far as i can decipher, opinions on these cans are so varied and range from Urgggh to THESE-ARE-THE-BEST-IN-THE-WORLD that i couldnt help myself plus the fact that Ultrasone's an off the wall brand thats totally unknown (atleast compared with Senns/AKGs/Beyers- Ultrasones are German too btw) and i love the fact that they spawn such fanaticism over at headfi. i must admit i do have a fondness for controversial rather the same-o same-o i-gots he-gots they-gots ~~boring~~ cans. but who knows...maybe i blew a huge hole in my foot here and they are the worse headphones ever !!!

anyone an owner or atleast heard them before? feel free to chime in....

Updated Dec 17th 07
woohooo! Christmas came slightly early as Santa little Elves (in the guise of our esteemed postal workers + our customs officials who so nicely allowed the cans to pass with nary a squawk) delivered my Proline 750s to my doorsteps today - luckily i was home tis morning . here are some pictars so enjoy...

The Package...
[attachmentid=361666][attachmentid=361667]

The Semi-Nude...
[attachmentid=361668][attachmentid=361670]

The Centerfold Spread...
[attachmentid=361672][attachmentid=361673]

The Gory Details...
[attachmentid=361674][attachmentid=361675]
[attachmentid=361677][attachmentid=361679]

Dec. 17th 07 IMPRESSIONS
i must say im fairly impressed with the total package. the PL750s comes with a full complement of 2 sets of earpads , 2 sets of cables (1x 9'straight/1x9'coiled), 1 earphone softbag, 1x 1/4-1/8adapter, 1x test CD plus ori manual and packaging. the cable is not only easily detachable (great for recabling) but locks on to the left earcup with a special screw-on 3.5mm plug. how kewls that! however the cans are made of a blue hard plastic material that while looks (and perhaps is) durable, it is a tad on the "toyish" side of the equation. comfort is quite good IMO and from memory, is better than my ex HD600 - i forecast many a comfortable hours .

before i go to SQ, do bear in mind from all reports, Ultrasone PL750s are made from titanium coated drivers (and are hence very stiff) and need atleast 200+hrs and may need up to 500hrs of burn-in before they come on song. indeed, these cans are known to be the most radical in terms of burn-in requirements and alot of owners (on headfi) have indicated a complete SQ change.

with that out of the way, lets get on to some listening. initial out of the box impressions are to my ears, quite favorable. its very clear, detailed with a strong bass presence. soundstage is average with a strange loss of rear depth compensated by frontal lobe space (much like speakers i guess). everything happens infront and to the sides instead of the usual side2side & back of normal headphones - courtesy of S-Logic i assume. plus i can also discern that everything sound extremely tight and stiff with the treble/highs bordering on harsh - not enuff to bother me though as i've heard far worse. i can see why some report of a V-boost eq effect reminiscent of a "loudness" switch but i dont hear any recessed mids even though its not as forward & as sweet as my W5ks (for now).

thats it as far as my listening as i had to attend a meeting but i'l venture to say that even new, its quite good reminding me of a MS2i (yes Wala yours) but with BASS that i had heard. the PL750s are now sitting in a drawer being muffled by lotsa clothing doing its extended burn-in. since (im guessing) im only one of a handful of Ultrasone owners at LYN and perhaps the only PL750 player, i'll post updates as it occurs but there'll be NO official verdict nor review till the PL750s reach atleast 400hr mark. stay tuned....

DEC/21/07 100hrs Burn-in Update i didnt wanna comment much till these cans have reach atleast 200+hrs of burn-in so i can give a fair verdict (and maybe a review) but what the hell, while im here, let me give u a brief sysnopsis. since my impressions on Dec17, the PL750s have been on constant cooking-mode with a diet of mix genres & pink noise. i've periodically picked it up for some listening sessions to get an idea of whats being cooked and alls i can say its there are some changes (as expected).

as of now compared to brand new, bass has loosened up considerable to a organic nature with good decay while still being taut and tight - much as how real bass should be. bass goes very deep and besides lotsa impact and slam, its of a quality thats very unique to my ears - the level of realism reminds me of a front row live performance. its the most definitive feature of these cans as of now and i can see why everyone raves about UltraZONE bass. even now, Trance is jawdropping - its akin to sticking one's head into those massive bass ports but with equally clear mids and highs shocking.gif .

mids (esp vocals) are mostly placed within the frontal lobe (im guessing courtesy of S-Logic) ensuring alot of intimacy and excitement. mids are also presented with good clarity and details.

highs (as of now) is where its "interesting". its gone from strident (new) to smoother (50hrs) to very sharp (now) - mayhaps atad too sharp as it does tend to emphasize any sibilance in the recording. otherwise highs are very extended and tremendously detailed ala Etys siggy. i can see where the PL750 highs mite bother some esp if they come from dark & warm side of the camp but im fine with it since my torrid love affair with my ex super mod iM716.

soundstage is another "interesting" aspect of these cans. its unique offset drivers termed S-Logic places alot of the music (esp mids) in the front lobe forward of ear2ear horizontal axis - something very unique and i guess speaker like. soundstage has expanded to a good width (as much as most cans IMO) with decent depth inrelation to its upfront-of-the-head presentation. imaging is very good although here it lags behind the laser imagery of the W5k but that expected as i dont think theres much cans that can image like a well driven W5k IMO.

i really dont wanna say too much as i feel (& according to pratically all headfi reports) these cans will keep changing & evolving till the post 400hr watermark. i'll temporarily conclude by understatingly saying im NOT dissappointed so far laugh

Look What The CAT DRAGGED in!

scottiebabie — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 15:57:59 +0800

Thought i'd share my early Christmas present to yous all.

here's a nice looking package that greeted me when i came home yes'day all the wayyy from Cali...
[attachmentid=350554][attachmentid=350555]

as i hurriedly rip apart the package, amidst all the poly pellets, i find this cool looking case...
[attachmentid=350556][attachmentid=350558]

and whaddaya know, its a pair of IEMs but not just ANY IEM, its a pair of Custom IEMs...
[attachmentid=350559][attachmentid=350560]

and finally its mated to my rig...
[attachmentid=350561][attachmentid=350562][attachmentid=350563]

although its no secret but anyone venture a guess what custom IEM it is?? No one?? alrighty then i'l let the cat outta the bag and say its the Earpeace Livewires T1s. i wont be giving much of any impressions or review till it gets atleast a week or so of burn-in and i learn how to properly insert and remove. its much harder then u think .

very very brief initial listen tells me that it very nicely balanced across the range with impressive bass (this was a surprised to me). almost as detailed as my ex super mod iM716 but without the hot highs. wont say much about the fit and comfort (or discomfort rite as of now ) till i spend more time getting used to it. stay tuned...

Further Adventures In Cap-Rolling!

scottiebabie — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 15:41:19 +0800

Been busy doing my mad scientist R&D and these are the results......

my very 1st attempt at a alternative Gbox utilizing Vcaps[attachmentid=334298] these Vcaps are perhaps the cleanest and most transparent sounding

my next Gbox utilizing a pair of HugeAss NOS Jantzen Copper PIOs[attachmentid=334299] these Coppers have incredible bass slams with nary a sight of sibilance

my 3rd Gbox with a set of NotSoHuge Blk NOS Jantzen PIOs[attachmentid=334300] these Blk beauties are perhaps the smoothest most analogue-like of the Gang of 4.

and last but not least, the Mcap Supremes[attachmentid=334301] with IMO the most forward agressive sound

the above slight descriptions of their sound are only but a very brief 1short liner of their differences. they share much more in common than not. IMO all 4 exhibits amazing details and smoothness not found in any E-caps includ. the venerated Blackgates. indeed, i find myself unable to listen to the BG NX HiQs anymore finding them harsh ontop of a slew of other deficiencies. that said, the differences arnt earth shattering initially but gets more insidiously profound the more i listen.

the Vcaps have since been sold to a fellow headcase and Vancouverite (Ladner of all places!!! - sry Dan, cant help it ) currently residing in Hanoi. He shares similiar opinions of these caps in comparo with the ubiquitous BGs .

the Copper PIOs have since been sold to this fine gent[attachmentid=334304] who bought the Copper Gbox on the spot once he heard them. U do the math if he thinks there's a difference . here's more pics of his rig among "others " [attachmentid=334309][attachmentid=334313]
[attachmentid=334321][attachmentid=334325] and yes...those are D5ks on his head

and so im left with these 2 to keep me company[attachmentid=334326][attachmentid=334327]

with the Mcap Gbox doing porty duties[attachmentid=334328][attachmentid=334329] if one can truly call all that "portable"

and so in summary, im sure the nay sayers will still be nay sayers but for the open minded amongst us interested in achieving the utmost from an ipodbased rig, me thinks im thinks im there . would be nice to have a 1on1 with a iriver H1x0>optical>D1