Here are my collection of Noctua 'stuff'.
Started with fans: NF-F12 PWMs, Then with NF-A14 PWM, then chromax black NF-S12A PWM. Eventually ended up with a NH-D15 chromax black with 2x NF-A15 PWM fans.
If you ask me, I like the brown and beige color theme, Noctua earned that color identity.
Got these cans last May, but I was only able to listen to them properly last june during an audio meet.
The sound off the bat (un-burned in) is a cross between the bass of Sony MDR Z1R, the spaciousness of the Sennheiser HD800s, treble airiness of an Audeze LCD MX4 but at a friendly pricing of a pre-owned Focal Elear with busted drivers that were repaired.
It sounds way above its punching class
Hello.
I am Rain.
I have an Aspin Father and a Grizzle Saluki Mother.
I do not look like any of them.
My favorite things are greek yoghurt and dentastix
Help me understand, iba na ba dating these days?
Last time I was on a proper date (with my last ex that lasted 10 years) way back 2015, we matched in a dating site, we then agreed to meet in person in BGC.
We met outside California Pizza Kitchen in BGC, had dinner and while dinner, neither of us were using our phones. The only time I remember I opened my phone was to use the camera for our selfie then afterwards, I kept it.
We then had desserts at iHOP above CPK, had cocktails in Seda, then continued on walking while talking around high street.
Since it was getting late (2am) we decided to take a seat at the BGC bus stop in front of RCBC corporate (26th ave cor 5th) and stayed there still talking till 6am.
We then proceeded to go home separately after.
No sex on the first few dates, we both paid our own meals, and we just talked.
Meron pa bang ganon these days?
Ever since getting ditched (by that same ex) late november last year, I've noticed dates either want to have sex first, talk later, if they wanted to talk you have to pay for their meal (including their pamasahe going to the meetup place via gcash).
Its also comical that modus seems like its "soft prostitution" packaged in a way that several prospective dates have an iphone xx yet cant even afford jollibee or Mcdonalds nor jeep ride to go to the meetup place.
Or is it because i'm "old" and dates are only mutual if you are in your 20s-30s?
I may be 50 and gay and out, but i aint stupid to fall for moneyboy traps.
I understand life is harder nowadays and not everyone earns 6 digits a month but hey, im keen patterns when I see one.
so what are your thoughts on this?
We still go back to the argument - what happened to wholesome dating?
I fell in love with the Focal Utopia when it was unveiled in the 2016 November HiFi show, and eventually came on sale around March 2017.
I got the Elears instead, but at the back of my mind, I always had a soft spot for these beauties.
Fast forward 2023, the OG Utopias are discontinued, and the 2nd gen Focal Utopias took their place.
A good friend who owned an OG pair graciously lent me his for a month. While he was outside the country, i used it daily while working.
I heard both the OG and the new iteration, paired to the Chord HugoTT DAC being driven by a HeadAmp GSX Mk2.
The new Utopia's didnt disappoint, and it had sizzle, but I still preferred that "flat" presentation on the OG Utopias.
Im still saving for one and on the lookout on the Japanese audiophile pre-owned market.
These were my original love - the Focal Elear. It was initially introduced in the Manila HiFi show in November 2016, and I got my pre-order (via Egghead) in March 2017.
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It had a very sordid history - it was plagued by driver issues such as either the left or right or both channels would disengage while listening to soft music.
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Since it was bought new, it was replaced and repaired at least 8 times from April 2017 to 2022. The Focal distributor in Manila was patient enough to take on the flak of these driver issues which finally resolved in December 2022.
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It was at least sent to France 7-8 times and I'd surmise if these headphone pair had frequent flier, it would have made it to first class just by miles alone.
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Ironic that Focal 'solved' the driver issue as soon as I got a new pair of Focal Clears since the Focal Elear has always been out of service and in repair.
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Despite the colorful history, I still use the Elears on piano concertos or Piano solos. Nothing beats them for this specific use case.
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I also replaced the stock velour earpads with the stock Focal Utopia fenestrated lambskin earpads which improved the low end.
Why did I listen to you last saturday during an audio meet?
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I was already happy and content with my Bowers&Wilkins PX7S2E
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Now I can't forget how you sound while listening to Diana Krall's "s'wonderful"
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And yes, I used to own your other sibling - the Focal Bathys (OG)
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Don't worry, I'll own you. Eventually.
Help me understand, is dating so different these days?
Last time I was on a proper date (with my last ex that lasted 10 years) way back 2015, we matched in a dating site, we then agreed to meet in person in BGC. We met outside California Pizza Kitchen in BGC, had dinner and while dinner, neither of us were using our phones. The only time I remember I opened my phone was to use the camera for our selfie then afterwards, kept it. we then had desserts at iHOP above CPK, had cocktails in Seda, then continued on walking while talking around high street. since it was getting late (2am) we decided to take a seat at the BGC bus stop in front of RCBC corporate (26th ave cor 5th) and stayed there still talking till 6am. we then proceeded to go home separately after.
No sex on the first few dates, we both paid our own meals, and we just talked.
Are there still people into these things these days?
ever since getting ditched (by that same ex) late november last year, I've noticed dates either want to have sex first, talk later, if they wanted to talk you have to pay for their meal (including their fare going to the meetup place via gcash) and its comical that seems like its "soft prostitution" packaged in a way that several prospective dates have an iphone xx yet cant even afford jollibee or Mcdonalds nor a jeep ride to go to the meetup place.
or is it because i'm old and dates are only mutual if you are in your 20s-30s?
I may be 50 and gay and out, but i aint stupid to fall for moneyboy traps.
I understand life is harder nowadays and not everyone earns 6 digits a month but hey, im keen patterns when I see one.
so what are your thoughts on this?
Help me understand, is dating so different these days?
Last time I was on a proper date (with my last ex that lasted 10 years) way back 2015, we matched in a dating site, we then agreed to meet in person in BGC. We met outside California Pizza Kitchen in BGC, had dinner and while dinner, neither of us were using our phones. The only time I remember I opened my phone was to use the camera for our selfie then afterwards, kept it. we then had desserts at iHOP above CPK, had cocktails in Seda, then continued on walking while talking around high street. since it was getting late (2am) we decided to take a seat at the BGC bus stop in front of RCBC corporate (26th ave cor 5th) and stayed there still talking till 6am. we then proceeded to go home separately after.
No sex on the first few dates, we both paid our own meals, and we just talked.
Are there still people into these things these days?
ever since getting ditched (by that same ex) late november last year, I've noticed dates either want to have sex first, talk later, if they wanted to talk you have to pay for their meal (including their pamasahe going to the meetup place via gcash) and its comical that seems like its "soft prostitution" packaged in a way that several prospective dates have an iphone xx yet cant even afford jollibee or Mcdonalds nor jeep ride to go to the meetup place.
or is it because i'm old and dates are only mutual if you are in your 20s-30s?
I may be 50 and gay and out, but i aint stupid to fall for moneyboy traps.
I understand life is harder nowadays and not everyone earns 6 digits a month but hey, im keen patterns when I see one.
so what are your thoughts on this?
This is a collection of pics taken last Sunday - May 24 in an undisclosed hotel in Ortigas (Manila, Philippines)
Equipment inventory:
Source:
Lenovo Thinkpad (uncompresssd WAV, FLAC, Apple Music Lossless Streaming via USB)
Xiaomi Pad8 (Apple Music Lossless Streaming via Bluetooth)
Digital to Analog Converters:
Cambridge Audio DACMagicPlus
Chord Hugo TT
Headphone Amp/Integrated Amp:
Cambridge Audio Azur 650A
HeadAmp GSX Mk2
Headphones:
Focal Elear
Focal Clear
Focal Utopia
Nectar Audio Ambrosia
ZMF Aeolus Mg
Sennheiser HD800S
Audeze LCD MX4
Bowers and Wilkins PX7S2e
Accessories
Moon Audio Silver Dragon Silver cables XLR to XLR Interconnects
WAcoustics Silver Cables RCA to RCA interconnects
CCPh Monocrystalline Silver cables RCA to RCA interconnects
iFi Mercury USB Audio cable
WAcoustics AWG12 IEC power cables
Weiduku power conditioner