What's your latest tech purchase?

[lexluthermiester]

Are headphones tech?

Yes.

I finally broke down and bought a HFM Edition XS, questionable headband and all (although the Ananda Stealth is only a few dollars more on their discount store if that's your thing).

Nice! You should be happy with that headset.

 

[Space Lynx]

Are headphones tech?

I finally broke down and bought a HFM Edition XS, questionable headband and all (although the Ananda Stealth is only a few dollars more on their discount store if that's your thing).

Those used to be ~$500 and ($1000, then $700 iirc) up headphones (considered a value at their original prices), so the current deals are pretty good if that's something you're into IMHO.

At $279+FS and after doing that thing (I think we all do) of going back and staring at them several times and thinking about it, I couldn't say no. I've spent more on crap I knew I would appreciate much less.

I'm now waffling between a BTR15 and Qudelix-5k. Probably going to end up with the 5k, just because it appears to me more my type of unique gadget (rather than janky, populist, glass-covered POS).

I really like AutoEQ: not just the use of it (which I already use for all my cans on PC), but the thought of it (a user-contributed repository of downloadable profiles for pretty much every headphone) is neat AF.

I just hope it has enough power (as the dongle on my OG DEVA is rated 2/3 of it's power and poops out around ~70%), and I don't end up having to ALSO buy the aforementioned other thing (w/ more power).

Thing is, now I probably have to use a 3.5mm->4.4mm->2.5mm adapter for this setup that I really just wanted to be a short wire from the cups to the amp; which might get super ugly.

Whatever: it was never about making a fashion statement, more of a "This is who I am: chaining together all kinds of well-made niche stuff to hopefully make something great(er)" thing...I just hope it works.

It truly does feel like any-day-now Qudelix will release a 4.4mm model w/ more power, or HFM will make a better-than-deva-cheaper-than-ananda-bt set, and at that point I'll throw my fists up angrily into the sky...

...But...you know...until then...at least it's something to do.

You got an Edition XS for $279 (crazy good deal)? is that deal still ongoing? I have been thinking of getting a midrange planar, I kind of have my eyes set on Moondrop Para, which supposedly sounds just as good as the Venus planar which is a $600 can, for only $299 on the Para.

I honestly haven't decided yet. I won't get paid from my new job until the end of June, but when that check comes in going to reward myself for the new job.

edit: nm i just found the sales, official website. damn I am tempted. I had my eyes on the Para though, damn... what to do... well I am going to hold to end of June and see what happens then

 

[de.das.dude]

I got this one, the Philips Airfryer XXL Connected HD9285/93

View attachment 348093

found a similar one for 80 quid equivalent here:

HD9252/90​

https://www.amazon.in/dp/B097RJ867P/?coliid=I3P8K7GRUJ9PHA&colid=2MY3RZCEEEB9E&psc=1&ref_=list_c_wl_lv_ov_lig_dp_it

 

[SchumannFrequency]

The posts in that thread indicate that you got it to work with the realtek-re-kmod port, no?

I was able to install the correct Realtek driver and I was able to get the internet working.
But a short time later I noticed that the FreeBSD 14 system was very unstable and did frequent very strange crashes.
I also had some indications that this instability could possibly be caused by this driver as I saw indications that this driver did not seem to work completely normally.
FreeBSD on the new hardware was very unstable and I was almost completely certain that the manually installed Realtek driver was responsible for these crashes.

OpenBSD then again was (+-) 100% stable and purely in terms of apps it has the main things I need, so I know I can use it as a desktop in this area. But I saw apps I frequently used require more than 7 seconds to boot/start.

This was the biggest factor that made OpenBSD unusable as a daily driver. The 980 PRO NVMe has improved this problem because of the apps I use frequently, the slowest boot time is now 4.xx seconds. So there is nothing that requires more than 7 seconds to boot, 4.xxx seconds startup time is the slowest scenario now.

The CPU performance of OpenBSD on this more modern hardware is quite variable. In some areas it comes close to normal performance. Such as loading the BBC in Firefox seems to be only 18% slower than in Calculate Linux. But for some tasks I measure big performance losses. But I don't know if OpenBSD consumes more or less power in idle than Linux. In any case, the CPU is often 100% idle in OpenBSD, so it is hard to say whether Linux is more efficient in terms of power consumption.

OpenBSD compensates for this slower CPU performance by providing much better default security than other operating systems. For example, Firefox can only access files in one directory, making it much harder for websites to see all your files. In Linux/windows/macOS this is probably also possible to achieve, but above the level of most users to configure this themselves, and you lose time making this configuration. Also, opening local files (not by a website but by a user) is not possible in Firefox on OpenBSD. So you notice that in terms of basic security, there are measures taken in OpenBSD that virtually no other operating system implements by default. I once read that most operating systems in this area make one mistake after another in security but also in areas that have nothing to do with security, where OpenBSD gets it right just about every time.

Hence, I am happy with the 980 PRO NVMe purchase.

 

[alwayssts]

You got an Edition XS for $279 (crazy good deal)? is that deal still ongoing? I have been thinking of getting a midrange planar, I kind of have my eyes set on Moondrop Para, which supposedly sounds just as good as the Venus planar which is a $600 can, for only $299 on the Para.

I honestly haven't decided yet. I won't get paid from my new job until the end of June, but when that check comes in going to reward myself for the new job.

edit: nm i just found the sales, official website. damn I am tempted. I had my eyes on the Para though, damn... what to do... well I am going to hold to end of June and see what happens then

First of all, congratulations on your new gig.

Second of all, I'm glad you're treating yourself. Those things are important.

Third, after researching the hell out of every conceivable thing I could think of (including those you mentioned), I can only say I came to the conclusion I did. YMMV. YTMV.

I think it becomes very obvious where my priorities lay (in actual capability/customization [especially per dollar] over aesthetics/branding/sometimes even power), but I respect everyone thinks differently.

I also found out even the minute differences between the versions of the Ananda's, which obviously have a better strap.

This includes how the original were tuned toward the typical lack of (sub-)bass of most planars, the stealths fixed that, but I think in the highs they all have the typical planar 'problems', while v3 may have made it worse (some people speak of harmonic distortion in those areas on the V3 at high volume) by making them easier to drive. The XS is tuned toward decidely less upper-treble (above the Harman curve), almost like a flipped Ananda V1, and IMHO (judging only by charts and others' opinions so far) I think that was the correct decision (for my tastes). We'll see.

Respect whatever you choose to do, and am sure you will enjoy whatever you pick.

Just thought I'd pass it along JIC anyone was interested (Yep, official site store refurbs, but open-box and new they've dropped as well). I actually like refurbs, as often they are given extra TLC, but that's JMO.

Yes.

Nice! You should be happy with that headset.

Thanks. I think I will be. I have too many headphones, but I really wanted a planar with decent bass quantity without it going too V-shaped on the upper-end.

I have heavy-bass dynamics, I have mid-focused dynamics, I have flat dynamics, I have orchestral dynamics...Hell, I have a pair of JBL's I only use to listen to The White Stripes.

Every planar I've used is similar to Ananda V1: lacking bass quantity and going too hard at the high-end or ending up sporatic (as mentioned about the moondrops) on the treble (esp at higher volumes.)

AFAICT, it's an issue most (some-what affordable) cans using the tech have, I think. I'm not trying to pick on any company. Perhaps this is a by-product of creating models that are easier to drive; I don't know.
IN THEORY, XS addresses those issues that I personally have had by toning down the high-end (which I'll have to see, but I would assume still comes alive with some juice).

If not, there's always AutoEQ and/or those user profiles (which again, is awesome. Props to those that create and submit them), and by all charts I've seen they appear the best for me OOTB.

I could imagine ending up lowering the mid-bass a smidge and boosting the sub-bass, and we'll have to see what the treble does at volumes I listen (and amp I use)...but I think they'll be easiest to tune to my liking. As I've mentioned before, I think both the Anandas and the XS appear very 'fixable' to most anyone's taste, but not everyone EQs and ofc OOTB does matter simply because it's not always practical.

...but if nothing else, it'll give me something to tinker with. That really is the thing that's fun to me, you know? Seeing how different filters/curves/eq settle in to make each set their own pleasant/unique thing.

Listening to tracks, noticing different things; focusing on something different (hence perhaps interpreting them differently and making me feel a different way).

I know they're not going to be the greatest thing I've ever heard in every particular instance, but that's really not the point. I think it'll be a lot of fun to mess around with them.

Now if I could only find a really short balanced 3.5->2.5mm cable...I'd be good-to-go. Shortest I can find is ~4ft. I guess that works at a desk, but wrt wireless I'm still stuck doing something like rolling it up.

 

[TheLostSwede]

I have a Ninja 6 in 1 air fryer grill, it requires preheating for the "grill" preset because it heats the grill to 500 degrees and puts sear marks on steaks

Doesn't ovens in the US have what you guys over there call broilers built in?
All European ovens do and they go to 275 degrees C.

 

[WonkoTheSaneUK]

Speaking of ovens, I had a couple of thermal shutdowns whilst gaming at the weekend.
Guess it's time to change out my CPU cooler for this (especially since my PC parts pusher of choice had it for 20% off yesterday!)

 

[kurosagi01]

Hopefully saved myself needing to buy a new TV so soon.
Bought a replacement power board for my LG C1 TV.

LG OLED C1 TV odd behaviour after nearly 2 years

8K gaming and football in the sunshine, while earlier the TV was happy to never leave your mancave. Dude, get a life. I think you are confusing my post with someone elses - otherwise show me a qoute of me saying that. Tell me you've only ever experienced oled tvs via youtube videos and...

www.techpowerup.com

 

[Todestrieb]

As I noticed a lot of sag even with the anti-saggy thingy included with my GPU, I bought 3 more anti-saggy thingy and 2 spirit level (one of them is by mistake) to make goddamn sure it is not sagging. Spirit level is a weird word… I have lost a rolling spirit level, so I have to get one that cannot roll.

---

ThIs Is ThE bEsT dEsK fAn I cAn ThInK oF! I’m half serious about that.


It’s a Silent Wing 4 Pro 140mm ‘mounted’ on a bendy thingy with a magnetic base, which is stuck on a cookie box because I need some height.
It has a tendency to tip over, the bendy thing was rated for 120mm fans (heavy ones like A12x25 obviously doesn’t count) and I dropped it a few too more times that it will vibrate and often resonate with the box. But man, 2400rpm is serious. Until the Noctua desk fan is actually available this is my uLtImAtE desk fan.

Edit: reasonable image size

 

[Fokker]

Doesn't ovens in the US have what you guys over there call broilers built in?
All European ovens do and they go to 275 degrees C.

Yes they do and they go to about the same temp in F. It's usually just labeled "Broil" and may or may not have a temperature indicated depending on model.

 

[Kapone33]

This has to be one of the best threads on TPU.

 

[gurusmi]

...All European ovens do and they go to 275 degrees C...

In germany the ending temp for non professional devices is about 250°C/482°F.

 

[faye]

Are headphones tech?

I finally broke down and bought a HFM Edition XS, questionable headband and all (although the Ananda Stealth is only a few dollars more on their discount store if that's your thing).

Those used to be ~$500 and ($1000, then $700 iirc) up headphones (considered a value at their original prices), so the current deals are pretty good if that's something you're into IMHO.

At $279+FS and after doing that thing (I think we all do) of going back and staring at them several times and thinking about it, I couldn't say no. I've spent more on crap I knew I would appreciate much less.

I'm now waffling between a BTR15 and Qudelix-5k. Probably going to end up with the 5k, just because it appears to me more my type of unique gadget (rather than janky, populist, glass-covered POS).

I really like AutoEQ: not just the use of it (which I already use for all my cans on PC), but the thought of it (a user-contributed repository of downloadable profiles for pretty much every headphone) is neat AF.

I just hope it has enough power (as the dongle on my OG DEVA is rated 2/3 of it's power and poops out around ~70%), and I don't end up having to ALSO buy the aforementioned other thing (w/ more power).

Thing is, now I probably have to use a 3.5mm->4.4mm->2.5mm adapter for this setup that I really just wanted to be a short wire from the cups to the amp; which might get super ugly.

Whatever: it was never about making a fashion statement, more of a "This is who I am: chaining together all kinds of well-made niche stuff to hopefully make something great(er)" thing...I just hope it works.

It truly does feel like any-day-now Qudelix will release a 4.4mm model w/ more power, or HFM will make a better-than-deva-cheaper-than-ananda-bt set, and at that point I'll throw my fists up angrily into the sky...

...But...you know...until then...at least it's something to do.

Sadly the Topping G5 is so poorly shielded that without actually trying it with your source first I can't recommend it in good conscience, because it's otherwise an amazing little machine.

 

[overclockedamd]

SO what everyone is saying is I should get an air fryer.

Doesn't ovens in the US have what you guys over there call broilers built in?
All European ovens do and they go to 275 degrees C.

Every oven I have ever owned in the US does have a broiler and goes to 500F so pretty similar.

 

[Space Lynx]

SO what everyone is saying is I should get an air fryer.

Every oven I have ever owned in the US does have a broiler and goes to 500F so pretty similar.

I was skeptical about air fryers for a long time, in fact we didn't get one in our family until earlier this year. It really is a game changer, I love cooking at home now and its healthier too since no bad oils.

I do recommend getting Cuisinart brand though, as it is all steel. You don't want this teflon PFAS cancer causing crap like we have. Ninja brand uses a ceramic shield, but I have read mixed things about if it contains PFAS or not, personally I am not fan of ceramic either, stainless steel everything is the only way to go to be extra safe.

I also read to 100% of males tested in a medium sized study have microplastics in their sperm. We are basically breathing in microplastics. We done messed up our species, so I guess at this point it doesn't matter if my air fryer as PFAS (which it does).

 

[Peteraven]

An oldie used , Gtx 1060 3gb , to replace my GPU that still works but , Note: but not on game (fans of gpu goes to maximum , and black screen not recognizable by Windows) , or vpn if is turns on (Very weird) ,that freezes PC, MSI RX 480 Gaming.
Amd can launch to market GPU with more ram (Cheapest was b4), but always had problems.
Is the 2nd AMD GPu that i bought. Always some problem.

And in the past the only problem i had in a Nvidia GPU that worked for 10 years and had a broken fan (part of a fan), but the GPU worked anyway, of course with a very loud noise.
Amd Radeons GPU's sorry but no more. Only CPU's (those are ok).

How about that?

 

[alwayssts]

Hopefully saved myself needing to buy a new TV so soon.
Bought a replacement power board for my LG C1 TV.

LG OLED C1 TV odd behaviour after nearly 2 years

8K gaming and football in the sunshine, while earlier the TV was happy to never leave your mancave. Dude, get a life. I think you are confusing my post with someone elses - otherwise show me a qoute of me saying that. Tell me you've only ever experienced oled tvs via youtube videos and...

www.techpowerup.com

Sorry to hear you had to do that, but props for going DIY (as well as saving it from the landfill), and I hope you're back in operation soon.

I've been really lucky with my B9. I've had literally zero problems, but I will grant you that it I only use it for some gaming and the occasional movie. The TCL LCD is what stays on most of the time.

Sadly the Topping G5 is so poorly shielded that without actually trying it with your source first I can't recommend it in good conscience, because it's otherwise an amazing little machine.

I appreciate the insight. It's certainly a crowded market, and they certainly are a well-regarded brand, so that's unfortunate. Hopefully they will improve in a future iteration.

The only thing that really helped me narrow it down to the 5k is the 20-band EQ/AutoEQ, as well as some other contenders having some reported hiss and/or very bad antennaes (range), which is important to me.

AFAICT, none of them are "perfect". If I could mix something like the 5k with the IFI Go Blu I think I'd be a happy camper...but I'll take the lower price (and power) of the 5k at the end of the day bc utility.

I didn't realize until recently it's the second-best selling amp on Amazon. I know the audio field is no stranger to darlings springing up from nowhere, but that's pretty good for a small startup!

 

[Noci]

This has to be one of the best threads on TPU.

As it has already 825 pages, it scores high in popularity too.

And it started with the Turtle Beach Earforce X12 as a reply to alwayssts question if headphones are tech too.

 

[alwayssts]

As it has already 825 pages, it scores high in popularity too.

And it started with the Turtle Beach Earforce X12 as a reply to alwayssts question if headphones are tech too.

I guess what I meant to say in this instance is: "I know this isn't exactly as technologically interesting as a refrigerator that self-orders milk, but..."

You know how it is; some see electronics as technology, while others may see technology as computing. When I see the posts about air fryers (I really want one, why don't I have one?), I feel comforted.

Apologies for if/when I say redundant things, by the way (over time). Must be getting old; my memory isn't what it used to be, so my originality may occasionally be lacking.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Apologies for if/when I say redundant things, by the way (over time). Must be getting old; my memory isn't what it used to be, so my originality may occasionally be lacking.

No worries! Carry on!

 

[Deleted member 229121]

SO what everyone is saying is I should get an air fryer.

Every oven I have ever owned in the US does have a broiler and goes to 500F so pretty similar.

Yes, because air fried tater tots.

I will broil some though to be fair, and for science.

 

[AsRock]

4 film caps lol.

 

[kurosagi01]

Sorry to hear you had to do that, but props for going DIY (as well as saving it from the landfill), and I hope you're back in operation soon.

I've been really lucky with my B9. I've had literally zero problems, but I will grant you that it I only use it for some gaming and the occasional movie. The TCL LCD is what stays on most of the time.


I appreciate the insight. It's certainly a crowded market, and they certainly are a well-regarded brand, so that's unfortunate. Hopefully they will improve in a future iteration.

The only thing that really helped me narrow it down to the 5k is the 20-band EQ/AutoEQ, as well as some other contenders having some reported hiss and/or very bad antennaes (range), which is important to me.

AFAICT, none of them are "perfect". If I could mix something like the 5k with the IFI Go Blu I think I'd be a happy camper...but I'll take the lower price (and power) of the 5k at the end of the day bc utility.

I didn't realize until recently it's the second-best selling amp on Amazon. I know the audio field is no stranger to darlings springing up from nowhere, but that's pretty good for a small startup!

Thanks dude, my TV gets used everyday from myself and my partner since its our main living room TV.
It was potentially my own fault as I didn't know its not recommended to switch OLED off from the wall socket which is what I was doing for 2 years.
But now I know not to do that, hopefully it will last as long as the panel.

 

[Shou Miko]

Thanks dude, my TV gets used everyday from myself and my partner since its our main living room TV.
It was potentially my own fault as I didn't know its not recommended to switch OLED off from the wall socket which is what I was doing for 2 years.
But now I know not to do that, hopefully it will last as long as the panel.

I actually read this recommendation before, but I have never really done much because in newer times saving power I been turning off my LG CX oled 48 inch model and my dad totally unplugs his 65 inch model and we never faced an issue in the at least 3years we own them.

But if it's really means dead for the oled screen how to they ship them out because each do get tested before leaving the factory and some are unplugged for months before getting sold.

 

[kurosagi01]

I actually read this recommendation before, but I have never really done much because in newer times saving power I been turning off my LG CX oled 48 inch model and my dad totally unplugs his 65 inch model and we never faced an issue in the at least 3years we own them.

But if it's really means dead for the oled screen how to they ship them out because each do get tested before leaving the factory and some are unplugged for months before getting sold.

Maybe they need to put a secret option in the settings to tell the TV that its going to be going into deep sleep/power off from the wall so it tells the OS to not do any pixel cleaning while its in standby, who knows but i've been doing that for the 2 years and the power board/supply started behaving funny for me since March this year.