SSL

mfw they don't even notice the difference.

Yeah. Lunatic fringe. There is no "physical basis" for C=256, even if it is a power of two, round number, or whatever. But even then, the device is not going to achieve the same effects of changing the physical tuning. It really makes no sense to me.

No. As @anothertom said C=256 is like A=430.5 or whatever. As far as I can tell from a quick Google search, this is in fact a small contingent of audiophiles and musicians who advocate for A=432 for questionable reasons at best. Thus my skepticism that no one else could have stumbled upon C=256 before if it makes such a big difference.

As far as I am aware (this product is not released yet by Schiit), this device will use an algorithm to detect the tuning of the music on the fly and globally shift the pitch to C=256. Pending more information this is literally all that the device is supposed to do. Now, actually physically changing the tuning on acoustic instruments does change the timbre and there is a case to be made for using a lower tuning than A=440. But just changing the tuning in software is not going to have any of those effects such as changing harmonic balance or what have you.

Ah, because we need a special closed-form filter to not fuck the original samples of the music and completely ruin it.

I was thinking that it did back when I thought that it was using some crazy algorithm to change the temperament on the fly - although that seemed like a stretch technically. Now that I know that it is apparently just a dynamic pitch-correction algorithm, I'm honestly shocked that this is the super secret device that has been hyped up for so long.

I think there's a line that has to be drawn where reasonable plausibility dictates that an idea is suspect. The thing that seems the most unlikely is that Mike fucking Moffat is the first person ever to stumble upon this discovery. It's not like C=256 is an obscure or revolutionary idea.

Seems pretty clear what it does; it detects the pitch reference of the source material and corrects it to C=256 which Mike discovered "by accident" to sound better. Nevermind that C=256 has been used in scientific literature and at least someone has been bound to try such a tuning before. What I'm saying is that this is pretty much snakeoil. No point is sugar coating it just because Mike makes great DACs. Magni 3 will no doubt shit on the O2. Even the Magni 2/U was a better topology.

I have huge issues with this "gadget". Magni 3 and Vali 2 is pretty awesome. Safe to say that Schiit pretty much has the entry-level/budget market nailed down.

What an asshole.

Inferior version of the HD 650 with less smooth treble.

MB42 and MB42X are passive, meaning you'd need a separate amp. PB42X has a built-in plate amp so you can run it straight from your onboard audio. PB24X would be best. The built-in amp is decent and it would be hard to beat it for the $40 difference. MB42 isn't really worth considering unless you are on the thinnest of budgets as the MB42X has a better crossover.

It's an okay amp and a good pairing with Beyers. The OP didn't give a budget, so I assumed something reasonable, like $1500.

Do you have your audio properly configured to output bass frequencies to the sub/center out? What do you mean you've "tried everything"?

Woo Audio WA6 SE.

Omitting units DECREASES simplicity because the reader then has to take time to figure out what the meaning was. Try to get it right next time.

Is there a reason? There really isn't a point in going from digital -> analog -> digital.

Both are quite efficient. Shouldn't be a concern.

It's better, but I was referring to the second generation of all these products anyway.

Is this a question between integrated and a soundcard? Is there anything wrong with the onboard preventing you using it?

It has nothing to do with your personal preferences. Monitors are used for music production, at least as far as quality is a concern. If quality isn't a concern, then just get a headphone that appeals for music listening and disregard the requirements for music production. If you know it all, why ask for help? But in any case, it isn't about spending thousands. It's about careful matching of components to get good sound, or at very least the sound you want. Valhalla 2 is a decent choice for the HD 800 if you put in the effort to get the right tubes. I have no idea about the nuprime. Are you? That's a linear scaling, so not really that bad.

The OP wants "decent quality". The z313 do not suffice; box left unchecked.