A Geek Goes Flying

Back in January I sent off a Schiit Hel 2E to be repaired. It had just stopped supplying a signal to the headphones (was still being recognized by the computer when connected via USB). In February, I got it back, with a swapped board and a new serial number sticker - it’s now a Hel+ . According to the support person I swapped emails with, all their repairs have a one (1) year warranty – good thing, since it just started doing exactly the same thing as before . I can hear the relay inside clicking, so it’s getting power. I can see it on the computer when USB connected. But no audio. Meh. Just sent it back today, this time to Corpus Christi, Texas. I guess the move is complete, or nearly so. (They used to be just over the hill from me, in Valencia, California.) Sigh. So now I’m limping along with my Fulla E, which has never given me any issues (but is very lightly used; after I got the Hel for the office I moved the Fulla E to my “kitchen table workstation,” which has since been disman...

Baby Wharfedale behind a Schiit DAC/Amp next to PC38X headset My current setup at the office is a Mac Mini running macOS Monterey, connected via 3.5 mm / RCA to a  PreSonus Eris Sub8 and through that, to Wharfedale DS-2 speakers , and now via a Schiit Fulla E to a Sennheiser PC38X headset. Now, the PC38X is aimed at the gaming market, I use ’em for interminable Zoom and Microsoft Teams remote appearances, depositions, etc. The mic works great and flipping it up is a zero-ambiguity way of quickly muting my audio, which I really appreciate. They’re not half-bad to listen to, either; Josh Valour compares them relatively favorably against the Sennheiser HD560S and HD58X (which I have at home ). Anyway, I played Tori Amos’ Cornflake Girl for my law partner through the PC38X / Fulla E combo and he was blown away. Had never heard anything “so clear and detailed.” I decided to spin that track for myself, it had been a while since I’ve listened to Tori, and I’m not sure I’ve ever reall...