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I've never tried that $10 stepper before but the ones from VALAB are quite a pain to turn. It's a good exercise for your fingers I suppose.

Wes, I've heard forbigger's DA100 and it sounds pretty amazing. I just have a comment: have you considered adding an USB input? That's going to make your DAC a lot more attractive and flexible.

Man, reading through the last couple of pages *almost* made me regret my choice of building a β22 first. All in due time... all in due time... *takes a deep breath*

The ESW10 is pretty good. It pretty much sounds like a technically better ESW9 but the small size of the cups can be an issue if you have biggish ear lobes. Comfort is also not the best in this world. I would also mention the W1000X but damn, this is a colored can and I would imagine that not everyone can live with that.

I guess I never really got over the "coloration". It can sound excellent with certain music but horrid with others and as someone who listens to a wide variety of genre, it's something undesirable after all.

I'll be honest, I thought that this is a thread about Head-Fi's new "improved" forum interface.

Nate's suggestion is what I plan to do with my β22 as well.

I have good experience with Audio-gd's products but I suppose IpodBJ's shilling will forever taint the name here. Customer service is top notch, price is competitive and all their higher end DACs use the R2R PCM1704UK.

Lars, I think the electrical wiring in your house could be a culprit too. I attend meets so sometimes my gears will pick up hiss when I set it up somewhere else.

Thanks for the comparison, GPH. It's something that many people are curious about I suppose. I initially considered the upgraded HA-006 but decided to build myself a nice β22.

I think the ability to hear high-fidelity music without tethering yourself to your desktop setup is more than enough reason to get the JH13.

Man, I'm so tempted to divert the funds from B22 to the JH13 now.

I appreciate the inputs, guys. I suppose there is the 2x gain but I'm not sure it's a good idea for the other high-Z cans. Back to the drawing board I guess.

Hey guys. Since I didn't get a satisfactory response from the other forum, I suppose I would ask here. Do any of you use the Beta 22 with a JH13? If so, what gain setting do you use with it? If you also use some form of stepped attenuator that will be nice to mention. You see, I plan to build a Beta22 in the future but I'm still working out what gain value will be the best compromise for the low-Z JH13. I'm thinking of 5 or 6 in 3-channel configuration but first-hand anecdotes will be very helpful.

I heard it can drive the HD650 better than the WA6 so it must be awesome. OP, you cannot go wrong with the Protector!

Kids these days... I would ban them longer if possible.

The first 2 weeks or so were painful since the can was heavy and the pads were hard. After two sessions of pad-washing and burning in the pads with oil from my follicles, I can wear it for hours now. If you wear glasses, prop them on top of the pads.

Well, Todd said these are going to have "blemishes" on them.

Perhaps you're right. Would "truer to the source" be a better descriptor?

To save up time, I will copy paste my impressions of the W1000X from the other forum here. This is a very intriguing can and I'm still not sure what to feel about it but I can concur with Amos that the very Audio-Technica-like forward and colored midrange is there.

Since the varying impressions here intrigued me greatly, I decided to take a listen again over the weekend at my friend's place. This time round, I tried the HE-5 out of a SPL Phonitor and Grace M902 just to get a different perspective from the ϐ22. My initial report in regards of the treble glare still remains unfortunately no matter what amp I used but it seemed to sound a tad smoother using the Phonitor. Other than that, I discovered that the HD800 is more revealing than the HE-5 as a badly recorded album (The Best of U2 - 2002) sounded unbearable using the former but actually decent using the latter. In regards to the soundstage, it's a little bit difficult to describe but if the HD800 presents sounds within a field of 180 degree arc surrounding the listener in the center, the HE5 is noticeably more constricted at 90 degree. There's also a slight lack of depth at the soundstage. Nevertheless, I felt that the HE-5 is a very musical can with its Ortho-y PRaT and I seriously feel that genres that require agility such as metal or rock will sound amazing with this can. It's a pity that I didn't get the opportunity to try the HE-5 out of a tube amp just to see what it will bring to the table.

I've been exchanging PMs with Rhydon about using HF2 for the Magnum process. Initially I thought the Magnum'd drivers will be different for each model but it turns out that I'm wrong. Nothing is finalized yet at the moment...

Isn't she a beaut?

I think AT has a very unique midrange though it seems to be a hit-or-miss. I started this hobby with AD700 based on HF's recommendations but hated it so it's no longer with me now. The ESW9 is very, very good and I like it better than its older 3x more expensive brother. I tried the W5k briefly in a store in Singapore but I don't have a lasting impression, it sounded kinda bright but has a good soundstage for a closed can if I remember right. My friend has a W1000X and he wouldn't shut up about it so I'll probably pay him a visit in the near future. Based on his stories, it seems to sound like a super-refined ESW9 so it could be excellent.

Call me crazy but I'm more intrigued with that contraption made from bricks in the foreground.