K3cT

My sincerest apologies. It was a spur of the moment thing when I was enthralled by the SR404LE last night.

It's a pity that you can't roll toobs with the Valhalla because I'm sure that's is the funnest aspect about having a tube amp. Still if I'm in the market for one, Valhalla will definitely my #1 choice.

Sorry if this has been asked before but would there be accommodations for single-ended inputs? EDIT: Eh, nevermind. Spritzer's post explained it a few pages back.

I currently have an SR404LE and the SRM-1/MK-2 energizer on a loan. How high is this particular energizer in the chain again? Other than the slight edginess in the upper midrange area, I'm liking what I hear.

M-Stage was pretty good actually for the price it commends. I wish I've had the opportunity to compare it with the Asgard.

Thanks for your inputs, swt61 and dBel84. I've read reports that this LCD-2 is on the dark side in the other site and that's creeping me out a bit as I can't possibly take it darker than the HF2 or the O2 for that matter.

Very interesting. The one I've heard is definitely no treble recessed. Well you can probably say that it's a bit dark-sounding since it doesn't seem to have an exaggerated treble. The NAD RP18 sounds so good that I've contemplated canceling my LCD-2 preorder in exchange for it. What say you, ortho seniors?

I listened to the NAD RP18 bass-light version today in a meet and in its stock form, it already sounded pretty bad-ass. Very musical, that ortho is.

Zana Deux sounds amazing with the HD800.

They should make the specifications on their website clearer, "Upgradable Digital, Output, and USB boards (designed for future improvements)" implies that the DAC does not have those options yet but the 6moons review and the back panel tell otherwise. Still, the DAC itself looks very promising. My only gripe is about its looks.

Don't bother if you don't have a balanced source.

You can try covering the transformer with EMI shielding material but the easiest way would be replacing it with a shielded one.

All right, that settles it then. Thanks for organizing this Kevin.

Sorry to interrupt guys but are we going to open a separate group buy thread for the boards and kits? I'm definitely interested for one of the board and one of the cannot-get-in-Mouser kit. If I have experience building the β22, this should be doable right? Other than extreme voltages we are going to work with of course.

Indeed, it's pure venom. I think only forbigger's O2 rig (Neko DA100 + KGSS + O2 Mk2) was able to present music in that planar-y way that no dynamics can achieve.

I have an HE5-LE finally on loan from a good friend of mine. The good thing is that it sounds less brighter and more balanced than the older HE-5 but the bad thing is well... I don't necessarily prefer it over my ol' trusty Grado HF2. I have an issue with how the sounds do not seem to mesh well together... it's very hard to put it in words. Anyone else feel the same? Anyway, going to spend some more time with it to further familiarize myself so impressions might change.

I used to have a Lavry DA11 for several weeks and I can say that I'm not sure how I feel about it. Sure it's transparent and detailed but I don't know, music has a sharpness/edginess to it like you're forced to listen to the transition of notes. It was very apparent when I A/B-ed to AMB γ2 which seemed to have a more free-flowing sound which although perhaps not as technically capable, it's definitely more enjoyable to listen to. I had a similar impression with a friend's Sabre-based Buffalo DAC and he has sold this DAC away ever since for similar reasons.

Java, definitely Java if you like your coffee smooth and candy-like.

dBel84, is that the Wharfedale ID1? A friend has it but I don't have the opportunity to test it yet.

You know, that suspiciously sounds like the HD800 although I rather like the latter actually. Dear sir, how about coherence? When I tried the HE-5 the last time, it was also an issue as the sounds didn't seem to gel together properly. More than often you got a sound panning left and right but left a hole in the middle. Seems like they are shooting themselves in the foot for making it a pain in the ass to drive. And that "reason", if it can be called that, about HE-6 catering to the folks with an HT receiver sounds like bullshit honestly.

Does the new HE-6 still sound painfully bright like the older HE-5?

Nah, that's not good enough. You need an actual power amp to drive them well, like its Chinese brother with gold drivers.

I finally succumbed to the hype... I really like the O2 so I hope this won't disappoint.

I say the only Audio-gd products worth considering are their high-end DACs. I'm interested on their new ES9018 Sabre32 offering but truthfully I'm so satisfied with my self-built γ2 that I don't see myself changing DAC any time soon.

Has anyone compared JH13 with the LCD-2 before? Completely different I know but I'm sure this will be interesting. I have experience with the universal JH13 but not with the latter.