skullguise

It's been a while, but I owned an RS-1 and had good fun with Eddie Current's EC/SS amp. The EC/SS also sounded good with some Beyer 880's I had (and I didn't love the Beyers with much else). IIRC, the EC/SS runs off a wall wart, and it may be fine with NZ voltage. They don't come up used too often, but I think they could be a good deal despite the opamps.... In my brief audition with other phones, though, the EC/SS didn't fair as well (AKG 701's were kind of plain and lifeless, as I recall). Otherwise, I'd probably vote for the M^3 as well.

I've noticed this too, Nate. We have I think 8 different iPods in the house, for 3 people (don't ask). I used to be able to connect any to any machine, and any NEW song would be able to be loaded to that iPod. Anything already loaded to another could not be put on the new one. Now, on my iTouch (haven't tried it with others) I get the "delete" message. Oddly, I haven't updated the firmware on it (it's still 1.x!), nor updated iTunes from version 7.1 (IIRC)..... For simple song movement, you may be better off trying one of the 3rd party proggies that can move songs back and forth.

I added a Diamond 7.1 PCI card on my PC. Coax SPDIF I and O, 24/96 capable. About $30. I got some native 24/96 WAV's, there was a noticable improvement for the hi-rez playback compared to 16/44. Not sure if it fits all your needs, but if you have slot space, a nice cheap alternative to USB options. EDIT: I see you want 24/192. I'm sure there are cards that support this as well..... EDIT2: Argh! Just read your "external" requirement. Curious as to why, though.....

Cool, didn't think many others knew/liked her. I love "Walk And Talk Like Angels" a lot, too.

One more name to throw in the mix: Silverline. They make great-sounding speakers, are easy to drive, have decent bass for their size, and you can get them used for nice prices. Heck, even their little Minuet is $400, allowing for a sub if you want (need) it. FWIW, I own a pair of their floor-standing Preludes. They are rated to mid-to-high 30's in Hz bass output. 6"W x 8/5"D (bit more for bases), they are easy to move around.

I like a lot of what's already been said here, and others will have to check out for sure. My additions, MOST off the top of my head: * Mary Black - Song For Ireland * Loreena McKennitt - Snow * Husker Du - I Apolagize * Tool - Sober * Joy Division - Decades * Bauhaus - Bela Lugosi's Dead * Nick Cave - The Ship Song, The Mercy Seat (from Live Seeds album) * Einsturzende Neubauten - Headcleaner * Iggy Pop - Lust for Life * (many singers do this well) - Night And Day * Heather Nova - Heal, Heart and Shoulder * The Damned - Sanctum Sanctorum * The Cramps - Goo Goo Muck * Wall of Voodoo - Call of the West * Alison Moyet - The First Time (Ever I Saw Your Face) * The Blue Nile - A Walk Across The Rooftops * Cocteau Twins - Blue Bell Knoll

Have never really got into her, though I had often heard OF her; but checked out the latest, and it's pretty nice....any order of recommendation for prior material?

I got some 12" x 12" x 16" H granite blocks from a stone dealer in NH. $50 a pair, he used a mini-forklift to put them in my car, and my neighbor and I lugged them upstairs to my room. Back in the day, I had a pair of VMPS Ribbon Monitors (taller than avg. "monitors") on them, driven by a Pathos Twin Towers integrated. Used a Symposium-like shelf under the VMPS's. Some of the best sound in my house ever (especially before the room became my wife's "office," and now I can't get much of anything to sound really good here). I also used a smaller piece of granite, maybe 14" x 14" x 5-6" tall, and sat a Carver Sub Jr/ on it. Crossed it over at ~40Hz, and it extended my system quite nicely. The granite base seemed to help with the one-note quality of the bass.

Guy I used to work with bought an NHT Power 2 when they were being cleared out. I BRIEFLY got to listen to them, after they had been playing in his home off and on for a week. My impressions, on a less-than-familiar system, was that they were actually kind of bright. Slight - very slight- glare in the upper mids, made female vox a little less enjoyable. Of everything, that's what stood out in my memory. I haven't heard a lot of ICE amps, but I like what I've heard from Hypex chips/amps better. Smoother top to bottom so it seems, with good detail, and pretty musical. I told a friend about it, he built his own amp (UCD180HG modules IIRC) with a tube pre built in, and loves it.....

The Babylon Rising series by Tim Lahaye. On book 3 of 4 now. Religious Adventure/Mystery

Mark Burgess, ex of the Chemeleons UK, with a great local Boston-area band, The Curtain Society, backing him. Got to meet and chat with Mark, and the show was quite intense and emotional.

Slightly OT, but Niagara-on-the-Lake is a beautiful place! My wife and I vacationed there in May, and loved it! A nice downtown without any "brand name" stores, the theaters, wineries, restaurants, etc. The Old Mill Tavern quickly became a favorite of ours on the visit! Lots of luck in the venture. I've personally never quite loved the Grado's, despite trying most of them. But the process here looks great.

But I'm an Audiophool! I have to have the FOTM....even in my gin!

Bumping this ol' thread.....doesn't look like Blackwoods is even available in the USA (?) I'd be surprised if any of the UK online stores would ship to USA, or even if they do if it's worth the $. Any suggestions? Anyone coming over to the USA (Northeast) for a visit? I'll actually keep an eye out for a local who is going there, too.....

I remember Arlington....almost got some Ayre gear there years ago, but couldn't quite afford. Weren't they even their own entity for a while (IE, not partnered with Ensemble)? Sorry to hear of your issues with Ensemble. There were several folks there (Mark M., Mark P., and Brad come to mind) who left to do their own things. John is running the show now and they are seemingly doing well. I haven't paid too much attention to Sam recently, so don't know what kind of praise he's lauded on them. But I have definitely enjoyed what I heard.

I still subscribe to Stereophile....I like it for the pictures I would avoid this DAC at its price. Everything I've heard in the past from MH is better than average but in dire need of updates/upgrades, and just not worth the price of admission new. Dan Wright did a very nice mod job on one of their CD players, but he replaced the whole output stage to start (though yes, with tubes). Cheaper parts, and as dsavitsk points out, some questions on implementation. All adds up for overpriced in my book.....

Loved Darby Crash....."Gimme a fuckin' beeeeeer" And their version of Grand Ol' Flag is priceless! I saw Ani Difranco Saturday night, a sometimes quirky but very talented lady. Not even as familiar with her newer work, but was highly enjoyable. Outdoor concert, JUST escaped the rain!

Do you know if this is build 7600? I have seen reference to that as being the RTM, but not sure if I should believe it or not.

I have a 4.0 DAC, and love it. I don't find it too bright, could be system dependencies or interactions. At list price, there's a heck of a lot more competition these days. But used, around the $400-450 mark, it's pretty tough to beat IMO. Detail/resolution, spacious sounding, extended highs (again, not too bright IMO though) are strengths. Deep quality bass is the main weakness. I haven't heard the Buffalo DAC except for a brief listening in an unfamiliar system. But the ESS DAC's and a good implementation look like they are winners. You'll pay more, maybe up to double what the OMZ costs used. That could be worth it if you have the money. If not, I don't think the OMZ will disappoint by any means.

If it's a "lite" Linux Kernel with a new web-based window system, what will there be for apps? I can't see this going too far, in all honesty. Though it may get my old PIII-1GHz system back from the dead Liked the Fake Steve article, pretty good and funny stuff. Asus started something good with their first netbook, but the main complaint I tended to hear (aside from power) was the cheap interface. Even when folks were installing full Linux on it, it was still a niche. Netbooks started getting bigger once companies put WinXP on it. Sorry, but that's what the masses are used to. Browser interface may be better than that first Asus machine interface, but I'm thinking it still won't be enough. Heck, if MS is so scared, they can probably offer a lite version of their own (aren't they doing it on the OLPC initiative anyway?), and the sheep will buy that.

Indeed? Actually, thanks, I'll check out Blackewoods as well.....

Not a gin connoisseur by any means, but I have recently been drinking it some with dinners. Usually with tonic and lime. Just went out to a nice place last night, and ordered Bombay Sapphire. Waitress, a gin lover herself (and dang cute!), recommended one I had only heard of but never learned about or tried: Hendricks of Scotland Distilled with flowers and cucumbers! I took her recommendation, though, and glad I did! Was a very smooth yet flavorful gin, with none of the pseudo-paint-thinner scent I've smelled before, even a bit on some of the best gins. Highly recommended....will likely get a bottle for myself, first hard alcohol I've bought since Absenthe became legal again in the US.....

Yeah, I heard about this too late, too....didn't check their site, but someone else said the same thing you did (N/A now) I'll start looking again, will ping you if I find.....

Agreed on points of songs being great, and Margo's voice. I loved Trinity Sessions when I first got it, and musically, liked The Caution Horses even better; a little more personal, maybe more gritty in the emotional sense....just connected with me more. I remember they did a Tonight Show appearance, and Jay Leno held their CD up in front of him and announced that the new album "The Cautious Horses" [sic] was now available... I've enjoyed just about all of their albums since, but none as much as these two. I picked up Whites Off Earth Now after these two, and it was pretty nice, too, coming in a fairly close 3rd place for me. I seem to recall a few critics called Trinity their debut album. Never got to see them live, though.....bummed about that.