It sure looks strange with so few outputs.... I do highly recommend a replacement PSU for it as it works well on my unit. If you have an old Iomega Zip drive then that PSU will work very well.
If the change in sound from a cold to the amp being at regular running temperature is large enough then I'd run it 24/7 but you are eating up a lot of juice and shorting the life of the capacitors dramatically.
Like Doug said it is always a good idea to discharge the phones if you are storing them for any long period of time.
I believe they use a similar type of panel as ML (powder coated sheet metal) so there are no dust covers and the drivers are often glued together. I'd start checking the bias supplies though before the panels.
If you have some sort of a volume pot and an enclosure then the only thing you need is some RCA jacks. The input goes to one pin of the pot, the output is the next one and then there is ground. It's even easier then pie...
There there should be some passive pre kits on ebay...
I can't wait to get some for shoulder mounted headphones, the Surrounder Mk2... Has anybody seen any mention of a price of either the monitors or the sub unit?
I've compared a lot of transports and even built my own (Shigaclone) and they sound very different from one another. This isn't just limited to disk spinning units as USB transports aren't all the same and benefit from a better PSU.
I'm not sure how the NWO is designed but it shouldn't be a problem to simply ground the - output of the amp and only use the + which is SE. Have you tried XLR-RCA adapter plugs in the chain?
Sure aren't. The balls on those people not allowing their customers to pour thousands into "upgrades" which they don't need. Just wait until Mikhail hears of this and shows them the right way of selling headphone amps. They are also quick to deliver their amps. Those people sure have a lot to learn...
Mundorf Silver/Gold are maxed out. V-caps are maxed out. Jensen silver foil are maxed out. AN or Kondo caps are insane and you should be institutionalized.
It is very easy to just fiddle about with the cap values to create some effect that is an improvement. I'm not doubting that better caps make a difference but you have to remeber what the caps are doing there in the first place...
Ahh the joys of buying used headphones from people that don't give a fuck...
They could have tinkered with the cap values a bit to create a different sound. A change in the output caps would have a rather large impact on the sound...
I've had two here and heard no difference to speak of.
The GES circuit could be modified by changing out the tubes (to something like the ES-1 uses) but I'm not sure if that will be enough of a change. You are still dealing with output caps which limit the output of the amp and certainly don't make the sound "better". A better option would be to get somebody to build an ES-1 (without all the patented Mikhail fuck-ups) or wait for the new DIY hybrid amp which is underway.