Iron_Dreamer

Dammit, stop making me want those speakers!

But is Singlepower ANYTHING cheap?

I don't think you'll really need to worry about the Apogee unless you have a use for non-USB digital inputs, or balanced outputs. I'm pretty sure that the Pico sounds at least as good (if not better) when both are used as DAC and amp. And as a trans/portable unit, the Pico has the advantage of an analog input for the headphone amp. I think Justin said it was going to be $300/500 (sans-DAC/with-DAC). The Apogee is ~$700 w/o USB/FW or $850+ w USB or FW. (to more or less address your PM): I've not heard the 0404 USB before, as compared to the 0404 PCI, nor have I taken one apart, so I couldn't exactly say the modding possibilities. Even modded, if it sounds the same as the PCI version, it wouldn't be in the league of the other two as a source. I have no clue about the quality of the headphone amp. I'd just roll with the thing, and if it just really isn't cutting it for you, then you can ponder what to do next. Who knows, perhaps just getting away from that crappy onboard sound will be all you need for the situations in question.

Yeah, tone/timbre is definitely the back-breaker of the Ed9 for me. They just sounded wrong with orchestral music period. Now that I was able to compare them with the L3000, the Ed9's bass is simply enormous! The L3000 sounds quite balanced by comparison. That huge, powerful bass is fun for simulating a club experience, but I'd say it's even a bit too much for me with rock, let alone any acoustic music. An idea that came to mind is that they sound like a higher-end version of the DT770. They both have a huge, powerful bass, but the Ed9 does much better in terms of detail, smoothness, tightness, etc. To me it's a niche headphone.

Yeah, I certainly acknowledge that niche which is why I said "generally" superfluous

Indeed! Hence the reason I generally find the K1000 superfluous.

You talkin' to me? I know I need a real amp. We're working on it. But even with a good amp, the L3000 simply cannot equal the likes of the Omega II, K1000, HE90, 010, etc. in terms of air and soundstage, at least based on what I've heard from them all.

At least you guys got through ok without any trees falling on the place or flooding. Looks like it got real nasty in that area yesterday.

The W5000 certainly has an airier sound and larger soundstage than the L3000. I actually found the L3000 more detailed, and quite readily so, as not long after acquiring them I was noticing new sounds in familiar recordings, after owning the W5000 for over a year. I would generally call imaging a draw. They both have a very similar sort of imaging to me, and it it quite clear and tight. Really the only "problem" with the L3000 is that it doesn't have a large, airy soundstage (compared to what some of the other top headphones can do). Well nor does the PS-1, Edition 9, or any of the other top bass headphones. In my mind it's some sort of a fundamental trade off, you can have airy or punchy, but not both. Hence the need of one headphone for bass-driven music and one for acoustic music.

Yes, and it kicks serious ass. And it seems it will be called the Pico. Get in line!

Yeah, that sounds about right. I'm skeptical that one can get top-level source performance for under $5000 (not considering DIY possibilities).

Definitely! OII+KGSS is my orchestral music setup some time in the future (assuming I don't hear something better for less or about the same cost).

Mwhahahaha, California pwns you chowdaheads

I'm guessing this is largely due to mastering, or how much less compressed the vinyls are compared to CD's of the same metal. Grrr......damn fools and their compressors

It sure beats getting whacked in the noggin with a baseball bat

Yeah, the JPN's beauty is really only in the wood. The rest is not terribly impressive. I think the chrome accent piece on the L3000 makes it look much better than it would without. The L3000 is certainly a cool looking headphone, with a very distinct approach. I think the Qualia might be the most interesting looking headphone, in all its' ill-fittedness and easily-brokenness. I'd still say the W5000 is the most stylish headphone. The all-black, relatively minimalist metal work combined with the dark, natural wood cups is just a very smooth and sexy look. Of course they've hardly got the most attractive cable...sigh. And of course the retro-cool look of the HP1000 could not be forgotten, what the PS1 wished it could be when it grew up!

FYI, you can use the profile feature of EAC to save and restore your settings. Likewise, just backup the foobar2000.cfg and database.foo files from the foobar2000 folder, and then restore them once you've reinstalled, and you won't have to set them up again.

Yep, too bad I hate Etys

I'd think the Jecklin Floats and Sennheiser Surrounder get instant votes

Time to put those HP2 drivers in a CD3000 body methinks!

Ahhh Jack, I recall the days of burning through headphones faster than I could find new ones to try...now it takes me at least 6 months!

I'd certainly agree. A balanced B22 is a truly top-flight headphone amp, that can stand up to the likes for $8K+ digital sources, while powering anything up to efficient speakers. When compared against the cost of accompanying gear that's at the same performance level, the B22 is a relative bargain. If a well-known commercial builder made the B22, I'm sure it would cost $5K+.

Too bad it's a Logitech universal remote

Perhaps to continue your current naming scheme from the home amps...GS-P [uSB]

I love the irony of buying something twofold more expensive because you couldn't get a good enough deal Anyway, it's a lot better looking and more useful, so who's to say it wasn't the right decision. I'd still like to get a good listen to one and figure out just where it stacks up as a DAC.