morphsci

Mine was actually an analogy: a software engineer is as much of an audio designer as a molecular biologist is a geneticist. Most molecular biologists do not have a very deep understanding of classical genetics, unfortunately, though most will tell you they do.

The Gilmore Lite should drive the K701's just fine. The reason I originally listed it as maybe is because it dpends on how critical you are. I utilize a GS-X (it actually once belonged to ASR) and my K701's are balanced so a G-lite will not sound as good in comparison but it still should sound damn good. If you move up in amplification, the K701 will scale up also.

Software engineer --> audio equipment designer as molecular biologist --> geneticist

If by respectable you mean loud enough to listen too, then yes. If you mean enjoy listening then no. In fact, my K340's sound better (still wouldn't do it except as an experiment) off the Pico than the K701. QFT

Listening to the HF-2's off of the AA HPA v.1.0. This amp loves Grado's and the HF-2 loves the AA. Not surprising, as my favorite pairing at CanJam was the HF-2/FET-A.

Really? By people that actually own them, or even saw them in person?

Agreed. When I said it was a good thing it is not Neil Young I wasn't disparaging his version, but that they did the cover, as most they do, in their own way.

I am waiting to see how they are reviewed. I think it is time to retire the Rotel 1068. Right now it looks like I will either get the Outlaw 997 or the Integra DHC-9.9. I haven't been a huge fan of the Outlaw Pre-Pro's in the past as they always seemed one step behind the curve. No HDMI on the 990 was just stupid and pig-headed.

Pico DAC/AMP - Level: Yes; Quality: No G-Lite/Pico DAC - Level: Yes; Quality: Maybe Of course I'm one of those curmudgeons that thinks the 701's need more power to sound good (as well as a double-entry recable).

Bastard! I want my BA. Just kidding, congrats.

You are right, it's not Neil Young, but IMO that's a good thing. In this case the cover is better than the original, like a lot of their covers.

I think the pico amp/dac suggestion is quite a good one at your price point. The g-lite/pico dac is also a good suggestion but in reality may not be a huge step-up from the pico amp/dac. A bigger step-up, but at a larger cost is to go with the TTVJ Fet-A as the amp with the Pico DAC. IMO the Fet-A loves grados and sounds quite nice with the hf-2, at least with my relatively short audition at CanJam.

Thanks Andrew. It is probably the 9018 as you said. I am definitely watching out for this one. I will be very interested in what it is priced at as the tab on my Buffalo just keeps rising.

Spoken like a true expert.

Dibs on the UPA-2 when it is sold.

Happy Birthday Mike!

I you are trying to keep costs down then I would go with the Outlaw but I would go up to the 7125 or maybe a used 5-channel older model like the 755. If you want to stay under $1000 I'm not sure you can do much better new and used is a crap shoot.

I actually use five of the older M-200 monoblocks (currently the M-2200). I am quite fond of the Outlaw amps, now their processors, not so much. The reason I suggested the Rotel is that is a damn fine price for that amp.

Rotel RMB-1075

Thanks, ordered that plus the SACD of Whites Off Earth Now which I have been meaning to order. Natalie Merchant FTW

Happy Birth Day To You.

Yep, it will be the USB input (so a little surgery required) and I will feed the SPDIF output to SPDIF MUX and then into the Buffalo. Totally a ripoff of Naaman's build as it is just a great idea. I needed the MUX anyway for my other inputs.

Technically, there are no native Americans, just people who immigrated here before others.

The last few pieces parts for the Sabre32 DAC (other than casework) plus a replacement for my old Weller that seems to have perished from non-usage.