It's really just something that I'm toying with and probably shouldn't even be considering. I'm certainly not looking to take on another build any time soon, I'm up to my eyeballs in crap as it is. Thanks for the input though and it certainly applies to more than my situation.
You're searching a little hard to find controversy there. 99% of Head-Fi reads your post and looks like this.
And the 1% that can read and comprehend what you're saying doesn't care because they already knew it. Plenty of manufacturers use a higher gain to give the perception that their amp has more power or to accommodate low gain sources more easily. Most ignorant users get concerned if they have to turn the volume pot up more than half way.
You are correct, the half/kit nomenclature is somewhat of a misnomer since it's usually not much more than the pcb. And knowing that I'd have a hard time shelling out $99 for a pcb but when he includes a chassis he usually doesn't call it a half/kit, like I mentioned above. Only time will tell and it's definitely worth watching and not speculating further.
I'm with JB, I can't imagine the half-kit containing much at $99, certainly none of the trafos. In fact it's sort of weird that he's referring to it as a half kit, I'm surprised he isn't making it a half-box like the Cornet. That'd actually be a decent deal at $99.
Sorry to hear you're not going to make it JB.
And Haj, I hear you, if I don't get the mini32 done I don't know what I'll do. I'm not going to waste the time of bringing the old Millett Hybrid down with the Hertsens. I think if you don't have the Single Power by then you should set up your rig and put down a piece of paper that says "Insert Long Overdue Single Power Amp Here".
Wonder if that'll drive used prices up or down. I'm sure anyone selling a pair will make claims that the new model is inferior blah blah and the other side will say the opposite. Drama ftw.
I'd really like to but right now I've just got so much going on that I can't deal with trying to coordinate getting molds taken, shipping the headphones off, etc., etc.
Dude, you drive an Audio, get a phatbox you slacker. Less storage, way fracken cooler. I had one in my S4 and it was the tits.
And I guess with my purchase of the devil, I mean Zune, I'm officially off this team.