Dreadhead

Al that's actually not true: Damn I want one. I am going to get one sometime but now I have to wait for my bank account to recover a bit.

Sounds like static electricity fun to me...

Me too me too

Preferred is a tad strong, he explained the differences: Berkeley Audio Design Alpha DAC Review | Computer Audiophile by his description the Weiss is more my speed anywa and I actually am looking at the DAC1 mkII (weiss' top of the line) not the DAC2 (my mistake).

Al I'm not quite following. I'm very seriously considering the DAC2 mkII. I alot of pretty famous mastering studios use it in the mastering path which makes me think it kicks ass and it's the same thing as the Minerva for a lot less. Weiss claims to do more QC on the audiophile units but I'm not sure I believe that; pro's don't usually put up with something costing 7 grand breaking or having issues.

Ruled out is not the right word. I'm just not as interested. The lack of info is also a problem for me. The reason I lean towards the pro stuff is I like the idea of using the same DAC that they used to master the CD I'm listening too. The Pacific Microsonics definitely interests me too. I'd rather not do DSD.

Nope. I've heard reviews from others though that are very complimentary. They keep going on Audiogon for reasonably high prices too. I would be seriously considering one if I wasn't considering just going to a reference professional DAC (Lavry Gold/Weiss DAC1/Prism Dream AD-2) and being done with it.

Otay we agree to disagree.

Nor am I trying to convince people that they should stop listening to vinyl I just get all antsy when they say it's technically superior to CD when it's not. Dusty you should read the comparison especially the THD+N discussion which is particularly interesting when the record has 7% distortion at 1kHz. That's pretty wild as far as I'm concerned.

Technical Articles Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity The vinyl vs. CD article is particularly enlightening. I may be wrong on the rolled off part (I can't find the reference I've seen before) but "noisy" is true and 30db channel separation is pretty horrible. I particularly like the THD+N measurement. My problem is the roll off from vinyl varies with how often it's been played: See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gramophone_record in the section on "Frequency response and noise" though as it says this varies.

I love fidelity to the orignal music but music is to be enjoyed so if they enjoy it then so be it. Personally I will never understand vinyl, I find it noisy and rolled off. I know I'm likely in a minority around here but that's what I think.

To continue off on the tangent. I bought the AE-2 because I didn't really want something as tiny as the Pico and I did not need a DAC. At the time Justin explained that there is a small difference between the two and I mean SMALL: same OP-AMP just slightly better resistor matching. This means the Pico has a very slightly lower noise floor. Considering that we are hooking these things up to an ipod or other PMP then that noise floor is so far below that of the source it's pretty much a joke. To my ear they are identical but I did not do a detailed A/B. I am gradually changing my mind and may order a Pico with DAC sometime in the future, once my wallet has some time to recover from the KGSS/Dynafet/HD800 situation I am currently in

There is a pair of bald eagles nesting nearby. My wife's boss lent me his 500mm lens and 1.4TC and I still couldn't fill the frame with these huge birds but I'm still reasonably pleased.

no luck.... mailed them off. Back to dynamics exclusively for a month.

If I ever design an amp I'm going to put a giant heat sink with a resistor that takes 1000w from the wall. More power is always better

ROFL

You sure? I had them apart yesterday I could give that a swing with some electrical tape first.

Justin: banishing myths as usual and making kick as gear while doing it.

very cool. I love Headamp stuff. I would be all over this if I had access to a reasonable online radio station at work. My work blocks the majority of them and the ones it doesn't the feeds generally suck. At this stage I just use my USB Transit.

Beautiful! Congrats to you and to the new owner

Thanks for the advice. I'll send them off anyway. I think Koss should deliver a product that doesn't squeal If the new ones they send back have the same issue then maybe I'll give it a swing.

Oh well I'm in no real need of them right now. I just switched back to my dynamics for the next little while. I'm pretty sure they'll beat my KGSS to me

Mine have been suffering on and off from a high pitched squeal in the right channel (much more on than off0. It's reached the point where I want to start over with them so in they go for warranty repair tomorrow. I'm sending everything in with them and hopefully they'll live up to their claimed 72 hour turn around time.