Asr

LowePro Nova 180AW camera bag, Bryston BDA-1 (which I'm sending to CanJam '09), and Grado HF-2

The last thing I need is another hit to my wallet but I ordered one anyway, this sounds way too intriguing. Yay for free shipping and minus $1.48 (via USPS Priority) with the 2% newsletter discount! Oh and the site says it's 3 lbs - can anyone extrapolate if that means plastic, wood, or aluminum cups?

Oops, sorry about that case suggestion then. I guess I underestimated the dimensions. This is for myself:

Damn that is some awesome fine-tuning! Will you be implementing this attenuator in one of your home amps as well later on? Because that would kick so much ass!

^ If that was directed at me, I'm not following you. But now that you mention it, hrmm not a bad idea to protect & carry several bottles of beer somewhere...

If nothing else, at least this should be the perfect kind of large, blunt object one would need to deliver a blow to the head. Not all of us are lucky enough to have shovels.

Damn, that is sweet. I might buy one just to look at it, since I prefer using my IEMs directly from my DAP. Which kinda leads me to ask, is the market for IEM-oriented amps really that big? Not sure I get why so many people bother amping their IEMs.

Started listening tonight, and I have to say, I'm both impressed and underwhelmed at the same time. Granted I've been listening to my Plinius CD-101 regularly for a long time, often alternating with my Arcam FMJ CD36, and the Pico is a noticeably relative step down from both of them, as it should be of course. The Arcam comparison may be somewhat relevant since it uses the same DAC (WM8740, 2 per channel) and ASRC (AD1896). I find the Pico to have a slightly more diffuse soundstage and a tad leaner both in the mid-range and the bass. This is only a preliminary impression as I didn't compare the two very long. That said, for an effective $300 (or is it $350 now?), the Pico sounds really damn good and I can't imagine anything else in its price range being any better. I did compare briefly to the Gamma 1 Lite and the Pico absolutely crushes it in every way. I'm using the Pico coupled to the AE-2 (with Qualia and AD2000) and I definitely prefer the resulting sound more than I did with my former Pico DAC/amp. Never did really like the sound of the DAC/amp that much - in fact, I kinda feel like I'm listening to a HeadAmp product again since there's a relative treble tilt with this combo, which I prefer. I also have one operational complaint with the Pico DAC - no power LED to indicate when it's plugged into USB, as my Gamma 1 Lite has that feature. Minor quibble though. And my computer doesn't show any pop-ups when I plug it in either, but that might be just my computer.

Got mine yesterday, #26. Haven't listened yet though. Now I get to find out how this DAC sounds directly with the AE-2, and then later on, a Mini3 and Gilmore Lite....

blubliss, what equipment rack is that? Looks very nice, is that plexiglass?

Well you were certainly close...

Ahh, that dastardly Listen/Measure switch! I demand impressions of Listen vs Measure!

I "heard" the QB-9 today at a local dealer who had an "open house" with John Atkinson (Stereophile EIC) and Joe Harley (AudioQuest). Amplification was done via Classe components into the B&W Signature Diamond. Atkinson demoed the QB-9 from his laptop computer using 24/88.2 files from his own recording sessions. The classical, choral, and jazz music was so boring it almost put me to sleep so there is that bias too. So I can't offer any useful impressions other than that of the speakers, and I have to say I was underwhelmed by them. I immediately thought they needed more treble. Atkinson did seem to enjoy the QB-9 for whatever that's worth. Charles Hansen was there too actually, along with two other guys from Ayre, one of which I accosted to ask some questions. He confirmed the analog output stage is similar to the C-5xe's though the DACs aren't the same, but he did offer that they were Burr-Brown. He also said the QB-9 is more similar to the C-5xe than the CX-7e...

I decided to get one too and I don't know what I'll use it for either, since it's not big enough for any of my headphones - unless maybe I got a Grado again....

The Pelican 1200 is definitely too small for the Qualia, but this one should be roomy enough: Pelican Products Pelican Mini D Protection Cases Equipment Storage Cases at Markertek.com

Whose Qualia was it before? These things don't just sit on a shelf waiting to be bought you know.

Actually you can, at least over here, it's just that TSA doesn't allow liquids through security. The easy way around that: (1) Carry empty bottle in carry-on. (2) Fill empty bottle with some tasty liquid at some point between security and gate. (3) Board plane. (4) Drink and enjoy later.

Most airlines now charge for soft drinks! SOFT DRINKS! It's robbery I tellz ya!

Cakewalk Rapture virtual synthesizer (full version) & Sony Sound Forge 9 sound editor

Maybe one of the sets made by Cambridge SoundWorks? I don't have much personal experience with CSW myself (the only speakers I ever owned from them were the SoundWorks like 12-13 years ago, which were actually pretty good) but have read that they make good budget speakers.

Yeah The Poisoner is some really cool stuff, though I haven't done a full continuous listen yet. Will definitely be downloading more of their stuff on eMusic - which other albums would you recommend checking out first?

Redbook CDs Jewel - Lullaby (soundtrack) (pre-order for 5/5) Melody Gardot - My One And Only Thrill (jazz) (new release for today 4/28 ) The Crystal Method - Divided By Night (electronica) (pre-order for 5/12, will also be available on vinyl!) Trifonic - Emergence (electronica) The Melody Gardot disc is really good stuff, I'd definitely recommend it for anyone who likes female-fronted jazz/blues. eMusic Downloads (electronica) Controlled Bleeding - The Poisoner Mouse on Mars - Glam radicalfashion - Odori Taylor Deupree - Northern Visions - Lapse

HeadAmp Gilmore Lite (new) and a Gamma 1 Lite by MisterX, to be coupled with a future Mini3:

There are two ZDs listed for sale that are available right now! New & Used Stuff I inquired if both were from the 2009 run and Craig confirmed that they are. I kinda want a ZD now but if I actually go for one (not really sure yet), I think I'll be going for a new one with the impedance switch...