If you had to downgrade your entire rig to $500 ...

[ojnihs]

How good is the line out of the transit anyways? I have a M Audio Audiophile USB which has a pretty nice line out, but thats a little more expensive then the transit.

and I see a lot of GLite suggestions. Am I the only one that wasnt blown away by the GLite with grados (I liked it a lot with the 580)? I liked the CK2III much more then the GLite with both grados and senns.

I found the M Audio Audiophile USB to sound quite good for the money. Never heard the transit, but I'm guessing that the Audiophile is probably slightly better.

I've never found grados to sound good, so I can't comment on them out of the GLite, but I've always thought of the GLite as being one of the best bangs for the buck.

[JBLoudG20]

JB

How would you compare the Zen to a computer with a transit or one of the cards Nate mentioned?

I can carry around my Zen and put it in my pocket.

[Upstateguy]

I can carry around my Zen and put it in my pocket.

Of course, but what I was really asking, having never heard one, is how good is the Zen comparatively?

[jinp6301]

btw, USG, if you ever feel like selling the M^3, send a PM my way

[granodemostasa]

from what i know the audiophile and transit have entirely different dacs in them. i like the usb, i have one and it was a good dac.

[hYdrociTy]

es2 or ue5c + original shuffle

[bhd812]

lite ah dac

lunch box

600's

used

[granodemostasa]

lite ah dac

lunch box

600's

used

nice, i think that's the best one anyone has thought of so far.

[ojnihs]

lite ah dac

lunch box

600's

sweet that's the rig i'm in the process of building, except with hd580s instead

[NotoriousBIG_PJ]

I would get ksc-35's and a shuffle.

Or hf-1's with something like Aerius's setup (diy p-p transformer based tube amp + modded vintage cd player).

Biggie.

[Dusty Chalk]

How good is the line out of the transit anyways?

I have the M-Audio Sonica -- the Transit's predecessor, and it's surprisingly good. Certainly a step up from your typical OEM soundcard. I've actually traveled with a laptop, M-Audio Sonica, and Sony MDR-7506/-V6, and've been perfectly happy with that setup.

[tom_hankins]

NAD C520 CDP 100.00 (Agon)

NAD 325 BEE Int. amp 250.00 (Agon)

Have the woofers surrounds replaced on the Advent Larges that are in my garage. 90.00

60.00 for some cheapie ICs and speaker cable.

[Upstateguy]

lite ah dac

lunch box

600's

used

i agree.

nice, i think that's the best one anyone has thought of so far.

sweet that's the rig i'm in the process of building, except with hd580s instead

Why the DAC-AH guys?

[en480c4]

Swap out a Denon DA-500 for the DAC-AH and you've got my old office rig. It was great. Probably a more technically capable rig than what I have at home, and an amazing vaue.

This idea is what I did a year or so ago. I'm into my current rig for less than $500 but only because the amp and wireless music streamer were gifts.

HF-1 + zebrawood cups = $230

Denon DA-500 = $100

Denon DCD-815 = $40

Millett Hybrid w/ STEPS & diamond buffers = $0

SMC ez-Stream = $0

Outlaw Audio RCAs, Coax & Optical cables < $100

[ojnihs]

This idea is what I did a year or so ago. I'm into my current rig for less than $500 but only because the amp and wireless music streamer were gifts.

Ian's cheating!!

[n_maher]

Ian's cheating!!

Not really, he's just got one crazy-ass friend. Ask him about his portable rig for further proof.

[Nanoha]

The DAC-AH isn't as good as you guys claim it to be though. As a DAC for the price, I guess it may be okay. But there are a few vintage CDPs that cost about as much or less and beat it hands-down imho.

[ojnihs]

Not really, he's just got one crazy-ass friend. Ask him about his portable rig for further proof.

fine then...Nate's crazy!!!

[elnero]

The DAC-AH isn't as good as you guys claim it to be though. As a DAC for the price, I guess it may be okay. But there are a few vintage CDPs that cost about as much or less and beat it hands-down imho.

What about modded? There are quite a few variations of fairly inexpensive mods for the DAC-AH that from reports I've read say they do nice things.

[Tachikoma]

I'm certainly not going to reveal my sources but I can assure you it can be done. I just bought a SR-Sigma for 55$ and a Lambda Signature for 74$. There is often a chance that they won't work but then I'll just have some extra spare parts, no harm done. It is very much possible to put together a killer setup for 500$.

what the fettucini o_O

My $500 setup would consist of:

SR-5NB + SRD-7mk2: $300

M-audio SuperDAC: $120

Pioneer SA-6200: $60

My SR-5NB is a long way off "stock" though - it has a wide PC-OCC cable and Gamma Pro drivers (with the original 2um membrane), and it sounds awesome out of just about anything <3

[spritzer]

My SR-5NB is a long way off "stock" though - it has a wide PC-OCC cable and Gamma Pro drivers (with the original 2um membrane), and it sounds awesome out of just about anything <3

Pretty cool but I'm sure that the Gamma's have a 1.5um diaphragm. I think the NB could be better then all of the other SR-5's as the plastic is different but I haven't tested this theory.

[HiWire]

I'd probably keep the Alessandro MS-1 and Headsave Classic and get an Oppo DV-980H.

[jinp6301]

Interesting to see that almost everyone gets senns if they were to downgrade. I guess grados arent as good for the money

[n_maher]

The Senns are just generally more affordable. I wouldn't bother with either the 80's or 125's which will run you as much as the 580s. I didn't care for stock 225s or 325s either and those will cost you every bit as much as the 650s. So yes, the Grados aren't as good for the $$ IMO.

[jinp6301]

do you think woodied 225s are a huge step up from the stock or just a slight improvement?