Originally Posted by jamato8
Of course you do, it is your fix, you addict.
Wallet! Wallet!! after being here a while I even had to sell my wallet!!!
That is some signature.
(this is not totally OT)
Yes, I have PWS (Painful Wallet Syndrome). I have just paid off most of my credit cards, and I can pay off the last $3,000 now, and be cash poor (1.9% on capital one). After that I have to save up for the rest of the year for 10 days at our time share in Maui in December (the boss's orders). A PICO will throw a monkey wrench into the gears, because I am now retired and on a fixed income since Sept 1 last year. I'm close to the point of having to sell something old anytime I want to get something new.
I am torn because I'd like a PICO - whether to use as an DAC/amp or as a DAC/preamp. It's the up-converting jitter-free DAC that appeals to me the most. Optical/Coax inputs would have clinched the deal for me, but alas not. The upcomming iBasso D2 may have the same DAC chip, but if the implementation isn't as good (I2S to upconvert, to decode) then it wont matter.
I find the Predator does a good job as a preamp to my 336i tube amp, but I don't know that I like it any better than my iBassoD1 as a DAC feeding the 336i. I only have 248 hours on the Predator, so it will be a while before I know the final sound signature, but I like it so far. And, I think the D1 is a great DAC and it sounds great to me, but I keep hearing about all the better ones (like Headamp, Benchmark, Grace).
So, the PICO is presenting my first real PWS dilemma, because it is a lot more affordable than some of the other high-end DAC's I have been considering, but to implement it at my bedside headphone rig with laptop is one thing, but it wont take care of future needs like balanced outputs and multiple source inputs.
Decisions, decisions...
That's why I lurk here in the PICO thread for months, and have been silent till now.