Great pic Viper.  Please keep us posted.  I have been using my stock U2 since March and have been quite happy with it.  If the mods go well perhaps I'll send you mine  Keep up the good work and thanks for sharing!

Congrats!  I'd like to have a listen once you break it in!

Just received my U2 today as well.  I will be comparing it to my JKeny modded hiface (mk1) version.  One thing that I did notice already is that I cannot use my 20dB attenuator with the U2 like I can with the hiface and still get a signal lock (at least with the Headroom Ultra micro DAC). The...

Quote: I could not agree more! Listening to Duke's main rig is pretty amazing after his latest op amp upgrade.  If I hadn't heard the improvement myself, I would not believe it.  The AD797's really do bring this DAC to another level.  As much as the LME49990's improved the sound over the...

Having done a side by side comparison, the Headroom UDAC (also with the ESS9018 processor) provides an extremely cohesive frequency response (nothing is exaggerated), deeper and wider soundstage and is overall smoother sounding without loss of detail over the stock minimax.  This is all provided...

dmac, I don't know what the top of your price range is, but Headroom recently updated the UDAC with the ess9018 chip and as you may recall it is a balanced DAC.  It is a heck of a DAC if you can swing it.  Duke (9pintube) and I have been comparing it to the EE minimax with upgraded opamps and...

Headroom BUDA with Balanced 800's.  Amazing combo!

Headroom sells the replacement cable as well as upgraded Cardas cables.  The price for the stock cable is $299.00 http://www.headphone.com/accessories/headphone-parts/sennheiser-hd800-replacement-cable.php

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I guess not if you don't like opamps I didn't realize that designs incorporating opamps are carte blanche labeled as toys!

I guess not if you don't like opamps

I have been using a HR BUDA with balanced HD800s for the past year or so and it is an excellent amp IMHO.  I absolutely love the sound.  Very liquid mids, smooth highs and very powerful and controlled bass.  This amp effectively stopped any upgraditis dead in its tracks.  Paired with the UDAC it...

It seems that Headroom amps don't get mentioned very often with the 800's, however I have been enjoying my balanced ultra desktop stack immensely over the last year.  For me, this is a fantastic combination and has quelled any desire for upgrading!!! This combo is outstanding for many genres of...

This is more like it! What an excellent discussion over the last few posts.  For a scientist and classically trained violinist like me, all of this data and other information is incredibly informative and useful. Thanks and please keep up the informative posting.  

Quote: I agree that the Hiface is a very good piece of hardware.  I actually use a jkenny battery-modded version with pure music and I really like it in my system.  I find the combination of the hiface and pure music to be very resolving and really very enjoyable to listen to especially...