I'd appreciate more thoughts on the ESR, if you had any. I'm in the same boat as you.. would love to buy the Phantom, but spending that much on an IEM isn't in the cards for me. I'm also a big fan of the Spartan, so I'd love to hear how the ESR compare, if possible.

  http://diyforums.org/Torpedo-III/TorpedoIII-tubes.php

  Did you plug it into a different USB port than the last port (which had the volume turned down) ?

  I've given DSD plenty of spin.. on plenty of nice gear.. it's just not worth. the. hassle, IME.  I can tell the difference between lossy & lossless rips.  I've owned the HD800 three times.. and heard it off plenty of great rigs.. so I know what it's capable of resolving.   Also.. Schiit's...

Every time someone mentions DSD in this thread.. Mike M. kills a $30 multibit DAC that's fully differential, fits in your pocket, and achieves 95% of the Yggy's SQ.   So... keep it up, dummies.   For real though.. screw DSD.  What a waste of time.  You DSD fanboys have an assload of...

I can definitely see why it's recommended for rock lovers.. The Spartan possesses excellent micro and macro dynamics (it belies what one might typically expect from a quad driver in this regard). The clean, fast, crisp attack coupled with accurate timbre and perfectly balanced note weight makes...

I know all the rage is the Zeus/Zeus-R as of late.. but I've had the Spartan-IV (custom version) for a short while now and I find it nothing short of fantastic.  It possesses a near perfect blend of the tonal profile and technicalities I prioritize.  Tied with the UERM, the Spartan is probably...

The HD650 is a fantastic phone.. stock or modded!  Zonto's offered some very useful information that illustrates some of the modded HD650's (measurable) benefits.. but modding isn't absolutely necessary to enjoy it, of course!  For some, a modded pair might not sound (enough) to warrant a...

Took the words right out of my mouth.  Thanks Mikoss!

  Depending on the mods.. speed does improve.  It's not going to turn into a Stax or anything.. but strategically placed dynamat does tighten the bass, improve (perceived) transient speed, and in turn, reveal better low frequency texture.. and yes, I've modded my 650 (quarter hole in the front...

HD 650 can be your "main squeeze" .. but functions equally comfortably as a 'side chick.'  It can be a fun, cheap date.. but it's most rewarding.. especially late at night.. if you go all out and treat her right with good food/gear.   As my friend @eke2k6 would say, "a lady in the streets...

  One of my favorite amps with the HD650 is a tricked out BH Crack w/ speedball (tricked out with film output caps, PS bypass caps, a better pot, etc.).  But if you can't source it, the Valhalla 2 (with Holland/Amperex tubes) is my other favorite tube amp (if your budget is under $500)...

Yep.. I went from uni's to customs a few years ago and never looked back. The comfort, consistency, and isolation.. not to mention sq.. were just too good to want to even dabble with (most) universals (again). My frustration with tip rolling grew quite a bit, as well. More recently, I decided...

^^^ LMAOOO ^^^

I picked up my V5 this morning, fellas. As had always been my experience, Neco's customer service was nothing short of perfect. The guy is polite, accommodating, prompt, and humble. My current rig is: Geek Out v2+ Infinity (2 Volt output, TCM & FRM filters)-- Neco V5 (high gain) -- Sennheiser...