I'm changing around my office and I feel its probably time to replace two Tripp Lite ISOBAR 6ULTRA's (10-12 years old) that I use behind a desk where I stack most of my audio gear. Both ISOBAR's are plugged into the same wall receptacle (top and bottom) but having two allows me to space them...

I've been using a pair of Klipsch X10's for about 2 years now with my Sansa Clip Zip (40GB & FLAC files only) along with my FiiO E11 while I'm out and about and last weekend the X10's were destroyed by our new puppy. I have a pair of Westone 4R's, Klipsch X5's and S2's but I was planning on...

I generally listen far more to my IEM's during any given day (music or Audiobooks) than I do to my full-size headphones at my office or at home. I bet I probably listen to IEM's at least 5-6 hours a day and some days maybe even more...sometimes I wear them to bed, listening to music as I fall...

This may be VERY difficult to answer (I know its an odd question) but if anyone here has heard both the Westone 4R Quad-Driver IEM and the HifiMan HE-400's, which did you find more enjoyable to use? Is one more musically accurate or fun than the other?   I understand that we're talking...

Anyone else using the Lyr as a preamp as well as a headphone amp in a standard, non-powered speaker stereo setup feeding a stereo amp?    I've have mine setup as a single source (Parasound Zdac) preamp feeding either the Parasound A21 or A23 stereo amp in one of my two systems for just about...

I'm considering the Schiit Audio Lyr and was wondering how that amp preforms with the K701's?   I've heard some say that the powerful Lyr brings out the full potential of the 701's and I wondered if any here have found that to be true. I'm assuming that the Lyr has too much gain for my Grado...

In my office system I'm currently using the DacMagic with the Pangea P-100 power supply (feed via Canare 75 ohm coax w/RCA) and I'm wondering if the Schiit Bifrost DAC would be a worthwhile upgrade? If I bought the Bifrost I'd forgo the USB board and just continue to use the 75 ohm RCA S/PDIF...

I have a new Fiio E11 that will be arriving in the next day or two and for the most part I'll be using it with Klipsch Image X5's when I'm on the move. I've been reading reviews here about the amp but I'm still not so sure what is the best Power and Gain setting for the X5's.   Should High...

I sold my Auzentech X-Fi Prelude to a friend that lives in another state and now he is trying to use a DAC with the card and can't seem to find what to check to get the coaxial digital out to work.   I'm trying to help him but it's very difficult when you no longer have the software on your...

Do most of you buy replacement tubes for your Little Dot amps (I have the MK III) from LD or somewhere here in the states? I'd like to buy a set of backup tubes and they'll run $71 from Little Dot (the 4 stock tubes)......is that pretty much what you'd pay anywhere?   What difference is made...

I was wondering if anyone else here has been using the Little Dot MK III as a preamp into a direct coupled amp with no problems?   After reading Sam Tellig in Stereophile (May 2010) say that the LD MK III makes a very nice preamp (daring you to compare it against your current linestage) I...

I'm using the coaxial digital (true 75 Ohm cable) out from my Asus STX to a DacMagic with foobar2000 in Windows 7.  In the Xonar Control Panel I checked the box for SPDIF Out / PCM and when playing 24bit/96kHz music from foobar 2000 the incoming sample rate on the DacMagic shows 96 as it...

Hey guys,   I'm looking for a portable amp that I can use with either my Grado 325i's or AKG701's (sometimes maybe my Klipsch Image X5's) along with my 8GB Sansa Clip when I just want to chill in a part of the house away from my main system.   Two amps I'm looking at are the FiiO E7 and...

The amp that I was using in my office system died (Acurus A-250) and I'm looking for an integrated amp that sounds good to take its place at least until I can find the time to replace the caps in the A-250. The speakers I use in the office are the B&W CDM 1NT's along with a Velodyne VA-1250X sub...

I'm looking for a new pair of earphones that sound good yet are comfortable to wear. I'll be using them with my 8GB Sansa Clip, I was very happy with my iGrado's but my son was home from college for a week and liked them as well so I gave them to him. For serious HP listening I use my main...

I apologize in advance if this has already been posted. I know that it's been mentioned many times on this forum that Stereophile did a review of the Asus card but they've now posted it in full on their website. Stereophile: ASUS Xonar Essence ST/STX soundcards Take care.

For now I feel set at headphones on my main stereo rig with AKG 701's and Grado 325i's (so you know what type I enjoy). What I'm looking for is a set of headphones that are light weight and are easy to drive with my 8GB Sansa Clip, I do have the FiiO E5 as well if needed. I have the...

I just received my "open box" ASUS Xonar Essence STX yesterday and it's up and running. I'm looking up a lot of information online since the card came with no manual and the couple times I've tried to download it from Asus but it said that there was too much traffic at that time. I should...

I received a Asus Xonar Essence STX today that I purchased as an "open box" and what I found when I opened the shipping box from Newegg was the sound card wrapped in bubble wrap and nothing else. I read their policy on open boxes but then I also read their return policy and wrongly assumed...

I was at Newegg looking to buy the ASUS Xonar Essence STX and they have it for $199.95 but early in the AM today they had an open box STX card for $116, I had to pull the trigger on that deal since whoever ends up buying my Prelude will get a card that was handled carefully and is packed in the...

I know that this card gets written about a lot on this forum but I would love to know a couple more things about it before I buy it this week. Are the drivers for Windows XP solid and does it work fine with foobar2000 and ASIO4ALL? The card has a front panel headphone header, is that...

I'm currently using the Auzentech Prelude 7.1 which replaced the Creative X-Fi XtremeMusic. I'm now living in an apartment and in the evening I almost always switch to headphones, Grado 325i and AKG 701's powered by the Cute Beyond and Supplier. Now I'm wondering if I'd be better off with...

Has anyone here every used the FIREYE 1 Micro Headphone Amplifier? I’m just looking for something small to give me a bit more volume and punch while listening to my Sansa Clip with either Grado 325i’s or AKG 701’s. You use the short cable that is provided to go from the headphone output on...

I know that this sounds like an easy question since as music lovers and audiophiles it’s always easy to say “of course you need to upgrade to the _____” fill in the blank. I’m currently using a Auzentech Prelude sound card in my PC and have DH Labs Revelation interconnects running from the card...

I ordered and just received a new (?) pair of AKG 701’s from J&R.com and was surprised that though they were shrink wrapped in the box with J&R’s scan stickers (that all checked out with Customer Service) the white plastic around the phones were marked up in several places and there was a single...