I say - fire them up and take a listen.  They look like a very cool set of headphones, and it's always neat to see vintage electrostat threads pop up.

Really, the only issue I'm having is the occasional lock-up, and that's a known issue with driver compatibility and the game I'm playing.  I'm really more interested in getting a better digital transport via sound card, while still maintaining the speaker and mic capabilities I have right now.

For an electrical Neanderthal like myself, can you explain the difference in sending a signal via a voltage-based interface, compared to a current-based?  How does the conversion to current from voltage, in relation to this method of signal transfer, work?   Quote:    

Latest version for Win7 64-bit installed...if I recall right, its a couple months old now.

Just to hop back and clarify a bit (bad wording on my part) - I don't think the stock tubes have a cut-off of the lows and highs (re-reading what I wrote, that's what it seems like I was saying to me), but rather they're not quite as distinct and controlled with the JJs as they are with some NOS...

Using normal speakers for gaming, do you notice a reduction of sound when going from listening to music to playing a game, without adjusting the volume at all?  Or is it just relegated to happening when you use your headphones?

Definitely wouldn't max the Lyr's volume - given its output capability, there's a not-insignificant danger of accidentally smoking your headphones, ears, or both if someone inadvertently bumps the pre-amp volume while you're listening to music.   For pre-amping, I normally adjust the level...

I'd be using foobar, which (I'm assuming) would allow me to manually select the S/PDIF out on the Xonar for music playback, while leaving my Windows default as the X-Fi, similar to how I'd select an external DAC connected to my computer via USB in foobar, while leaving my sound card the default...

Ah.  With the HD650s, I'd definitely look at swapping the DAC first, and then the amp later on down the road.  Of course, that's assuming you're not going to be perfectly happy with the setup you have now when you plug the HD650 into it.  Things can always be improved, but a lot of the time they...

Hah, I didn't read the whole thing, but I bet that got some "interesting" responses from the arf-commers.   Course, if LaRue came out with an optics mount that promised fewer FTEs, it would be the new trend of the month over there.  Every community has its manias.   Quote:    

With AD700s?  Neither really represent an obstacle.  If I had to upgrade one or the other, though, it would be the DAC - I'd sell the V-DAC and the USB cable, and put the money towards a better multi-input DAC and go optical. 

Bit of a crazy thought, and I'm not sure it would work, but...   Would it be possible to use two audio cards in the same computer?  The reason I ask is because I have an X-Fi Titanium that I currently use for my normal speaker-out to my Z-5500s, and mic in for gaming, as well as for the...

The ERC-2 is pretty nice, but unfortunately a bit out of my price range right now.  Ended up buying a Marantz CD5004 from the For Sale section today; good timing, I guess.

Ouch!  The SR80i here in the US is something like $85 on Amazon.   I'm a headbanger myself, but I could never really get into Grado - they were just a little too "right there" for me.  Great if you're listening to a live album and want to imagine yourself 10' from the stage, but they're a...

Heh, yeah.  The wonderful thing about LCD-2s is that they have impressive low-end extension and impact, but the bass is also extremely transparent.  I'm not sure how well Adire Audio is known around here, but they had a couple subs, especially the Brahma, that produced some of the most...