Who's Next was my first album purchase after getting a "real" stereo (i.e., wood speaker cabinets, not a plastic toy-like hi-fi), and it has the album rock staples (my older brother touted it at the time as a really well produced album ... which I listened to endlessly in my childhood room on...

Bruce Springsteen - Darkness on the Edge of Town.  I'm only a mid-fi kind of guy, but when I bought the vinyl album (an all-time favorite, despite the shoddy vinyl pressing and a so-so transfer to CD) in 1978, I was disappointed at the quality of the sound (admittedly, mostly due to badly...

My first post in many, many months ... some thoughts: I've been debating whether to buy this material for the third or fourth time, in its latest incarnation, and if so, in which format -- mono set, stereo set, or individual stereo CDs (for me, "Things We Said Today" through "Tomorrow Never...

Welcome to Head-Fi (officially, even though you have been lurking for a while). I'm not fazed by long posts -- you had been working up to that one a long time! Sorry about the income situation. A lot of people have that sort of thing to deal with ... which brings up what I think is a...

For most foamies, it can be a bit scary ... nobody wants to break their earphones. One way is to act as thought the tip were a lightbulb, and "unscrew" it from the body of the earphones. In other words, you don't simply "pull" the tips off -- you rotate or twist gently ... I rotate the body...

Future Sonics Atrio M5s or M8s -- for (well) under $200. Rich, deep bass, but not bloated. Well worth the extra effort to seek them out and get them online. I listen to a very wide variety of rock, pop, blues, soul, alt country, acoustic, indie, etc. music, including some bass-heavy electronica...

"Is there any place that I can compare them side-by-side..." Not really. ..."or would I have to buy them both and return one pair?" If you are really undecided. "Do they really make *that* much of a difference over, say, those $10 Jellyz earbuds?" Yes! Not in direct 1-to-1...

"What feature does the ipod have that's better than the microSD card expansion?" ________________________ A lot depends on how and in what situations a person uses a player. I got a Fuze as a present for a friend who doesn't have a computer (yes, there are still people who don't). A big...

Hi, Raconteur -- I remember your user name ... and your English seems at least as good as the last post I read from you. I'm not sure the Vibes represent that much of a step up from the Creatives ... or that they would hold up to your usage (I don't know their durability -- my friend who...

Yes -- once you move beyond the "old" 128 kbps norm, good earphones are well worth it. For your situation, I'll cast another vote for the Atrio M5s/M8s. They work very well unamped to "beef up" the sound of iPods. Several very good options have been suggested in this thread, and they would...

At least the number of songs that you would need to re-rip isn't in the thousands ... There's something to be said about a format that can play on a variety of players. Going back to what for you is probably ancient history, supposedly the Beta videotape format was a little better than VHS...

LeftyGorilla makes a good point ... I've found that playing through the headphone out doesn't sound much different from playing through line out, which I thought it might (being amped twice). Sure, playing through line out would have to be cleaner, but if the system isn't up to conveying the...

Re: Why so many DAPs? Good question … and some good answers, as well: - Different DAP's for different use - As backups, in case one fails, gets broken or stolen. Also for variety in quality and functions. Plus it's always nice to have lots of toys... - I think sometimes, people just...

The Atrios pair very well unamped with iPods, for an ultraportable combination. They help cancel out what some users would term drawbacks in each other. An iPod set un-EQ'd is not bassy and certainly not overly warm sounding; the relatively warm, bass-rich (but not muddy) M5s help the iPods I've...

You've described the Future Sonics Atrios. I'm sure the others mentioned will serve you well, too. But at least read the Future Sonics thread (more like an epic). After I got the Atrios, going back and listening to the Creative EP 630s was jarring. I like the Creatives -- for what they are...