Cheers, thanks. I think I'll stick with my M11+ then. Desktop mode would be cool, but since it's mainly a portable device for me, the higher output on-the-go of the M11+ is more valuable to me. And as far as the THX amp discussion, I do think it makes a difference. Or at least, it sounds good...

Considering swapping my M11+ ESS for this new guy. I've never owned a DAC with AKM chip. Does anyone know what the output power is (balanced out) when not in desktop mode? All the specs I can find only apply to desktop mode 1.0W @ 32 Ohm.

Moondrop Kato has this feature. But it's a little more than one hunnid.

Apologies if this has been asked already...I have an iBasso DX300 on the way, and I have a question about EQ and streaming. I'm assuming that even if the device does not have play store, since it's Android you can sideload Tidal/Spotify/Qobuz/etc. Now I know that the Mango player has a nice...

Sorry for the noob question, but I recently switched from Neutron to the stock player on my Walkman F series, and I am wondering about the sound settings.    Surround sound: I have this off. It seems to me much more like (bad) EQ presets than any kind of artificial 5.1 or 7.1, which would also...

Just popping in to say that the star tips work great for me. They offer the convenience and comfort of the older grey silicon tips, but the sound quality of modded tri-flange tips. Well done, Westone. Now my W3's are reaching their potential! 

Quote:   Thanks! If you mean the screen monitor stand, then it won't hold all 3 of yours. If you mean the speaker stands, then yea, totally a good investment. Quote:   Looks like an Xtrac pads mouse pad to me. I have one too, but in my pic it's hidden behind the chair.   ...

Of course any generalization can be criticized for being overly simple, but my personal experiences tend to agree with yours. Since moving into ~$150+ IEM's, most cheaper IEM's now sound unacceptable to me. Even "bang-for-the-buck" budget kings that are well-reviewed on head-fi I have ended up...

Quote:     I am also using the M-DAC as an all-in-one. However, my hardest to drive headphones are only Denon D5000's. I think the M-DAC amp is underrated. Many people look to the amp to color the sound slightly, and the M-DAC as a unit is designed to sound transparent, so those people...

The functionality you are looking for is often found in units that are called "pre-amps." Many DAC/Amp combos and receivers have this functionality built-in, but the Aune T1 you chose does not.   Your options are:   1. Stick with the Aune, and add a separate pre-amp. I don't know if...

Quote:   The Genelec's are great. I am not really an expert by any means; I bought them pretty impulsively after a quick audition. But compared to my old M-Audio speakers, the Genny's are more "polite," image better, and sound more dynamic over the frequency range. The M-Audio bx5a's had...

Thanks everyone for the recommendations on monitor stands! I went with the Mount-it! stand, and I'm pretty happy with it so far. Desk space ftw.      

The Westone epic cables on their IEM's are the best I have come across for non-tangle and non-microphonic. They only downside is: their IEM's isolate so much that bone conduction can be a problem if you walk around with them in. I use my Westone 3's when shopping for shoes to see how good a pair...

Quote: Ok thanks. I didn't want to have to dig out a USB cable, but now that you told me, I updated to the latest version. It was easy enough and it didn't seem to break anything. 

Quote:   Hmm very nice! Monitor mount is definitely next on my list of upgrades. This way I can keep the vents of the M-DAC free. Any suggestions for my dual-monitor setup shown above? My concerns are: I need both monitors to articulate, the space between my desk and the wall, and...