Thank you!  This is awesome work - thanks for your dedication!

Todd, I already own the Prime, and have been enjoying its gorgeous sound for almost a month.  Do you by chance have just the Meridian Power Supply for a standalone loaner so I can test and compare with my custom made mimic of the MPS?  As you can tell from this thread, there's a lot of...

Well said, it has been my experience over the years as well.  And you are also correct that with recent fast and furious releases of inexpensive DACs with solid technical implementations, and high quality/resolution music files, we are living in an audiophile golden era.  After 35 years of being...

Wow - I have read mostly good reviews about Schiit DACs, even though I don't own one.  I'm curious to read your assessment after you listen to the iDSD, as the price point of the Gungnir is 4X the iDSD, so any comparison would have to take that into account.  It would be really Schiiti for them...

I'm afraid it is a bit of trial and error, depending on your configurations and amp.  I suggest that you connect the RCA outputs to the DAC and start with low volume levels and experiment if there's any clipping if you go all the way up to 60-80% of maximum volume.  I've had experiences with...

Can you send the link to the OT?

It should work with the iPad mini.  I don't have one, but it should work. The greatest advantage from my perspective from a portability perspective is that the Lightning to CCK adapter is much more stable than the 30 pin CCK, meaning that it would not come out dislodged as easily.

To which end of the iFi Micro are you connecting the Gemini cable?  I have read about people connect it in three different ways:  a) directly to the computer to two USB outputs and then to the iFi micro  b) from the iFi micro dual outputs to the USB DAC input. c) using two Gemini cables to make...

For the Meridian, I use a USB hub, powered via a battery pack.  Cumbersome compared to the iDSD setup.  I wrote about a compare on this other thread:   http://www.head-fi.org/t/683406/ifi-audio-nano-idsd-announced/45   The 8Player and Seagate Media stream from a NAS via DLNA.  The Seagate...

1.  I think it is user-replaceable, and the iFi does have multiple tiny screws around it, so it looks like it can be opened to perform this operation.  However, I have not been able to confirm on the iFi web site or any other place.   2.  The runtime varies depending on sampling rate and...

Cool.  I think you won't regret it.  The only issue that I've read recently is that it's backlogged at most retailers as they sold out on their first batches.  Hope you can get one soon.

As long as you use the Apple CCK to get the USB signal out from the iPad or iPhone, the 8Player app will output the signal without downsampling.  I have tested and used the 8Player, FLAC, Seagate Media and Onkyo HF Player via the CCK to both the Meridian Explorer and the iFi iDSD and the content...

Agreed on all fronts. - One the RCA output, I agree that a fixed line out would have been preferable, but even much more expensive gear like my Meridian Prime also have variable RCA out.  It is not an audiophile purist approach, but I have not found any issues using it as a pre-amp.  I tested...

That is correct, it has a digital out so you could connect it to the S/PDIF input of the FiiO E17 (this output is PCM only, not DSD).  However, it feels that it would be overkill to use the iDSD purely as a USB to S/PDIF converter.  I have owned FiiO DACs and amplifiers in the past (not the E17...

The very first batch of Meridian Explorers did have an impedance issue, but this was addressed shortly after release with the newer versions.  You just have to make sure that when you buy it, they send you the latest ones, and also apply the firmware update and you'll be fine.  I use the...