rasmushorn, The OP states his budget is $250 or slightly more I might venture to say the Whiplash Starving Student may give the 900 buck Vincent a run for the money.

Umphrey, Take a look at the Starving Student Mini Millet at Whiplash Audio. Yes it is a hybrid and maybe you want a pure tube amp. The SS is an incredible amp, really the best of both worlds. I have owned both tube and solid state amps and the Starving Student is worth consideration. The low...

yes if anyone gets the same arrangement perhaps we can trade although I doubt very much with this tube that the getter position will matter.

I received my tubes today from Jack at The Tube Center. Just put them in more later. Jack and Tube Center is a wonderful place to do business with. I have had several transactions over the years always very good. The tubes are Delco I got 6 tubes. 5 of them are marked Delco GM and have side...

congratulations Dr. that last picture is nice the tube glow and the wooden case are fantastic. I am no DIY'er but me thinks you might have continued problems with putting a fan in the case. If you haven't maybe put the fan on it's on power supply, perhaps it could be external to the nice case...

agreed 100%

Jump over to this thread. I haven't heard the amps referenced in your post but do consider the Mini Millett from Whiplash Audio. http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f5/str...rrived-398581/

I got my Mini Millett from Craig at Whiplash Audio 2 months ago. It has had more consistent play time than any other amp I have owned in the last 10 years. To my ear the magic of this little wonder is in the synergy of tube electronics and solid state. The absolute pure depth of silence from the...

Yes paara please don't take anything I say as gospel. I think Dave at HA could definitively answer your question. I think a comparison between the HotAudio product and other DAC's would be a great thread. Look forward to your impressions.

Yes paara, you have found the HotAudio DAC. I don't think it is a fair assumption. If you have a headphone amp it may not be necessary to go the buffered route. The purest path may be the USB1 to your amp. Volume is controlled through your computer settings and your amp, if you use an amp. Best...

paara, The Pico DAC coud be very very nice. I have heard the DAC/AMP and it is awesome albeit maybe a little to bright for me but I haven't listened enough to really verify this opinion. Just to blow your mind I am going to suggest you take a look at the HotAudio USB DAC I have had one for a...

Equation Audio RP-21 for sub 100 bucks a very good value and SQ is really good.

I am in on breath holding as well!

Hey I was getting a small box pop up from the task bar and a ASIO icon the balloon told me the bit rate and title I think? It's gone now where did it go?

yes! I was giving the "correct" English spelling!

It sure is: oxidized One entry found. Main Entry: ox·i·dize Listen to the pronunciation of oxidize Pronunciation: \ˈäk-sə-ˌdīz\ Function: verb Inflected Form(s): ox·i·dized; ox·i·diz·ing Date: 1806 transitive verb 1 : to combine with oxygen 2 : to dehydrogenate especially by...

Had nothing to do with the DAC I just focused my attention there and lost the bigger picture. It was a bad cable connection on my headphones!! Back to enjoying the music and a truly great product from HotAudio.

Thanks joshd This is a good reminder for me to remember to keep a broad awareness when dealing with things. I kind of focused on the DAC and forgot to see the big picture.

excellent observations EnOYiN you got me off thinking about the DAC and looking at other possibilities. I think the problem is solved and it was a bad headphone cable or cable connection. THANKS

Can anyone tell me why I am getting static in one channel of my headphones when I run through the USB DAC but it's not there when I come directly out of my laptop (Dell Inspiron 5100) Thanks for any help

When my headphones are connected directly into my Dell Inspiron 5100 laptop the sound is fine. SQ is good using foobar 2000, WMP, Realplayer... When I connect my HotAudio USB Dac/AMP then I get an annoying static sound in the right channel??? Dave at HotAudio replaced the DAC for me but...

Yes Big Poppa, the C-7 Power Punch Power Cord by PS Audio has a keyed type female socket. This is to prevent someone using a polarized electronic piece of equipment from pushing the PC on incorrectly. The Lunchbox II is not polarized so does not have a keyed receptacle. You need to take a pocket...

X2 on the Lunchbox "II" with gain switch. The LB gets lots of use and is very satisfying. With a PS Audio power punch PC it is a truely amazing amp.

X2 for the Hotaudio it's a real honest value and sounds great

I don't have any experience with any USB DAC other than the HotAudio that I have had for several months. I can say I am very impressed with the SQ. It deserves a look. Don't let the low price fool you. Dave at HotAudio is a class act. He is making outstanding audio products at real world prices...