Balanced / bridged have both taken a toll on users pocketbooks I fear.  My own included.  For some interesting history and a clearer understanding of the confusion surrounding pro / consumer, balanced / SE, the component interconnection mess, and more, the RaneNotes on grounding and shielding...

Same quest, great answers here:   http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/headphone-systems/196502-out-head-virtualization-circuit.html

Chinese audio components are a serious threat to upscale audio prices because the high end offers much better value and the low end, especially kits, can be truly remarkably cheap.  The new National Semiconductor overture series ICs, examples being the LME49990 and LME49600 really sound...

A lot depends on other components but the ha (small metal can housing dual opamps) had been the subject of much oohing and aahing prior to release of the lme49990.  Then, based mostly on outstanding specs, most attention shifted to lme49990, which like the lme49710ha contains a single opamp.  ...