Quote:   My sticker was missing.  I replied to the tracking email asking for one to be sent out.   Anyway, I just unpacked the box I received the other day and did the install.  Replacing the two boards was simple and took less than 10 minutes, including tear down and most of the...

Will the self-install upgrades for Uber include the sticker? If not, how can someone know I've done the upgrade if I decide to sell it?

Two things:   A few mV of ripple is nothing.  Try adding a high-end video card and firing up an intensive game. PCI slots are powered by 3.3V or 5V.  The +/- 12V rails are only used for cards with a JTAG, and even then only at a couple mA.

I had a similar issue with my MSII+, any time I played 88.2KHz files I got pops and clicks all over.  Switching to Kernel Streaming from WASAPI fixed it.  It did occasionally lock up my computer though, maybe once or twice per week (with 5-6 hours/day of listening).   Firmware 1.8 got WASAPI...

I can't speak to any Fiio products, haven't tried them, but to my ears the Bifrost was a HUGE upgrade over my HRT MusicStreamer II+. Given the price-point of most Fiio products, I'm thinking the Bifrost will be a major upgrade over them.

Loose cable?  If not, exchange them. ​ Edit: I misunderstood, thought you meant a sound from the headphones while you were wearing them, you should exchange them.

Quote:   +1 on this.  Buy the cable below and be done with it.   http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10218&cs_id=1021812&p_id=5575&seq=1&format=2

I've got the HD650 with a HRT Music Streamer II+ and a Schiit Lyr and I love it.  One thing I will say though is that the Lyr is REALLY powerful and you've got to be careful with the volume knob.  I rarely go past 10:00 and much past 12:00 is painful.