I'm familiar with most of the stores mentioned. "Lee's" is a great little shop which was started by an engineer from Hong Kong. It carries Solen, Wima, Alps & other boutique supplies as mentioned. A good store if you are a diy audiophile. Main Electronics "the other hole in the wall" is also...

Nate, All very valid points, I fully appreciate where you are coming from. I can also clearly see your point of view in regards to the STEPS. As for the statement "the STEPS was the best thing going for any PS, anywhere." I took Tomb's comment to mean the holy grail of power supply design...

Quote: Originally Posted by tomb I agree with what you say in principle - except the filtering part - if a Sigma11 is built without an onboard xfmr. However, "This is DIY" is justifying trashing at least 1/3 of the Max's board when up until a few weeks ago, the STEPS was the best thing...

Quote: Originally Posted by tomb Regal, this is not a valid comparison. The Millett is not even Amb's design. His M3 has depended on a STEPS or a TREAD from the beginning. Don't you think he wanted to design his own product for his own amps (Sigma11)? Nate has given you Amb's own answer...

Quote: Originally Posted by konish Look, you know at some point you have to just accept the fact that if you want a Grado or any other product, it costs what it costs. Comparing pricing across borders is crazy and especially about something that is just so trivial. I mean, haircuts cost...

Quote: Originally Posted by JWFokker I was under the impression that the M3 was the superior amp because it was supposed to take the concept of the PPA and improve it. I've already got a TREAD on my Millett, so it looks like the PPA will be the one to build, unless the CK²III can hit...

Quote: Originally Posted by n_maher I've never heard the CK²III but I have extensively compared the PPA to the M³ and if you're looking for more detail and articulation the PPA is the amp to build. I have to agree with n_maher on this one. I built both of them at the same time...

Hi, Does anyone know what is the lowest real world gain I could use with OPA637s in the left & right channels. I know that the data sheet states >=5. I'ld like to reduce the gain in order to allow for better use of the volume control.