Quote: Originally Posted by J.D.N Have you used any of the lower models and able to make a comparison? Im jumping straight to black when i can. Then i might consider going MC, but that's a totally different game. No, I'm fairly new to Vinyl, and used a Rega cart before this...

Thanks, I appreciate the pointer. Unfortunately, they don't have it in-store. I'm going to call a few more to see if there is some left over stock or something. I'm in LA and there are RS every block it seems...

I need to pick up a birthday present for a friend of mine and was going to get the Koss Portapro. Anyone aware of a local big-box or electronics seller that has them? I know I can get them on Amazon or other places.... but I need them ASAP. I've checked online at Circuity City, Best Buy...

Quote: Originally Posted by Sherwood Well, 3 of the 4 Ortofon 2m models are here represented. Anyone out there spinning the Ortofon black? Yep. I run the Ortofon 2m Black into a Graham slee Reflex preamp. Amazing.

Quote: Originally Posted by limpidglitch a great slab of granite should be easy to get, i just hope my shelves can take the weight. I honestly don't know what cartridge it comes with, if any, but I'm prepared to find one that suits grado, maybe even a grado cartridge. Rega likes...

P2 is an excellent entry table. P3-24 is a big jump, with the rb301 tonearm and TTPSU, it's an amazing table for the price. I use a P3-24 with a Graham Slee Reflex, and Ortofon 2M Black cartridge. I'm in the market for a P9 now(missed on on agon for 1900!!!), Rega makes a great table for...

It's all in the implementation of the USB port on the DAC. I feel Benchmark has done it right with the DAC1 USB. I use this with my 2ch hifi setup (BAT based). I also use it occasionally with headphones.

never and i've run my dac1 usb at 24/96 on all my macs all day every day. Must be a relationship to your dac? Any other FW devices?

Quote: Originally Posted by Greeni The Benchmark have these features, but I have read some not so enthuaistic comments on the SQ of Benchmark. I am aware that there is a $ 900 Wavelength Proton upcoming, I just want to know more options. Thx Rather than speculate on the sound...

I have these tubes in my BAT VK300xSE integrated amp ($6k integrated amp, with totem hawk speakers, DAC1 USB source). I have a pair of the original -DR variants. These are PRICEY now. I got a pair of the -EB variants from Jim McShane to hear the difference. My -DR have about 1000 hours on them...

What are you driving these with? B&W like power behind them. Same goes for Totem, btw (I have Totem Hawk, I also had some B&W 805). I drive them with a BAT integrated.

I replaced my B&W 685 with Totem Hawks. I also had a set of Paradigm Atom monitors in my office I replaces with Usher S520. I think the totem have a much more refined sound than the lower end B&W. I've done swapping and they sound muddy in comparison. This is driven by the same integrated...

I played around with this process the other day for the first time. My "digital" setup is: MacMini --> USB DAC1 --> BAT VK-300xSE --> Totem Hawk Speakers. My Vinyl rig is a Rega P3-24 connected to the BAT & same speakers. Anyway, I simply connected the tape-out on my BAT integrated to the...

$299 US is retail now for Atoms. It went up from 249 or 279. You can usually get a discount, 10-15% if you ask. Anyway, enjoy the Klipsch!

Quote: Originally Posted by stussyking any updates on those SILVER ICs ? YES: http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f21/di...le-day-332755/

The V5 Atoms are great speakers, especially for the price. I have a set that I recently replaced with some Ushers. PM me if you're in the LA Metro area.

See this thread I posed a while back on upgrading my MBP HD: Comparing Seagate Momentus HDDs before MacBook Pro Upgrade - dslreports.com

Good excuse for a new car with built in BT! :-) Seriously though, 2 of my cars have BT built in, but I need one for my convertible. I'm with you on not using BT headsets. I've bought 3 of them over the years, they all pretty much sucked and I ended up using a wired headset. My friends...

Funny. I think she saw all the work to put these together and wanted to make me feel good about it. ;-)

Just track down any jewelry wholesaler. Keep in mind this is not insulated, so you need to get PTFE (Teflon) to use as the dielectric. You can get this at McMaster Carr. Just search on Spaghetti Tubing. For lengths under 4ft, you can get the tubing the same size as the wire. For longer than 4ft...

Pic of an RCA and an XLR. All the others look like this. The 1/8 tech flex covers the 3 PTFE enclosed silver wires. I did this for durability.

I love to tinker so over the past couple weeks I read-up a bit on all the "theory" behind some silver based cables. I ended up picking up the supplies to make several silver wire cables. This included pure silver wire (24ga), teflon PTFE tubing for the dielectric, connectors, techflex, heat...

I think we're talking about the same thing here...basically matching playback volumes.... So, iTunes has the capability built-in. It does NOT modify the files (as far as I know). What it does is evaluate the files, and then sets a tag with a + or - dB value based on the "loudness" of the...

24/96 is max I can select on any of my 3 macs with optical out.

I use a Citypulse DAC connected to my iMac. It drives a Jolida 102b tube amp (with JJ & TungSol tubes) driving a pair of Usher S520. That's my office/desk setup. Love it. Downside is space and head of the tubes. But man, they really smooth out the Ushers and have an amazing warm sound. I even...