When docked the E17 automatically goes to USB mode. However, you may be able to switch it to OPT/COX and then use the Headphone Out to plug it via AUX IN to the E09K (for that you would need a 1/8" to RCA cable, AKA a Y audio cable splitter ). Haven't tried it, and don't know if it would charge...

No Abyss Ab-1266? It's over 5000$! http://news.cnet.com/8301-13645_3-57591530-47/abyss-ab-1266-headphones-run-$5495-but-theyre-worth-it/

Considering that ALAC is now open-source and that ITunes now actually offers WASAPI output, does it really still suck that much? I mean with the automatic file organizing (automatically adding new files to media folder) and with the sleek aesthetic, I don't see many downsides anymore....Maybe...

Well it certainly varies with the model. It does seem pretty reasonable. I do want to add though, that in my experience, my parents when trying to sleep would hear even the faintest noise coming from my room, which my have biased my opinion, haha!

Wow, I wasn't aware of that! Thank you for telling me.

Similarly, if I use an external USB DAC with my computer, is it supposed to bypass my laptop's pre-amp/EQ settings or just the DAC (soundcard)? And if I decide to EQ/Pre-amp directly from ITunes built-in functions, I guess it does affect the sound because it is at the very source?

If I may ask bigshot, and I know it may be slighlty off-topic, but what is wrong with the native ITunes equalizer?   I'm not talking about the generally useless presets it offers, but about the EQ panel itself?  I still use it to tweak the sound a little, although the output is through WASAPI...

Well if you couldn't plug the headphones properly in his laptop aux jack without holding/wriggling it in place, maybe the fault IS with the contact? And if really you had this problem on all your audio devices, it seems to point by exclusion to your headphone's cable or its connector as the...

You have every reason to go with closed (sealed) headphones, as open-back will leak quite a lot! If your parents room is really next to yours and you want to game at night/ watch pornographic material with audio (without them hearing anything), then choose something else.

Anyone?...

Hey, I have had this issue since I upgraded to Windows 8.1! At first, it just wouldn't play (it worked fine on the first version of Windows 8 Ultimate 64 bit) so I tried to install the driver on FiiO's website (the ASIO one) and I had similar constant BSOD issues. I fixed it by deleting the new...

If after 5 pages of comments you still haven't changed your mind, then maybe you should just give them a try. All the naysayers be damned! The world won't burn down because of it... And you can always return or sell them if you aren't satisfied...

The HD800s are considered by many to be the best dynamic headphones there is. It is definitely top-of-the-line-ish hi-fi gear, so you'd need to gear up accordingly. A great DAC + Amp setup along with the cans would easily blow up your headphone-dedicated budget to tenfold what it was...

I'd actually go with the Sony MDR-1R which are praised as some as the best overall headphones you can get sub-200$ with great sound performance, portability and exceptional comfort. The UE6000 are very well regarded too, but, at the same price point, may have been supplanted by the MDR-1R, at...

Stop the pink noise, and turn up some Pink Floyd!