I'm still going on about the unimpressive quality of the USB input of the HDVD800 and have found a reasonable solution. Got hold of a second-hand Stello U3 USB-to-SPDIF converter and when connected to the HDVD800 SPDIF input I've (finally) gone from a nagging man to a happy one :)

OK, now I finally got to compare the balanced (XLR) input versus the single ended (RCA) input of the HDVD800 using Audience AU24e on both types of cables. I must admit that there is no significant difference in sound quality that I could percieve. So go ahead with whichever of the analogue input...

Hi, my Ayre QB9 is likely of the first generation that I bought cheaply second-hand. Still it sounds so much better than the internal DAC in the HDVD800 according to imy ears. Have not tried the single ended connection yet but will report back when having tried that. I know that the Ayre sounds...

I love the combination of an Ayre QB9 in front of the Senn amp. Connected with a pair of balanced cables (XLR). The Ayre has some punch and gravitas that suits well. The Ayre is a fussfree DAC that has OK second hand prices.

If you can afford an external DAC I would have bought the HDVD600 and saved the delta cost versus the HDVD800 for music. The amp is fabulous but the DAC no. Have paired the DAC section with MAcPro or high-specced PC but the music it not very fleshed out, in fact at bit grayish. Also tried to...

The HDVD800 (and -600) have both RCA and XLR analogue inputs and the selection switch to choose which of these inputs to listen to sits on the front panel. This will do for your CD player but for your turntable you will need a RIAA amplification between your turntable pick-up and your headphone amp.

If anyone thinks the DAC section of the HDVD800 sucks but still wants to use it I recommend to skip using the USB input and try the SPDIF or Toslink inputs instead. I got the relatively reasonably priced Kingrex UD384 (yes I know the brand name sounds underwhelming) and use it as an USB to SPDIF...

My opinion is that the sound is a bit different than the sound directly out of my iPhone 5s, not sure it is better. I use Sennheisers IE800 on-the-go which is easily driven fry the phone directly. However, if you should use any over-the-ears phones as Audeze or Sennheiser HD800 then this little...

Have anyone experienced that the X1 gets worrying hot when your iDevice turns itself off (due to empty battery) whilst the X1 is still on? It seems like the X1 empties its charged battery by in some way short-circuiting. I notice this when my front pocket gets burning hot ;p

Quite recently got the X1. I did not read the specs sufficiently enough and discovered that the optical out did not tranfer data when tapping digital signal from an iDevice but only from USB sources. That was a bummer as I planned to use the X1 as a "translator" from my iPhone to my Weiss DAC...

I'm happily using my HD800 with the relatively cheap Schiit Lyr. I have the option to connect them to an Aurelic Taurus or a Burson HA-160 but I'm most happy with the Schiit combination and a good set of 6922 tubes I had lying. I think the tubed/mosfet hybrid amp brings in the desired warmth and...

You are likely to be right, but my experience with other hifi gear is that when a quality component does sound as good as announced (from experienced music lovers) it may often be that the component is not given the best conditions. E.g. I've got a lot of tubed gear and the potential of this...

Thank you for your offer to listen to your LCD's in balanced mode Jimmy-Jack. I was in Paris some few weekends ago on my way back from Corsica but I guess I'll not be there again in time for your stay. Thank you all for your feedback concerning Trafomatic Head One and "incompatibility" with the...

Thanks bbophead and all, it may be that there is nothing wrong about the amps I use driving them but that the cans' sound just are not to my liking. Too bad, the cans have a cool look :-) One last question concering the LCD-2 before I give up liking them; I have the option to rewire one of my...

By the way, are these orthos known for requiring long break-in time? When I think about it, they may only have been connected to the amps playing 150 hrs. Geir