Just got my DAC2 fully upgraded and have it running in a temporary system with a Parasound Z-amp and Totem speakers on my desktop. Sounds really, really good via USB from a Macbook Pro with Audivana.   Agreed that DSD isn't of much interest. I got burned a while back upgrading to an...

Couple of notes now that I've had the Explorer running for a couple of days.    * No hiss or hum whatsoever with my JH16s.  * The Explorer plays in integer mode in Audirvana, which is cool  * No problems playing my growing collection of high-res m4a files sourced from HDtracks. I'm...

Quote: Not sure. I think I have a powered up here somewhere, but I haven't seen it in years.    Anyone know a good powered hub to buy? 

I picked up an Explorer in NYC yesterday at Stereo Exchange. Burning it in now.    I can confirm that it won't work on the iPad/CCK without a powered hub.

Very curious to know if this would work with an iPad and CCK without a powered USB hub. 

I missed have missed this earlier in the thread, but is there any reason why the three-pin XLRs can't be used to output to powered desktop monitors? If this works, that would sway me to go with the dual-XLRs configuration. 

Actually, I agree with you. I like the sound on my iPhone and iPad, esp with my JH-13s. In fact I sold off all of my portable amps because the improvement wasn't there for me. Apple underdelivers in terms of audio(phile) features, however. It's a shame that Apple TV can't output bit-perfect...

I have three questions: * Will the iPhone 5 work directly when connected to USB desktop DACs via Lightning? * Will the iPhone 5 (and iTunes) properly support hi-res files, finally? * Could Gordon Rankin or someone else develop a Dragonfly-like mini DAC specifically for the iPhone 5? Apple...

Please add me to the pre-order list as well. Thanks.

Keep in mind that you can adjust the output sensitivity for the headphone jack as well as for the RCAs/XLRs.    I've been running the 121 constantly for 10 days or so now, and I'm really liking what I'm hearing with the Senn HD-700s. Totally black background and very nice detail, esp with...

UPDATE on the Wadia 121.    I contacted Wadia customer service about the noise from the headphone jack and got a prompt (same-day) response offering to replace or repair the unit. Great service.    A few days later, before taking action, I received a pair of Senn HD-700 headphones and...

I did a few more tests on the 121 today.    First, the RCA outs to my desktop speakers are dead silent when using USB, even with the volume all the way up on the speakers and the DAC.    Then I plugged in my JH-13s and connected the 121 to my Thunderbolt display via USB. The display, in...

I have the same problem with my Wadia 121 headphone jack and JH-13s. Lots of hash. Thought this might be due to the sensitively of the JH-13s, but that might not be the case.    Problem is, I can't easily test the 121 with non-USB sources, as I've shifted almost exclusively to PC audio. 

Agree with judmarc.    I recently picked up a Bifrost after owning many good DACs, including the Pico DAC, Benchmark DAC1 Pre, Ayre QB-9, W4S DAC-2, Audio-GD NFB-11, Arcam rDAC, Logitech Transporter, Modwright Transporter, etc. (Wow -- didn't realize the list was that long until typing it...

Quote: Soundstage is quite good. I spent a couple of hours last night listening to 24/96 files dowloaded from HDtracks. I could really hear the nuances of the mixes. I was hearing the kind of microdetail that's difficult to get from speaker systems (esp one that didn't cost $10k+).