This topic has really caught my interest so I "stumbled" upon a vinyl rip of MFSL UHQR 'Dark Side of the Moon' and 'Sgt. Pepper's'. I must say, the musicality of both these rips is absolutely outstanding. There is such a warm and involving presence that I don't see on the 'regular' discs...

First off, if you are thinking about an SA8001 I'll second the SA8260 recommendation above. I've heard both and would personally save a few bucks and pick up the 8260. Both are outstanding and would be a nice upgrade from your sony. Now, with that said, I say forget the source upgrade for...

Kimber Kables are not directional, but as said above, it is recommended that the name badge end is connected to the output component. I have tried both ways and really wasn't able to notice any difference in sound quality. I just make sure all my interconnects are connected in the same fashion...

I believe that the source is a very critical part of one's system and should be choosen with care. Please read...care, not price. Trying different sources and different approaches to find a solid match for your other equipment and your personal tastes is always a great idea. I'm not...

I'm sorry, but one thing that I have learned is that at the end of the day all the measurments and specifications in the world are entirely meaningless, within reason. When I sit down to relax and enjoy my system I am only hearing the music at the end of the chain of my equipment. It is...

I checked out the site and couldn't find it either. I think maybe the OP was referring to the zupromo ebay aucitons, which I believe are going to be no longer come the first of the year.

What cans do you have?

Yes, yes, yes! I always love it when these speakers are brought up. The TC-50's are nothing short of outstanding. Imaging is very, very important to me and the TC-50's are some of the best imaging on two stands. They aren't exactly the easist load, however. 4ohms and I believe 84dB...

I can't speak too much for Paradigm other than definitely a solid recommendation. I will, however, throw my hat in the ring for the Focals. Both the 705v and 706v have a very similar presence with the 706v besting in the extremes, but may be just a little too much for desktop application. I say...

Klipsch usually has pretty high sensitivity. Can't really recommend any particular models, but there are probably quite a few around here that can.

For Prog Rock and Metal I would suggest auditioning a pair of Focal JM Labs 705V and Totem Dreamcatchers. Both are excellent speakers for your musical tastes. The Focals would be about $50 over your budget new, but both the Focals and Totems can be found on Audiogon for under budget. Also...

I'm thinking that maybe once the amp detects the presence of a headphone it is bypassing the preamp section, for the most part, and acting mainly as a poweramp. I've seen this situation occur before, although not with NAD gear. The only other reason I can think of is that you have the RCA's...

Quote: Originally Posted by olblueyez Are you talking about speaker cable or ICs? Both.

You don't even need the amp to start listening immediately. Just plug the cans in to your soundcard. Now, to better the sound, start with a smaller DAC with a headphone out, like the Zero, and add on an amp when your budget allows. Really though, just a tiny bit stretching and start off with...

I'll second Kimber Kable. I've run my kimber all over the place while fine tuning my speakers and I've noticed not one problem with the lack a shielding. I find Kimber to have very good focus, but may not be the warmest option, well, compared to the Audioquest and Acoustic Zen that I've used...