Quote: We do sell blank "DoubleCat" adapters, onto which you can solder an SO-8 dual-channel and fit it into the mono sockets of the XM6.  See http://www.practicaldevices.com/chiphelp.htm If you have a collection of DIP8 dual channel amps:  you are out of luck. Aside from heavy...

Ok, I've emerged from the lab and am back amongst the living.   The XM6 now has availability.   You can check it out on our website http://www.practicaldevices.com   Also, we've got some very good free goodies for headfi members; I've started another thread about it here...

Quote: These are from Honeywell's "Clarostat" division (the same Honeywell that does aerospace / avionics / military / doorbells / paper shredders). However, there are several other suppliers which make pots so similar, I wonder if they are sourced from the same physical factory.

Quote: It shouldn't leak, but if it does, one possibility is it is "not turning off enough", which might be fixed by grinding down the mechanical stop a little.  This requires delicate internal surgery though.

Channel Imbalance in your Volume Pot - Some Thoughts   Note: this article can also be downloaded as a pdf (with higher picture resolution) from our website:  http://www.practicaldevices.com/techdocs.htm     The volume pot is a fairly critical component of any audio amp; since we deal...

For the remainder of April 2009, we are offering these freebies with XM5s. Free AD8397 DoubleCat upgrade (You still also get the pre-installed stock pair of OPA134s, and copper busbars) Free upgrade to a black case Free shipping worldwide Free Tersus™ gold plated interconnect cable (as always)...

Shown is bass reponse for the Practical Devices' XM5 with the bass boost enabled. As far as I've seen, almost no other manufacturers bother to measure/quantify/publish this sort of thing. (Click to expand) Attachment 15686

The crossfeed on the XM5 is not the same as the crossfeed on the XM4. The crossfeed on the XM4 and XM5 are activated identically: there's a switch on the front to activate it, and a pot on the back to adjust it from "near-stereo" to "mono." But the XM5's crossfeed was updated so that it's...

Quote: Originally Posted by HeadphoneAddict QUESTION: can any opamp be used as a buffer, or are the buffer sockets limited to buf634 only? I don't think others would be as good as the buf634. I'm going to define the following: "Semi-Standard Singlechannel OpAmp Pinout" ("SSSOAP")...

Quote: Originally Posted by HeadphoneAddict Hey, this XM5 sounds like you already burned it in for me, yes? Or, did you secretly upgrade the opamps in it while I wasn't looking? No, no secret upgrades. This is a stock XM5 with BUF634 buffers. I also included an AD8397...

Quote: Originally Posted by MaxAmplitude No problem... an XM5 will be in your hands this week. Quote: Originally Posted by HeadphoneAddict Okay, I'll check your PM soon, and work something out. I didn't see this until it was almost bedtime, as it has been a crazy crazy...

Quote: Originally Posted by oldschool Any chance of doing a review of the Practical Devices XM5? It has an updated DAC and all.. Quote: Originally Posted by HeadphoneAddict Maybe, if they were to offer me one to review No problem... an XM5 will be in your hands...

Quote: Originally Posted by sirmasterboy and I heard the DAC in the XM5 isn't that great. The DAC in the XM5 was changed in June/08. The DAC is now the PCM2702 from BurrBrown/TI - a substantial improvement. Asr (Headphoneus Supremus) originally reviewed the XM5 here; I'll...

Quote: Originally Posted by Asr The main detraction I found with it was a range of sonic omissions when used as a USB DAC Based on ASR's review, and similar input from other head-fi members, we've completely replaced the DAC used in the XM5. The new DAC is the PCM2702 from...

Quote: Originally Posted by basman I really like the amp implementation of XM5 draw back only is the DAC chip used. FYI We've since replaced the DAC in the XM5 due to popular demand; the DAC is now the PCM2702 from BurrBrown/TI - a substantial improvement. We've been shipping the...