That does seem like a fairly hefty price increase. I'm definitely loving my new V281, but that upcoming price would have made me look harder at some other options out there. On the other hand, if the market is supporting it, can't begrudge success.

Quote: It's not always one or the other, but since they're marketed to towards gaming, you need at least some isolation, or else you start dealing with microphone echo and an inability to concentrate on more subtle details (i.e. footsteps).

To each their own, I suppose. Personally, if my volume knob is at 7 o'clock, that means my gain is probably too high. A lot of amps aren't at their best when the volume knob is at it's minimum or maximum. Hence, my earlier recommendation for a lower gain setting.

Yeah, max your computer volume if possible. That's another benefit of using the lower gain settings on the amp - it lets you use a stronger input signal. As for any equalizer settings, I'd set them all neutral to start. Once you get used to the new equipment, you can start making small tweaks if...

Yeah, that's a problem with the Prelude - if you look at the bracket layout above, you're only option for analog-out is the headphone out (aka "Front"), there's no un-amped line-out like some other sound cards have. Still, miles better than running off the motherboard's onboard sound output.  ...

Actually, I use optical to connect from the soundcard to the DAC now, but before I picked up the DAC I used a cable like that to get a signal from the headphone output on the card. That Monoprice unit should work well enough, although when running off computers (with no external DAC), amplifiers...

While my own experiences with that amp (stock) and headphones were excellent, I'm skeptical of those upgrades. The one upgrade that I might concede are the power tubes, but even when I swapped out the 6H30's on mine, the improvements were pretty marginal, and I couldn't completely swear that it...

Personally, "coloured" feels like too strong of a word for the 650's, but they DO tweak the sound just a little. If you read through the appreciation thread, you'll see a lot of comments to the effect that they sound just a little relaxed compared to many headphones, and that they lack some of...

Quote: Pshaw. Mr. Rubber Ducky is sure I'll make it big someday. If I can't be comfortable around him, then who?

Well, for starters, a cable ABX test presents a situation that makes hearing audible differences as easy as possible - in other words, it minimizes those so-called issues with "memory", by minimizing the time spent between listening to two different samples. If you can't manage it then, what...

Because bathtub acoustics are awesome - moisture-laden air, built-in reverb, and there's no audience to make you self-conscious.

  Quote: Personally, I've always considered "analog" and "digital" to refer to how information is stored and transmitted, not the actual medium itself. Digital simply means that the information is stored via absolute "On" or "Off" levels, with various standards determining at what...

Quote: That's generally touted as one of the advantages of running balanced/bridged amps - the channel isolation. And there are people who make a distinction as to whether or not the audio circuit is fully balanced from source to sound. In theory, it shouldn't matter, but there are always...

Quote: To a point - even the best switching power supplies still have voltage ripple measured in millivolts, which far more than a good linear power supply will supply.   I'd be interested in seeing some specs on this filter - or even the internals - to get an idea of this is supposed...

I can at least vouch for the BJC stuff, although I haven't tried any of the Signal Cables stuff. You will however, need at least 3 full inches behind the equipment.   Strictly by the numbers, the BJC stuff comes across as better. Lower capacitance, tighter shielding. Lighter gauge, but since...