Quote:  I also want to mention how easy, fast and painless the process is to get them to ship it to you.  The entire shipping costs for the whole musical instrument (albeit a smaller one) was $3.47!

I want to Guitar Center to checkout hte headphone listings, but started to stray.   Ended up picking up a great deal on a  like-new Mandolin  /shrug   I'll post my impressions, but my guess will be that the bass is lacking but the soundstage and realism are top-notch :)

J-B Weld is some amazingly strong epoxy.  Mix it 50-50 and use it to glue whatever you need to:   http://www.amazon.com/J-B-Weld-8265-S-Cold/dp/B0006O1ICE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1343155321&sr=8-1&keywords=j+weld   I own the MS-1 as well,  nothing has broken just yet, but i also love the...

Quote: I own a pair of Alessandro MS1s, which wont solve the comfort issue, but i like its signature WRT to Grados.   99$, as well.  

Quote: They come in quite low, actually at 95 and 97 dB/1mW for the 6400 and 8400 respectively.  With 95 dB/1mW, you would not be able to produce a peak volume of 110 dB without an amp given an ipod classic as a source, for example more like 106 before clipping. 110dB peak volume translates...

Quote: I can't have a microphone where i work, so its 100% failure rate for me :)

Thanks sir! one note though, i meant to say that my intrest lies with the 250 ohm version of the DT770.  Whether or not the E5 can power it, eh... but the O2 surely will. 

Quote: too bad the microphone :(

RE: the 2012 summer buying guide: no offense to any mod or supporter of Head-fi, you guys rock; you know what it takes to build a solid community around an intriguing hobby, but I was looking for something a little less... commercial.  

I don't normally compose replies like this, and would never create a new thread.  Sorry for the wall of text, BTW. I'm searching for a new pair of closed headphones that I intend to use in my office environment.  Some of the common questions are answered below in bullet form.   Budget is...

Some one mentioned earlier that the Fiio E5 cannot be used while charging.  This is untrue, the E11 cannot me used while charging, but the E5 can be. 

Quote:  Ah, makes sense.  After I posted that conclusion came to me as well.

Quote:  The ODAC needs an amp for reasons i don't honestly know, but it isnt for high voltage. IIRC it outputs the redbook standard of 2 VRMS.  Which makes me wonder why exactly it NEEDS an amp, since that kind of voltage could run many a headphone.  If anything requires in amp, it is...

Quote:  I would just like to add that if you are listening to your headphones near the limit of your source (current or voltage), the source may not have the appropriate power for some of the peak notes, and this will come off as a reduced dynamic range. An amp will correct this by not...

Quote:  Odd. I LOVE the m11+ tips.  the large-short-fat biflange is the first tip i have used that fits this well. (clear tips, fyi)