I'm in the Cleveland area. I've been to a Columbus meet last year, if you do some searching you can probably find the thread on the forums. Cincinnati may be a bit too far for me. Depends on the dates and what equipment will be there to be worth the trip. I don't have much to contribute...

I've used similar services in the past, there's also software you can get which does the same thing.   Legality... I'm not a lawyer, I assume its most likely copyrighted. I generally use it for versions of songs which are not purchasable (live performances often) with different arrangements...

Its an analog input and would bypass the dac, greatly reducing sound quality.

Yep I'd love for the dac and amp to be external, but I couldn't get close to their sound quality for the price buying things separately. $600 for 'em and I still can't believe it. I may look into a receiver eventually, but that isn't in the picture for a bit. Thanks for your advice.

I have a pair of Klipsch Image S4 earbuds that I bought in 2012 that're still working. They're decently comfortable and sound okay. For the $50 range they're probably in the running for the best you can get, I'm unsure if they've put out a newer model since then I assume they probably have.  ...

Hey there,      I recently purchased a UN40JU6700 Smart TV which I use as a monitor. While it has several USB ports, they are all inputs, not outputs. I would like to use my KEF X300A speakers with it which have an internal USB DAC. The only audio outputs from the television are Analog 3.5mm...

I looked for nice looking ones for some time, to no avail.   I use these adjustable monitor (i.e. display) stands    http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0006HVM5E/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1   They take up more room than I'd like, but they get the job done. They aren't quite...

Well, I can't say that I've used a Blue RGB so I can't speak to that. All I can say is that I have had relatively few issues with the one I do have, and that I would buy it again. And I certainly wouldn't describe Brown as "mushy" but whatever you say.   @Puurple I have never used the Red...

It was the older, non RGB boards that had issues... all the K70 and K95s were stopped being produced because the LED backlights failed.   The new RGB models don't seem bad to me. I have had zero issues with my K70 RGB Brown, aside from the (imo) dumb new logo. I need a numpad so I don't do...

As others have said, the Mad Dogs are a different can of worms entirely. I have listened to the LCD2-2 and the HE400 balanced off the same system, and while I think the LCDs were of higher quality - as they should be because it is an entirely different price point - the "feel" if you will, of...

I'll work on it :) The 980's look better than I ever thought they would, they have lights on the top (front from a side view) which are pure white and match the color scheme well, unlike the blue Windforce or Green reference models.

Yeah, that would be called a balanced setup. You can get balanced cables which use the Hifiman connectors on the ear cups, and terminate in XLR. I think you're describing 3-pin XLR which uses one plug for left the other for right. 4-pin XLR uses one plug for both ear cups.

I use a Corsair K70 RGB with Cherry MX Brown switches.   It is a nice hybrid for me, with good typing ability and a really comfortable key size and wrist rest. Additionally it can be 100% reprogrammed and offers many profiles you can make and tie to specific programs - so your keybinds and...

  I don't think this was really an audio question

I guess it depends on your head. I've had no comfort issues with the HE-400's. I also prefer a relatively tight clamp on headphones though.    Comfort concerns for me are always the earpads - their size and depth. I find these to be quite comfortable. Not as comfy as some HD 800s or 598s, no -...

I honestly had no trouble with that (internal noise) so for me its pure quality. They have to fit their hardware into a single slot card, and that does pose some restrictions. In addition they tend to be produced by less-experienced companies and/or companies that are selling a ******** product...

I just received one of these new "Inkless Pens" and its quite nice.   Its a hybrid between a pen and a pencil, I guess. It has no ink, but never dulls, is permanent, and does not smudge.   It uses a silver-lead compound to write (safe lead levels but not recommended for children) based on a...

I am a big Razer Naga fan. I dislike their keyboards and headphones (they feel gaudy to me) but the Naga is my go-to mouse. It highly increases productivity, as well as performance in all game-genres. I've owned the Molten, Epic, and 2014 versions.   The 2014 has mechanical thumb buttons which...

Asus Z97 Pro [wifi-AC] Intel Core i7 4790k @ 4.5 Ghz Corsair H110 closed loop cooler Corsair Dominator 1866 Mhz DDR3 RAM x32 GB SLI EVGA GTX 980 Superclocked ACX 2.0 Samsung 840 EVO SSD  WD Green 3.0 TB HDD Corsair Carbide Air 540 Case with Silverstone AP static pressure fans Corsair...

1) Do you absolutely need a laptop?   2) Windows 10 will be coming early next year and will be noticeably more traditional than Windows 8. Also keep in mind your Windows license is still yours - you can install a new Operating System on a new Windows 8 laptop and go back to 7 for no charge...

  Just to follow up, I've heard these off a Xonar STX soundcard, Magni/Modi stack, Bifrost/Valhalla 2 stack, and a balanced Mjolnir. They were noticeably better to my ears on the Mjolnir if you're able to go that far up ($749) and get balanced cables. They seemed a lot more vibrant and punchy...

I recently sold my STX. I'd be careful with it, because honestly I found it equal-to or worse-than my Schiit Magni/Modi stack in all situations. Keep in mind it has a high output impedance so more sensitive / easy to drive headphones may not be as good for it - I found it didn't match my HD...

I heard my HE-400's balanced off a Mjolnir at a meet recently, and I liked it enough to decide that the 'Hifiman Sound' was what I was really looking for and that the balanced outputs were worth it.   I'm going to be buying a Mjolnir / Gugnir stack and was wondering which of a few choices of...

I didn't find them too heavy myself, and the built in amp sounds really nice.   My problem is that the pads cramp my ears. The memory foam is really soft - so it scrunches down quite a bit, and the outermost part of my ear lies right against the driver. After a few hours they become really...