Quote: Lol, exactly right. And me too, I wouldn't at all mind buying an US based product for once!   And sorry to be so harsh, but when that kind of nonsense abounds it's just plain silly and not to be tolerated by more rational minds.   I'll say it right now too: The M-Stage...

Quote: Lol, sounds like a tool...or maybe a shill? You can't deny criticism with something so subjective as one's like/dislike of hi-fi gear! There is NO right or wrong here! I'm not going to get offended if someone lists everything I have in my sig as throwaway crap that their dog...

Quote: Interesting. I haven't read in the thread there so... Again, I'm fully satisfied with the M-Stage and unless I hear about some sub $300 amp that can blow it away I'm just not looking.   I try to be objective when evaluating gear. I am critical and try not to let the fact that I...

Quote: Agreed. However, who says when an amp is "good enough"? Is my under $300 M-Stage good enough or should I go out and buy a "real" amp for $800? (I'm not about to btw).   But just with the power aspect you're right on. These things need POWER.

Quote: And they're back up to $99 again. Glad I got them for $80! Should be here next week.

Quote: Yea, one reason I went with the M-Stage over several other amps was because of the adjustable gain and option to opamp roll (haven't done that yet though). It was also cheaper than most of the amps I was looking at. At the time the Asgard wasn't really on the radar though. I...

Quote: Oh yea, they've been great live post 2000, even better than in the 90's when I first saw them imo. First saw them in '94 on the Counterparts tour when I was 16. Then twice on the Test For Echo tour (both legs), once on the Vapor Trails tour, again on the R30 tour, and then twice on...

Quote: I agree based off of my limited experience.   With my hybrid EF-1 amp they just didn't get the power they needed, even being a hybrid amp. With my M-Stage they do. Never tried a straight tube amp.   Btw nice avatar, Rush is the best band ever. EVER. Saw them once this...

Yea, at first I was wondering if you could turn the "turbine" in order to open/close the back (like a vent) so you'd have the option of having an open backed IEM or closed back IEM (or half-IEM).   Anyway, Amazon has these for $80 w/free shipping right now, so I jumped on it! Sometimes...

I think I'm pretty much set on these, I have to ask though: What is the deal with the big back "turbine" housing? How does that affect the sound?

Quote: I think you'll like/love the combo, I do. I enjoy it so much that I feel no (ok, maybe just a little ) need to upgrade either my cans or amp or try something different. Especially my amp.   Quote: Haha! I told you some opamp rolling may be of benefit!    That 2107...

Quote: That's what I do too!   At least the 595's came with something useful you can use after you figure out that they sound like crap! 

Thanks again!   I didn't check out that thread because I thought that these "half in ears" wouldn't be in there with all the "pure" in ears.   Looks like they list high, and of course what really matters is what type of SS preferences one prefers. I like the crisp, clean, accurate, lean...

Thanks for the quick response Clie0S!   I was thinking the same thing, that for my "mellow/quiet" listening that I do when getting down to bed they wouldn't disturb my gf too much if she got to sleep before me.   Another question: How do these rate among similar IEM's (as in traditional...

I'm looking at these, I want to use them for reading at night when going to sleep in bed (I don't want to mess with full sized hp's in bed). I use IEM's now, but I don't like the feeling of not being able to hear things (like the phone or door in case of emergency) after my gf is asleep.   I...

  Quote:   Once again, thanks for all the information and reviews.   I haphazardly threw in the 840 in that list because some actually say the 440 is better. But I would expect the 440 to not be as good as the 003, so then it is reasonable to think that the 840, if truly not as...

Quote: You're probably right. I know IEM's/headphones/speakers make the most difference, but I am a big believer in dacs and amps making a big one too. But, again, if this doesn't kill the D2 then why replace it? The lower battery life is kind of annoying too.

Quote: You must not have ever tried Grados!    I bought mine in March and 8 bumps. Never hurt my head (I have thick hair though), most comfortable cans I've ever had. Slight clamping after hours of use, that's it. Sometimes I don't even notice it.

Quote: I assume you mean the RE2's? Yea, they're fine, I've had them for awhile. My first IEM so I went cheap (well, $30 down from $100). They certainly suffice for non-critical or even quiet listening: cutting the grass and exercise (including cycling). But I want something better for...

Quote: Yea, I'm sorry, but all DAP's take a bit getting used to and/or are buggy. I'll take SQ over UI any day. Best to have both but... All I do is play an album (I usually like to listen to complete albums) or just put in a playlist. Lock the DAP so it doesn't activate by getting...

Yea, it's good, not great. I was just thinking both.

I don't really, but I will look around more. I thought the SFlo was the clear winner by a good margin. Thus my reason for an upgrade (looking for new IEM's too).  

Thanks, that's pretty much what I thought, just wanted to make sure. Didn't know you couldn't use an external DAC with this though.   In all likelihood the HO on this would suffice, but it'd be nice to be use an amp with the LO too. I have a Cowon D2 right now and I was thinking of getting a...

So does the dedicated line out mean you can properly amp headphones/IEM's (with an external amp) as opposed to trying to use the regular headphone out for such purposes (which doesn't work as well)?   Sorry, guess I'm confused as to what the differences are between a LO and HO...but LO is...

Quote: Lol, no, we were playing around (her topless) and I grabbed my 702's and said they would make a good top lol. She was like yea right, and I said well better than the 225i's! Those are small and uncomfortable! Then she "tried them on" and I threatened to take a picture and that's...