Follow-up in response to a PM I received:  I'm interested only in how the Realiser will affect the choice of the amp, not the amp in the abstract.  Thanks.

Would I enjoy/notice a better amp in my current setup?   I have a decent source that I run through my Smyth to an SRM-600 amp to the 009 headphones.  I can't tell a difference between running RCAs directly from the Smyth to the amp and running a toslink out of the Smyth to a Cambridge DAC to...

Thread devoted to this: http://www.head-fi.org/t/759030/audeze-el-8-vs-oppo-pm-3-impressions    It's completely objective and any hype you might encounter there is completely devoid of glory.

No further questions, your honor.

What size is that -- XXL?  Like 5 inches thick, right?  I was hoping to just stick these in my (relatively well-protected) bag in the Audeze slipcase so they could just lie flat . . .

Those pics are helpful; thank you.  I just figure that portable for me means can I get them in my on-airplane bag in the same space that my current headphones currently occupy.  Answer for that seems to be yes.  By every other measure -- yeah, they're huge.  Still debating  . . .

Excellent -- thanks for taking the time to do that.  

Not trying to bring up the whole portability discussion again; just looking for info to determine whether they might be portable *for me*.  Can someone tell me the dimensions of the EL8s (interested in closed, but whatever) lying down flat, as they come in the box?  I currently travel with some...

Well, Sony said yup, that's the right number, and yup, we have the part, but . . . we don't know how much it costs so we can't sell it to you and we'll email you when we learn how much it costs.   Mmmkay.  Planemaker, you are still an excellent human being.

Planemaker:  you are an excellent human being.  Will give this a shot!

I'm confused . . . if that prong does nothing, how does the lack of a prong affect battery life?

I'd like to get an additional cable to connect my ZX1 to my PHA-2 -- what the PHA-2 manual calls "digital output USB cable for WALKMAN" that apparently works only with the ZX1 and the F880.  Anybody know where in the US to get this online?  I think it's a walkman to mini-b . . . but what is that...

When I listen with IEMs (custom JH 13s), I don't use an amp.  No need.   VERY loud.     I use the amp (PHA-2) only for headphones -- and there, it does make a difference in sound quality (not just volume). 

No problems at all. 

Is there an easy way to add album art? When I add files to my walkman from my computer, sometimes there is no art, so I go back, google image the album, throw it into the Walkman's picture folder, and then add it.  I guess I could add it directly using the walkman's wifi connection, but it's the...

Got it.  Bluetooth something.  No problems.  

Not in the U.S., apparently -- I was told that they don't even recognize the model here . . .

Wow, that would be great!  Hope it turns up . . .

I lost the spacer (that goes between the ZX1 and the amp to account for the odd shape).  I recognize that I could put anything at all in between to make up for the gap, but I'd really like the spacer.  Anybody know where to find one?  

Quote: I really enjoyed my 404LEs . . . until I got the 009s.  If you already know what the 009s sound like, you'll be disappointed with the excellent sound of the 404LEs.

Quote:   Just my two cents:  I had a fantastic time at AIX -- not just in getting things done, but also in learning about the technology, meeting Lorr, and so on.  But right now none of those measurements are in my presets.  YMMV

Quote: Yes, somewhat comparable to the Revelation, but on multichannel recordings I hear broader soundstage, more diffuse vocals (less confined to the center channel), MUCH more detail, more alive, more bass, near-perfect drum reproduction . . . this is easily my favorite.  Most PRIRs make...

Quote: I have compared several STAX models with the Realiser.  When the realiser first came out, some spoke of it as a "headphone killer" -- it was said to level the playing field among headphones because its sonic qualities trumped those of individual headphones.  I used the realiser with...

Quote: It was a silly question if I were a smart guy, but I'm an idiot --- OF COURSE it was the firmware!   I updated and . . . .Yahoo!!!! Thanks!  Can't wait to try these now!  Plan to reciprocate soon!

Quote: Sorry to keep littering the thread with my apparently unique problem, but perhaps someone else will have it later too, so I'll post.   I tried a new SD card, brand spanking new, with the quad 57 file and others that had given me problems.  As always, it all looks good until I try...