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...

Quote: Originally Posted by Pageygeeza Hmm, thought so. That leads me to my next question. How comes most amps that I've looked at only appear to amplify the signal in one direction only? Analog audio signals are basically AC current/voltage. Why do you say the amplifiers...

Well, it's open-back, so at least people won't have to drill holes to get decent bass. Pretty steep price, though.

Senn's HD580-650 series are notoriously weak in soundstaging, which often translates into poor positional audio in games that offer it, and I can at least vouch for that much with my own 650's. On the other hand, their smoothness makes them very non-fatiguing, so if you don't care about...

Quote: Originally Posted by avaaron2010 Well...I can't figure out what you mean. "The higher the impedance of the load (headphone), the "easier" it is for a amp to drive it." ?? Really, it's a kind of weird... Could u put it more clearly? In short, a headphone needs a certain...

Quote: Originally Posted by Crazy*Carl I think in the future, this hi end audio market is going to slowly disappear because regular devices will get so good. I think this is already happening. That would be a dream come true, but I personally have my doubts. As long as it's more...

Quote: Originally Posted by Kees If you read the whole story, you'll notice they now consider changing their design to 4pin XLR..... No, I can see that, and that's a good thing. I just can't understand why they would even considered the 5-pin approach in the first place, as even...

Interesting, although the 5-pin XLR is a little weird. So the whole justification is auto-switching gain, depending on whether or not the connected headphones are balanced? Even though they've got dip switches on that back for manual adjustment? Despite the hype, balanced is still very much in...

If you're powering it with a balanced amp, then I suppose you would.

Considering, that your standard TRS-plugged headphone shares a ground between the L and R channels already, I wouldn't expect a splitter to be a deal-breaker. And most amps with multiple plugs are simply incorporating the equivalent of a splitter behind their front panel. Just make sure that the...

I've had no problems with Take Five, and they might be the only Canadian supplier who stock nylon multifil, instead of the cheaper techflex. Although I wish they had a wider variety of parts to choose from.