Well, after some reading online with other DACs having the same issue, I swapped out the stock OPA627AU's with a spare LT1364 and the unit works fine. 

Quote: No standards? But where's the snob-appeal?

Quote: .. but I am infuriated by people who buy audio equipment below my personal standards.

Quote: Oh no, I wasn't attacking the producers at all. I was just making some vague commentary touching on the human condition and all that rot.

  Quote: Well said, and thanks for the clarification.

Quote: Exactly, and that's something to be frustrated with for sure. I don't think incessant exposure justifies the gross toleration of being manipulated my marketing techniques. If there's a reason to be annoyed with people, I think it would be that most us perpetuate this crappy...

Is it just me, or is there a serious case of misdirected hostility here? Are people really that upset/frustrated/disappointed at the consumers, or is it at the targeted marketing, exploitation, and sometimes outright lying by the companies selling the "lower quality" products?   If I were to...

  Quote: I don't understand what you mean by not "meant" for a university education. What should people recognize specifically?

  Quote:   Quote:   gsilver, that's absolutely right. Which is why it's necessary that longer runs require a lower gauge wire to compensate for signal attenuation. Back to basics.   BlackbeardBen, could it be possible that difference you heard was from the replacement of...

The technological limitations of the time were/are part of the experience.. Or that's what I was trying to convey, anyways.

For the sake of argument, let's assume sound reproduction accuracy is largely a measure of your success in satisfying an illusion of the original. Now, given the fact the most of have never heard a live studio recording of a favorite band and probably never will, the lower levels of this...

+1 Vote to Sticky forever.   Oh, and this: http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/wire.htm

On a positive note, and something seriously surprising, Cannibal Corpse sounds way better live than on their earlier albums. I could actually decipher the guttural secretions coming from Fisher's mic, and afterward he hung around and we talked about the concert, setup, etc. It was great.

Awesome, somebody noticed!

I guess picking a favorite instrument isn't far enough down the rabbit hole for me. I like technique and personal characteristics from the artists. It's like tube rolling, but for performers.

1. Cello                        Yo-Yo Ma, you amazing person. 2. Violin                       Trans-Siberian Orchestra had a great live performance  2. Sitar                        Hindi 3. Blues Harp               Blues 4. Stand-up Bass         John Coltrane 5. Drums                ...

To find more similar music, try reverse-engineering the quality that it comes from: Look up some reputable orchestras and get their music directly. Like the London Philharmonic, or Boston Pops.   If you don't mind minimalist, give Philip Glass a go. Or maybe Nobuo Uematsu, for that inspiring...

I have a great vinyl shop in my town, and never pay more than 5$ a record! Hooray!   Rahsaan Roland Kirk - Boogie-Woogie String Along for Real Blue Oyster Cult - On Your Feet or On Your Knees Electric Light Orchestra - Out of the Blue Soundtrack to Heavy Metal Soundtrack to MADMAX...

In the Court of the Crimson King, by King Crimson  

I have two good friends who are sound engineers that have worked live performances (Their last one was U2 2009), and they tell me they don't get paid anywhere near what they used to. I think once you cut the money out of a job, you cut the quality as well.   Also, I've run into a few bands...

For Prog Rock/early experimental try the album In the Court of the Crimson King by King Crimson   For Jazz you can't go wrong with Giant Steps by Coltrane, or try watching some Rahsaan Roland Kirk and then listening on a good LP/CD   Good place to start with Black Metal is Emperor's...

Anyone else get to sample the VR-33's versus the VR-35's? Impressions?   The QUAD demo made my day.

Just a friendly reminder, HLLY is a company that started up by manufacturing cheap imitations of better audio gear on the market (LittleDot/Trends/Dayton) and while their newer stuff may seem alright, be aware that their founding products were rip offs.    The new KIAs may be alright...

Still broken. Out of curiosity I plugged it into a 5.1 surround system with an optical source, and the results were odd. Only the front right channel was underpowered, and the rear right channel played crystal clear, as did the rest of the setup. I'm stumped/too lazy right now, and if anyone has...

Yes, the LT's were placed only in the head amp slot in their specified orientation. The DAC was working perfectly for over 300 hours before the swap, and then it lasted for about 30 minutes after the LT's were installed. The line level out/preamp function worked perfectly, as well as all other...