What's the "new classic card"?

  Now that's good service indeed...

Thanks all.  This is helpful.

  Good question that is difficult to answer but I'll try my best.   A difference in SQ that would be readily audible (obviously), and worth the cost of the balanced card (over the iem one) and the cost of the balanced cable...  A difference in SQ that would make one feel they're enjoying...

    And if I did get the balanced cable, would the difference between SQ from balanced and iem cards be significant?

How much better is the sound with the balanced card vs IEM if one is using customs (JH16s)?

  Eagerly awaiting your comparison with the HM801!  Thanks LHP.

    OMG, no kidding!  Buyer beware!

  Yes Mim.  The link you posted previously shows that card now at $384.       http://www.amazon.com/Lexar-Professional-256GB-Memory-LSD256CTBNA600/dp/B0090BEWKY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1378480566&sr=8-1&keywords=256+gb+sd+card

Quote:   I have the "early" JH16s.  I guess those are the non-fregphase ones and yes, the 627 would be used with them exclusively as I don't own, and don't plan to own any other CIEMs for a while.  Thanks Joe.  I truly appreciate your opinion.

Joe,   First off thank you for this tremendous thread...   In your opinion, is the "upgrade" in the sound of the HM801 one gets with the Portaphile 607 (with either the GAME or the balanced card and used in conjunction with JH16s) worth the cost of the Portaphile?  Thanks.

Not to derail the great HM901 vs AK120 discussion, but can someone who has experience with both the HM801 and HM901 compare their UIs?  Is the HM901's UI an upgrade compared to that of the HM801, despite it still being in its troublesome infancy?

Quote:   Quote:   Thanks and thanks.  What amp do you have?

Quote: HM801 had EQ with some older firmware versions, but not with the latest firmware.

Quote:   Wish they would make one for the HM801 battery.

Anyone tried JH16s with the HM901 yet and if so are they a good match?  Thanks.

Quote:   Just reminiscing about old posts on this thread, it is hard to believe that the HM901 was actually supposed to be released in May of 2012 as the post above from April of 2012 says!  More than a year after that deadline and the HM901 is still not available in the US!!!!

Quote: It does but some of that info is now old news as the thread seems to have gone quiet (last post from March).  I think you will find more up to date and relevant info about the HM901 here.

Thank you gentlemen.  I think I'll stick with my 801/JH16 for a while longer.  Off topic, but I haven't been following the JH16 development and was not aware of "'new" JH16s.  Is this just a newer batch that turned out to have a different sound signature?

Quote: Thanks Tupac.  Your input is very helpful, as always.  I got my JH16s about a year ago (are they the old ones?) and do have the HM801 with all the amp cards including the GAME one.  I am satisfied with the sound overall but am wondering if upgrading to the HM901 is worth the money...

Quote: Have you tried your JH16s with an HM801 and if so how does that compare with the HM901/JH16 combo?  Thanks.

Quote: Hi-end, absolutely...  Beautiful, well let's just say that's in the eye of the beholder!  I don't think the 901 would win any DAP beauty contest.  Not that I care, BTW.  I can live with the ugly duckling as long as the SQ is good enough to justify the one grand price.

Fully agree with the comment made regarding the top of the player looking really cheap.  To my eyes, it looks like a retro design (back to the 70s).  I happen to also think the overall look of the player (not just the top) is very cheap for $1k device. Actually it looks cheap for any price...

Quote: +1

Quote: Thanks Tupac,   I do have the 801 with virtually all the cards produced for this player including the GAME card.  I am very satisfied with how the JH16s sound in this setup and am wondering if investing to replace the 801 with a 901 is worth the trouble and the extra money.