I used to have a HE-400 which died on me and a HE-500 which was stolen so I have been on the lookout for replacements. I loved both of them and they were absolutely mint so I would like to replace them with ones of the same condition if possible. I am flexible with price and am willing to pay...

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How did you like the M-Stage? What did you use it with? Why did you sell it?

That is definitely something that I would be interested in if I were to choose the M-Stage. I like to tinker. 

I am wondering if I might like the warmth of the M-Stage since the HE-400s can be harsh if improperly paired with an amp. I sometimes find it fatiguing to listen to a setup that is very neutral and analytic. 

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It seems that Audio-GD has a very large fan base. You said you loved your M-Stage so brand loyalty aside...based on pure sound/quality...which would you go with?

I agree with the vents on the top adding risk to the amp. I don't think I am too worried about the heat from any amp. I think it is just something that you expect from a piece of equipment like this. That said, I don't want something that is going to burn through my desk :|

Thanks for the reply. Lots of good info here. I know the differences between these two setups and probably most setups is minimal but I have a bad habit of making sure I have exactly the right product before I throw money into it. I am always afraid that I will spend X amount of dollars and then...

Hey guys. I am wondering what your thoughts are on the Audio-GD NFB 15.32 vs Matrix M-Stage with HRT Music Streamer II? I am looking for the overall best sound quality. I am perfectly fine with having an all-in-one system like the NFB 15.32 or a separate stack like the M-Stage/HRT so I do not...

Are most of your components DAC/AMP combos?

What about DACs that are not necessarily cheap? I don't have a problem paying up to $250 for a DAC if it is indeed better built and better sounding.

Any particular reason why you would choose this DAC?

Hey guys like the title says, I am looking for a DAC that pairs well with the Matrix M-Stage. My budget is preferably under $250. The setup will be paired with the HE-400 and HD600. I am looking for opinions mainly from people who have owned the M-Stage and have paired it with more than one DAC...

Quote: Battery powered DAC/AMP now. Better amp later  

Isnt the E11 battery powered as well? I saw that it seems to consistently get good reviews and it is also easy on the wallet  

Quote: I will probably buy two amps. Either a desktop or a usb amp but then I would like to buy a battery powered  amp since I do listen to music from a portable player. I would like to buy the battery amp first so that is what I will be looking for. DAC + Battery = Me =D

Quote: I think it would take me about a week to get real tired of that!

Quote: Have you used the Ibasso? Do you own a portable amp at the moment? Any others you would suggest? What are your opinions on the FiiO E11?    

Quote: I gave in and got the white. I loved the white with the green cable. I thought it was a good pick because it has a little bit of every color in that particular one.

Just placed an order for the AKG Q701's. I had considered them from the beginning and the price was a major factor in my decision. Only $245 including tax and shipping. As much as I would have loved to get the HD650's the cheapest I could hope for was $360 plus tax and shipping. Now I can spend...

Quote: Well it seems I have now come to 3...the Q701's and the Sennheiser HD600 and HD650. Some people say they love how warm these are and others seem to hate it. Now price has become a factor. The AKG's are $235, the HD600's are $315, and the HD650's are $360  

Quote:   Quote: Now they have the DT 990 for less than $300. What do you think of them compared to the DT 880's and the rest on my list?

Quote: I had noticed that. That is one reason why it is so hard for me to decide what to get. Those are now a full $100+ cheaper than any of the others on my list