James a few questions if you can answer them yet. 1. will the e17k have a warm and bassy sound like the e17/x3 or will it be more neutral and transparent like the e12/x5 2. will the inputs be the same as e17 ie. usb, aux, coax/optical 3. will you be using a better dac chip like the ess...

Lots of pictures and info here on both cans and the amp. http://www.phileweb.com/news/d-av/201310/26/33985.html

Right side is volume up/down and left is power button and hold/lock switch.

Quote: Jriver MC18

I don't want to sound rude but how the hell can something so simple be so hard.

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Is it black enough though, I need something that can truly be called ''none more black''.

The conversion would probably be to either 24/88 or 24/176 and it's unlikely to support ISO files from SACDs but DFF and DFS instead. But you can convert the ISOs to DFS using the latest version of Jriver.

Wait that chip is supposed to support ALL sample rates upto 24/192 so why cant my e17 play 24/88 or 24/176 files.

Nope the amp is the same as the e17 but the dac chip is better.

Quote:  

For the future DSD update will the playback be native or will the player convert to PCM.

If anyone needs to know anything about the 3m Dual locks this article will tell everything. http://www.innerfidelity.com/content/3m-dual-lock-and-attaching-your-player-portable-headphone-amp

Sorry if they have been mentioned before but there is a band called Saint Jude, they only have one album out so far called Diary of a soul fiend.

Quote: The diamond thing was actually a DAC from MSB tech and it starts at $20k but with upgrades can end up at about $50k.

Quote: With Foobar wasapi you have to download and install it separately. http://www.foobar2000.org/components/view/foo_out_wasapi

You know you're an audiophile when your excuse for getting the hell out of a situation is "I left my amplifier on". Justifiable if it's a tube amp.

in conversion setup go to  destination settings and there's an option saying convert each track to an individual file.

In foobar preferences under the tools section there is a page for sacd options with a way to change the pcm samplerate for both playback and conversion into tracks.

It happened to both cups on mine but grado sent replacements free of charge. Just send them an email asking for new ones.

Quote: All I know is portable, balanced and a match for the sr71b so probably the same size. I haven't heard anything about what inputs.

Quote: Hopefully his standalone portable DAC will support hires but it's true about the numbers and from all the reviews and impressions I've read it seems Ray has a gift for getting incredible sound from less than TOTL internal components. If only I could afford anything of his.

Quote: The Fang you mentioned is Dr Fang Bian the founder and head honcho of Hifiman so any of his opinions of the competition should be ignored. Also him saying best sound on the market is an outright lie as there is still no release date even at this time or even a price but is rumoured...

Quote: That's just common sense (at least it should be).

Quote: This combo simply won't run either as the Darkstar is for dynamic and planar magnetic cans only. For the Stax it should be something like the A10-Thunderbolt, BHSE, Woo WES or the Cavalli Liquid Lightning.