Thank you for the input. I can see your point. Any thoughts regarding using headphones to isolate the sonic signature or flavor of individual components? Or is the sound being fed to the headphones different, only loosely related to the sound being fed to the speakers?

Hi, my name is Garth. I primarily listen to my stereo setup through Salk Sound Songtowers. However, I would like to use Headphones as a tool to diagnose what is “good” and what is “bad” in my system. Let me explain. I feel that my system has some midrange harshness in it, particularly around...

Clemmaster, Thanks a lot for your thoughtful input. As it turns out, I picked up a Benchmark DAC1 USB. I've heard good things and the price seemed right. Hopefully it will be a nice upgrade to my MoblePre external sound card.   Garth

Hello, the Gungnir is one of the DAC's I'm considering. I plan to go USB out from my computer to the DAC. I will use single ended at first from the DAC but want balanced capability as a potential upgrade path. I am considering Musical fidelity M1, Audio-GD Ref 5.32, Audio-gd NFB-1.32 , and...

 I am looking between the NFB-17.32; NFB-1.32 and Reference 5.32. It seems that the main difference is the DAC chip but I'm sure there are more differences to mention. Could someone describe what are the main differences are and if there is an obvious rank order? I currently have them ranked...

MoonUnit, thanks a lot for the insight. I didn't know that about the different chip outputs. You lost me a bit at the end of you explination but I get the jist.   - Garth

I have a question about the design of some of the Audio-Gd DAC's. It seems that many of the WM8741 based DAC's use two chips while the 1704 based DACS use either four or eight chips. Why such difference in the number of chips used between the different DAC's?   This may not be the right...