So it sounds better than the HE-4 and its easier to drive than the HE-4?  That sounds like a winner to me. Now I just need to find the cash to buy a pair after it comes out.

The Sparrow is a class A/B amplifier as far as I know, so despite its overall output power its a different league compared to something like the Lyr.   As for why I didn't buy the HD600, I had limited choices as to what I could get at the time, so I got the HD650 and the K702.  I also don't...

The impressions seem to be pretty positive despite the limited number of them and the limited details posted.  I owned the K702 for a while but slightly preferred the HD650, mainly wishing for something between the two for presentation/tonal balance.  So my question to Farnsworth would be about...

I think that what you mean is that it doesn't have enough noise isolation for use in that environment.

They can get far louder than I want them to be, but that might not be the volume level that you are looking for.

I can confirm, as I am sure that many others can who have listened to Thunderpants style headphones, they reach extremely deep, and can hit extremely hard when it comes to bass.  It isn't just a bunch of thump though, its fast and detailed bass, its basically the subwoofer that you dream of but...

The O2 pads to give a pretty nice seal.  I don't find that I have to go to the extreme of bonding the pads with the baffle.  Then again, I don't want to use adhesive since they aren't exactly cheap, and if I have to take them apart again I don't want to ruin the pads. I don't think seal is an...

I haven't been using mine much due to other projects taking up time and the need to modify the headband so that I can wear it with some comfort.  That said, I do enjoy them, but I think that mine are actually a little too bass heavy.  I know that it is heresy to say that, but I honestly think...

I would say that regardless of the build quality of the original box, if you want a durable transport vessel for it, get a Pelican case with pick and pluck foam.  They aren't too bad for price, and its cheaper than constantly breaking gear. The whole waterproof/floating/pressure equalizing...

If reading here has taught me anything, sight is overrated.  You can always take off the glasses, sit back, and enjoy the music.

No, you can pay Smeggy to gather them all for you and present you with a kit.  All you need to do to finish his kit is to put in on your head and plug it in.  Other than that option, you do need to gather your own parts.

The headband probably needs to be bent in to fit the shape of your head.  I had to do that with my clones that I made, and is also documented by the original poster of this thread many pages ago.

I will agree that a better PSU will lead to a better sounding amplifier.  I make unsure statements about changes to this amplifier because I have not made any changes to it yet.  It is impractical for me to be able to test and see if changing brand but not value of PSU capacitors will have a...

I don't think that you understand what was done with the C-2 to turn it into the C-2.1 and that the change has nothing to do with the Nover capacitors that are used in the circuit.  The C-2 used Evox capacitors in a lot of locations, those are the white box capacitors that you see all over...

I wouldn't think that cost is a factor when it means using what I believe is a more expensive brand of capacitor, along with larger values which will typically cost more as well.  For the number of capacitors that get swapped out, that would be 42 of them.  I think that there is also an increase...

Yes he shared the values that were changed.  Its a lot of capacitors to change though.  Unless you are very comfortable desoldering and replacing them all I don't know if you want to do it.  Kingwa pointed out that there is a risk of cracking the PCB if you don't do a good job of desoldering and...

Yes, I mean swapping the capacitors myself with the same value that is used on the C-2.1.

I emailed Kingwa, the main difference is the capacitors on the PCB.  Its more than just a change of brand, there are capacitance value changes as well.  I plan on doing that some time next month.

I have owned my C2 for a few months and it has an ALPS pot on it as well.  I am curious as to how different the C2.1 sounds compared to the C2 and if I could swap out all of the caps myself or if there was a change on the PCB.  I should ask Kingwa.

I have a small pile of things to do before working on modifications to the headband, but I guess I am busy working away on things.

The HE-4 does seem to be pretty promising.  Maybe more orthos are in my future as well.

Thanks for the giveaway.

I found them to run a little hot on the top end in the stock enclosure, but with TP modifications I run them without any felt in front of the drivers and it is just fine.  I would say that is a pretty good indication that its all in the dampening.

My DAC19 always showed up as "TE7022"

I have found that with fully modified Thunderclones, the soundstage is smaller when compared to other headphones that I have used.  On the other hand, despite being smaller, I hear more of the details of the soundstage.  I have noticed the largest difference when viewing TV shows or movies. ...