OK, so thought I'd drop by and thank everyone for your input!   I took delivery of the HD598 and U3 yesterday and got around to testing them a bit today and..   It's awesome... It's almost exactly what I expected concerning everything I had read so far...   Don't take me wrong I still love...

CAL! ?

Ok then, I think I'm settled for now! Thanks to everyone for your help and advice!   I will be ordering some HD598 and a Xonar U3 for the moment!   Later on, when "time" (€ $ € $) permits, and if i feel the need, I will be looking into either a: - Fiio E17 (for the neatness of being...

hmm i was under the impression that the output jack doubled as HP out/line out?

Ok so im virtually set on the hd598! Now another problem i have is with mixed opinions about dac and amp for these! Some people say these "absolutely need" a low output impedance and that the aune t1 or the audioengine d1 with their 10ohm OI will not be optimal for this setup! Also, when i was...

Being brighter is fine, I love the "full-bodied" thump of the CAL2 but I often find myself listening to higher volume than I would expect as to not miss out on the mids and treble   Thanks everyone for your feedback, much appreciated!

I am aware of all that ;) The U3 is because I have like 3 desktops and a laptop in different houses (parents, mine, GFs) all of them using plain onboard soundm so the external sound card is to be able to use it on all of them depending on where I'm staying :P   Also I dont mind them being...

Hi all, long time lurker, new member :D   I'm more of a PC enthusiast and gamer so I never really cared much about audio gear and music, however after reading up alot on these forums for a cheap and better replacement for my Pantronics DSP 500 I recently aquired a Creative Aurvana Live! 2...