Was looking at this too for an LDAC/Tidal offline standpoint and one review said you can only write to internal memory which is pretty worthless at 2gb.

Haven't heard the SP2000 but for the price difference it better be an improvement. My aim was also a "transportable" solution vs. a truly portable solution. The Cube goes from bedside to work, to the plane and hotel (when travelling). Were I to drop $3500 on something audio related it would...

I bought the Cube due to it's ability to power everything I own, I don't have sub 14 ohm IEMS which would be my only concern on this player. The OI is between 1 and 2 ohms depending on SE vs. Balanced. Have yet to try the Beyer T1 but I doubt it will have any difficulty powering it. If IEM's...

Technically speaking the SP2000 puts out 1/2 the max voltage of the KANN, the SP2000 is 6Vrms and the Kann is 12Vrms max output on balanced. I'm not quite sure where one would need the extra power as even my HE-500 gives me plenty of room on mid-gain. I guess if one is trying to drive an...

Still working through all my pairs (been off here a while my profile is a bit outdated). I have yet to hit high gain with K10u, Audeze Sine, Fostex T-X0ii, Elex, or HD650. Only Elex and K10 balanced and both low gain. Mid-gain for the planars and HD650. HE500 balanced will be the true test...

I think the soundstage on the HE500 is most certainly intimate but I wouldn't call it small.  I would liken the experience of sitting in a club and listening to live music vs sitting in an amphitheater and listening to live music.  I've also felt the the HD650 sounded more distant than most of...

I've recently put down my portable stack in favor of the LG V20... can't say I have many regrets... the Sine could use a little more juice as the phone sees impedance below 50 ohms as "easy to drive" and drops power output.  1 click below max is still loud enough but I would like more...

  Own both and agree with the posts saying they aren't comparable.  My purpose behind owning both is greatly different though... I use the X2 primarily for gaming with a BoomPro mic and the IE800 is portable music listening only.  In a world where I could only own one headphone to perform ALL...

I've used my ie800's with the Dragonfly 1.2 quite a bit at the office.  I typically run it to an O2 for fine tuning of the volume (not IE800 specific, just in general).  I think they sound quite good... haven't compared it with my LG V20 or FiiO X3ii stack but I had no complaints.

I found the bass a little bloated and the highs more shrill upon initial listen.  I regularly switch up my headphones so the "brain burn-in" effect doesn't apply as much as someone who regularly utilizes a singular headphone.  Never much liked the term "burn-in" any way... always associated that...

Line Out is an output specification (Vrms, V peak to peak) so that you don't output a signal level that causes the downstream amplifier to clip.  Topology has almost nothing to do with it.  The only time I would be concerned about whether or not a device utilizes an all in one jack or a separate...

I paid less than that from an authorized reseller.  If you've not looked into sonic electronix/buysonic I recommend you make your way over there.  I have a love/hate relationship, love the deals, hate how much I've blown on headphones because of it.  I picked up the IE800, Grado 325e, Audeze...

First off, I liked the review quite a bit.  Second I too think these things are pretty outstanding, especially given the price.  I haven't had enough ear time with these and have only used my phones (HTC M9 & Iphone 6 plus).  I can't comment on the original 0, Zero or 400 but I can say relative...

Never been a burn-in routine believer.  I listen to my collection and let the break-in happen naturally.  The breakdown of the pads has as much to do with the change in sound as any flexing of the driver IMO.  I would just make sure you have a variety of musical styles and enjoy the process!

They were referring to IEM's, a niche that wasn't around until about 3 years after your stated timeframe and not popularized until the rise of Jerry Harvey and Ultimate Ears in the 90's.  You are correct in stating Yamaha as well as other Asian audio firms experimented with a form of...

The AKM 4490 is available in the Modi Uber, so this is essentially already done sans the "x2" balanced part.  That runs $149 so you're range is probably spot on for a balanced version "with case".

Given Schiit's published feelings toward DSD and the fact its one of the few products they have pulled off the market (Loki) I don't see DSD being applicable to this unit.

Quite frankly I don't think it's attributable to one single factor, I would take all of the following into account:   1) Aluminum is more rigid than most plastics 2) Grado asserts that the drivers are more closely matched as you move up the line creating more coherence between the left and...

A lot of competition at their original price of $400.  Up until this point they weren't really known for high-end offerings in their headphone line-up... more of a value based line.  One of the more favorable reviews I read of them compared them to the RE-600, of course at the time that was also...

Welcome, I personally bought the T1 as a compliment to my HE500.  I haven't gotten any head time with a 560 so I cannot compare the two but I think you will be quite happy.  I have one of the late S/N T1's and I only took issue with the treble when paired with an O2, out of my Lyr or H10 it's...

I've found planar technology often results in a smaller soundstage than their dynamic equivalents.  I would liken it to sitting in the second row at a club venue vs 30th row at an outdoor amphitheater.  (Not referring to shear size but how the sound is presented to your ears).  I also don't find...

All of  you... read this post and stop arguing... it's sane, logical and isn't rabidly defensive.  As with most questions of "Which is best?!?!"... it depends!