is this safe? does it make nice holes? thanks

Has anyone ever owned, or at least heard, the Aiwa XP-Z5C MP3/CD Player? In the specs it says it has a 16 bit DAC! I'm able to pick this up for about $70 which includes a car kit. Only problem I see is that it can't read ID3 tags. So, anyone? And, BTW, what EXACTLY is better about a 16bit DAC...

I just picked one of these up from CC for $80. Only comes with headphones, but I like the fairly small form factor. It loads up the an MP3 CD fairly quick, in just a few seconds, and is pretty quiet n operation. The display is OK, but the one line display can become a bit of a pain to navigate...

Would it be worth the upgrade (as in significantly better sound) to upgrade my current pair of HD-495 to something like the HD-280 or HD-580? I don't have too much money to play with, so I want to make every dollar count. Which would be a better deal, a HD-580 for ~$130 or a HD-280 for ~$80 both...

OK, I have a few questions about the CHA47 that I purchased from JMT a while back. I am pretty much a complete newbie when it comes to DIY, so please bear with me. First of all, what would be a good way to significantly improve the sound of this amp (not that's it's not great already)...

The D80/90 retailed for about $179/$199 at costco respectively. The only difference between the 80 and 90 is that the 90 has three disc trays. Both have silver face plates. They were selling at costco for a quite a while, until recently seeming to have been replaced by a new "black" version of...

I am planning to get a pair of phones today, but I can't decide what to get. Currently I am stuck between the Grado SR-60, Senn 495, or Sony V6, all for ~$70. I usually listen to Soundtracks, Classical, and Rock, and some other stuff. Which of these phones would be best for me? Or are there...

I know this is OT, but I couldn't find anywhere else to post it. I'm shopping around for some soundtracks, and I'm looking around for some advice. So far, I've found a good symphonic soundtrack to get (Crimson Tide or Gladiator, still can't decide), but now I'm looking for something that...

Contrary to what the subject suggests, this is two different questions. First, what exactly is crossfeed and how does it benefit/change the sound? Second, for interconnects and headphone plugs, what is the difference between standard nickel-plated plugs and gold-plated? Does it affect the...

Offtopic of course (could not find anywhere else to post it), but HOW DO YOU E-MAIL OR PM PEOPLE (coughJMTcough) on this board?

Somebody please post a comparison of the KSC-50 vs the Sporta Pros AFTER the RS pad mod. Include Pros and Cons of each. An opinion of which is better would also be welcome. Also, please post some detailed instructions on how to replace the stock Sporta Pro Pads with the RS Pads since I am...

from Circuit City. Their sound is quite warm and rich, although a bit lacking in detail, and sometimes overwhelming bass. They are also very comfortable in the :traditional: style, though haven't tried the treet: style because i cannot figure out how to get the on that way . Just two questions...

Which headphone should I get?: Sony 888 Sony V6 Senn 495 Grado SR60 I listen to classical, rock, you name it. This headphone will be used primarily with my portable cd/mp3 player. I already have the Sony EX70s, but I want something that is open and sounds better than them. Any...