It depends on how much I have at the time that I've decided to buy the "ultimate headphones". Given my spending habits as of late, I'd say quite a bit.

Quote: Originally Posted by CamelBackCinema With the firmware upgrade, iHP offers everything except the nifty interface. Whats wrong with iHP's interface? It is more complicated but after a week's use, anyone can figure out anything and adapt to it. That is my reason why ease of use is...

I'd say the IHP is the best value for the dollar out there now given the set of features it currently encompasses, but all players have their pluses and minuses and their own sound signatures. Having said that, if you need the recording, line outs etc, and will be actively using them, go with...

Austonia, I wholeheartedly agree with your findings. Although I will say there is potential there to get the Karma to sound potentially "better" than the others via it's EQ, unEQed, I thought the others sounded much better. I've owned the iPod (1st, 2nd, and 3rd gen), Creative NJB3, Zen and...

Quote: Originally Posted by Sweet Spot Yep. Not entirely useless though...I stated that I didn't feel the need to post because Dig pretty much covered what I might have said...so go read his posts again if you're really saddened by my lack of a redundant post. P.S. Your post is...

Quote: Originally Posted by Sweet Spot Wow, look at where this thread has gotten off to Too bad, because I really thought that the points on both sides of the coin were well lain out, but obviously some people just can't take them for what they're worth, and have to draw them out and...

Just thought I'd add this. I know they were some posts earlier refering to Sherry at Ultimate Ears and her "lack of knowledge" about the competition. I was speaking with her today firming up my order, and she was incredibly helpful. She's Mindy's mother, and merely "backs up" Mindy when it...

Hey man, whether it's the HR-2 or whatever you listen to. I always felt it didn't matter how much it cost if I REALLY enjoyed the product. The only rationalization I need is if I have a curiosity to see what something else sounds like. I don't care who makes it or what it costs necessarily...

Lindrone Those costs are real, and cost that the DIY'er don't necessarily have to encur, depending on the level of their operation. In this niche of the electronic market, amps (we're not necessarily taking about computers), the fact that it's SUCH a niche market (as is headphones in general)...

I agree with you Insomniac, you make some great points. In an "ideal world", I would concur about a one item for one item comparison, but unfortunately it's not that way. To me, Dell's a great example of "coming full circle". There was a time where you could build a computer for a lot less...

Quote: Originally Posted by lindrone Commercial entity's amps should actually be cheaper, not more expensive than DIY amps. Mass production should reduce the cost. Perhaps not "better" built, but at least on the same level. When it comes down to it, the only difference between...

I understand what you're saying. Thanks for the clarification. You can buy from other "stores" which sell MP3's and use them on the iPod, (eMusic, AllofMP3), without having to burn the CD first. When you buy from iTunes, you can only use those files on an iPod without burning first.

Sorry man, didn't mean to upset you. It's just discussion. CD's could have been "not gapless" and it wouldn't have mattered to me (I would've been to young and naive to care anyway). The point could be made that CD's as a medium took off because of it's added convenience (Don't have to...

Don't all the online stores have some sort of DRM encoded in their files though?

I enjoyed the Perreaux with both the 3000's and the 600's when I had them, but I'm not sure of their pricing structure is anymore.

Quote: Originally Posted by lindrone Headroom's amps are grossly overpriced... the quality of the construction is pretty solid.. but there are many other DIY amps, or smaller manufacturers that designs amp which are equal or better in both build and sound quality at much lesser price...

"support for more codecs" Well, it's my understanding the the Karma supports MP3, WMA, OGG, Flac, and Wave files, while the iPod supports MP3, "non DRM" WMA, Lossless, AAC, and Wave (or AIFF) files. Not more than, but different. I could be wrong, but that's what I read.

Quote: Originally Posted by gorman Out of curiosity, does Minidisc offer lossless compression now? Not that I know of, but it's been my experience that an SP recorded MD sounds better than a CD in most of your PCDP's. It has more to do with the hardware though.

Quote: Originally Posted by gorman Because... well, ok... *I* am more interested in music as an art, an expression form. If you are more interested in its technical aspects, then fine, you are more than entitled not to care about an artist's original view of his/her creation. But, come...

Fair enough DigDub, fair enough. Peace.

Digdub, I respect your opinion, but you really need to reread your posts. Your saying that I "spun it way out of topic (extinction of hardware, codecs??)", yet in your previous post, you said "ipods are not here to stay forever", as though the IHP's are. Just a few points: AAC is not...

Quote: Originally Posted by divad6719 Yeah and then blew it !! I've owned iFP/iMP/iHP and iPod, all are quality built and sturdy units. The only thing that lets the iHP down is the joystick and just because the iPod doesn't have FM, recording or a fancy remote doesn't mean it's...

And who says USB WILL be around forever. Storage devices? USB2 and firewire made all the USB storage devices extinct, as did support for them.. Once they went, you almost had to get a USB2 or Firewire external drive. To say the IHP, iPod or any other player is immune to "extinction", or...

No offense, but you're WAY OFF BASE if you think there's a risk that the iPods won't be around, and if you think they'll stop development for it, I believe you to be wrong there too? Plus there's no guarentee that future codecs will replace MP3, OGG, and what we know today, and that iRiver...

Jude, a harty congratulations, hope all goes well. The heir apparent to Head-fi is on the way. Quote: Originally Posted by jude appar111, My wife and I are going to have our first kid any day now -- we're two days past the due date. Trust me when I say that I'm just happy...