Has anyone compared the Asgard and the Valhalla for the RS1s?  I've heard that the asgard likes low impedance and valhalla likes high so perhaps the asgard is the better choice.  Would to do an entry-level tube amp but want to get the one wiht best synergies for the grado cans, which I love.

Two different beasts but trying to decide between a used GL for a lot less money than a Mapletree for my RS-1s.  Been enjoying the RS1s right out of my iPhone/Mac Mini for a while but want to step it up.  Leaning towards the Mapletree/tubes for the musicality rather than take away from the Grado...

Alright,   For years I've lived with my current system and I think I'm missing out.  The story: My main system was an NAD L-40 ("Music System") with low end B&W speakers and I loved it -- it was deep, musical and fun.  But I got upgrade fever and went out and bought (after many listening...

Looking for an amp to put between my Macbook Pro (ALAC) and my Grado RS1is -- got about $450 to spend. Thinking I want to check out the Music Streamer as an outboard DAC but looking for an amp for sub $500 -- thinking the Headroom is a better value for the $ than the Grado amp. Any thoughts or...

Thinking of taking the plunge and picking up a turntable. Can I go straight from the turntable to a headphone amp (then to RS1s) or do I still need a phono stage to amplify the sound sufficiently from the turntable? Thanks, EB

Interested in whether or not this needs separate amping - especially for sensitive phones such as RS2s.

Both of these units are at the same price-point and appear to do about the same thing. I'm looking for an amp/dac combo or separates for up to $1,000 to use with either RS2s or HD650s and my Macbook Pro as a source. Is this a good short list? Anything else I should consider? Headroom's good a...

Can anyone recommend a standalone DAC that would be a good sonic match for a McIntosh 6300 integrated amp and B&W 805 speakers, using a mac mini as the source?

I know that powercord upgrades to a source can make a significant sonic difference. Has anyone upgraded a mac or mac mini powercord? another other recommended tweaks when using a mac as a source (outputting to DAC via optical)?

Trying to find something more suited to my setup. Currently have B&W 705s. Paired with my amp, which is very detailed (maybe too detailed) and a bit bright, these are not the right speakers. The max output of my amp is 50 W + 50 W 1 kHz / 8 ohm & 80 W + 80 W (1 kHz/ 4 ohm) -- copied and...

So I have been using a Macbook Pro --> Time Capsule --> Airport express combo for wireless delivery of AAC music to the airport express and then to the DAC in my Esoteric DAC/Amp. I have been relatively happy with the convenience of this setup (not discussing the sound or jitter here) but have...

Priest, how did your comparison go? Also, for anyone who has a 902 -- it has line stage outputs, right? So I could connect it to my power amp to listen to it in my main system too? Thanks

Looking to spend about $1,000 on a DAC/headphone amp combo for use with Macbook. There have been other threads in which people have offered suggestion for single units or combos at this price-point. But I'm interested in the two mentioned in the subject. I've read the reviews at Stereophile...

Anyone really like this amp?

I have an Esoteric AZ-1 integrated amp/dac that I currently feed from my airport express (most of the time). I like the amp and the sound but it can be a teensy bit bright. Can someone recommend a CD player for around $1,000 with a good dac that will pair well with my Esoteric but warm things up...

I listen to both but definitely more rock/metal than classical. Do people think the Grado's need amplification at all? I think an external DAC will be necessary but think the amp may not be.

Thanks for the response, carl. To achieve "synergistic amplification," do you suggest I try something other than the headroom micro? Or do you mean that it just requires some type of amplification?

Looking to get a new pair of cans for home listening on my computer system (Macbook, ALAC). I currently have Grado SR60s and Shure SE530s. I love both but neither is ideal for relaxed but critical listening at home. I don't have an external DAC for this system or a headphone amp but am...

Having almost finished ripping my 1000+ CDs to my hard drive and haveing moved all of the discs and liner notes from jewel cases to sleeves to conserve space, does anyone have a suggestion for a way to store all the CDs. I ripped them all at lossless and will listen 99% of the time to the ripped...

Thanks, Steve. So does the sonus produce superior sound quality (i.e., better than 16/44.1)? or is it just the functionality?

I know the AE is the weak link in the chain but the convenience of the iPod remote when not using the CD transport . . . What would you recommend as a good long term solution for my hard drive based collection? A dedicated music server connected directly to teh DAC? Does that take care of...

Thanks. Airport is actually pretty good and it's what I'll be using until someone tells me there's a better product. It does have an SPDIF/optical output and as far as I've been able to ascertain does receive a bit for bit accurate transmission from the computer.

Sorry - meant what is the difference between Airport Extreme and Time Capsule -- guessing they are pretty similar other than the HD

Trying to get the clutter off my desk. Currently, my terabyte external HD is connected via USB to my MBP. I have a netgear g router and an Airport Express, which I use to stream music to my stereo. If I replace the Netgear router with an Airport Extreme, can I connect my external HD directly to...

Just got a macbook pro and added my iTunes library from my external HD -- had previously been using iTunes on my Dell laptop. But on the mac, lots of the album artwork that had been on the Dell is no longer there. I selected "get album artwork" but it came back with nothing for virtually...