[bobfa]

I am about in the same position you are, but I have not even bougth good headphones yet. I am looking at the HD-650 for home and E5C or UE-10pro for travel and work. I have the little MDR 71 Sony's for now and an iMic for the laptop. My next step is the DIY amp project going on over at ipodstudio http://ipodstudio.com/forums/showthread.php?p=851 .

I am trying to keep the expenes down for right now, but I have been listening to some hardware locally and reading a lot. I think I might end up with a PPA with the DAC for on the computer. I have a G5 Mac at home with toslink out. The Grace 901 is very interesting.

So the Computer system will be something like:

G5 -> Grace 901 or PPA -> HD-650

Laptop at work -> DIY amp -> Sony 71 or E5C or UE -10

Portable (2nd gen ipod -> DIY amp -> Sony 71 or e5c or UE-10

( of course the PPA would be interesting for work if I got a M-Audio Transit)

My goal is "good" listening where ever I happen to be! I have been encoding music with EAC and LAME even though there is some loss there.

Down the road I may improve the home system to get a better source with SACD.

The best part about this hobby is the fact that there is so much to listen to play with and enjoy. No matter what you end up with: Happy listening.

 

[commando]

I have the sonica (with black gate mod) and to me the analog out sounds very similar to the AOS dac. It could just be that there's a problem with my source/dac though, it should sound way better.