I thought that just like getting a DIGITAL signal out of a computer so that the internal electrics would not pollute/corrupt it AFTER the dac converted it to analog, a smart phone, now essentially a mini computer, would be the same. Besides, every smart phone I have ever owned has already had SOME kind of usb connection for charging. So why couldn't my phone be configured just like my netbook, just a software/driver change to enable the hardware that is already there. Am I missing something?
All I can say to Br777 is, "WOW!" I seem to be coming to the same place that you, with a lot more EXPENSIVE experience, have already arrived at. I'm looking at at a Cowon J3 and a good set of closed phones, the new Senn Amperior for now, maybe an Ultrasone Sig Pro down the road. It is a shame, because I always thought the basic principle of higher quality electronics producing a nice accurate, smooth, powerful analog signal from a digital source was sound. Your real life testing is compelling. JDS Labs will soon be combining NwAvGuys O2 amp with his dac in a single unit and I might try that for my desktop. But I'm going to take what you say to heart. I have heard a lot of people praise the Sansa products and that Cowon as well. Thanks!