If it helps any, I don't think you're crazy. I know the logic in not buying something that you would be dissatisfied with and intend on upgrading from anyway. I just read that your budget was exploding (there's a reason for Head-Fi's traditional welcome, lol!), and if you had to choose between any mix of satisfying amp, satisfying headphone, having both or one DSP options, and staying out of debt, then I was just making a suggestion that (maybe) would save you money.
Mad and Nameless both tested the Recon3D, and I think we all wanted it to be great, but as far as I could tell from their writing,
neither of them had installed the Recon3D software and successfully changed the settings from stock. The Recon was especially disappointing for Nameless I think, because he wanted an external DSP that would fully work with his retro games on a laptop. I was going to send mine back if I didn't feel it made enough difference, as I've been playing games in stereo for 20 years, but I let the 30 days pass because I'm addicted :3 I feel that at least maxing the surround setting in the device preferences made a big difference from stock, like rear cues having the same spacial distance from my head as the other channels, an O shape instead of more like a D with rear cues sounding from inside my head at stock setting. Everyone hears these things differently though, hopefully headphone gaming will continue growing and we get more choices as consumers.
Edit: just noticed Mad changed his initial review of the Recon and had gotten the software working. Combining my experiences with his, and Many other things I've read, I bet the amp of the Recon3D has weak reserves and a higher output impedance than is strictly good. Don't have anything else to say about that, except I want to hear a Mixamp some day, and I'm looking forward to receiving my desktop amp, which I think will take anything and everything to the next level.
Hey Nameless!
I've been having a lot of fun playing Metro 2033 this weekend! I think the sound is pretty good, as well as all the other parts; I was so immersed that I literally jumped at least four times last night! If you can get a chance to play it, tell me if you like it, and if the gameplay reminds you of any other games
I've been enjoying my setup a lot lately, thanks for helping me try harder Mad