Reconfiguring my rig - Random updates on the journey

[aamefford]

Though depending on their moods, sometimes the womenfolk do not like being described as familiar and comfortable 

Good point. Familiar and comfortable and exciting like an F16 to a veteran navy pilot.

 

[aamefford]

HIFI-M8 in the house.  Arrived 09/03/13, which is I think 10 months to day from preorder.

 

[Armaegis]

Have you hit your 'end game' yet?

 

[aamefford]

Nah. Most of the fun for me is trading stuff around. I'll do the Alpha Dog upgrade. I liked them a lot. I may settle in for a while after that. I have no doubt something shiny will come along soon enough. Mid-fi gear is cheap enough to buy and sell used. Cheaper than cars or motorcycles, that's for sure. I guess I'm not searching for end game at the moment. I like music, and I'm a gear person. I fit right in here.

 

[lee730]

  HIFI-M8 in the house.  Arrived 09/03/13, which is I think 10 months to day from preorder.

 
How does it compare to the DACport LX and DACport? I know you don't have them anymore but would you say its any better than those two?

 

[aamefford]

How does it compare to the DACport LX and DACport? I know you don't have them anymore but would you say its any better than those two?

The DAC implementation is "better" I think. The amp is much more robust. Much, much more. The dacport twins are really good, but you don't run them from a 19V, 2.6A charger or BAB (Big Arsed Battery). The M8 is far more like a DacMini with a battery than it is like the dacports. It is not a svelte portable device though. Think Zena the Warrior Princess.

 

[Armaegis]

I had more of a thing for Gabrielle anyways

 

[aamefford]

  I had more of a thing for Gabrielle anyways

 
Gabrielle was probably much more nurturing, and seemed to have the guts to rise to whatever was required.  I think she was far less likely than Zena to cut your head off once she was done weith you.  Unless you pissed her off.

 

[Armaegis]

I also couldn't deal with that Xena battle cry... that's just a little *too* intense if ya know what I mean...

 

[aamefford]

Yeah, pretty annoying. She looked good in leather though. No getting around that.

 

[aamefford]

This has nothing to do with my portable rig.  Centrance has their 2504 Master Class or whatever speakers on sale.
 
Should I or shouldn't I?
 
http://www.centrance.com/store/cart.php?target=product&product_id=16178&category_id=259
 
Damnit!
 
EDIT - I think it is no for now.  Unless I find a way to liberate about $300.

 

[lee730]

aamefford I was wondering if Spkrs01 has been in contact with you? You should be coming up soon on the Tralucent Tour.

 

[aamefford]

PM'd

 

[aamefford]

Well…  A pair of HD650's came and went.  I miss them already - I've always liked their sound signature.  I just never got to listen to them.  Home means closed cans.  Strangely, work was the right place for the HD650's, as I always need to hear the phone and people around me.  I need to interact with folks and run out to the shop and back to the office so much most of the time that headphones are really not the best for work, hence the sale.  I'll upgrade my Mad Dogs to Alpha Dogs in the next couple of weeks.  Beta tester privilege was jumping the queue when we decide to purchase or upgrade.  I'll probably set up that desktop rig with the proceeds from the HD's at some point.  I think quiet speakers will be a better fit at work.  I want something relatively inexpensive that sounds good at low volume and extremely near field, front ported or no port.  It may boil down to FraGGleR's little T-amp that he keeps dropping the price on, and some old polk or pioneer bookshelf speakers from the garage.  Either that or @Armaegis 's cool NuForce class D stack…  How much of that can I get for $300...

 

[Armaegis]

I saw this the other day... http://app.audiogon.com/listings/solid-state-nuforce-icon-amp-2013-10-06-amplifiers-20879-laytonsville-md
 
It's probably my lack of an audiogon account that's stopping me from messaging the guy, lol. For the price though, it's a great option to consider. I have the Icon2 (same amp, plus a usb dac and preamp function) which I can run speakers and my HE-6 off of. I liked it enough that I got one for my brother which powers his sub and satellites (doubly impressive since it's a passive sub).