[USAudio]

... I ran both analogue and digital side by side for many years (the 90's) I discovered that the less I listened to vinyl the easier it was to accept digital. And the lack of ceremony and dancing with the record on the way from the record sleeve to the turntable mat and the lowering of the tonearm meant more actual listening time. I sold all 800+ LP's in the early 2000's. Now, with advancing age, I find the ease and simplicity of the CD keeps me from going back to the good ole' days of Zerostat, Nitty Gritty, microfiber brushes, tone arm / cartridge alignment, vibration isolation, and on and on. It was like 95% of my music listening time was foreplay. 
...

Couldn't agree more.  While I enjoyed the sound of vinyl, once I went to hard-drive based digital music I came to the same conclusion you did -- all the hassles you listed with records just wasn't worth it, especially when I bought a SlimDevices SqueezeBox3 and started ripping CDs.  
I still have my turntable, boxed up in the garage along with all my albums and necessary "maintenance accessories".  Maybe someday I'll drag it all out and give vinyl a go again, but for me the convenience and quality of digital makes it the way to go.  And thanks to companies like Schiit, it keeps getting better all the time.

 

[darkarn]

  I gave up, personally. Could never replicate my home setup enjoyment either on the go or in the office, and just got bummed up time and time again when I retried. At one point I could rationalize spending on audio if I take a train, but these days I would sooner move to an apartment closer to my work than buy more audio stuff.
Also, I just can't imagine a portable device replacing a desktop. With all do respect to technology, whatever they stuff in, say, a Mjolnir, you just can't cram into something pocketable and offer the same sound. Each time you listen to it you'll feel a constant, lingering compromise.
So for me, IEMs and a smartphone is the way to (on) the go.

 
Very true. Ever since after I got my Mimby, I can't find any portable rig (not a fair fight, I know) that can come close to it. Only the Onkyo DP-X1A came close to it, and that's what I will be getting barring any new developments

 

[earnmyturns]

   
Very true. Ever since after I got my Mimby, I can't find any portable rig (not a fair fight, I know) that can come close to it. Only the Onkyo DP-X1A came close to it, and that's what I will be getting barring any new developments

What's the diff between DP-X1A and DP-X1? Only info I found (elsewhere on this site is more internal flash -- trivial -- and maybe bigger battery). Considering a DAP replacement for my iBasso DX90... Update: maybe better components too, but not clear yet.

 

[darkarn]

  What's the diff between DP-X1A and DP-X1? Only info I found (elsewhere on this site is more internal flash -- trivial -- and maybe bigger battery). Considering a DAP replacement for my iBasso DX90... Update: maybe better components too, but not clear yet.

 
1. Software: Apparently the DP-X1A has more options to fiddle around (e.g. different play screens). I find its UI slightly smoother
2. Amp: The DP-X1A can go at much higher volume
3. SQ: Feels more "balanced" than the DP-X1, no one section is overpowering the others.
4. "DP-X1A" is engraved instead of "DP-X1"

 

[slefty]

  I gave up, personally. Could never replicate my home setup enjoyment either on the go or in the office, and just got bummed up time and time again when I retried. At one point I could rationalize spending on audio if I take a train, but these days I would sooner move to an apartment closer to my work than buy more audio stuff.
Also, I just can't imagine a portable device replacing a desktop. With all do respect to technology, whatever they stuff in, say, a Mjolnir, you just can't cram into something pocketable and offer the same sound. Each time you listen to it you'll feel a constant, lingering compromise.
So for me, IEMs and a smartphone is the way to (on) the go.

Why does one have to replace the other? When at home I have my big rig, but when not at home, I've found my Questyle QP1 player  loaded with full resolution FLAC, Apple lossless (M4A) and dsf files to directly drive any headphone I've tried quite well. I don't expect it to match or better my home setup, but I expect on-the-road to be compromised as little as possible. At the last couple of CanJams I've been to, not many portable amps improved the SQ over playing direct from the QP1. The prototype of the Cavalli Liquid Spark certainly did. 

Hoping to have an opportunity soon to try the QP1 as a transport feeding the optical input of the Multibit Bifrost. It automatically converts the dsf files to 24/88 PCM when using the optical output, so that won't be an issue. 

 

[jacal01]

  I've looked at the DAP market and everything is so expensive. This new DAP would cost so little and does exactly what I want.

 
An ostentively reasonably priced screenless 'successor to the Tera player' multibit DAP is currently in development out of Indonesia, called the Nuansa P1.  Altho it's not certain when it'll be available to the international market.  Not an R2R DAP, tho, that was the older Teri G1 player by the same designer that's no longer being made.
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/795394/indonesian-portable-dap-prototype-discussion-split-from-tera-player-thread/330
 
EDIT:  Or maybe not, re. the G1 & R2R DAC chip.  I haven't been following the thread that closely.

 

[Pyrolistical]

Schiit, save me from this monstrosity. Make a Screenless/batteryless DAP
 

(Missing iPhone as source, since it is also my camera)

 

[Jason Stoddard]

I doubt if that will happen. I will, however, have a new chapter up this week...

 

[jimmers]

  ... I will, however, have a new chapter up this week...

Jason, you don't appear to like volume control ICs
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/701900/schiit-happened-the-story-of-the-worlds-most-improbable-start-up/16410#post_13184737
"There’s no mention that the audio path includes things like volume control chips proper to smartphones and $199 receivers"

and

"Consider just one example: Routing audio through a black-box IC for volume control or input switching is a travesty when compared to the use of relay switching and relay attenuators."
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/701900/schiit-happened-the-story-of-the-worlds-most-improbable-start-up/13080#post_12928974
"... or with a volume control chip. I won't even discuss the third option, though it's been showing up in many previously "high end" brands. Sorry, that's simply lazy."
 
I assume you are referring to ICs like BB PGA2311, I haven't used one but I was thinking about it. What don't you like about them, or are they just too easy?

 

[Jason Stoddard]

  Jason, you don't appear to like volume control ICs
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/701900/schiit-happened-the-story-of-the-worlds-most-improbable-start-up/16410#post_13184737
"There’s no mention that the audio path includes things like volume control chips proper to smartphones and $199 receivers"

and

"Consider just one example: Routing audio through a black-box IC for volume control or input switching is a travesty when compared to the use of relay switching and relay attenuators."
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/701900/schiit-happened-the-story-of-the-worlds-most-improbable-start-up/13080#post_12928974
"... or with a volume control chip. I won't even discuss the third option, though it's been showing up in many previously "high end" brands. Sorry, that's simply lazy."
 
I assume you are referring to ICs like BB PGA2311, I haven't used one but I was thinking about it. What don't you like about them, or are they just too easy?

I think I covered that in the chapter--bottom line, you have no idea what the signal is running through. Multiple op-amps, tons of feedback, electronic switching elements, hundreds or thousands of transistors. Who knows? Plus, with that part, terrible headroom (it can barely do over 2VRMS, so boom if you have a hot input). Relay attenuators or pots only for me, thanks.

 

[Exidrion]

Have the specs of Vidar been posted anywhere? I just read a post from Jason on another forum saying that he doesn't personally recommend using the Rag with Maggies. I'm wondering if Vidar will do the trick.

 

[US Blues]

Have the specs of Vidar been posted anywhere? I just read a post from Jason on another forum saying that he doesn't personally recommend using the Rag with Maggies. I'm wondering if Vidar will do the trick.

Only very basic specs, and those were based on early prototypes. Nothing close to "final production specs."

 

[reddog]

Have the specs of Vidar been posted anywhere? I just read a post from Jason on another forum saying that he doesn't personally recommend using the Rag with Maggies. I'm wondering if Vidar will do the trick.

A great question indeed. I am very interested in the Vidar.

 

[jimmers]

Originally Posted by Jason Stoddard /img/forum/go_quote.gif
 
Plus, with that part, terrible headroom (it can barely do over 2VRMS, so boom if you have a hot input).

Thanks for that (the rest could just as easily apply to multibit DAC chips)

 

[Jason Stoddard]

  Thanks for that (the rest could just as easily apply to multibit DAC chips)

Actually, no.