I am sitting here really being blessed by my desktop system and the Headsix was the final ingredient that brought the magic. I do not use my Headsix for headphone applications, although I will when I travel. I work in Security and I am able to set up a nice desktop system that I can play loud quite often. The Headsix was my final piece of the puzzle to make this system really sing. I am using it as a preamp for my Ipod Video. Now I know this site is about headphone listening but I am sure all you headphone addicts out there also have great hifi's, car stereos, computer sound systems and the like and I want to share something for all the feedback you gave me that had me buy the Headsix. Hopefully you will find something in here that will enhance your hifi life. My source for the desktop system is an Ipod with a Dakiom feedback stabilizer coming out of the headphone out and of course I use Apple Lossless. Now I know the direct out is supposed to be better but I need the ability to change the sound quickly. Anyways, I use these Dakiom devices in almost all my stereo systems as they do a great job of cleaning up solid state equipment. You can find these at Dakiom.com. So out of the Dakiom, I went into a Musical Fidelity X3 tube buffer. Tubes to me are an essential ingredient to get a natural harmonically rich presentation but you also need solid state for that ultimate punch. From the X3, I go into a pair of Audioengine A2 speakers. Just excellent sound quality for the size and price but definitely a bit weak for bass. 2.5 inch woofers. So out of the A2's, with another Dakiom stabilizer, I go into a Pinnacle Subcompact 6 subwoofer, which is clean and dynamic and small!! A very nice sounding system without the Headsix, but the volume maxed out on the Ipod too often and even with the subwoofer, there was something missing. For fun, I brought a cheap DVD player to work to use as a CD player to see how that would sound. The main advantage it had over the Ipod was higher gain which produced a more dynamic sound. Thus the search for a portable headamp/preamp. Obviously, I picked the Headsix and it's great. I added it to the system and everything became fuller and more dynamic. I had burned it in with one battery and I have had it for about 5 weeks. Now the revelation that happened today! When I am at one of my posts I do not have the X3 tube buffer available to me and although the sound was enjoyable, I missed the harmonic richness. Not so today! Evidently the Headsix has burned in enough to give me a smoothness and richness that was not there before and the sound is now great! So thank you for your posts that helped me to find the final piece of my system.