Tachikoma

So... going back on topic, @OP: Have you gotten a new Ultraanalog DAC?

If it was then the tubes aren't actually doing any I/V, but only buffering the output, which is a common practice in chinese "tubed" DACs. The mk2 is using the same DAC, while the mk3 used PCM1704 (which definitely can't replace your D20400A) me thinks.

I/Vs generally aren't universal, are they? There's no telling whether the SFD output stage would work well with the Buffalo DAC. If the guy is local, maybe a police report might work? $150 isn't a bad price for a new Ultraanalog DAC though.

A PS Audio Ultralink 2 (updated Ultraanalog chips, HDCD) is on 'gon for $580, so $550 is probably too much.

^Same here. So I bought his parasound DAC-2000 instead Now someone needs to make me an async-USB based transport.

There was one on 'gon for $950, and I think it stayed "unsnatched" for a bit. The last auction for one ended around $800.

Damn, should I change my mind on this purchase then? Are there better options around the same price point, used?

Mmm, two 20 bit DACs in push pull config for each channel and DC-coupled output stage in class A http://www.xs4all.nl/~hansvt/pdf/brochures/studio.pdf http://www.headphoneclub.com/html/34/n-534.html And yes I'm picking it up unless someone steals it ahead of me.

Yep, you can't damage the headphones by undervolting them. It should be possible to overdrive the Gamma drivers with a power amp, so thats probably the reason for the holes on the diaphragm. It is possible to repair the diaphragms but it isn't a particularly easy procedure, and they probably won't sound the same anymore even if you do get them repaired.

Back-end electronics do just fine around here, but I do worry about my electrostats.

I found one of these locally for about $1k, and I'm tempted to pick it up. The problem is I can't audition them (not that I would have a decent reference to begin with), so does anyone here besides Nanoha (he had a unit, but hasn't logged in since August last year) have any experience with this converter? or have any info that might be useful in helping me decide? Thanks

Charles and Gordon do seem to be quite friendly with each other at a forum they frequent (diyhifi.org).

Heh, glad I never had the money to get one Its hard to get away from humidity when the whole country is humid.

Do this in foobar: Preferences > Advanced > Playback > Full file buffering up to: Something ridiculously large. "Memory playback" is supposed to be one of the reasons it sounds good. I'm not sure if it will make a difference but if it stops the hard drive from ticking all the god damn time its already improving my listening experience.

I wouldn't mind them being fugly, if they didn't also look like they'd break if you looked at them the wrong way.

The Lambda Pro cable looks exactly like the SR-5 cable, except the 5-pin connector so I'm not sure if its going to make a difference at all.

Check whether the screwdrivers on the enclosure are fully tightened, but be gentle because the plastic it uses is quite soft. Recable them with a new PC-OCC extension if you're willing to spend some money I'd buy them, but all I want are the driver enclosures.

Baking soda worked for me.

It uses 4 x PCM1702 From what I've read about it on diyaudio, the output stage is supposed to be somewhat poorly done and should be modded

Happy birthday

Well, at least they aren't DMA-X2s

Happy birthday

FOTMFOTMFOTMFOTM But the "urushi-lacquer" sure looks sweet, is it the same lacquer they used on the W1X series?

Uhhh. That email is going to get picked up by spam bots.

Tube depot has new EH-6973s, which aren't that expensive ($30 for a matched pair). That amp would probably cost a whole lot more if it was on ebay.