The Monkey

All I want is for the pretty pretty lightses to turn on on my DACSes.

Thanks Dusty. So the 16-bit might not be "perfect," but it would still be discernible from the "regular" redbook (assuming one can tell the difference)?

Is it possible to rip HDCDs using iTunes such that you get the extra preciouss bitses? I understand that you can rip it as a regular CD, but HDCD is 20-bit, right? If iTunes can't do it, is there a way to rip HDCDs while preserving the "HD" portion? EDIT: Assume a Mac, but I also have a PC.

^Good lord those are adorable children. Jack had a black & white cookie for dinner last night. I just partially fixed my parents' doorbell. It hadn't worked at all. Now it "dings," but it doesn't "dong." I still feel manly.

Out at my parents' summer place. Jack awoke at the asscrack of dawn. So he and I drove into town to get bagels, coffee, and most important, chocolate milk. En route we saw roughly 30 wild turkeys, which are thriving out here since the red foxes mysteriously disappeared. Saw a bunch of deer, too. And some ducks. All good for a city kid. Now we are chilling, watching some Blue's Clues. I like having a son. And I like coffee.

Nicely done, Dan. I can see one of those in Jack's near future.

I like my A4, but it has been a pain in the ass in several areas: - The damn tires wear out/go flat more than any car I've ever owned. - Electrical system is lousy. - Not so much with the gas mileage. Despite the above, it is comfortable, great in bad weather, and drives well. I'd buy an Audi again.

Oh, and I bought this:

Screw it all and get a Porsche.

drp is correct; it was directed at Vicki. But no harm done. I'll probably try to shut up now.

You still listen to those?

What do you prefer most about the 800? While I prefer the O2, I think the HD 800 is a pretty terrific dynamic headphone.

Heh. I expect the B22 to close the gap. Welcome back!

The official verdict won't be in until I have the B22, but for the moment I like the O2 better than the HD 800. It's not even that close.

HPA, if you could keep only one IEM, would it be the JH13?

What exactly does that mean? I am not well versed in this stuff.

Dusty are you getting a pair of these ridiculous things?

The EQ idea is interesting. But I'm not sure I quite understand how I would use it. Are you guys suggesting that I level out the mids on each DAC and compare from there? And if so, I guess hypothetically I would be able to discern whether the perceived clarity and detail were simply due to the tweaked midrange frequency?

Well, remember, I also like there to be lots of lights and buttons.

As most of you know, I have been (obsessively) comparing DACs lately. I've been finding that my preference leans toward a DAC with a "sweeter" midrange. No, what the fuck exactly does that mean? I'm, not quite sure, to be honest. So far, I have really liked the Dodson and the ECD-1 because the midrange (esp. voices) seems to stand out just a bit more from the rest of the presentation. It's subtle, but it's there. Like very shallow bas relief where the midrange is raised ever so slightly higher than the rest (and maybe some midbass too). My perception when hearing the ECD-1 and the Dodson is that they are somehow clearer or revealing more information in those mids than comparators such as the Bryston, North Star, or HR UDAC, which seem to have a more recessed or "muted" presentation. I have read certain criticisms (and I wish I remembered where) that postulate that the mids of some DACs, such as the ECD-1, are emphasized because that's basically a crowd-pleaser. But that in the end, it's really hiding the DAC's shortcomings. I'm not sure I agree with this, but I have insufficient knowledge to make a conclusion one way or the other. What I do know is that I prefer those DACs where the mids give me a better sense of "presence." Is this a preference for artifice? Are the newer, more technically "advanced" DACs, with their seemingly more "neutral" presentation closer to what others would describe as analog sounding? Or is this all just a bunch of hooey?

In the meantime, they should use small Pelican cases.

God I love that thing.

AudioCubes will be opening a second store in NYC: Hey Gearheads, AC Gears #2 is officially coming to the West Village Fall 2009, so keep your eye out for lots of promos and giveaways coming your way! ========================= 1st Promo - Buy one pair of headphones, get another (of equal or lesser value) for 20% off. This applies to in-store headphones, online at both ACGears.com and AudioCubes.com! This promo starts RIGHT NOW and will end in two weeks when our 2nd Promo comes around. For our online customers, the discount won't show up on check-out, but our customer service reps will credit the money back to you! ========================= If you've been in the market for headphones now's the time to take advantage of this offer! More great deals and free stuff coming your way via AC Gears soon! - ACG Team

Duh.

heh, really? How you know?