The Monkey

Exactly. It would be nice to be able to trim the volume using the Skipjack.

I haven't fixed it yet, but here's how others approached the issue (simply replaced the "door"): Broken Pioneer door/flap on Optical 1 input. - AVS Forum

leedselect.com

And abandon team $1k source? Never! Well maybe not.

I got thrown for a loop tonight. Using the Skipjack, now it's the ECD-1 that is sounding more forward. Weird. I'm using the SRM1/MK2 as the amp now, so that could account for some differences, but the mids on the ECD-1 seem to outshine the North Star pretty easily. Volume matching could be an issue here. Regardless, the ECD-1 is doing better with vocals, especially female. The mids just sound great. Better than the north star. And while the ECD-1 sounds just a bit more congested than the NS, I think that may be due to the more forward mid presentation, which seems to de-emphasize some of the more complex musical passages. However, if you listen enough, the ECD-1 still gets it right. It seems that the NS designers chose to give equal prominence to both. A matter of taste perhaps. The NS might be a little blacker between the notes. And the ECD-1 still has the more lush sound. This is not to say that the ECD-1 is forgiving in the mids. I'd say defintely not. The ECD-1 seems to do a better job (by a fair amount) with female vocals, and that is important to me. Some classical tomorrow should make this even more difficult. For now, advantage Electrocompaniet.

I wish it could volume match.

It's refreshing to see someone admit to this while doing a comparison.

So far I love the thing, and I have only had a chance to tinker a bit. Will do some major cabling tonight/tomorrow to do some more listening and will report back.

Went to the Tribeca Film Festival Family Festival Street Fair. It was pretty cool. Wife and I registered to be bone marrow donors. Ate some pulled pork. Bought new sneakers. Bought beer. Now a nap.

interesting OT note, the m902 now has a balanced out option and retrofit (albeit TRS).

I think that bidding through Craig is difficult. It just doesn't seem to work that well. I've found that it is much better and more effective to let him know what you are looking for. If you give him time, he'll find it. I recommend letting him know your complaint. He seems like the kind of person who would probably take it seriously.

That all sucks. What do you do?

I know, I know...I've got to get to it. But now I'm drinking a big beer and I have a hard time hooking stuff up when that happens.

Has anyone tried any of the Enlightened Audio Designs DACs?

And I think that's the key. When I had both, I noticed some of the differences that others mention, but I also find that I hear things differently than others on occasion. This could very well be due to my tin ears or my lack of proper terminology. However, I thought the main differences between the mk1 and mk2 were what I perceived as slightly more distance in the mids with the mk2 (i.e., the mids did not seem as immediate) and a slight bump in midbass (i.e., they had some good thump with rock). I'm not sure that these perceptions agree with what others have noticed. To me, these differences were extremely subtle. And it felt like the mk2 would benefit from a good swift kick in the ass by a more powerful amp than the 007tii I was using. From my brief session with the mk2 and the BHSE, I perceived the mk2 as evening out in the areas noted above--sounding more and more like the mk1. Of course, that was under Meet conditions and for only a short time, but I tend to agree with Nate on this one.

I'm tempted, but it looks like a piece of shit. Is it?

And the conversation took a sudden and unexpected turn.

Not sure yet, Nums, but I hope to log some time with it this weekend. I'll let you know.

Sources are beginning to drive me mad...

I was good at nothing I did.

The springboard thing obviously should become a real event.

You need a bat signal.

Now that I have the Skipjack and the CO2, I should be able to do a pretty good A/B of the north star and the ECD-1 (single-ended). The CO2 will allow me to split the optical out of my iMac to both the ECD-1 and the north star. The skipjack will switch the source on the fly at the touch of a button, nearly silently. I may also be able to A/B them balanced. I hope to be able to get more specific with respect to my previous comparisons.

When I priced it out online a couple of nights ago, the discount was still available. I do note, however, that the first time I did it, the discount was not reflected.

Picture is deceiving. Still grey.