spritzer

He isn't actually alone as AKM and Esoteric work with him and let him in on information they wouldn't normally share. A case in point would be the engineers from AKM coming to the US to hear his new player... It's basically the drive feeding a buffer where the data is slaved to a master clock and upsampled and fed through an array of AKM dacs. From there it goes to a transformer coupled output stage so it's only a transformer and the tube in the signalpath. All linear psu with R-core transformers and point to point wired with soft silver wire. The transformers are amorphous core Lundahl. Even though the PCB's are SMD they are still hand soldered as it sounds better then a wave machine. It's true about the ass kissing but thats a nasty side effect of this and applies to most manufacturers. I would personally never buy dCS as it is very expensive for what you are getting and EMM is a horrible company as they used Audiogon to manipulate the used market for EMM products.

That's true but both have a vested interest in DSD (both are big in the pro sector) and neither can match the APL in engineering.

I saw it but I decided to give somebody else a chance as I need a new source more then a second SR-Ω. Now if I only could find a used UX-1...

Go custom all the way you can get a lot of parts for just the dealer fees on a normal amp. You should choose the amp to match the speakers you are going to use so once you settler on what you want you can find the amp to match. More power is often the wrong way to go as a 20w tube amo will crush a 200w SS amp when faced with the insane load of an electrostatic loudspeaker and it will sound much better.

He's the exception

I wouldn't call a APL NWO3.0GO cheap and they do it for better performance. DSD will sound much better in 20 years time but now it's better to convert over to PCM.

There is a reason why DSD is converted over to 24bit PCM in many players. Still DSD is in its infancy while PCM is more then 60 years old

Using more then one output device will always give you some non-linear artifacts as they can't be perfectly matched. This has nothing to do with distortion as SET's have that in spades but it is second harmonic and we like that. SET's are also simpler as there is no need for a phase splitter so you can spend more money better parts but p-p will give you more power. You can have a 50w SET with the right tubes but that will cost a lot of money. Spend the money on power and output transformers and what ever is used to couple the amp, either caps or transformers. You can also go vintage and discard electrolytic's completely in the PSU and use really big paper-in-oil's instead.

I'll just use my bias supply's to protect me...

It grows!!! Arghh...

It's bad news indeed but I can't believe they are supposed to sound like that. The drivers are identical so this shouldn't happen.

I don't think he bought the nr.249 that did the rounds on HF and ebay but the broken set that was on Y!JP. I'm not sure though...

I call them atmospheric as they don't have the fake and diffused soundstage of the HE90. They are very "audiophile" sounding a point which darth nut made in his epic comparison. If you haven't read it it is here: http://db.audioasylum.com/cgi/m.mpl?forum=general&n=80474&&r=&session= Ahhh so you bought that one... Mine were forced over the box for the photos but the arc is in pretty good shape.

So our sets weren't made that far apart. Pretty cool! The comfort is pretty good but they are always a bit loose on the head even with the headband as low as possible.

I knew about that site but I've never seen phones with the stock drivers that had the aluminum cartwheels. Those pictured there are replacement drivers from Stax not that they are available any more... It's a shame that the site isn't there in its original form as it had loads more info and comparisons. If they are brown then they are from the original run. Stax had the new black pads made in 2003 when the old stock ran out. They they are black I don't know. You can also get a new cable for them but it's light brown like the current cable and not dark like the original. If you remove the pads then you can see the date of manufacture or if they were repaired. Here is the sticker on mine: They are comfortable but the pads are too stiff and the vinyl/leather combo isn't all that great.

Now I'm all alone here...

It's the spikes emitting from the black rubber dot in the middle on the outside of the driver. If they are clear then they are the original plastic version but if they are gray it's the later aluminum version. I've never seen one with the aluminum version except on some replacement drivers. Are those the original pads they are sporting or have you put on some new black ones?

It's a bit amusing right now that NBC were going to cancel the Office after the first season but now can't get enough with longer episodes and a larger order.

Nik is an idiot that thinks there is something magical about hi-fi and how it works. Add that to being gullible to the crap manufacturers spew and it is one bumpy ride with everything he hears being the next great thing.

You certainly can! Does the SR-Ω have plastic or aluminum cartwheels? You can see them on the outside of the drivers. Congrats again!!

It's the Nova Signatures that I don't really like all that much. It's a fine headphone but lacks the "spark" of the Signatures and they are much more like the 404 and SC1 then the older Lambdas. The Sigmas are an acquired taste and I agree with the founder of Stax that the SR-Sigma (properly driven) is one of their best phones. The Pro's aren't as good but still pretty nice. The Signatures can reach 500$ or more for a good set.

Nope, I'm pretty sure I'm correct on that one. Still it's not as bad as the 555 which I gave a friend so I'd get it out of my sight...

There isn't much there to begin with and those that like the 650 are high on crack. The 600 can be ok from amps that compensate for its faults but my 1978 Fostex T-50 is a much better phone if you look past the comfort. Damn orthos and their flat pads.

He has sold his and the new owner should have them soon and it is not our baby elephant... I hope you do get a set. It's a shame the replacement parts look nothing like the stock ones.... Me... bonkers.....? Say it ain't so!!!

It's just me being unclear as usual. What i meant is that a dedicated line is probably the best upgrade you can ever do as there is nothing contaminating the power as computers, dvd players etc. do. The Power 3 isn't only stiff but very heavy.