cclragnarok

That might be the best solution if the problem is bad channel balance at low volume on pots. With the stepped attenuators, channel balance is not an issue. The only problem is the size of the steps. Even if an inline attenuator is used to move me to the middle steps, the steps might still be large enough to annoy me. Assuming that the implementation of the foobar v0.8.3 volume control is good, it should not degrade sound quality much if I have a 24-bit transport, and I only make small adjustments there. I can set up keyboard shortcuts to adjust the volume 0.5 dB at a time, so it should be pretty convenient except for the fact that it'll only work when foobar is on top. Like I mentioned in another thread, none of my previous 24-bit computer transports (Transit, 0404 USB, etc) worked without clicks and pops when I have my wireless card enabled. Fortunately, my Echo Indigo DJ had a huge hardware buffer (IIRC, it buffered up to ~25 seconds), so the Audiofire 2 should work fine if its buffer is even close to that size.

Actually, I guess the main problem is that the stepped attenuators don't have enough steps. I'm always on the first few steps, and I think they are spaced farther apart than the steps in the middle. I just bought an Echo Audiofire 2, which will hopefully work well as a 24-bit computer transport. I will then use foobar to make small adjustments in volume.

I probably shouldn't try one of those then. I find the gain on my KGSS to be too high even for the Omega IIs.

I'm not sure I want to do that with my KGSS. Otherwise, as an UM2 owner, I agree with you.

Actually, the KGSS specification also says that the SNR is "inaudible." Of course, inaudible is not really the same as not measurable.

I want one too (also tentatively). Assuming that PFKMan23 still lives in Saratoga, we might even be able to combine the shipping.

I've never heard the Woo 3, but since you want technical answers, I guess it doesn't matter too much. The Woo 3 uses 6AS7/6080 output tubes, which should be able to provide enough current even for the K701. The problem is likely to be the output impedance (maybe somewhere around 100 Ohms?), which is probably too high for the K701. My guess is that simply turning the volume down won't help too much.

Do you know if there are plans for a balanced version?

I'm not a big believer in cryo treating tubes, but are you sure the cryo treatment is done right? Maybe the tubes were somehow damaged by improper cryo treatment (sudden changes in temperature, etc).

It's weird that it's always on the right side. Do you use wireless (802.11a/b/g)? I used to have a Transit, and I have a Emu 0404 USB now. For both of them, I got the blips/pops when I have my laptop wireless card activated. Both worked fine if I disabled my wireless card. I had the same problem, but to a lesser degree, with the Apogee MiniDAC USB. The only USB soundcards/DACs/transports I've used that are completely blip-free all use the PCM2704 for the USB interface. Either way, increasing Foobar and Transit ASIO buffers might help a little bit.

I see. I don't have any speakers right now, so I haven't been following the speaker discussions.

Not sure if you are joking or not, but it should be 1000W * 4/6 = 667W.

It says Cavalry. Are you sure it's WD? The price is great, but recent reviews of buy.com have been horrible for some reason: Buy.com Customer Ratings, Reviews and Prices at ResellerRatings

Do they ever fart? Since the seller contacted Stax about the farting, I don't think he's tried the SR-007. From Stax's reply to the seller, it sounds like some SR-Omegas fart more than others.

The seller says that it works fine, but has the Stax fart. He checked with Stax about the farting, and Stax said that it's not a problem.

How many 6v6 tubes does your amp use? My amp (Sound Quest SQ-84) uses 4 6v6 tubes, so I bought some quads. One of the quads I bought looks like barely used rebranded+rebased gray glass RCA tubes. I'm not actually 100% sure about this, but the plate structure looks to be the same as the RCA tubes I have, and they sound like my RCA tubes. The problem is that only 2 of the 4 tubes have identical construction. The construction of these 2 tubes look like my regular RCA 6v6gt tubes. The other 2 tubes look like my military RCA tubes (VT107A), but these 2 also have slightly different construction from one another. One of these also makes a little "clink" sound if you flip the tube upside down or shake it a little. I couldn't find any shorts or loose parts, and the quad works and sounds fine in my amp, but I'm still kind of worried about the tube possibly shorting out later on. So basically, I can sell this quad for cheap, but it's probably more useful for an amp that uses 1 or 2 tubes at a time without tube matching issues.

I don't know much about guitar amps, but I have some interesting 6v6 tubes if you end up buying/building a 6v6 amp.

The DAC is possibly even more of a problem than the amp, but my point is that impressions of a headphone from an unknown laptop headphone out is not reliable at all. I've heard some truly horrible laptop headphone outs that bottleneck the performance of $5 headphones.

If you want something with a leaner sound than the Stello, I think the VDA-2 might be worth a try.

Isn't he using the headphone out from a laptop? Do you guys seriously believe that the headphones are the problem for him?

This is kind of a random question, but have any of you ever purchased a pair of Koss ESP-950 brand new? If you have, was there any kind of shrink wrap around the box or seal/sticker on the box?

I see. Once again, good luck with the repairs. I hope it gets fixed eventually.

I am obviously not an expert in fixing amps, but could board issues be detected using impedance tests with the amp turned off? You can send the same signal to both channels, and test the channels against each other using custom adapters. You'd be listening to mono though.

No. I was thinking about it, but I decided not to after I realized that the DA-500 is too big for what I was gonna use if for. That's when I posted the link to the listing in this thread.

I hope the board isn't fried somehow.