Hopstretch

Al, please ask him if the mini version supports FLAC and ALAC (or at least if it is going to down the road). I was a "hell no" at $1500, but am a "hmm, maybe" at $400.

Alright, let's get off the PCP and back to the DSP. I'll try and get in touch with Sonic Studio and see if there are any further specs available. I know Al knows Jonathan Reichbach, who is behind this stuff, so maybe he can get us some good info?

The thread at this point would appear to be absolutely crying out for a reproduction of the witchdoctor picture du jour.

Pretty blatant eye-poking for the corporate arena. I guess Palm at this point doesn't really have much to lose. If the Pre isn't a big hit, they're toast.

Without getting into the whys and hows of Amarra -- when playing with Al's rig at CanJam I did like how easily you could toggle it on and off to get a feel for whether you actually enjoy whatever it is doing to the music. I wonder if they'll trial the mini version the same way they do with the full suite? And I wonder if FLAC and ALAC support is baked in now that big brother has it? If not, I woudn't think they're going to make many inroads even at the lower price point.

The Waterboys -- Fisherman's Blues As reissues go, this one is well worth it. The previously-unreleased material just about adds up to another damn fine album all on its own.

Nah, I was going to burgle Pete's house anyway for the Dynahi. These will just be the cherry on top.

I just came a little. How are they, man?

Although the word itself is amusing, if you're from the British sphere of influence.

Tori Amos -- Abnormally Attracted To Sin

Interesting. Focused on pure playback, it seems. You apparently give up A/D, equalization and 24/192 support (caps at 24/96) for your $1100 savings -- though that's all second hand scuttlebutt.

Dude, it says "lawyer" right in your user title. That's so not going to fly!

Lily Allen -- It's Not Me, It's You

It made it, not that there was very much doubt.

Silversun Pickups -- Swoon

Looks neat. Now, how does it sound?

Abdullah Ibrahim -- The Pilgrim

CAPS LOCK MAN SAYS WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU? JESUS. ETC.

Paul McCartney & Wings -- Red Rose Speedway

Woot woot! Buy a DAC if Dinny hasn't cornered the motherfucking market!

Om nom nom.

Warm eggs, though.

Blur -- Modern Life Is Rubbish

The upper midrange/treble troubles me too, but I don't hear it as a nasal inflection. Rather as a sometimes-intrusive sharp edge to vocals. I do absolutely agree, though, that the "sweet spot" volume level is too low for my liking. Where I part company with the sloths and join the elephants is on the spaciousness of the presentation. Elephas is spot on about the sound staging. I just couldn't go back to the 6X0 series now, despite having lived happily with both for extended periods in the past. The HD800 is a superb headphone. But like everything else in life, it has its own particular frustrating imperfections.