Todd,
I've had good luck with Lowe Pro bags and use a Off-Trail 2 when I need to take the whole rig or just a Topload Zoom 2 which can take the camera, 18-200 (attached) and the flash.
Off Trail
Topload
No, the description is correct. It is my understanding that USB cannot transmit higher sampling rates or bit depths without using a specific receiver chip which is cost prohibitive.
S/PDIF can natively output and transmit higher bit depths and sampling rates as dictated by whatever transport is being used and the Buffalo chip when properly implemented can accept up to 24/192. At least that's what I've read and been told by the guys at Twisted Pear.
Nope, can't do it. The new DAC is not module based so the Hertsens will remain as is, which is to say excellent. I do hope to get a listen to the new DAC at some point though and do a little comparing.
Gotta risk something in order to get much of anything Jacob, as I'm sure you know.
And yes, stat of choice moving forward is the O2 MKII - this pair is all mine. Now, I need to get working on an amp...
Technically speaking I believe that this is Justin's amp, not Vicki's but there's not way I'm getting between Vicki/her handguns and Justin on this one. I lobbied Justin for months to get the amp up to the NYC meet knowing that it'd be a large, appropriate audience. Justin was going to try and make it himself but in the end the timing was just didn't work out so I guilted him into sending the amp. It was also meant to serve as a final shakedown of the custom packaging that Justin got specifically for this amp.
Simply amazing. I managed to log a good 4hrs on it this morning while my wife and daughter were gone to visit some friends and I just kept going through CD after CD throwing everything and anything at it.