I'm mulling over the options. The source will be a laptop, possibly a docking station with a Lynx Two in it. I'll probably order a headphone out of the Headroom options to go along with it.

Any opinions? I'll probably be going with Home modules either way, and speccing the DAC as a flexibility option. What does the ~$1200 difference boil down to?

I'm mulling over the options. The source will be a laptop, possibly a docking station with a Lynx Two in it. I'll probably order a headphone out of the Headroom options to go along with it.

Any opinions? I'll probably be going with Home modules either way, and speccing the DAC as a flexibility option. What does the ~$1200 difference boil down to?

If you have evened out the electronics, it boils down to the power supply, and the option to have Max Electronics in the Home (which I strongly recommend over the home, but that's your call). With the Desktop line the best you can do PSU wise is the DPS ($399 extra - stock it comes with a decent but cheap wall wart type), which will still only be 1 power supply channel for all the electronics, externally housed. In the Home you have a dual mono supply on board.

Also, with the Home, you have preamp I/O on the rear (2 SE inputs and 1 balanced, switchable), and a totally clean single ended signal path for your SE inputs. With the balanced Desktop, you have the line driver on the single ended inputs to 'balance' them - some might prefer this feature, but it is less 'high end'.

So, if you want simple preamp functionality, want to run single ended inputs 'single endedly', are anal about PSU's or want to have the option to upgrade to Max Modules, you need the Home Balanced. Otherwise, it's the Desktop Balanced - if you're after a headphone with it, see if any of their package specials suit you.

Thanks. That was most informative. Perhaps you can answer this question for me as well - what's the size difference between the Max and the Home?

Perhaps you can answer this question for me as well - what's the size difference between the Max and the Home?

None, they share the same chassis 15.5" x 15.5" x 5".

Oh right, cool.

None, they share the same chassis 15.5" x 15.5" x 5".

Now now, don't forget those chunky machined front and rear panels on the Max! They must add about 1/2" front to back vs. the home, though I suppose if you included the urethane bezel on the home they'd even out. Eesh, headroom geekdom.

Thanks. sizewise I think the Home might be a tad too large. It may have to be a Desktop or something similar after all - for this particular use I'm not looking for a dominating behemoth.