http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2FEDNAqmmI

Christ.., that is a terrible , horrible take....

I started listing to higher quality songs recently, flac, up to 24 bit 96kHz, but they are playing through my Thinkpad Laptop and Bose Tri-Port Headphone. After reading through lots of blogs and Stereophile.com I decided to spend some money on a better listening system. My spending limit is $2000, thank you Tax Refund. Anyhow, I though about buying better headphones, either AKG 701, Sennheiser 650 or 600, and of course a DAC/Amp, I was looking at the Benchmark DAC1 Pre or USB. So I have few choices and don't know how to decided on which headphones to buy and which DAC to buy.

I purchased one of these after seeing it on the CES wrap up for $500. I'm totally shocked at the performance of this device. It sounds glorious, and I'm listening to it right out of box. It is a USB DAC and Class A headphone amp in one little tube. It also has adjustable gain (a small gain "knob").

I'm going to echo rgibran's comment at the end of the blood-soaked Scharf Lexicon thread and say great job, Kal.

Everyone who jumped the blunderbuss and accused Stereophile of shilling for high end abusers should read it.

I have a fondness, if not love for the following:

The Danish jazz/rock group Kam

I just got a diagnosis of tinnitus a couple of days ago, after having ringing in my ears for a week or so. Obviously, this has had an effect on my enjoyment of The Hobby. Anyone else dealing with this?

After a lot of careful thought and debate, we have banned Michigan J. Frog and RealTraps

I've noticed that in the character Tracy Jordan's office on the show "30 Rock", there are some high end looking speakers but can't figure out what they are. My guess is Focal but I don't really know. Any ideas?

I also found it cool that Sota is a sponsor for "House" and I've seen a turntable in his office.