For those contemplating a streamer, I was enthused about the Cary AiOS $2999 all-in-one solution at first, since (for twice the price and half the features) I own their DMS-550 and like it. But then I see for headphone use it still requires the additional purchase of a headphone amplifier...

OK, I know there is virtually no such thing. But if your front end of turntable and cartridge (or CD player) is important to your two-channel system, then why shouldn't your modem and switch be important to high-fidelity streaming? I've searched and searched for recommendations for a simple...

Last week I had my electrician come by to (finally) install a dedicated circuit for my headphone system. He was working me in, and when he got here he had a “better” idea for routing the cable, and of course he was in a hurry. Which was fine: I’m just glad he came. I thought we would run the...

So, here’s a question for particular (-ly insane) audiophiles Assume a streaming system for a good headphone system ($10K let's say), no desktop or laptop in sight. For example: - Cary DMS500 Streamer/DAC - Dragon Inspire IPS-1 tube-based headphone amp and - HiFiMan HE-1000 Headphones...

A friend (across the Country) has a Cary DMS-500 Streamer/DAC I can have (for a small fee); I've looked high and low but cannot find anything about it here; did find only one Absolute Sound review (and recommendation). This to go with HE-1000 headphones and MicroZotl MZ2 headphone amplifier...

I wanted to post this in the High-End Audio forum, but read that questions there are verboten.  So here goes:   In a nutshell: Am I automatically limiting myself by using my laptop to stream music from a service such as Tidal Hi-Fi? I read that pretty much no matter what, one’s DAC will never...

An old NOOB here, sadly I know a lot about audiophile equipment that's...  two or three decades obsolete..   What do I need to purchase to use as a source (or data grabber), so I can listen to "hi-fi" or "MQA" music with a TIDAL subscription?  This would be in conjunction with my new headphone...

Although not quite ready to employ the philosophy of "If you haven't used it in a year, throw it out," my two-channel equipment has mostly remained in boxes for the last five years.  So I’ve decided to "invest" in a nice headphone setup.   I plan on using a balanced headphone cable - so I'm...

Has anyone tried this?  Insert their low-end DAC (like Schitt Modi 2 Uber or Bifrost, Bel Canto DAC-1, etc.) between their cable box or Blu-Ray player, and Sound Bar or Sound Base?  Without a dedicated DAC, one is relying on either the $5 DAC in their Blu-Ray player or the $4 DAC in their sound...

I have a Linn Genki CD player from the early 2000s (?); it's been so long ago I can't remember when I bought it.  Anyway, I have two questions:   1) For headphone listening, is this CD player so out of date that a new $600 CD player would sound better (for transport only, I plan on using an...