I still read this thread ;-) I still use the M Stage (HPA-1) all the time. I usually have my LCD2 rev.1 plugged in and the LME49990 really work well with them since they are a little dark. It is a great match for fun listening. Gives the old LCDs a little more sparkle in the upper frequencies.

There are some on ebay from China in that range. Such as http://www.ebay.com/itm/Tube-12AU7-USB-DAC-Headphone-amplifier-pre-amp-PCM2702-/120648826609?pt=US_Home_Audio_Amplifiers_Preamps&hash=item1c173afef1 but also  others. Just search tube dac amp. 

Has anybody compared the EE Minimax DAC to the dac in the Hilo? Very interested in this. I love me EE and am wondering if the Hilo would blow it away or not. I have plenty of good amps so the amp section and the analog to digital are not big selling points for me but they would be nice to have...

http://www.anwida.com/product.asp?pid=5&area=2 try these  out see if they work for you. There is a demo of each.   http://www.anwida.com/product.asp?pid=6

Holy crap guys. I have had the 500's in my spare bedroom since they arrived. The day the came I ended up in the hospital. The box that Gorthon sent me has never even been opened.    I had pancreas problems  it seems my family has some herreditary pancreas duct issues and ended up carrying...

Quote: Info sent.....   Can't wait.   Chris

Quote: I really can't wait to try these and directly compare them to my other ortho's .  Thanks for your first impressions. Can't wait for any more info you have.   Chris  

Thanks guys Jim Nichols will be building my amp. He seems like a top notch guy and have heard nothing but great things about his amps. I have only heard his speaker amps but have not heard any of his headphone designs. So I am going on blind faith. http://jwnamplifiers.vpweb.com/   Uncle...

Thanks Doug, but the only thing I really got from your post is that I am an idiot, not a DIY idiot............   Anybody else want to try and help me.   Chris

From an email:    "Well,,,while I do not have single ended trans on hand at the moment, I do have a small pair of push pull 6v6 that were with 2- 6v6 @ 8 ohm. I have had both and like the push pull because its so quiet and has much more punch while still retaining the middle that SE is know...

Quote:   I could not have said it better. I love the stock M-Stage I have a V1. I just found it even better with an op-amp change. I have always liked the 4562 so of course I like it in the Mstage. It is a great sounding opamp if you like a more analytical sound. It really meshes well...

I have a matrix and my best friend has the BCL. I have spent a CONSIDERABLE amount of time with both. The mstage is a little more warm and the BCL is slightly more analytical compairing stock models. With a simple opamp change the MStage just outclasses the BCL by a long shot. I am using a class...

Quote:   The thing about the review you are linking too, is that he only used the DacMagic's USB input. It sounds much better through it's coaxial input. Or any of the other options on the DacMagic, the USB is by far the worst part of the DacMagic. I like the HRT + and if I only had the...

Would love a chance to hear them if anybody passes them on.

Right now at the house I have a Black Cube Linear, a Matrix M Stage with class A biased LM4562 and a Cavelli Audio Bijou Tube amp. I have tried them all using the Eastern Electric Mini Max Dac as a source and I prefer the M-Stage with upgraded op-amp with my LCD2 and not by a close margin. I...