Thank you everyone for the interesting comments :) So if I'm summarizing the above correctly: 1) Hugo2 is still the best "portable" DAC/Amp 2) Adding an amp to the Hugo2 won't make it any better 3) Use USB from transport to DAC, and maybe add a USB cleaner in between

Battery powered USB re-clocker...did not know it existed :thumbsup: Have you tried other re-lockers? How does it compare to bigger units? Edit: Can't seem to find one for sale :thinking:

I guess I'm truly out of options than...:sweat: Maybe I could add an amp to the Hugo2 :thinking:

Looking to upgrade from a Hugo2. I sold my Hugo2 a while back due to me ultimately not being fully satisfied with the sound compared to my desktop system. I currently have two other portable DAC/Amps, XDuoo XD-05 (With v5i), and an iFi iDSD Micro BL. There is no denying that the Hugo2 is much...

I owned the mojo and Hugo2, and have auditioned the Hugo1. To me, the Hugo1 just sounds like a sharper and brighter mojo, but the Hugo2 is something entirely different. If I heard both blind, I wouldn't of guessed the two to be related at all... That said, it's best for you to find out...

The response is likely going to be dependent on what amp you plan to use.

It depends how much you are willing to spend on an amp. Realistically, a good amp (that doesn't limit the Hugo2, and actually makes it sound "better") is going to cost almost as much if not more than the hugo2. Even then, it's not going to "sound twice as good". It is up to you if it is worth...

I also own both, and my impressions are somewhat similar to yours. I previously owned a mojo (did not like it at all), and also a/b with the Hugo. To me, the Spring sounds much more "realistic", but the Hugo2 sounds extremely pleasing. So pleasing in fact, that it sounds "too good to be true"...

I own the 700, 900, 1k, and decided not to get the 2k after hearing it a few times. The AD series is great for its soundstage and the feeling of openness. The 900 can be considered a direct upgrade to the 700, it does everything the 700 does but better. Starting from the 1k, significant...

Unfortunately, no. :sweat_smile: I use my 003 with a 727A w/feedback mod. I have tried it once with a 252S and it was comparable to a SRS-001 system. With the 727A, it sounds better but I don't think it's worth the price difference unless you have other STAX cans.... My Sr003 is not MK2, so...

It's more on-ear than in-ear, i.e. the tips sit outside the ear canal and not inside. Overall the sound is quite nice, but it has some very strange properties. It is quite detailed (think HD800ish level), but with much smaller sound-stage (HE400ish) and low levels of separation and imaging...

Sound wise, the SRS-002 is warmer than the L series. I actually prefer them to the L300 (on the edge on the L500, but L700 is better). So it might work if you are sensitive to treble. However, most complaints of the portable stax comes from the comfort. It is more of a transportable system and...

Yes, it works. I currently have all the outputs connected to something.

I have one of these units connected to all my audio stuff. I could not hear any difference from using the unit. Now I have a monster power conditioner connected between this and all the audio stuff and the background seems to be quieter. Most important of all, it fixed a humming problem I had...

I prefer the 007A (mk2) for more relaxed/enjoyment listening, and the 009 for more critical/focused listening. The 007A sounds thicker/lush with more lower bass than the 009, whereas the 009 sounds faster and more detailed. Sadly, my budget can't stretch a BHSE or a Carbon, and have not heard...

The difference would be minimal at best :wink: The USB implementation on the Ares is quite good, I actually found it better than the coax input. Money would be much better spent on the better model :yum:

With the sr-007, I would really encourage you to look at a better DAC than the ones your mentioned if your budget allows. :floatsmile: I was not really impressed with either :nerd: ... YMMV

I also recently did a very similar comparison, but only between a 007A and L700 on a 006. Having already own the 009, I found the L700 to be too similar in a lot of ways but not quite as refined so I ended up walking out with the 007A. However, I apart from finding the 006 + 007A combo a...

I own a Holo Spring DAC, and I have heard the Hugo2. I would not say the two are really comparable. Both DACs sound amazing, there is no way around that, however to me, that take a completely different approach to what good sound means. The Spring, is an honest DAC with a realistic...

Thanks for the reply. :gs1000smile: I have also been looking at some of the second hand listings on e-earphones. Do I need to ask for them? or are they displayed as well?

Traveling to Tokyo, and Japan pretty much for the first time, within the next few months and will be dedicating a day or 2 for headphone testing (and lets be honest, most likely buying :beerchug:). Akihabara seems to be the place to go since I will be staying relatively close. Here is the...

50cm AES/EBU 110ohm interconnects from balanced outputs :stuck_out_tongue: No particular reason, just had some and the length was good.... Just use whatever is easier to get your hands on. For such short distances, the differences should be minimal if any.

Add Holo Spring Level 3 to the list :L3000: Multi-bit R2R NOS DAC https://www.head-fi.org/f/threads/holo-audio-spring-r2r-dac.810065/

:open_mouth: Assuming that my unit is a recent one, the serial number seems really low, like unrealistically low. ...Unless I misread a 1 by a 7 or something like that :confused: