I have a windows machine in the office because it runs all the programs I need, and with a Wyrd it sounds "fine".   At home I have a mac music server, and after back and forth listening I actually prefer the optical over usb.  Maybe I'm crazy or it's a total placebo, but I like what I hear...

I really like it with the (unmodded) HD800.  To my ears the Bifrost MB-Asgard 2-HD800 combo is musical and revealing without being harsh or bright.

Is there some special reason why you don't split the outputs?

Thanks Jeb, and thanks again for the great review.

What's a good source for tubes such as the JAN 5814A's?  I apologize in advance if I'm asking in the wrong place 

You might try the Sennheiser Momentum M2's or Denon AH-MM400's. I'm looking for a "better" portable, closed headphone up to $600-$700 as well, but haven't heard anything yet that I like better than the headphones in the $300-$400 price class yet.

I'm an LCD-3 owner and would love to compare the HE1000 to the Audeze.

The problem may be that the interior wiring of the soft 3.5mm connector is easily damaged.  Mine is real flaky - the slightest stress on the cable or tapping on the connector causes the audio to start to disconnect.   The cable issue and the lack of a semi-rigid case for transport are about my...

They are now. I got my closed backs from Night & Day Audio.

I tried the gocase f2 and it's not big enough. I'd really like to find a semi-rigid case along these lines – a Pelican case is just too big to carry around.