Welly Wu

Dear Administrators: Please ban my profile by de-activating my account. I no longer wish to be a contributing member in your community. However, I would like to retain the option of visiting your board from time to time. Please respect my decision and my privacy. Thank you very much. Best Regards: Welly Wu

"A fool and his money are soon parted!" STAY FAR AWAY FROM PAYPAL! 1. Their rates are very high considering the fact that you can simply be a little more patient and find alternative methods of payment (i.e., credit/debit card, personal check, money order, etc.)! 2. There are literally HUNDREDS of scams associated with phishers and hackers trying to gain unauthorized access to your PayPal account! 3. The class action lawsuit will not turn out in favor for PayPal (in the long run) because a. it will cost PayPal an ENORMOUS amount of legal fees and damages if the court decides against them, b. PayPal will be forced to raise its' rates to cover the damages, and c. YOU will pick up THEIR tab! I closed my account with PayPal awhile ago. NEVER store your banking routing number, identification number, debit/credit card information on line especially with an unknown party! That's just common sense!

I have TWO GMail invitations to give away. Please send an e-mail message to Welly@Comcast.Net or WellyWu@GMail.Com. Just ask and you shall receive with no strings attached.

Sorry to jump in the drink so late, but I had to reply to this thread! Why not consider what I'm doing? Build a "very high end reference system" (whatever). Build a "high end PC and monitor" (still learning). Keep them separate but located next to each other. Sound quality problems solved. Convenience check. What's the catch? Money.

I don't know?

REVIEWER EQUIPMENT EXPERIENCE: I owned both the Grado RS-1 and Sennheiser HD600 flagship headphones; I also owned the Etymotic Research ER-4P/S and I use the Ultimate Ears Ue-10 PRO earphones. For headphone amplifiers, I owned the HeadRoom Cosmic (with Reference Module), but I use a Ray Samuels Emmeline HR-2. I owned both the DiMarzio High Resolution and M-PATH, but I use the Cardas Neutral Reference interconnecting cables. My power conditioner is a Balanced Power Technologies BP.Jr. II Ultra and I use the Cardas Golden Reference and PS Audio xStream Plus power cords. For sources, I owned a Panasonic SL-CT570, Apple iPod, NAD C541i and Denon DVD 2900. My current source is a Pioneer Elite DV-59AVi and I use both Vibrapod Isolators (Model Two) and Cones. REVIEWER BIASES: I prefer my sound akin to a mug of Starbucks Italian Roast coffee: warm, full-bodied, dark, and boldly rich with hints of sweetness. MUSIC SELECTIONS: Eagles Hotel California (HDCD) Celine Dion, All the Way…A Decade of Song Patricia Barber, Modern Cool Renee Fleming & Bryn Terfel, Under the Stars Van Halen, 1984 (HDCD) Toby Keith Shock ‘N Ya’ll (HDCD) Norah Jones Come Away with Me, Feels Like Home Sade Lover’s Rock (HDCD) The White Stripes Elephant Linkin Park Meteora Renee Fleming Bel Canto, By Request, Under the Stars Andrea Bocelli Sogno, Sentimento, Cieli Di Toscana Hans Zimmer Gladiator Rachel Podger Antonio Vivaldi: La Stravaganza: 12 Violin Concertos Anne-Sophie Mutter Vivaldi: The Four Seasons (DVD-Audio) The Beach Boys Pet Sounds (DVD-Audio) Fleetwood Mac Say You Will (DVD-Audio) Sting Sacred Love (DVD-Audio) Elton John Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (DVD-Audio) Roxy Music Avalon (Hybrid SACD) Diana Krall The Girl in the Other Room (Hybrid SACD) Original Motion Picture Soundtrack: Top Gun (Single Layer SACD) Anne-Sophie Mutter Beethoven: Violin Concerto / Romances (Single Layer SACD) Midori Debussy, Poulene, Saint-Saens (Single Layer SACD) Nikolaus Harnoncourt Anton Bruckner: Symphony No.9 (Hybrid SACD) Hilary Hahn Bach Concertos (Hybrid SACD) Helene Grimaud Credo (Hybrid SACD) Ray Samuels Emmeline HR-2 Dual High Resolution Headphone Amplifier: Introduction: Dark. Warm. Poetic. Superb build quality. Design: Such words succinctly describe Ray Samuels' products and signature house sound. The Emmeline HR-2 was originally conceived as a preamplifier but it is tuned as a headphone amplifier. Mr. Samuels hand builds each of his products himself. Each one is built with 0.1% Dale (Vishay) resistors along with polypropylene and tantalum caps. A full sized Noble volume pot is directly soldered onto the PCB without wires: it is dead quiet. The PCB uses top drawer FR4 materials that are built to military specifications (double sided) along with two ounces of copper. Power signals are separated by blocks of grounds and lanes. All parts are matched between both left and right channels. The output stage is powerful enough to drive any pair of ear / headphones with the exception of the AKG K1000 ear-speakers. All Emmeline HR-2s are designed with a key feature: two independent eight pin DIP sockets permit owners to tune the sound to suit their preferences by switching operational amplifiers. Two high quality gold RCA input connectors protrude from the back of the unit and all parts are housed within a black anodized chassis with a custom designed, silk screened, face plate. The headphone amplifier is separate from the power supply. Mr. Samuels believes that a separate power supply unit delivers sonic performance worthy of bearing his name. It is housed in a black anodized chassis that is shielded and fully regulated + / - 12 volts DC. Instead of using electrolytic caps, he uses polypropylene caps and power flows through a four conductor low noise shielded cable to the headphone amplifier. The PCB still uses FR4 materials built to military specifications (double sided) along with two ounces of copper, but the transformer is a class A shielded and it contains an encapsulated toroidal with two secondary windings. Each has a full wave bridge rectifier and adjustable regulators to ensure precise voltage between negative and positive in relation to ground. SOUND: But, how does it sound? The quintessential Ray Samuels house sound is dark, warm, and poetic. The background is dead silent with an oily blackness between notes: sounds suddenly appear and vanish like ghosts. Imaging is precise with excellent stereo separation yet the three dimensional sound stage allows listeners to place the positions of instruments and performers with utmost precision. OP-AMP ROLLING: AD797 AD8065 (Brown Dog Adapter) AD825 (Brown Dog Adapter) AD8610 (Brown Dog Adapter) LT1028 LT1115 OPA604AP OPA627BP One of my favorite songs is Sheryl Crow's “A Change Would Do You Good.†Like the title of that song, the Emmeline HR-2 permits owners to change the sound to suit their preferences. The stock AD797 is quite dark and warm with a lush midrange reminiscent of tubes and it possesses the best bottom end. It calls listeners to attention with its slightly forward and wide sound stage. However, trebles sound grainy to my ears. For most owners, this is the most preferred op-amp for most music genres especially pop / rock. The AD8065 sounds darker and more detailed to the point of sounding dry. It is more relaxed with smoother trebles but there is noticeable background hiss. The AD825 is by far the worst offender: there is a very prominent background hiss that mars the Ray Samuels' signature house sound. I spent all of ten minutes trying to decipher it and I decided to move on. The AD8610 sounds very dark and quite detailed but it lacks that signature tube liquidity and lush warmth. As Mr. Samuels once remarked, the LT1028 is like “putting sugar all over your sound.†It has a very liquid, sweet, and warm midrange that exhibits sharp bass and treble roll off. Unlike the Analog Devices op-amps, it is not dark. In fact, low level details flow through with greater clarity and definition. Its' sibling, the LT1115, sounds more demure: the midrange is darker and less sweet but it has greater tonal balance. The OPA627BP is my favorite op-amp because it sounds very natural and neutral much like the Russian Electro-Harminox 12AX7 / 6SN7 tubes with no overt discolorations: it just sounds good to my ears! The OPA604 is the smaller sibling that sounds darker and veiled. Ray Samuels Emmeline II The Stealth: DESIGN: Ray Samuels' Emmeline II The Stealth is a tube based preamplifier and headphone amplifier that ships with two new stock Russian Electro-Harminox 6SN7 and one 12XA7 tubes. Mr. Samuels believes the prices of new old stock (NOS) tubes have become so exorbitant that he specifically designed his unit to perform well with new stock tubes. The preamplifier has four RCA inputs and two RCA outputs. In keeping with his design philosophy, the power supply is separate from the preamplifier / headphone amplifier; a detachable five and a half foot long power cord connects the two separate black boxes. There are three knobs located on the front of the headphone amplifier: 1. a four position knob to select the input source, 2. a DACT stepped attenuator to control the volume, 3. a four position knob to control the power. Furthermore, the power switch has four settings: 1. OFF, 2. ON (to warm up the tubes), 3. MUTE (to run high voltages through the tubes), and 4. PLAY (to let the tubes amplify the signal). A CAVEAT: use extreme caution in handling the Emmeline II The Stealth as there are potentially LETHAL VOLTAGES! SOUND: But, how does it sound? The signature Ray Samuels house sound is still present but the stock EH 6SN7 and 12AX7 tubes trade warmth for a more natural and neutral sound. Bass extension goes down deeper yet it still has that feisty cross punch. However, decaying notes linger longer: they gradually vanish into the oily black background. Midrange sounds more focused and I can hear the different layers of music with greater ease. Treble is no longer rolled off: it extends higher upward and notes have a more natural decay which gives music its own aura and space. TUBE ROLLING: Amperex Bugle Boy 12AX7 RCA Black Plate 12AU7 (medium gain) RCA Black Plate 12AU7 (medium gain) Electro-Harminox 6SN7 / 12AX7 Telefunken 12AX7 I tube rolled the EH 12AX7 for the RCA Black Plate 12AU7 (medium gain). In so doing, the bass and midrange take on that lush, magical, tube warmth. Norah Jones' voice becomes raspier and more seductive while while Lisa Gerrard beckons to me like a poetic muse. Sade lulls me into a deep state of hypnosis while Renee Fleming dazzles me with her splendorous voice. Sadly, my time with the Emmeline II The Stealth was limited and I had to move on to other tubes. The Amperex Bugle Boy 12AX7 tubes fail to impress me. It lacks that tube magic as the EH12AX7 / Black Plate 12AU7 tubes. In fact, it sounds duller and less life-like. The Telefunken 12AX7 is the very finest of the inexpensive lot of NOS tubes. Talk about tube magic: excellent tonal balance and a lush sweet midrange to die for! Bass has full-bodied warmth and trebles possess natural extension. CONCLUSIONS: While op-amp or tube rolling will produce differences in sound, they can sound remarkably close to each other if you roll carefully. In short, picking the right headphone amplifier comes down to needs and preferences. Rest assured that both the Emmeline HR-2 and Emmeline II The Stealth are hand-built, shining products. STRENGTHS: Emmeline HR-2 Op-amp rolling Dark, warm, poetic Outstanding build quality Transferable two year warranty Emmeline II The Stealth Tube rolling Tuned for new stock tubes Tube magic sound Preamplifier / headphone amplifier Outstanding build quality Five year warranty WEAKNESSES: Emmeline HR-2 $875 USD Certain op-amps produce background hiss Emmeline II The Stealth $2495 USD Amperex Bugle Boy 12AX7 sounds lifeless

Thank goodness you guys are back up! Now, how long before you solve all of these hosting problems and get back to the http://www.sgheadphones.com address? Please post updates at Head-Fi too!

I am located in West Orange, NJ in the United States of America. I use Comcast High Speed Internet which is a 3MB/S coaxial cable line using DHCP. I use Mozilla FireFox 0.9RC1 and a Toshiba Satellite 1.5GHz Celeron with 256MB or RAM. I have had problems accessing Singapore Headphones all day yesterday as I was trying to post my most recent review online in the Home Equipment forum. I tried using Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.x and I had the same problems. I switched over to other computers and I still experienced problems trying to resolve the http://www.sgheadphones.com website. So, I went to a friend's home and my local public library and experienced the same problems. They were using IE 6.x and either a Comcast or dedicated T1 line. I also use KERIO Personal Firewall 4 and have a Linksys cable modem along with two Linksys routers (one of which is Wi-Fi) and I employ MAC Filtering. My problem seems resolved today but I changed nothing in terms of my own computer configuration.

REVIEWER EQUIPMENT EXPERIENCE: I owned both the Grado RS-1 and Sennheiser HD600 flagship headphones; I also owned the Etymotic Research ER-4P/S and I use the Ultimate Ears Ue-10 PRO earphones. For headphone amplifiers, I owned the HeadRoom Cosmic (with Reference Module), but I use a Ray Samuels Emmeline HR-2. I owned both the DiMarzio High Resolution and M-PATH, but I use the Cardas Neutral Reference interconnecting cables. My power conditioner is a Balanced Power Technologies BP.Jr. II Ultra and I use the Cardas Golden Reference and PS Audio xStream Plus power cords. For sources, I owned a Panasonic SL-CT570, Apple iPod, NAD C541i and Denon DVD 2900. My current source is a Pioneer Elite DV-59AVi and I use both Vibrapod Isolators (Model Two) and Cones. REVIEWER BIASES: I prefer my sound akin to a mug of Starbucks Italian Roast coffee: warm, full-bodied, dark, and boldly rich with hints of sweetness. MUSIC SELECTIONS: Eagles Hotel California (HDCD) Celine Dion, All the Way…A Decade of Song Patricia Barber, Modern Cool Renee Fleming & Bryn Terfel, Under the Stars Van Halen, 1984 (HDCD) Toby Keith Shock ‘N Ya’ll (HDCD) Norah Jones Come Away with Me, Feels Like Home Sade Lover’s Rock (HDCD) The White Stripes Elephant Linkin Park Meteora Renee Fleming Bel Canto, By Request, Under the Stars Andrea Bocelli Sogno, Sentimento, Cieli Di Toscana Hans Zimmer Gladiator Rachel Podger Antonio Vivaldi: La Stravaganza: 12 Violin Concertos Anne-Sophie Mutter Vivaldi: The Four Seasons (DVD-Audio) The Beach Boys Pet Sounds (DVD-Audio) Fleetwood Mac Say You Will (DVD-Audio) Sting Sacred Love (DVD-Audio) Elton John Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (DVD-Audio) Roxy Music Avalon (Hybrid SACD) Diana Krall The Girl in the Other Room (Hybrid SACD) Original Motion Picture Soundtrack: Top Gun (Single Layer SACD) Anne-Sophie Mutter Beethoven: Violin Concerto / Romances (Single Layer SACD) Midori Debussy, Poulene, Saint-Saens (Single Layer SACD) Nikolaus Harnoncourt Anton Bruckner: Symphony No.9 (Hybrid SACD) Hilary Hahn Bach Concertos (Hybrid SACD) Helene Grimaud Credo (Hybrid SACD) CARDAS GOLDEN REFERENCE POWER CORD: Product Description: The Cardas Golden Reference Power Cord is made from an accumulative six gauge pure copper Litz and it utilizes the company's proprietary Constant Q and Golden Ratio. Cords are available in different lengths from one meter up to two and a half meters and custom lengths are available upon customer request. Miscellaneous: The CGR Power cord looks unremarkable: owners may feel slightly disappointed considering its expensive price tag. Yet, the sound is so beautiful and the cord is relatively flexible and lightweight. I use it between my BP.Jr II Ultra power conditioner and Pioneer Elite DV-59AVi. THE CARDAS SOUND: Of paramount importance, the Cardas Golden Reference Power cord has an oily background. The heart of the Cardas Audio sound pulsates in the midrange: it is full, warm, and sweet while retaining intimate immediacy. Furthermore, it has both sparkling clarity and seductive lushness. On on hand, bass is fairly deep and tight with solid body and weight, but little extension. On the other hand, treble sounds sparklingly clear, but slightly rolled-off. On Hans Zimmer's Gladiator, Lisa Gerrard's voice takes on a lushness and sweetness that elevates her voice to the status of a poetic muse in sequence when Russel Crowe's character brushes the fingertips of his left hand across the tops of flat amber plains in a previous dream. On Patricia Barber's Modern Cool album, her alluring voice gains added darkness and smoke with hints of sweetness. Switching to male vocalists, Sting's Sacred Love demonstrates that age has not been too kind to his voice or musicianship on his latest album. As a whole, the band members of both The Beach Boys' Pet Sounds and Fleetwood Mac's Say You Will sound more coherent and focused with the added welcome of a delightfully sweet midrange and sparklingly clear trebles. The medley of violins, violas, cellos and oboes in Hilary Hahn's Bach Concertos sound regal and splendid as does Ms. Hahn's exquisite up- and down-bow strokes on her violin. Helene Grimaud's Credo tantalizes me with her chaotic wizardry of imagination and the Cardas Golden Reference Power cord never fails to keep pace with each keystroke on her grand piano. PS AUDIO xSTREAM PLUS POWER CORD: Product Description: The PS Audio xStream Plus Power Cord utilizes advanced materials including an eight gauge copper design having both a solid and multi-strand cores, hermetically sealed connectors machined from solid billet, four layers of shielding, and a ferrite impregnated jacket. It also implements advanced design techniques such as hot and cold welding. Newer generations feature a removable ground pin. Cords are available in lengths from one meter up to three meters. Miscellaneous: The PS Audio xStream Plus power cord looks like an exotic cable. It has the skin of a snake, the weight of a Komodo Dragon, and the flexibility of a boa constrictor. I use it between my BP.Jr II Ultra power conditioner and Ray Samuels Emmeline HR-2 headphone amplifier. THE PS AUDIO SOUND: First, this power cord has an jet black background: it is absolutely dead quiet. Once you push play, the bass has abysmal depth and intense tightness; the bottom end acquires immense power. The midrange sounds clear albeit untouched while the treble sounds smoother, but slightly rolled-off. The PS Audio xStream Plus power cord yields immediate improvement to hip-hop, pop, rock 'n roll, and rap music. On Linkin Park's Meteora album, the intense thrash of percussion instruments retains clarity (as is the title of one of their songs), yet there is extra extension and slam to the bottom end. On The White Stripes' Elephant, the black void of air between notes gives greater energy to kick drums and sparkle to the shimmer of cymbals. I hypothesize that this power cord smooths out the top end. I use both Diana Krall's The Girl in the Other Room and Fleetwood Mac's Say You Will albums as test materials. My results confirm my hypothesis: the complex blend of synthesized sounds, piano, and the voices of Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie Nicks, Krall retain clarity and focus without tipping up trebles. CONCLUSIONS: The Cardas Golden Reference and PS Audio xStream Plus power cords are an excellent synergistic combination in my reference system. The former has a beautifully sweet and warm midrange while the latter emphasizes deep and powerful bass. As to which one I prefer more, I prefer both of them given their special synergy of strengths. STRENGTHS: Cardas Golden Reference: Beautiful midrange sweetness and warmth Oily black background PS Audio xStream Plus: Jet black background Deep, tight, powerful bass Smooth treble Newer generation cords feature user removable ground pins WEAKNESSES: CGR Power costs $387 USD xStream Plus costs $250 USD Very heavy, stiff, and thick

REVIEWER EQUIPMENT EXPERIENCE: I owned both the Grado RS-1 and Sennheiser HD600 flagship headphones; I also owned the Etymotic Research ER-4P/S and I use the Ultimate Ears UE-10 PRO earphones. For headphone amplifiers, I owned the HeadRoom Cosmic (with Reference Module), but I use a Ray Samuels Emmeline HR-2. I owned both the DiMarzio High Resolution and M-PATH, but I use the Cardas Neutral Reference interconnecting cables. My power conditioner is a Balanced Power Technologies BP.Jr. II Ultra and I use the Cardas Golden Reference and PS Audio xStream Plus power cords. For sources, I owned a Panasonic SL-CT570, Apple iPod, NAD C541i and Denon DVD 2900. My current source is a Pioneer Elite DV-59AVi. REVIEWER BIASES: I prefer my sound akin to a mug of Starbucks Italian Roast coffee: warm, full-bodied, dark, and boldly rich with hints of sweetness. MUSIC SELECTIONS: • Toby Keith Shock ‘N Ya’ll (HDCD) • Eagles Hotel California (HDCD) • Norah Jones Come Away with Me, Feels Like Home • Sade Lover’s Rock (HDCD) • The White Stripes Elephant • Linkin Park Meteora • Renee Fleming Bel Canto, By Request, Under the Stars • Andrea Bocelli Sogno, Sentimento, Cieli Di Toscana • Hans Zimmer Gladiator • Rachel Podger Antonio Vivaldi: La Stravaganza: 12 Violin Concertos • Anne-Sophie Mutter Vivaldi: The Four Seasons (DVD-Audio) • The Beach Boys Pet Sounds (DVD-Audio) • Fleetwood Mac Say You Will (DVD-Audio) • Sting Sacred Love (DVD-Audio) • Elton John Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (DVD-Audio) • Roxy Music Avalon (Hybrid SACD) • Diana Krall The Girl in the Other Room (Hybrid SACD) • Original Motion Picture Soundtrack: Top Gun (Single Layer SACD) • Anne-Sophie Mutter Beethoven: Violin Concerto / Romances (Single Layer SACD) • Midori Debussy, Poulene, Saint-Saens (Single Layer SACD) • Nikolaus Harnoncourt Anton Bruckner: Symphony No.9 (Hybrid SACD) ETYMOTIC RESEARCH ER-4P/S: http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/er4.asp The Etymotic Research ER-4P/S is perhaps the best selling audiophile earphone on the market…period. It vaunts an impressive average sound isolation rating of 22db-32dB NRR. This is a versatile canal phone: the ER-4P is easy to drive (~ 25 ohms) and sounds warm while the ER-4S is harder to drive (~ 105 ohms) and sounds neutral. Designed for portable usage where high sound isolation is a necessity, newer versions feature thinly braided cables that reduce microphonics. Owners love them for their extremely clear, detailed, and resolved sound. Furthermore, imaging and separation of instruments are par excellence. For example, I can hear fingers squeaking up and down the neck of a guitar. As another example, I can hear whether a musician breathes through his nostrils or a slack jaw. Yet, owners acknowledge their paucities. They have criticized them for anemic bass and shrill treble. For example, I can hear bass notes but I do not feel the visceral slam. As another example, notes beyond the 12.5 KHz threshold sound piercing because of the limitations associated with the single bore / driver design (that leads to clipping). The soundstage is narrow and hemmed in. There are other quibbles. Owners must periodically replace the filters and ear tips to keep them clean. While the thinly braided cables reduce microphonics, they fail to eradicate them due to an inherent design flaw of the earphones. Lastly, the ER-4P/S is a single bore / driver design that is nearly a decade old. ULTIMATE EARS UE-10 PRO: http://www.ultimateears.com/UE-10_PRO.htm The Ultimate Ears UE-10 PRO incorporate the best features of the ER-4P/S, but UE takes it to the pinnacle level of performance. In other words, it retains the same level of extreme detail, resolution, clarity…and more. For example, each note embodies its own full-bodied shape: Renee Fleming, who has the voice of a seraph, sounds so convincingly real that I feel she sings only for me. As another example, the whole hemisphere of my brain becomes the soundstage: imaging, instrument separation, and multiple layers of sound take on a three-dimensional, holographic realism. Bass exudes full-bodied warmth: these are the Ultimate Earphones for bassheads! Midrange maintains clarity, extreme accuracy, and transparency. Trebles extend up far while still sounding silky smooth. Changes in dynamics or tempo occur at the speed of light. Other key features make the UE-10 PRO unrivaled in the in-ear monitor business: it provides an average a sound isolation rating of 26dB NRR that should be adequate for portable usage in even the noisiest environments. If done correctly, then the ear impressions provide the ultimate level of comfort for extended periods; I can even sleep with them in my ears. With the UE, there are no “hidden costs:†owners do not need to replace filters or ear tips. Its’ extremely low impedance (13.3 ohms) permits owners to use them with any source. While this obviates the necessity of a headphone amplifier, I still highly recommend using one! The thinly braided cord loops behind each ear and eliminates microphonics. Owners can detach/replace cords of different lengths/colors and choose from a variety of different colors (or color swirls) along with having their initials engraved on both earpieces. Lastly, owners get a Heavy Metal CaseTM to safeguard their costly investment. Speaking of price, it costs $900 USD for the hard acrylic or “full soft†material, up to $50 USD for the audiologist fees, and an additional $50 USD for the full-soft material along with shipping and handling fees. Please note owners cannot resell them because UE cannot remanufacture an existing set of ear impressions for another person. CONCLUSIONS: If you can afford them, then I recommend the Ultimate Ears UE-10 PRO over the Etymotic Research ER-4P/S unhesitatingly: there is no comparison…period. I daresay that the UE-10 PRO will work well with any audio system. Once you hear the UE-10 PRO play your favorite song, I guarantee you will believe every penny paid was totally worth it. UE sets the benchmark for customer service – they lavish you with the “rock star treatment.†If you want the best in IEM design and technology, then the UE-10 PRO is the ultimate solution.

Sorry guys but I was too damned mad at him when I posted that e-mail exchange verbatim. Things are settled now. I got my Cardas Golden Reference power cord (1m) and he's got his money. That's the last I'll ever have to deal with him forever. Was it all worth it? Yes and no. Yes because the CGR cord was cheap and it is fully burned in. NO because I could have done business with another Audiogon member...and saved myself a lot of aggrevation. Again, I'm sorry for posting the e-mail addresses verbatim.

I do not like posting much anymore but I feel it is absolutely necessary to post copies of my most recent e-mail messages sent to me by company representative named Brian who works for HelloSimplyMusic.Com: Dear Brian: I have tried my best to negotiate a successful business transaction with you over the past several days. I have tried to be patient with you and I have tried my best not to make an already bad situation worse by giving offense to you. For the record, I simply sent an e-mail message to Mr. Bhagan with a question. I did not try to go behind your back. It was just a simple e-mail inquiry. Your reply e-mail message is out of line. You have made no attempts to withhold any personal attacks directed against me. Furthermore you have shown little to no regard for courtesy and professionalism in the e-mail messages that you have sent to me. I have never had to deal with a company representative who was as rude and insolent as you. I too regret doing business with you sir. At this point, if I get my order at all, then do expect negative feedback from me. Best Regards: Weichiek Sun Hello' wrote: > WHERE EXACTLY IN OUR AD IS ALLAN'S NAME? > > WHY ARE YOU EMAILING ALLAN BHAGAN??? > > "I saw your advertisement on Audiogon"????? > > ALLAN HAS NO ADVERTISEMENT FOR ANYTHING ON AUDIOGON. > > SO YOU THINK ALLAN WORKS FOR/WITH HSM, > AND IF I SAY NO TO YOU, YOU CAN GO BEHIND MY BACK AND > TRY TO GET SOMEONE ELSE TO SAY YES? LOWLIFE! > > YOU ARE AN ODD AND INCREDIBLY ANNOYING PERSON (AGAIN). > > I AM GOING TO SEE IF I CAN HAVE YOUR SHIPMENT RECALLED, > AS I ABSOLUTELY DO NOT WANT YOU AS A CUSTOMER. > IF THE RECALL WORKS YOU WILL BE REFUNDED WHEN IT RETURNS. > I AM SORRY I MADE AN EXCEPTION TO SELL YOU AN ITEM AFTER I TOLD YOU IT SEEMED > LIKE A BAD IDEA TO DEAL WITH YOU, AND HERE IS YET ANOTHER REASON TO BACK THAT UP. > > MAYBE YOU CAN EMAIL ME AGAIN AND TELL ME AGAIN WHO YOUR PH COMPANY, CELL > COMPANY, ISP, and SEND ALONG A DNA SAMPLE WITH THEM? WEIRD! > > IF I AM UNABLE TO HAVE THE SHIPMENT RECALLED YOU > CAN CONSIDER IT OUR FIRST AND LAST DEAL. > > > > > > > >> > >> -----Original Message----- > >> From: Welly Wu [mailto:Welly@*******.***] > >> Sent: Monday, May 10, 2004 7:26 PM > >> >> Dear Mr. Alan B*****: > >> I would like to purchase one demo / mint condition --- if it is still available. I saw your advertisement on Audiogon (1088762852) and I would like to buy it right now. Please reply at your earliest convenience. Thank you very much. > For your own good, do not do business with Brian from HelloSimplyMusic.Com. He is a paranoid schizophrenic who does not know his customer service skills from his arse.

The Pioneer Elite DV-59AVi is terrific. It's definitely a keeper this time. I can't wait until I send it to ModWright for heavy modifications!

Thank you very much!

I've pretty much weaned myself off the entire portable audio scene for a good long while but the itch is getting to me. I'm seriously thinking about building a very specific portable audio system. Here are my top goals: 1. Acquire a portable source component with VERY LONG battery life ( > 100 hours), rechargeable batteries, external remote control, and WMA 9 format support with firmware upgradeable option. Yeah, PCDP need only apply. I'm not going with a HD-DAP because I want the ability to utilize existing hardware (i.e., Plextor DVD / CD-RW drives & blank media) and be able to buy a new Red Book CD and play it on the road. 2. Acquire a portable headphone amplifier with at least > 100 hours battery life that is truly portable (i.e., fits in the palm of my hand). Cross-feed is welcome too. 3. Acquire a bag of some sort to put everything in its proper location with room for batteries and a few blank CDs So, here is what I am thinking to reach my goals: iRiver IMP-1000 -> Meier Audio Porta Corda II -> Oelbach MINI to MINI adapter -> Ultimate Ears UE-10 PRO (43" long user replaceable BLACK cable) all in a HeadRoom AirBag. I got questions: A. Will the Meier Audio Porta Corda II literally fit inside the HeadRoom AirBag? In other words, is there enough room in the front compartment to make it fit or is it custom fitted for their HeadRoom Total AirHead portable headphone amplifier? B. Who knows where I can read more user reviews about the iRiver IMP-1000 PCDP? I chose HE-AAC VBR format to encode my Red Book CDs. I am using the latest versions of dBpowerAMP Music Convertor and the Power Pack to rip. I'm literally ripping and encoding my music library right now. I'm using the Plextor PX-W4824TU (1.05 firmware) as my CD-RW drive. What's good about this specific portable audio system? What's bad about it? Thank you very much!

You could view the "warm, full-bodied bass" as being a distinct advantage...if you're a "BASSHEAD!"

REVIEWER EQUIPMENT EXPERIENCE: I have owned both the Sennheiser HD 600 and Grado RS-1 flagship headphones; I currently have the Etymotic ER-4P/S earphones. I owned the HeadRoom Cosmic (with Reference Module) but upgraded to the Ray Samuels Emmeline HR-2 headphone amplifier. I owned both the DiMarzio High Resolution and M-PATH but upgraded to the Cardas Neutral Reference interconnecting cables. My power conditioner is a Balanced Power Technologies BP.Jr. II Ultra and I use a PS Audio xStream Plus power cord. My source component history includes a Panasonic SL-CT570, Apple iPod, NAD C541i HDCD and a Denon DVD 2900. My current source is a Pioneer Elite DV-59AVi. APPLE iPod TM: • Windows PC 10 GB 2002 Model (Version 1.2.1) • Equalizer setting = OFF • Volume = ¼ - ¾ range ULTIMATE EARS TM UE-10 PRO TM: • http://www.ultimateears.com/UE-10_PRO.htm MUSIC SELECTIONS: • Celine Dion, All the Way…A Decade of Song • Patricia Barber, Modern Cool • Renee Fleming & Bryn Terfel, Under the Stars • Van Halen, 1984 (HDCD) INTRODUCTION: On March 15, 2004, I contacted Mindy Harvey, the President of Ultimate Ears, via e-mail with some specific questions regarding her flagship earphones, the UE-10 PROtm. She personally answered all of my questions and an order was immediately placed on March 16, 2004. She called the best audiologist in my local area and I set an appointment. GETTING MY EAR IMPRESSIONS MADE: The audiologist came to my home on March 17, 2004 at 1 PM EST. First, she explained the entire procedure and asked for my permission to go ahead. Next, she checked both of my ears twice, asked for a trashcan, and wiped her hands clean with a disinfectant cloth. Then, she put on rubber gloves and carefully took out four small white foam circles with strings attached. She compacted each one slightly between her fingers before she gently pushed each one into my ear canals using a special insertion tool with a light on its’ end. Fourth, she opened up two packages containing two sealed compounds that were pink and white in color. She mixed the compounds together with both hands and squeezed them into a clear large tube with a plunger on one end and a plastic syringe on the other end. She asked me to open up my mouth half way and told me not to move at all before she injected the compound into each ear. It took approximately three minutes for it to cure. Thereafter, she lightly touched the consistency of both impressions before removing them by gently tugging on the white string. She said they were excellent ear impressions. She repeated the entire process until she had four ear impressions. Finally, she put them in a cardboard box with my name and telephone number written and immediately shipped them overnight to UE. Everything was finished in twenty minutes. DELIVERY TIME: It only took seventy-two hours before I got a FedEx package. The aluminum case had the Ultimate EarsTM logo, toll-free phone number, the website and my name engraved in black. Inside, there were the UE-10 PROTM earphones, double-tipped cleaning tool, and four-page double-sided instruction manual along with a business card. THE SOUND: BASS: Bass extension is very low – in fact, the lowest I have ever heard of any earphone including the ER-4P/S. Attack and slam of bass notes literally produce reverberations inside my brain tissue and throughout the bone of my skull! Sudden changes in beat or tempo from slow / steady to fast / furious happen at the speed of light. The timbre and texture of each bass note sounds warm in tone. Intense percussion jams sound fluid. Bottom line: each thwack, thump, and shimmer sounds like the real instrument played live. MIDRANGE: Everything sounds exceptionally clear, resolved, and accurate. In fact, every note lays itself bare in naked space and there are no colorations to the sound. Closing my eyes, I can reconstruct the layered depths of recorded music front to back / left to right and I can pinpoint the position of each musician on stage. Furthermore, I also hear whether musicians breathe through their nostrils or mouths during their performance. The UE-10 PROtm reproduces vocals impeccably. Dion has a dynamic and sweet voice. Barber has a voice that is intoxicatingly sultry and throaty. Fleming has the beautiful voice of a seraph. Terfel can sing the phone book. Van Halen is sometimes edgy and peaky. TREBLE: I heard no brightness, sibilance, or shrillness. The top end sounds accurate, grain free, and natural. Treble extends upward smoothly without sounding peaky or rolled off. Treble energy is slightly forward, but not in your face. For example, high hat cymbals produce clashes and shimmers that sound convincingly natural during the attack, bloom, and decay. As another example, female voices sound liquid, organic, and smooth. BALANCE & COHESION: Both the midrange and treble sound true to the original recording. Notes flow freely with silky smoothness and music sounds natural and relaxed. However, the bass region is tonally overpowering and any excessive musical energy in that region upsets tonal balance. The bottom end sounds warm and full-bodied like the Grado RS-1 cans. “Bassheads†should love the shock ‘n awe assault on their eardrums! DETAILS, DETAILS, DETAILS: The UE-10 PROTM tells the brutal, honest truth. It does not dictate its own interpretation of the music, but frees it to communicate itself naturally. They truly are the Ultimate Earphones for extracting oodles of details due to their killer pinpoint accuracy. For example, I can hear Dion’s French Canadian accent whenever she sings words ending in vowel – consonant – vowel clusters. As another example, I noticed Terfel’s tendency to belt out his lowest registers starting from deep down in his stomach as he lifts up the sound to the middle of his chest region where it blooms into grandeur. Barber’s style is to swallow from the back of her throat, lick her lips, and let out her hot, seductive voice into the microphone. SOUNDSTAGE & IMAGING: Combine balance, cohesion, and oodles of details and expand it 180 degrees throughout the frontal hemisphere of the brain and you got the UE-10 PROTM nailed on the head of a pin. It reproduces the layered depth but does not sacrifice the width of soundstage. The stunning pinpoint accuracy is a boon: each musician and instrument occupies an unmistakable place in the soundstage. If the level of musicianship and recording are up to par, then the seductive illusion of music playing naturally becomes convincingly real. SENSITIVITY: The extremely low impedance of the UE-10 PROTM makes it very easy to drive to high SPL at low volume settings; this is both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, it is a blessing because it performs admirably by itself; a headphone amplifier is not necessary (but it is definitely an additional luxury). On the other hand, it is a curse to find that perfect listening volume due to its extreme sensitivity. SOUND ISOLATION: 26dB of passive sound isolation is both a good and bad thing. It is a good thing because I no longer have to compete with external noises in my listening environment just so I can hear my music. As a result, I can listen to my music at lower listening volumes anywhere. It is also a bad thing because I can no longer hear critical spatial cues in my environment. For example, I cannot hear loud buses, trucks, or even people talking on the street. Consequently, use common sense: do not drive a vehicle or operate dangerous machines (i.e., power tools or firearms) with the UE-10 PROtm plugged in! COMFORT: The ear impressions fit my ears like a custom-made leather glove for my hand. In fact, I hardly notice that I am wearing earphones at all even after hours of continual use! The UE-10 PROTM earphones are a perfect fit…literally. CONCLUSIONS: If you can afford them, then I enthusiastically recommend the Ultimate EarsTM UE-10 PROTM earphones but with some reservations. Find the best audiologist who has work experience with UE and follow their specific instructions for getting proper ear impressions to the letter. While they will work with virtually any equipment, better equipment will reveal their true sonic capabilities. Use common sense when using them and keep the volume low to avoid hearing damage! STRENGTHS: • EXTREMELY ACCURATE SOUND • Custom fit your ears • 26dB of passive sound isolation • Extremely comfortable fit even for long listening sessions • Easy to clean and maintain • No hidden fees to replace filters or ear tips • User detachable and replaceable cords of different colors & lengths • Custom color earpieces • Outstanding quality craftsmanship • Outstanding customer service • Personalized UE earphones and protective case • Convenient and sturdy aluminum carrying case with locking mechanism WEAKNESSES: • $900 USD price tag • $30 - $50 USD audiologist fee for ear impressions • Warm, full-bodied bass • Difficult to audition and resell

I have both the Plextor PX-W4824TU and PX-708UF. I use MAM-A and Taiyo Yuden blank CD-R & DVD +/- R/RW discs. My audio ripper is EAC prebeta 5. My chosen compression codec is LAME 3.95.1. I also use DVD Shrink 3.1.7. Everything works nicely to support my audio addiction.

Ultimate Ears UE-10 Pro & Emmeline HR-2 (AD-8065 op-amps). The ER-4P/S now sounds neutral but un-natural.

Ahhhh...now things are much better within SGHeadphones! I like the philosophy behind the loci of organization. It seems that Head-Fi could pick up a few pointers from you guys. However, I think Jude is too busy to make more forums. I especially like how things are much easier to find and access is much improved as a result. Kudos to Ablaze and NAZ (and others responsible for this great decision)!

Update: I'm still committed to this goal but I got to move it to the back burner. As soon as I get my ModWright package deal done to my Pioneer Elite DV-59AVi, I'm off to working and saving for the UE-10 Pro.

Ticky: So, this is where you hang out too, huh? I'm doing the reverse of your very clear and helpful suggestions. I'm going with the ModWright mods first and then the UE-10 Pro later this year. Pray for my wallet!

Dear SGHeadphones Members: I'm expecting to come into some money in the next several months and I plan to budget approximately $1000 USD total toward the purchase of some kind of audio equipment. Currently, I am debating whether to get the Ultimate Ears UE-10 PRO earphones http://www.ultimateears.com/UE-10_PRO.htm or the ModWright Pioneer Standalone Mod with the Ultimate Truth Mod + Analog Slipstream Bybee Mod http://www.modwright.com/products/?product_id=6 What are your opinions as to which path to take in the coming months? Why do you think so? I hope you will take the time to not only vote but to cast your opinions as well. Thank you!

Please check out the latest information in the Head-Fi thread. It looks like the UE-10 Pro have an amazingly flat frequency response and the custom ear mold really is a nice fit. In other words, these look like the right earphones for both my reference rig and my sonic preferences. More information will come soon.

http://www5.head-fi.org/forums/showthread....&threadid=61963. http://www.ultimateears.com/UE-10_PRO.htm. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ for the financial self-discipline and commitment to be able to make this dream of owning the Ultimate Ears UE-10 Pro a reality. I also humbly pray to become a better financial steward by meeting my other top budget priorities and honoring His eternal riches in my daily financial decisions. This is a test as such and I am ready to pass it with flying colors.