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I use a Netbook as a music server sometimes. The quality of the audio from the Streamer beats the heck out of what I get out of the headphone jack on the Netbook. HOW they do it is better answered by someone who knows a lot more than me!

Ahhh the classic "$200 Cornwall Saga!" ...a real page turner that I read many times!

Perfection? Wow... that sounds expensive! I'm much more comfortable with at least one tiny flaw. That way I might be a little less upset when something happens. Of course, if I am paying then I expect nothing less. I would just be terrified trying to get them home unscratched. Be sure to share pictures if and when you get these redone!

I've got the HRT Streamer + and so far it is my favorite non-tube USB DAC. I haven't heard their other models but if the Streamer II or iStreamer (for ipad or iphone) are even close they would be well worth a listen! I managed to pick it up from a 3rd party via Amazon for $300. Here is the PDF from High Resolution Technologies: Link HRT info: Here

Did you happen to try the 396A Western Electric in the Grant Fidelity? I just haven't wanted to pull it out of the Havana for testing yet. The GE 5star 5670 I tried seemed like a downgrade in the GF. I'd like to hear about what tube you liked.

Just to get my 2 cents in... I'm not as good at describing what I am hearing but I can tell you what I like. Since I think results can be system specific I will include what other equipment I was using them with the most. Here are the DACs I have played with over the last year: Cambridge DacMagic - Scott 299b and ALK'd 67 Cornwalls - Very clear and open, nice soundstage but with a slight brightness around 5kHz. Musical Fidelity V-DAC - Scott 299b and Alk'd 67 Cornwalls/ also 90's Yamaha gear- good for the money and certainly an improvement added to the Squeezebox Touch via toslink connection but not quite as revealing as others. Grant Fidelity dac-09 - Yamaha CR-2020 and Heresy I's/ Also Scott 299b - This tube DAC is really nice for the money and will be making a home in my bedroom setup. Stock tube seems better than the GE 5670 I tried. I did not like the SS output as much. It does have a powerful output for the headphone portion so it can drive my 600 ohm AKG 240df headphones nicely. Comes set as a headphone preamp but it can be altered so it can act as preamp for the lineout as well. MHDT Havana - Scott 299b and ALk'd 67 Cornwalls - Awesome tube DAC! Swapped stock tube for 396A Western Electric - Stevie Ray Vaughn and Neil Young never sounded better to me. I quit looking at new DACs after this one (for the 7 months since I got it anyway)! HRT Music Streamer II + - Yamaha CR-2020 and Heresy I's - USB only but VERY nice in this setup! Didn't like as much with the Scott 299b. My top pick for non-tube DAC! Sounds great with all music but missing something that the Havana has when listening to guitar or any strings for that matter.

I must be a little disturbed... I really laughed out loud when I read this!! You are the man with the plan!

This is the rackmount version which is very nice in a rack but might not look too good in your setup as the sides and top are bare metal and meant to be hidden by the rack. Check out the dimensions carefully. The rackmount version is also much more expensive. Disclaimer: the vast majority of my experience with battery backups is with desktop computers and fileservers. There are fancy audio versions such as from Furman or PS Audio that cost many $$ and I have no experience with them. I happily use the Smart UPS tower versions for my computers, home theater and 2 channel setups. I have noticed no problems or noise. Power conditioners are nice I suppose but when you lose power your equipment still goes dead. I like to keep the music playing in the dark while I wait for the lights to come back on! [H] This looks the closest to the model I use: SUA1500W Looks like some good deals here: (note that the XL version can have another battery added for extended run time but does not add to capacity) APC Outlet Oh, and as far as load... I have my computer, dsl modem, router, network switch, lcd monitor, USB DAC, and Scott 299b running and the first bar on the load gauge is still not lit. Sounds like I will be in good shape when I can finally get my own VRDs!

Mine are the tower version and the part number is SUA1500. These are rated up to 980 watts output capacity. APC also has home theater versions that you might find worth considering. You would need to look at the specs of your equipment to determine the capacity you would need. I like to use not much more than half of the capacity so I will have decent run time in case of a power outage. There are folks here that know a lot more than me when you get to the nitty gritty details of this stuff... Hey Craig, what is power requirement of the VRDs?

I use an APC Smart UPS 1500. Not a poor man's backup but we have so many blackouts in my neighborhood I finally took drastic action. I managed to get a couple for around $350 each via the APC factory outlet. You just have to watch for them to come up on sale. There is the ongoing cost of replacing the batteries every 3 years or so. Considering your setup I would say your equipment deserves a decent battery backup.

Finally, here it is with grill and badge. Looks kind of small next to his big brother.

Groomlake has a ton of good advice! Epoxy is a good idea for the MDF repair. The Rot Doctor stuff that Groomlake shows on his link is good stuff. I have had good luck with System 3 and West System epoxies. It is unreal how much wood will suck up that West System epoxy... the wood will just keep sucking it up like a straw as you apply it. Be sure you read carefully about how to handle it safely and use a respirator. You can sand down excess epoxy but the wood around it will be removed faster so I try to get it as level as possible. Good luck with your repair !

My 299b has the Russian 6P14P (Cyrillic: 6?14?) in place of the 7189. They were in the amp when I bought it and have been working great for the last year and a half.

You made some very good decisions about the grain pattern layout! NICE! [Y] []

Bob Crites crossover repair kit... if you don't mind soldering. He sends instructions along with the kit. Best $35 I ever spent! His CS-1 project looks interesting too... lots of information on the forum if you do a search.

Took about 5 months of paper route money in 1979. Still working!

If you look at the first picture in this post you will see the foam rubber that was in my Heresy II cabinets. There was nothing else. I am trying the HIII components with the foam rubber still installed and a little bracing of the front cabinet to the rear.

Behind her house was a Catholic church. All that was standing was the cross out front. I'm sure that is going to be a strong symbol for many!

My mother in-laws house... She was pulled with only cuts and bruises out of the bathroom that was on the right side (where there aren't any walls anymore). Amazing she wasn't hurt more. I had to walk for blocks to get to her as the homes and trees were leveled. I lost track of where I was because of the damage and the street signs were gone. I could identify her street by the shape of the parking lot. My home and family is OK but we keep finding about more people that we know who were hurt or killed. I think that number is going to get bigger. People are still in shock but pulling together.

The grills wound up costing over $75 shipped. Still not too bad considering time and cost of doing it myself from scratch. Maybe for my next project after I get a decent router. The grills don't come with logos. I bought new ones - Part Number: 070249 (Jubilee Pie Logo) $12. /ea. 1-800-KLIPSCH (554-7724) option 6

This is an early Heresy II (1986) model that had the round terminal cups. It is sealed and the back doesn't come off. I filled the back edge with wood glue and followed that with latex caulk. I'll get a better picture of the back.

The grills were easy... Klipsch still had a few sets for the Heresy II in stock. These have the velcro but the H IIIs are magnetic.

I don't know if I will need the risers yet.

Wow... sounding pretty good too.

at last!