I second Joachim's comments. The upgrade makes an already phenomenal DAC that much better. Ridiculously cheap at the price and a no brainer decision from a buyer's standpoint. Just add in the Lush with no increase in shipping and you're all set. Together, the G3 upgrade and the Lush, coming with the usual "built in" support from Peter, are the best deal in Audio. 

Forgetting for a moment that to be "on the lush" means to be "heavily intoxicated"(perhaps that is what you were going for in a musical sense), you can put me down for a 100 cm. cable.

Esau

Count me in.

Count me in for an upgrade cheaper than a pair of cables LOL!

Esau

Alain, this is totally off topic but if you haven't experienced listening to the Beatles' "Love" recording made for the Cirque Du Soleil production then you should give it a try. I can enjoy it now but the first few listens were almost excruciating, what with sounds coming out of all sorts of unfamiliar places!

Hi Peter. I'm referring to the Crosby Stills and Nash album that begins with "Suite Judy Blue Eyes"(that is, the album with the three of them on the cover sitting on an old sofa outside a house). The Hoffman version has the better highs. It can be found at www.audiofidelity.net and also likely on Amazon.

Yes, Barry did do the original CD masters for most if not all the LZ albums. A listing of his masters can be found here: https://www.discogs.com/artist/389175-Barry-Diament?sort=year%2Casc&limit=250&page=1.

And, yes, he did master Houses of the Holy for CD. It is what it is but at least Barry did not use compression in any of his masters. I don't have a Diament master of HOTH so I can't otherwise compare with anyone else's.

You would need to check the back covers to determine who did the CD masters for each disc. As you know, different versions have appeared over the years, usually with the release of boxed sets.

Diament masters turn up here and there on ebay. I have the first LZ album and Physical Graffiti in Diament masterings(the latter having been picked up on ebay).

Jimmy Page takes producer credit for all versions of all LZ recordings. The 24/96 hi res remasters were credited to Page though I'm not sure who the engineer(s) was/were and to what extent Page was actually involved. The Page hi res remasters were, per Page, all treated with some degree of EQing.

If you really want to make a trip down the rabbit hole start reading various forum discussions of which were the best Hendrix CD masters!

Listen to the original mastering of "Crosby Stills and Nash" and then listen to the Steve Hoffman remaster(both in rebook BTW). I played them back to back for a non-audiophile friend of mine and he commented, without any prior information or prompting from me, "where did the highs go?"

A professional recording engineer/producer friend of mine tells me that Altec Lansing monitors were used for mixing the album at Wally Heider studios. He goes on to tell me that those particular monitors were deficient in high frequency output, therefore, the mixing engineers were effectively going to work with one arm(or ear!) tied behind their backs. Given the original master tapes and better balanced speakers, Hoffman almost could not fail to come up with an improved remastering.

At least up until the Jimmy Page remasters, many Led Zeppelin fans would seek out the Barry Diamond remasters of LZ and LZ II.

Esau

Hi Peter. I know that B'ASS can be used with any DAC. I was just wondering then if you've tried out B'ASS with other non-Phasure DACs and, if so, how did it(they) sound with the upgrade. Just curious.

Esau

I'm still in Peter but I've decided on #2 instead of #1. Thanks again.

Esau

PaulF70, I really enjoyed your Axpona report.

Regarding needle drops, I've never recorded any though I do have a few in my library(the Beatles in Mono that I got from a friend, plus a few commercially available Steve Wilson needle drops of Yes albums). I no longer have a record player so I can't make A/B comparisons either.

So, are needle drops equal to the sound of the original LP? While I can't weigh in on that one, I can say that it doesn't seem logical that a digitally recorded needle drop would then be free of the very digital artifacts that listeners find so disturbing.

Esau

You do realize that this plunges the NOS1/1a "head first" into the audiophile headphone aficionado arena. That is no small move. XXHE PC>NOS1a>B'ASS>headphone is a less expensive platform than many already owned by some "headphonistas," particularly as it obviates the need for a separate (expensive) headphone amp. I can easily imagine people debating which high end headphones pair best with their Phasure DAC setup.

Esau

I've changed my mind. Not #1 but #2 instead. Gives me more options in the event that I someday get an amp with balanced inputs. Also send and bill me for another standard length Clairixa cable(I only have one and my Intona is disappointed in me). Thanks.

(Ass)uming that B' ASS stands for Bad Ass...

Esau

#1 please

Esau

Count me in. I may even spring for another XXHE PC.

Esau

A most interesting thread at the CA website:

http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f11-software/windows-10-optimization-script-community-effort-25361/#post454265

Given the expiration date of 10074 I've become increasingly afraid that Peter(if he resigns himself to do so) may eventually have to do something similar with Windows 10 before offerring an XXHE PC hard drive upgrade. It does look like the automatic Windows updates can be blocked, however.

Esau