So it has been a little while since I've had the AC3 | AC5 | and Quintet in my hands. I've been using them interchanged between amp/headphone amp/DAC and I think they are starting to show some more signs of life.

I'm going to do another A/B/C compare with the wifie again soon, but tonight I've been rocking the AC 5 ($199) in the HQ-1 Headphone Amp with the AC3 ($99) in the AudioNote DAC 1. Both plugged into the Quintet ($349) which is plugged into the wall with the supplied power cord.

So far tonight Belle & Sebastian's "Boy with the Arab Strap" | Shinny Toy Guns "Self Titled v1" and Nine Inch Nails "Further Down the Spiral" have been on tap. All CD format.

I really liked what I heard with this set up with the B&S CD. The bass had less punch and volume with the AC5 than the GA#560 but the music as a whole felt a little further away and more balanced. Plus there seemed to be more detail, or rather, maybe, a different focus on what was detailed. Also there seemed to be less pressure on my head than with the GA#560 power cord.

With the B&S CD the band seemed more round and and vocals appeared to be a bit more clear. I actually heard for the first time, and I really don't like it when people say "i heard for the 1st time a ... yadda yadda", but I really did hear some more detail in vocals for the 1st time. I heard someone count '1,2,3,4' in a break in one song and at the very beginning of the CD I heard tape recording fuzz. I don't every remember hearing these things before.

What is a bit more telling, on the STG and NIN CDs there has been less boomy bass. I think this can attribute to the 'less pressure' on my head that I have been feeling when I had the GA#560 plugging it in. Yet, unlike when the HQ-1 is plugged in with a standard power cord, with the AC5 there is a more full and deeper bass. For instance, on the opening bass throb of NIN "Closer" the bass is deep and detailed, but as other noises come in, the bass tended to fade away and not sustain thought out the song. Plus it just isn't as punchy and some what overwhelming as it was with the GA#560. And on NIN "Ruiner" the section with the progressing aggressive synthetic horns there is a very low rumble I've heard on different systems that isn't fully there, or rather, not as much there as I'd like it to be. But the deep 808 style 'boom' bass in the other parts is there. The guitar and bass solo in the middle with the drums is very detailed and nice sounding, you can hear the compression very distinctly and when the drums kick back in and the headroom opens up again, hearing the dynamic change from one part to another is, well, what I'd want to hear.

I'll have remember this and hear how this song sounds between the 4 power cords. Good thing I wrote it down!

I have to say, for STG it made a great balance. Just the CD mix I suppose. And for the B&S CD it was great. With the NIN CD though, I do wish it had more kick to help the aggression in the music. Though the guitar and synth noise has been a bit clearer.

Now, one thing to keep in mind, is that I am still using the AKG K701 which are extremely revealing headphones, but from what I've read, and seem to experience from time to time depending on associated equipment, is that the lack of dynamic punch in the kicks and snare, could just be them.

Trade offs I suppose. One of the problems on listening to a wide verity of music on equipment that doesn't rival the national debt.