UPDATE 12 / 7:

Now as how far the Gen2 board lessens this "constantly loudly shouting" effect? (kind of like that Pacific Rim movie where all the actors are ALWAY shouting at each other.) At the risk of sounding ghey, I would say the reduction of this effect is about 80%. The Gen 2 USB not like the quite like the old Gungir Gen 1 USB. I find the DAC with the Gen2 USB just that much more enjoyable now with finesse, refinement, and more plankton. Much more able to reproduce the softest sounds.

For most of today, I switched back and forth between AGD M7 (coax) and Gungnir Gen 2 USB, usually for 1 hour sessions at a time. Quite frankly I couldn't tell the difference if I was not paying attention. The AGD M7 via coax is better, offering slightly better clarity and plankton and doing what it does best with the bass texture thing, smokey vocals, denser tone / richer harmonics. But it was so close. Gungir Gen 2 USB was not far behind. Gungnir Gen 2 staging was also better - further out in front. M7 stage was in closer in.

I also threw in the ECZD into the mix to get another perspective.

I'm convinced Maxvla and olor1m would now find the Gen 2 acceptable.

Might have to try it out, old Gungnir was way too shouty to the verge of ear-hurts, so I got rid of it.

Yeah, I always loved the dynamics of the Gungnir as well. I hate using the word PRaT because it's such a bullshit word, but that comes to my mind when listening to the Gungnir. It's musical and keeps me engaged and tapping my toes (I recall when Maxvla upgraded from the Gungnir to the X-Sabre, he said the X-Sabre finally let him relax). The first song I listened to when I got the Gungnir hooked up was Dirty Projector's "About To Die" and I never remembered the bassline being so damn groovy before.

This is like the 3rd or 4th time I've heard the Gungnir's 'dynamics' praised in recent discussions, yet Purrin described the initial version as one of the most dynamically compressed DACs he's heard. Sure if you like loud and louder, it was the DAC for you. I just don't get the compliments on dynamics when it's one of the worst out there (gen 1). Purrin's description of his PWD's dynamics has me interested, as extremely dynamic sound is what keeps me engaged. When those vocals whisper softly, then the bass drops hard and loud, it feels alive. The Gungnir was almost to the level of broadcast radio.

I am coming around to thinking that perhaps the reason I like the X-Sabre so much is that it is a natural counter to the HD800, with the X-Sabre being slightly dark, taming some of the highs of my un-modded HD800. The BHA-1 was slightly on the brighter side as well, which meant when I tried the arguably very neutral GS-X, it made it even more balanced and is why I have one on order. I don't think I can live with the Anax mods as I'm sure to lose some air and precision, so the foil may be to tailor my DAC slightly dark as the X-Sabre is now. Unlike the mods to the headphone, though I don't feel the X-Sabre loses any air or precision at all.