What transport for my Birdland DAC?

Abbeydog,

Sorry to steal your thread w/ this digression but I have been equally peeved w/ "audioengr" making 1-line recommendations & then exiting w/o providing any explanations! I have noticed this on AA & A'gon now for a long, long time. I have to admit, Audioengr doesn't do this 100% of the time but he does it enough times that one notices & gets annoyed.

Many here might or might not visiting Audioasylum so for those of you who do not know, "audioengr" = Steve Nugent of Empirical Audio in OR. Over on AA, the moniker "audioengr" has a (M) beside it so it is easy to see the identity BUT over here on Audiogon, the schmuck doesn't write any disclaimers about his being the owner/proprietor of Empirical Audio, which I think is unethical as I feel that all of us users would like to know this fact. Also, if you have followed any of the cable discussions on Cable Asylum in year 2003, you'll note that Steve made a # of remarks w/o substantiating them (what a surprise!) & many times got run out of the room.
I was poking around & found this article on the Sony DVP7700 that Audioengr recommends so heavily over on AA & even here:
http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue13/empiricalmods.htm
In the end, Audioengr's products & work might be good but I am completely turned off by the guy & the way he chooses to operate. I read that Abbeydog was bristling too & thought that this might be an opportune moment to highlight some info re. Audioengr. Once again, sorry to steal your thread Abbeydog.
Audioengr: I hope that you mend your ways & operate more in a full-disclosure mode. All of us here would appreciate that. I also hope that you will stop making empty recommendations. Otherwise, I agree with Abbeydog, be gone!

I try not to duck in and out. I'm just really busy doing mods, so I cannot always follow-up.

Modders have the opportunity to compare lots of different DAC's and players, much more than the average person, so I just wanted to share that this is a great DAC stock and even better modded. However, because it has potted analog section, this cannot be improved and therefore will never compete with the best DAC's for HF extension and dynamics. It is a very good value and relatively cheap to mod compared to it's competition. Most of what is in the DAC design is executed very well.

Bombaywalla,
Thanks for your input and link. I will just say I see a little clearer now and leave it at that.

Tfkaudio,
Maybe I will take a shot at the Theta Jade after all. Can you tell me, is the company still servicing their older products? Just in case. Do you know how old the Jade is? Of course I will ask the owner too.
Thanks, Scott.

Hello,
I recently called Theta and asked them about servicing my Data II and they said "no problem". They did warn me that it sounded like it needed a new laser and that costs 350 dollars. But it is reassuring to know that they will still gladly service a product that was introduced to the marketplace 12 years ago.
As for the Jade, I believe it was introduced in 2000, so the good news is that you will be buying, at most, a 4 year old player.
Good luck.

Tom

P.S. I noticed there are now 2 Jade's out there in the classifieds.