Very high quality audio reproduction can be hacked too, and audio enthusiasts like myself know how to find deals and hacks to get superior performance with much

Very high quality audio reproduction can be hacked too, and audio enthusiasts like myself know how to find deals and hacks to get superior performance with much less money. For example, I have a circle of friends who upgrade the OPAMP chips on their sound cards ($10) or use Sonic T-Amp ($30 triclass T-Class digital amp rivaling hifi tube amplifiers) paired with passive studio monitors from Wharfedale, Celestion, or Tannoy (around $200 on ebay when recording studios upgrade to powered monitors). edit - added references: http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/sonicimpact/t_2.html http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/sonicimpact/t_2.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Class_T_amplifier http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Class_T_amplifier http://www.auzentech.com/site/products/opamp_intro.php http://www.auzentech.com/site/products/opamp_intro.php