as promised, I didn't want to derail the thread any further, which is about the A1200 playing mp3's. So... in a nutshell to combat some of the statements:
I own Hi-Fi tuning fuses for all my gear and yes, they make a difference. I might not have been able to hear the difference in the power section of the DVD/SACD player I inserted it in, but there was a big difference in the stability of imaging when I rebuilt said power supply with BlackGate caps and FRED diodes. Hi-Fi Tuning fuses DO make a HUGE difference when they're placed within the audio chain - and that's their main purpose. Power Amp protection for your speakers for example - is not the same as the fuse in the power supply section. Good power amps have 3 or more fuses in them. Speakers with fuses also benefit from the silver filament fuses and big time!!
Monster Cable is not total crap, but they do represent an embarrassment to the term 'Hi-End'. These guys IMO ARE out to gyp nubiles, fresh getting into audio, off of their hard earned cash. Monster Cable *is* ridiculously overpriced for what they are, but are much better than the stock cables you get with some audio/video gear. Look elsewhere for better bang for your buck. Look at the geometry and the types of materials real high end cables talk about. Generally speaking, if it's expensive and you've never heard of it before - that's the stuff you should be looking into buying. Asking your audio dealer is always the best advice though. No, today's big box mass consumer audio/video/appliance "salespeople" are not qualified to even ask what the weather will be in a few hours
Hell Labs - in your world, there is no such thing as "digital stereo". All digital sources on the levels you're used to listening to ALL get translated to analogue - which is why cables matter. 75ohm digital cables are not all equal either.
The Sony PSX people are off their frickin' rocker - that's all that's needed to say about that
Sorry they have tainted your view of the hi-end. What turds.
Headphones are NOT better than speakers. First off, no imaging to speak of. You do not listen to a live orchestra play with headphones, do you? Hi-end audio is often about reconstructing a live event in front of you. Room reflections play a big part in the design of the human ear. It's not [the human ear] all coiled up and nasty looking like it is without reason
Headphones CAN sound great - sure, but they are the antithesis of a live experience. I own a pretty expensive pair of Sennheiser headphones that I never 'listen' to. Only give 'em a quick listen to monitor a recording and that's pretty much it.