She's a real beauty Steve ... Just curious, can we get a stepped attenuator with a cream chicken beak on the CSP3? (I'm thinking it looks like a pretty tight squeeze)

Wow...talking about an awesome picture.  I have to say that while I originally liked the white top, the black finish makes it look much more captivating!!

Dom

My CSP3 (#001) is improving sonically each day. It's well past the 5 by 5 burn-in and the clarity, depth, width of the soundstage keeps improving. Some nights when the electrons are flowing in synchonicity, it's spooky real and quite lovely sounding via the Taboo III and Omega 3Es. I'm currently using Audioquest Diamond (silver) cables between my W4S DAC-2, CSP3 and Taboo III, and wondering if Steve's silver interconnects can make any further improvements.

As for Beowulf's inquiry on a cream chick beak knob attenuator knob, I'd say forget it, especially if you intend on putting .5" diameter knobs on the left/right input control shafts (see my post & photos in the CSP2+ thread about the CSP3). Assuming you can pull the stock .75" gold knob off without damaging the attenuator pot, without measuring the overall diameter of the cream chick beak knob, I still don't believe there is enough space before you hit the bare left/right input control shafts. I also recall Steve posting somewhere that the current gold knob was the only one that would fit in this area. IMO, three 1/2" diameter round knobs up front would be the best way to go for spacing reasons.  

EDIT 09/03/13:

I finally decided to take the risk and remove the stock gold (press fit) knob from the CSP3. It wasn't as bad as I thought. I used a small thin pair of curved needle nose pliers from my computer repair kit and very gently lifted the knob up and off the shaft while simultaneously pulling the gold knob from the top with my free hand. I think it works out better than Steve's "two bread knives" solution.

The volume attenuator shaft is not a 1/4" diameter solid shaft like the other 4 shafts on the CSP3; its split and looks like a gear (female "V" grooves around it's circumference). These grooves are the reciprocals of the male grooves inside the gold knob which allows for a tight press fit.

Below is a poor picture of the final setup. Using Penn Elcom 1/2" diameter silver/aluminum knobs, there is a reasonable amount of room between each knob for easy, free rotation.

LS,

Beeswax caps are an option, you must select and pay for them.

FYI.

The CSP Order page has been updated to include all the CSP3 options (including Beeswax caps options).

The base price is now US$1,249 without any options added.

Whew....glad that I made it for the CSP3 at CSP2+ pricing.