I will try to do some more detailed impressions on the TTVJ/Millett [Trans]Portable Hybrid when I have more time, but Todd and Pete have put together a great amp here. I am the lucky first loanee and have listened to the amp a fair amount so far and will be listening much more over my remaining time.
It is a beautiful sounding amp with an incredible amount of power for a small, battery-powered package. The background is nice and quiet, except for a little bit of tube rush when using sensitive IEMs, and the overall sound signature is very clean and very lush for a transportable amp, again in such a small package. I have used Shure E500s to great effect, but it sounds even better with Ultrasone Edition 9s, AKG K701s and Senn HD650s. I am going to try it with the K340 which is impossible to drive with most small amps and I am guessing it will handle them fairly well. Tube signature sound but still very detailed and clean, no bloat or mush.
The fact that this amp uses tubes -- even as small and as rugged as they are -- means that the amp is limited as a truly portable solution. The tubes will ring if the amp is bumped or jostled, the case and volume know themselves are microphonic so banging into it will be audible. If you are walking or moving about, you can hear some of it through the headphones. But if you set it down or have it stationary like I have done on the streetcar, at my house, and in my office, it is very quiet and sounds amazing.
Thanks to Todd for offering this loaner program and it looks like the line has already formed very quickly to try it out. Be good to this little beauty and she will be very good to you!
