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| Portable Headphone Amps Discussion of portable headphone amps. |
01-02-2007, 03:47 PM
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Headphoneus Supremus:
Reviewerus Prolificus
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Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 11,333
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Andrea
Especially as you wanted to include it in your ranking, without even a slightest mention of the fact that it's a surpassed product that's not made anymore. The deceivment that this can cause at a superficial sight (which - in a swift digression - is the only sight of many) is obvious, given that "0HA" is common to the entire series of amps. Would/could you have done the same with, say, a Xin Supermacro v1 ? No, I think not.
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Andreas:
Sorry I wasn't as nice to your favorite little amp as you'd like  But really, to call it "deceptive" makes you guilty of thread-crapping, and I don't appreciate that.
Actually, I had wanted to use the Xenos 1HA for the review, but they aren't shipping yet (I do have one on order). I wanted to include a Xenos amp. I'm not sure why it is unfair to include this version of the amp. I had it on hand, and I think it still serves as a somewhat valid comparison.
But for anyone who might have been confused: the 0HA I have is NOT the newest version of this amp, and it's possible that the newer versions might have fared better or differently. I have a Xenos 1HA on order, and I will add it to the review when it comes in.
__________________
PLEASE NOTE: Due to the volume of PM's I have been receiving in connection with my reviews, I no longer have the time to answer PM's from people with zero posts. Please read head-fi first before asking questions.
Team GO-U-NORTHWESTERN
Pics: Main Home Rig; Bedside Rig; Office Rig; Portable Rig;
Headphones: JVC HP-DX1000, HA-RX900; Headphile Deep Cup Darth Beyers VXD3,VXD4; Beyerdynamic DT990/600 (Manufaktur) DT770/600 (Manufaktur), DT880/600 Balanced (Manufaktur); HiFi-Man HE-2 Planar Magnetic; Sennheiser PXC-350; Shure SRH840
Home amps: Ray Samuels Audio Stealth (Mullard ECC32/CV4003); Decware Zen CSP-2 (Amperex BB 6DJ8/Sophia Princess 274B); Darkvoice 337 (GEC 6AS7G's/Tung-Sol mesh plate 6SJ7GTs); Wheatfield Audio HA-2 (Mullard ECC32/GEC 6AS7G/GEC U52); Ming-Da MC84-C 07 (Mullard CV4004/EL84/EM87); Audiotailor Jade (GEC 6AS7G/Sylvania 5751); J. Sound Lab Headphone (Mullard 12AT7); Audio-GD Phoenix; Musical Paradise MP-301 (Ken-Rad 6V6GT/Mullard 6AU6)
Portable Amps: Ray Samuels Audio P-51 Mustang; Decware ZenHead; Meier Audio 2Move, XXS; Qables iQube
Sources: Denon DP59L table + Clearaudio Maestro Wood / VPI Scoutmaster + Benz Micro Wood L2 > Audio Electronics PH-1 DJH Phono Preamp; Music Hall 25.2 DAC; Denon DVD-5900;Red Wine Audio iMod iPod (Apple Lossless) & ALO VCap dock; Sony SCD-555ES SACD player
Loudspeaker system: Krell KAV250 Preamp>Sunfire Signature II Power amp > B&W Nautilus 800 Signatures + Velodyne FSR-1500/Martin Logan Descent
Tube testers: B&K Dyna-quick 650 & Dyna-Jet 606
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01-02-2007, 03:48 PM
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500+ Head-Fi'er
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Great review...
Will you add the X-1 Amp to the review when you receive your replacement?
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01-02-2007, 03:51 PM
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Headphoneus Supremus:
Reviewerus Prolificus
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Join Date: Apr 2005
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MrJoshua
Great review...
Will you add the X-1 Amp to the review when you receive your replacement?
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Yes, when my replacement comes, I will add the X-1 back in. If it ever comes, I will also add the Larocco ISA Diablo, and as mentioned, I will add the Xenos 1HA. But just to piss off Andreas, I will leave my comments on the 0HA in there
__________________
PLEASE NOTE: Due to the volume of PM's I have been receiving in connection with my reviews, I no longer have the time to answer PM's from people with zero posts. Please read head-fi first before asking questions.
Team GO-U-NORTHWESTERN
Pics: Main Home Rig; Bedside Rig; Office Rig; Portable Rig;
Headphones: JVC HP-DX1000, HA-RX900; Headphile Deep Cup Darth Beyers VXD3,VXD4; Beyerdynamic DT990/600 (Manufaktur) DT770/600 (Manufaktur), DT880/600 Balanced (Manufaktur); HiFi-Man HE-2 Planar Magnetic; Sennheiser PXC-350; Shure SRH840
Home amps: Ray Samuels Audio Stealth (Mullard ECC32/CV4003); Decware Zen CSP-2 (Amperex BB 6DJ8/Sophia Princess 274B); Darkvoice 337 (GEC 6AS7G's/Tung-Sol mesh plate 6SJ7GTs); Wheatfield Audio HA-2 (Mullard ECC32/GEC 6AS7G/GEC U52); Ming-Da MC84-C 07 (Mullard CV4004/EL84/EM87); Audiotailor Jade (GEC 6AS7G/Sylvania 5751); J. Sound Lab Headphone (Mullard 12AT7); Audio-GD Phoenix; Musical Paradise MP-301 (Ken-Rad 6V6GT/Mullard 6AU6)
Portable Amps: Ray Samuels Audio P-51 Mustang; Decware ZenHead; Meier Audio 2Move, XXS; Qables iQube
Sources: Denon DP59L table + Clearaudio Maestro Wood / VPI Scoutmaster + Benz Micro Wood L2 > Audio Electronics PH-1 DJH Phono Preamp; Music Hall 25.2 DAC; Denon DVD-5900;Red Wine Audio iMod iPod (Apple Lossless) & ALO VCap dock; Sony SCD-555ES SACD player
Loudspeaker system: Krell KAV250 Preamp>Sunfire Signature II Power amp > B&W Nautilus 800 Signatures + Velodyne FSR-1500/Martin Logan Descent
Tube testers: B&K Dyna-quick 650 & Dyna-Jet 606
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01-02-2007, 03:57 PM
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Headphoneus Supremus Prolificus:
Head-Fi's most prolific poster.
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Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Feelin' the る in NYC
Posts: 21,513
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great insights skylab, thanks! reminds me of the Romanee spiels of old. I agree that the PRII sounded really nice the last time i heard it, but even then compared to a stock Hornet (not "M" mod) i preferred the Hornet in a loud ambient setting - the PRII was a tad too polite and probably deserved a quiet home use setting to bring out the subtleties. I like how the "M" has kept the portable "grr" of the Hornet, but is more refined than the stock. I miss that big boomy bass, but this "M" bass is still plenty huge and it's more accurate to boot!
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01-02-2007, 04:03 PM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Wherever I lay my head at the moment!
Posts: 2,532
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LOL! My wallet is thanking you for that review!! 
Also, the test on the GV5 was that done using the elpac 24v and I assume there were 400+ hours on the Hornet???
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01-02-2007, 04:18 PM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: In Sunny NE Florida
Posts: 3,347
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Nice review!!! Definitly something worth reading as I'm considering a new portable just to get my feet wet with other portables...
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01-02-2007, 04:20 PM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: UK
Posts: 2,027
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Great review! I used a little of this review (comparison) to pop some green down for the Tomahawk 
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01-02-2007, 04:26 PM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: San Jose CA
Posts: 12,519
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excellent review!!
Comparison reviews, which state a common reference are always more valuable than "open ended" reviews.
On the Xenos, I think it IS a good thing to include it. They do show up used and on ebay so just because its out of production should not exclude it from a comparison review. Andrea makes a good point that one amp should never be a "representative" of an entire product lineup.
I'm kind of surprised you ranked the headphonia as low as you did. Its kind of a unique product with its USB DAC. I'm thinking about getting one just because of this feature. It might make a nice addition to my transportable laptop rig.
Thanks again!!
Garrett
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01-02-2007, 04:31 PM
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100+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 113
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Excellent review! Very informative.
Thanks a lot!
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01-02-2007, 04:33 PM
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500+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: May 2004
Location: The Great State of Texas...
Posts: 840
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Fantastic review. Thanks Skylab! Out of curiosity, how many hours did your Tomahawk have on it when you listened for the shootout?
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01-02-2007, 04:33 PM
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100+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 322
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Skylab, great review. What about the AE-1 or the new AE-2? Do you have one around to add this amp to the review?
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01-02-2007, 04:40 PM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Miami Beach, Florida
Posts: 16,016
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Hi skylab and thanks for the review. I have compared all the same amps (and some more) and I agree with your 4 top rankings. However I do have a couple of questions/comments.
1. Which OP-Amp on the LaRocco PRII? I as because with the AD744 it will sound even better. I do agree with you that it is huge and for some a pain to carry on a daily basis. But it sounds so gooood!
2. I would have ranked the Go- Vibe 5 as number 5. I realize we have different ears so different rankings.
3. The one area I disagree with you is on what I take as your dissing of Dr. Xin's amps. Even though he is a horrible communicator and time does not mean the same to him as for the rest of us I have to say the sound of his amps is IMO the best. It is a pity you did not include one in your review. Perhaps when I get my Supermacro LE I can send it to you for an audition.
Thanks for the nice review.
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01-02-2007, 04:44 PM
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100+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: NoVA
Posts: 341
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Very nice reivew! Can't wait to get my Tomahawk from Ray! 
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01-02-2007, 04:46 PM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: May 2004
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Posts: 3,303
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Well done, Skylab! Thanks for the effort, and for the nicely organized, well-considered comparisons.
Jahn raised an important point, that since portable amps are often used in venues that challenge them with varying degrees of noise, performance in noisy environs needs to be considered in addition to performance in quiet surroundings.
Happy 2007 to all!
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01-02-2007, 04:47 PM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Twin Cities, MN
Posts: 2,541
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Skylab,
What are the dimensions of the RSA Hornet and the PRII?
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