Review: Portable amp roundup! 37 portable amps reviewed and compared

[Skylab]

Originally Posted by Morph201

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???

No, for ALL the amps the reviews were done operating on batteries. And yes, more than 400 hours on the Hornet.

Originally Posted by digihead

Fantastic review. Thanks Skylab! Out of curiosity, how many hours did your Tomahawk have on it when you listened for the shootout?

About 120 hours. It didn't change very much past 50 hours, though.

Originally Posted by j24

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?

Sorry, I have never heard an AE-1 or AE-2. And I did not include the Headroom Total Airhead or the Meier Porta Corda III because I no longer own them, and this review was done only on amps I had ON HAND.

Thanks for all the nice comments folks, it makes writing these reviews (which take a very long time) a pleasure.

[Skylab]

Originally Posted by mrarroyo

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.

Hey Mr. Arroyo, thanks for your comments. My PRII does not have the AD744. I have ordered a PRII mk II, which has a gain switch and the AD744, but it isn't available yet. I think that will cement the PRII at the top amp (which i already feel it is).

Also, I did not dis Xin amps. I like Xin amps, and I commented that I thought the SMIV was a very, very good amp. But the constant revisions/updating, plus the poor communication from Dr. Xin, just means that Xin amps are not for me. Others may actually enjoy this sort of mystic process

[el_monkey]

Sylab, thanks for the effort put into the comparison review. This type of review is very helpful to those of us considering purchasing one of the amps reviewed. With respect to the comment on the ranking of the Headphonia amp, if anything I was impressed with high it ranked given the quality of the competing amps.

[laxx]

Thanks Skylab~

I've been waiting for this review since Christmas! I think the overall review was great and hope you add the Xtra in soon as that was the amp I was debating on getting. I still dream of the Hornet-M, but I just don't have the funds tog it yet. =T

[chowk]

Thanks for the great review. For those of us who have yet to purchase their first portable amp, and have had no experience of any, this is a great help.

Must resist urge to buy RSA Tomahawk...

[mikuhf]

Skylab -- thanks very much for the review -- a portable amp is next on my list, and I've been reading your posts (along with Andrea, mrarroyo and others), trying to work out which one I want.

I also would like to see how the AE-2, 1HA and Xin -IV amps fit into the picture. But I understand this was not intended to be exhaustive -- just indicative.

Since I have a TBH 2006, it'd help me personally to see how you judge that portable amp in the mix -- just for a baseline.

Two more variables which could be included if you wanted to grow the review -- opamp selection (where possible), and headphone choice (I'm an AKG fan - K701, K240S, K271, and Shure E4c, E3c -- with a cheap HD580 coming in the mail).

I think my shortlist is down to Hornet, 1HA, AE-2, Headphonia. Maybe Xin. I find the DAC incredibly useful. Most of my listening is from a laptop via the TBH both at work and at home. It would probably make more sense for me to buy 2 desktop amps with DACs (eg Meier's new one), and stop carrying the TBH around...

Either way -- it might help others to have two lists -- portable amps in general, and then a list of portable amps with integrated DAC. I suspect, based on your previous posts, you'd recommend the Headphonia hands-down as the amp+DAC combo to pick?

Thanks again Skylab -- very much appreciated!

Michael

(hmmm. Heed Canamp with integrated DAC? maybe I should email them...)

[bungle]

It seems on the Headphonia thread (FS: ($15 + shipping) Beat up Sony MDR-D66SL (sonically perfect)) that some changes were made to the design after some feedback (can't really remember them, though). Do you know what version you tested?

[StevieDvd]

Nice review thanks for making the time and effort to publish it here. I appreciate that you reviewed amps you own and did not include others you once owned as reviews from memory are unfair in my view.

As you have the Corda HS2 MkII SE and the Larocco PRII I was a little curious about heir comparisontoo as the PRII was once on my shopping list but dropped off due to the initial supply/waiting issues.

Will also lookout for your views on the diablo when it arrives.

Steve

[chris in mo]

Thanks for the reviews Skylab.

[Skylab]

Originally Posted by bungle

It seems on the Headphonia thread (FS: ($15 + shipping) Beat up Sony MDR-D66SL (sonically perfect)) that some changes were made to the design after some feedback (can't really remember them, though). Do you know what version you tested?

Yes, I have the first version, although Headphonia is sending me a second version to try, and I get to keep the one I like best! Pretty good customer service there. I will post impressions when the second one arrives.

Originally Posted by StevieDvd

Nice review thanks for making the time and effort to publish it here. I appreciate that you reviewed amps you own and did not include others you once owned as reviews from memory are unfair in my view.

As you have the Corda HS2 MkII SE and the Larocco PRII I was a little curious about heir comparisontoo as the PRII was once on my shopping list but dropped off due to the initial supply/waiting issues.

Will also lookout for your views on the diablo when it arrives.

Steve

As much as I like the PRII, the Corda HA-2 MkII/SE is the best amp I have ever heard, hands down (although I do have an Opera on the way ).