I have been listening to the MiniBox-E for a bit now and am ready to post my comments, albeit a lot less technical than many other wonderful reviews I've read in this forum.
Here is a link to the sponsored thread with pictures of the amp:
FS: ALO Bling Bling iPod lineout
I have an 5G 80gb iPod, ALO Cryo Dock, and Future Sonics Atrio M5's to complete my test package. This review is coming from a person who is generally listening to the M5's unamped through the iPod, and I usually listen to metal music.
Packaging/Contents comments
Although the wooden box is nice, I would have liked a more functional case that could be used for carrying. I didn't use the supplied MiniBox Silver cable and opted to purchase the ALO Cryo Dock, as I wanted one cable that could use the iPod's line-out.
The Amp - physical attributes
This amp definately feels to be a quality build. It does not feel cheap. The amp is small which makes for decent portability. Now if I could find a nice case with a belt clip that would allow me to carry the iPod and amp and also be thin. The power switch and PtoS switch on the front, and the bass and treble increase switches on the back extend out slightly more that the screws on the side plates. It's my own personal fear that putting the amp on end (see picture with credit card in the link above) in a bag "may" put pressure on the switches and possibly do some damage. I would have preferred recessed switches, yet I know my worries may be useless.
The Amp - sound
In comparison to unamped, the MiniBox-E accentuates the clarity of my M5's. At the high end, certain songs sometimes sound a bit shrill as compared to unamped, but this is random and not too often (and could be a function of the MP3 itself). I can't say that the bass has more punch/kick to it, but the overall musical sound is clearer which gives the appearance of a tighter sound. The music still resides in my head with the M5's and amp, but I sense a little more spatiality in the music with the MiniBox-E. I have no comparison to more expensive portable amps, but I did NOT have any expectations of the sound enveloping me and taking me to another world, as I sometimes get with my home rig and ATH-A900's. But the amp produces a solid all-around musical listening experience. I know there are limitations to my sound testing, as I listen to MP3's ripped mostly at 192kps.
Edit: I believe that since the Atrio M5's sound so good on their own, that they probably lessen the effect of amping.
Overall I really like this amp. It sounds better than it's thinner pal, the MiniBox-D. It has a nice look to it, and it definately makes the music sound better. $149 is not a wallet-buster. There are obviously more expensive portable amps, but for my wants and needs, I feel this has been $149 well spent.
A MiniBox-E mini review
