My thoughts on the Pico

[wakeride74]

Now that I have had some more time (still not enough to settle on but enough to share) I thought I'd post some impressions with the three different headphones I own for the sake of synergy. There has already been so much written about the Pico by others with better ears and better skills at writing audio reviews so please search meet impression and other amp threads to get some better details on the Pico.





PS-1 – This was probably the most difficult one for me to get any conclusive impressions on. The first thing I do with a new amp is test its ability to drive a few bass heavy tracks with enough power but also enough control for me to get an idea if it has enough juice. The Pico seem to waver in this area with the PS-1. I first tested it with a couple tracks from Jem and Si*Sé. What I found was that these bass heavy tracks ended up with a little distortion and lack of control in the bass notes. The vocals lost some clarity and sounded as if they had a difficult time coming through. So far the Lisa is the only portable I have heard with the PS-1 that controlled the bass and drove with authority on these tracks. The Lisa was not able to do this with the GS1000 but when I tried the same songs with the GS1000 and Ray’s Raptor at the last meet it sounded fantastic. As amazing as the Pico is I did not believe that it could fall short in the bass area with the PS-1. I’m not a rap fan but I do have a few things that would fall into the rap and techno/electronic genre’s which I figured would also put the Pico to the test for its ability to drive bass. The results were confusing because the bass sounded fantastic! Excellent extension, good definition (although not a texture as tube-like as the Hornet) and excellent control. Control that was more like the Lisa although to a lesser degree, just really tight and well defined.

The music I used to conduct these additional bass tests included: The Chemical Brothers, The Lords of Acid, Insane Clown Posse, Kidney Thieves and NIN. The Pico maintained the above mentioned bass qualities on every track I threw at it. It almost makes me wonder if the DAC and amp of the Pico are so transparent they were simply pointing out flaws in the source material in the tracks I thought it had problems with. I really can’t say for sure but the one thing I can say with certainty is that out of every song I have played using the Pico there were only 2-4 that had issues with the bass but a very large number with equally if not larger bass presence that the Pico produced with stellar results. My conclusion is that the Pico is not to blame and I have heard enough to be convinced.

The PS-1 has a slightly forward mid range and vocal presentation but is renowned for its liquidity in this area. The Pico expands on this quality adding more soundstage and a better sense of front to back depth especially with vocals. Guitar tones and other strings sound very natural and if the recording is such you can really get a good sense of the resonating notes in between chords. The midrange percussive instruments really remind me of the Lisa and PPX3 Slam (again to a slightly lesser degree) in the sense that you can hear the tight snap of rim shots, timbales and such produced very naturally. As I;ve said before I think this is an area that is hard for proper sound reproduction. I have a brother that is a drummer and we both used to march Blue Devils Drum Corps in the drumline so this is an area that I really pay attention to.

I had a couple people ask me about synergy with the ES2 and UE-11 so I will answer you here. I have yet to try this as a amp alone with the ES2 but using it as a DAC I would say that it is not the best match for them. The vocals sound exceptional, very clear but lack a sense of front to back space. The bass is tight and controlled but I have heard the ES2 have better impact with other amps. The top end is where I think the synergy problem is for the Pico and ES2. The ES2 (like the UM2) can sound a little bright when paired with the wrong amp and while they are an exceptional custom for the price they are extremely picky when it comes to synergy. With that said I will not play favorites and just tell it like it is. If you don’t need a DAC and have a $500 budget and intend to use the ES2’s with one amp buy a Lisa. I have never heard the ES2 sound better with the exception of the time I plugged them into a PPX3 Slam ::insert IEM overkill:: I also think the Hornet and AE-2 sound great with the ES2 but again leaves something to be desired from both. Take all this FWIW as the Picos’ amp section alone, being an improvement over the AE-2 may mate quite well with the ES2 and I can post more on that tomorrow or PM anyone still interested in that portion.

As for the UE-11 the Pico is a match made in heaven. I prefer the UE-11 and Pico to my PS-1… simply amazing, jaw dropping! I could sell the small amount of stuff I own (including the PS-1) and be happy with the UE-11 and Pico. This is damn near speaker rig sound in your pocket. Huge soundstage with an astonishing sense of front to back and side to side. Instrument separation and blackness between notes (as I said when I talked about the Lisa) makes it effortless for the listener to hear all those things happening in the background that may have been lost before. Top end extends to great heights with superb clarity and sparkle. Cymbals don’t sound quite as splashy as I have heard from some other amps but there is not a hint of sibilance or a harsh note to be found unless it is in your source recording. The mids were a main concern for me here because I wanted the vocals to be a tad forward but not overshadowing anything else happening in the music. The Pico and UE-11 combo is perfect for me in this regard. The AD8397 (I think that is the opamp in the amp section right?) has that slightly forward and punchy sound but somehow it is not at the cost of soundstage, black background or that overshadow that can happen when certain areas of the music is shown favor. The bass is again strong, tight and extends to crazy depths. It may in fact be too strong for some folks but I think anyone that would fit into that crowd may have read enough about the UE-11 to see that they may not like them because of the bass presence. I should also say that this amp has the most silent backgrond I have ever heard from anything I have owned (and I have bee a portable gear whore =Þ).

To sum it up I have spent a total of about 10 hours with the Pico using the ES2, UE-11 and PS-1. About half that time it was used with the UE-11 and iPod as a stand alone amp. I have tested it with electronic, Disney soundtracks, classical, country, metal, rock, swing, jazz, folk, latin, rock/pop and Bluegrass all using an iPod with a ALO custom silver/copper line out and iTunes with a variety of Apple Lossless and 256 AAC with VBR. My impressions of the Pico are limited and could be written off as FOTM, new toy excitement or just plain “this is what I’ve heard over the last 10 hours”. Take it how you see fit but for me this amp is a huge accomplishment and is an one size fits all solution for my amp source needs and desires.

Major props to Justin for such an exceptional looking and sounding product, I could not be happier.

[Assorted]

That was a very helpful review/full impression! I hope I get that kind of synergy with my portable rig.

[jamato8]

Wow, great review! Thanks for the input. I guess I could say thanks for putting out all the effort for all of us to read but it doesn't sound like it was any real effort as much as it was fun and pure enjoyment. So, are you going to keep it? :^)

[wakeride74]

Originally Posted by jamato8

Wow, great review! Thanks for the input. I guess I could say thanks for putting out all the effort for all of us to read but it doesn't sound like it was any real effort as much as it was fun and pure enjoyment. So, are you going to keep it? :^)

Oh yeah! I've already sold my Hornet and my Lisa was sold a couple months ago and these were both amps that I held in very high regards even over PRII and SMIV with a variety of opamps. I'm so content with my gear right now I don't see much gear chasing in my future.

[achristilaw]

Compelling thoughts and reactions. If the Pico amp section. Is 80% of the Lisa. That is a Major accomplishment indeed. Add a competent Dac. OMG.
For the Money. Sounds like a bargin. Any way you stack it. I have a Lisa XP/LLP. Their not as Portable. I haven't heard an amp at that price point come close to the Lisa. Long Live our Ears.

[powertoold]

Your future is two weeks!

[Voltron]

Great write-up wake! Can't wait for my Pico to arrive, but it is good to hear some detailed and objective comments while I am waiting. Happy listening!

[fanta]

Originally Posted by powertoold

Your future is two weeks!

Are you referring to CES?

[slwiser]

Originally Posted by fanta

Are you referring to CES?

My take is that "two weeks" is the future in this hobby. In business it is this quarter; in Head-Fi it is this month or sooner. Things change so fast for lots of us around here. This is one of the fun things in this hobby, change at least for some.

Great balanced write-up....The Pico, a UE 11 Pro and an iMod, interesting thought for a portable setup.

[truant]

Thanks Wakeride!
I can't wait for mi Pico to arrive...
Now I think I need the UE11 xD