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| Headphone Amps (full-size) Discussion of desktop headphone amps. |
04-01-2008, 02:06 PM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Rotterdam city, The Netherlands
Posts: 4,005
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Really nice and easy to read review, makes me want this RSA beast. Anyone who heard it with ATH ESW9?
__________________
Source:Unison Research Unico CD(2xECC82) Amplifier:PrimaLuna ProLogue Two Ear speakers:AKG K1000 Cables:Van Den Hul D102III Hybrid XLR/DH Labs Silver Sonic BL-1 Series II/Wyvern Audio-Cyprium One LOD
Portable@ iAudio X5L 30G >Go-Vibe Petite DAC>ATH ES7/Koss KSC75
member of The NL Group
My feedbacks
http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f12/blackmore-169679/
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04-14-2008, 04:21 AM
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Junior Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Staten Island , N.Y.
Posts: 15
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great review
meens a lot because I am considering this amp .
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04-14-2008, 03:07 PM
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1000+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Knoxville TN
Posts: 1,457
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jmmtn4aj
I'm starting to want the Predator.. uh oh  Is the amp stage similar in design to any of the other RSA portables? |
would love to know the same thing. NEVER use my portables with a computer, but am intrigued by the reviews it's getting. So is the sound anything like anything else Ray's producing???
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04-14-2008, 03:24 PM
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500+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Toronto, ON
Posts: 899
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Yeah, I own a Tomahawk, and I'm curious to know how different the amp portion of the Predator sounds in comparison.
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04-14-2008, 03:34 PM
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Headphoneus Supremus
'06 National Meet Co-Coordinator
100% THD and S/N = 0
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Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: My kids' house - Harrison, NY
Posts: 4,062
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I guess only Ray can answer if it is the same amp design.
In my experience I compared the Tomahawk to my PR II and preferred the sound of the PR II. It had a much bigger sound, bigger soundstage, clearer high end. In comparing the Predator to the PR II, the differences were not as great, with the Predator having some characteristics I liked better although soundstage was still wider with the PR II.
Judging from that I would say the amp section is not identical to the Tomahawk, but the sound signature is somewhat similar - punchy, upfront, detailed with awesome bass and good dynamics.
__________________
"Audio upgrades can only be understood backwards."
--erikzen
The New Mean Bass Machine
SACDMods Sony DVP-NS755V/Foobar2000 v.0.9.5.6 ASIO4ALL =>PS Audio Digital Link III (stock) => K.I.C.A.S. Caliente => Lawton Audio Denon MD5000DE
Wasn't it a millionaire who said imagine no possessions
-Elvis Costello
A musician without a girlfriend is homeless.
-Steve Earle
Rectifier?! It freakin' killed 'er!
Head-Fi Feedback
"Oh the pain, the pain."
Last edited by erikzen; 04-14-2008 at 05:03 PM.
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04-14-2008, 03:57 PM
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1000+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Knoxville TN
Posts: 1,457
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Quote:
Originally Posted by erikzen
I guess only Ray can answer if it is the same amp design.
In my experience I compared the Tomahawk to my PR II and preferred the sound of the PR II. It had a much bigger sound, bigger soundstage, clearer high end. In comparing the Predator to the PR II, the differences were not as great, with the Predator having some characteristics I liked better although soundstage was still wider with the PR II.
Judging from that I would say the amp section is not identical to the Tomahawk, but the sound signature is someone similar - punchy, upfront, detailed with awesome bass and good dynamics.
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Sound sig similar to Tomahawk?? Now THAT'S interesting. Might mean that the Predator is close to the Hornet, then. Good to know While I'm interested in Predator, it's turning me off due to the huge time it takes for burn-in plus the fact I won't use it with a computer, which means I'm paying for circuitry I'll never use. But maybe someone else can chime in???
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04-14-2008, 07:11 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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The burn in time is absolutely insane but the amp is incredible. I was never a big Tomahawk fan, not sure why. I loved the Hornet and still have one. I personally think the Predator is a better amp than either the Hornet or the Tomahawk by a wide margin. It very much retains the Ray Samuels house sound but does everything better. I keep thinking you'd have to spend a lot t out shine the Predator. I rarely use mine with the computer, so the DAC is more of a nice to have novelty but it rocks.
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04-14-2008, 09:11 PM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Rocky Mountains, CO
Posts: 11,665
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The Predator is a better amp than the Tomahawk by a wide margin. It has more weight and authority over the music, and is much smoother sounding, while the Tomahawk seemed brighter and thinner (with 800 hours on both, I sold the TH).
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04-14-2008, 09:15 PM
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Headphoneus Supremus
'06 National Meet Co-Coordinator
100% THD and S/N = 0
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Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: My kids' house - Harrison, NY
Posts: 4,062
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HeadphoneAddict
The Predator is a better amp than the Tomahawk by a wide margin. It has more weight and authority over the music, and is much smoother sounding, while the Tomahawk seemed brighter and thinner (with 800 hours on both, I sold the TH).
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I totally agree. My comment was that Tomahawk and Predator have the same RSA "house sound" but that the Predator definitely sounds better.
__________________
"Audio upgrades can only be understood backwards."
--erikzen
The New Mean Bass Machine
SACDMods Sony DVP-NS755V/Foobar2000 v.0.9.5.6 ASIO4ALL =>PS Audio Digital Link III (stock) => K.I.C.A.S. Caliente => Lawton Audio Denon MD5000DE
Wasn't it a millionaire who said imagine no possessions
-Elvis Costello
A musician without a girlfriend is homeless.
-Steve Earle
Rectifier?! It freakin' killed 'er!
Head-Fi Feedback
"Oh the pain, the pain."
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04-14-2008, 09:45 PM
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500+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Toronto, ON
Posts: 899
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Well, if the Predator's amp is that much better than the Tomahawk, I think I know what my next big audio purchase will be...
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04-15-2008, 03:59 AM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Rocky Mountains, CO
Posts: 11,665
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04-19-2008, 06:16 PM
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Junior Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 12
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Nice review 
I'm looking to buy a Predator or Hornet and this review has helped.
Still undecided though.
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10-03-2008, 06:01 AM
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Headphoneus Supremus
'06 National Meet Co-Coordinator
100% THD and S/N = 0
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Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: My kids' house - Harrison, NY
Posts: 4,062
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Sorry to kick my old dead thread but I wanted to say that I put my money where my post is. I sold off my portable and home amps and bought the Predator. I'm looking forward to the burn in journey and many hours of musical bliss.
__________________
"Audio upgrades can only be understood backwards."
--erikzen
The New Mean Bass Machine
SACDMods Sony DVP-NS755V/Foobar2000 v.0.9.5.6 ASIO4ALL =>PS Audio Digital Link III (stock) => K.I.C.A.S. Caliente => Lawton Audio Denon MD5000DE
Wasn't it a millionaire who said imagine no possessions
-Elvis Costello
A musician without a girlfriend is homeless.
-Steve Earle
Rectifier?! It freakin' killed 'er!
Head-Fi Feedback
"Oh the pain, the pain."
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