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It's been my experience -- and some local NYC members have had similar experiences, but I'll just speak for myself -- that my Hornet sounded gritty with somewhat sawtoothed edges around notes, loss of top end extension (mine had very nice top extension and sparkle out of the box and lost it during "burn in"), a long period of anemic bass and then some suddenly huge but bloated bass, less than solid imaging and placement of instruments, and a few other disquieting insufficiencies during "burn in" of its 16,000uf cap until 350-400 hours. Mine "opened up" dramatic around 350 hours and continued getting clean, clearer, more extended top and bottom, and more defined from bottom to top through about 400 hours where the sound stabilized.
I was really anxious about a variety of problems until past 350 hours when they dramatically began to clear up. I've said this elsewhere, but when played with a great transport and DAC with great recordings, my Hornet sounds staggering better than via a PDP or modest DAC, and can present a clean, clear window into the music with a huge dimensional sound space and rock-solid imaging. I don't hear anything that dramatic with my iPod or Mac G5 tower and Spitfire DAC, but it sounds much better than the notes in the review would indicate.
There's no guarantee that you'll hear what I did, but my personal experience was that my Hornet had a variety of issues similar to those noted in the review, and the amp's sound quality changed and improved significantly after the extended play period I've noted.
A few other amps seem to need similarly long break in period, more notably those with large Black Gate caps which are well known to require lengthy play time to optimize and stabilize, and Black Gates also have troublesome and often erratic "burn in curves". My Hornet's "burn in" wasn't so much erratic as it was troublesome, and the general congestion and "feathered edges" had me quiet anxious for a while.
If you ever have the opportunity and inclination to hear a "well-cured" Hornet, I'd love to know if it sounds to you any cleaner, sweeter, more open and focused, etc. -- or not.
Awesome review Nate and one of the best out here for those less informed because you put way more into it with other personal preferences besides SQ which I'm also interested in
I jumped in and quoted Romanee's thread because I listened to my Toma after the first charge for about 3 hours with multiple genre's and wanted to give some of my insight on break in time.
At that point I hooked it up to my 30GB via mini/mini vs. the LOD so that I could just let it run in shuffle for three days straight while on the charger. I wanted to make sure I had the Toma really broken in well before my next listening session so I repeated the three day drill 5 more times in a row over the following 2 weeks and after roughly 432 + hours my Toma was was so much tighter and focused I would have never believed one of these little amps required that kind of time but I know better now.
I bring this up as I think all amps should have a minimum of 300 hours burn in to be fair in any comparison.
Woot, finishing the burn-in of a 200hr Hornet (non-M). I can IMMEDIATELY spot the difference between the M and non-M. That said, it's not completely burned in (450 hours, IMO)...awaiting the other amps to get this review back updated!!!!
__________________ Nate
Music -> Amp -> Headphones
"I want a nightclub on my head." :basshead:
mr_baseball: I guess times have changed and Head-fiers are getting laid like champs now. (Except I seriously doubt that's the case given all the anime and computer related threads around here..)
It's workin out. It's a little on the boomy side initially, but it's calmed down a bit and is starting to settle and blossom. I've had it plugged in to my PM looping iTunes songs getting it nicely burned-in. I figure I'll post the review at the 600-800hr mark. Only a couple days to go, lol.
I'm waiting on some other amps to come on in anyways, so we'll see how they compare.
__________________ Nate
Music -> Amp -> Headphones
"I want a nightclub on my head." :basshead:
mr_baseball: I guess times have changed and Head-fiers are getting laid like champs now. (Except I seriously doubt that's the case given all the anime and computer related threads around here..)
It is refreshing to see another good portables review, especially where the products reviewed are common across other "bulk" portables reviews. To stick or not sticky all 3 of these reviews is a good question. Going on recent events I believe that the 3 reviews are unlikely to be stickied.
As these reviews, like it or lump it, influence a large number of buying decisions, I have the following suggestion.
I believe it would be good if each of the reviewers inserted the URL's for the other 2 reviews on the first page of their respective reviews. This would be accompanied by a note to the effect, or something like it, "These other reviews maybe of assistance or of interest to Head-Fi'ers looking for portables information." At least then people may get a different perspective on the some of the same products.
That's a good idea...I'll follow suit after another review does it though :P
Still awaiting on some amps and DAC to arrive, but I'll tell you, this Hornet non-M is a little bit of a surprise. Not a complete shocker considering the M Hornet, but....
__________________ Nate
Music -> Amp -> Headphones
"I want a nightclub on my head." :basshead:
mr_baseball: I guess times have changed and Head-fiers are getting laid like champs now. (Except I seriously doubt that's the case given all the anime and computer related threads around here..)
Right now, I don't OWN any card on my notebook, but I'm borrowing an Indigo DJ (my buddies laptop crapped out on him). But mostly, I listen out of the Nano...
As for the quality of the card, it's BY FAR the best DAC solution for the laptop. It has the CLEANEST and most NEUTRAL line out I've ever heard. It does absolutely nothing to the music, if anything, it makes it sound a little dry because of that. It sure as hell reveals how good/crappy your recordings are though. I regret selling mine actually.
__________________ Nate
Music -> Amp -> Headphones
"I want a nightclub on my head." :basshead:
mr_baseball: I guess times have changed and Head-fiers are getting laid like champs now. (Except I seriously doubt that's the case given all the anime and computer related threads around here..)
I'm finding two different kinds of Indigo DJ cards, which one would I need? The "Dual Stereo 24/96 PCMCIA Output Card" or "io 2-Channel Record/Playback Card"
I found them at Guitar Center for $199, is that a good price?
