Introducing the ALO Rx AMP - Page 4 - Head-Fi: Covering Headphones, Earphones and Portable Audio

Jalo · #46 (**permalink**) 11-03-2009, 07:02 PM

Any idea about how long it needs for buring in for the Rx?

cn11 · #47 (**permalink**) 11-03-2009, 07:08 PM

Well I'm listening while it's plugged in, and man is this thing massively powerful and huge sounding, even right out of the box. It's a match made in heaven for the Ultrasones. The bass is just so deep yet taut, and everything has this new level of tactile sensation....that's the best way I can describe what I'm hearing so far. The drivers of the 780's actually create air you can feel moving, and it just seems that the Rx has this vice-like grip on them. No distortion, just pure solid weight.

KB · #48 (**permalink**) 11-03-2009, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jalo

Any idea about how long it needs for buring in for the Rx?

Hi Jalo

80 hours or so should get you out of the woods but will continue to improve out to 200.

Cheers

Ken

Jalo · #49 (**permalink**) 11-03-2009, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KB

Hi Jalo

80 hours or so should get you out of the woods but will continue to improve out to 200.

Cheers

Ken

Thanks, I am waiting for couple more review than I'll place the order.

fhuang · #50 (**permalink**) 11-03-2009, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cn11

Well I'm listening while it's plugged in, and man is this thing massively powerful and huge sounding, even right out of the box. It's a match made in heaven for the Ultrasones. The bass is just so deep yet taut, and everything has this new level of tactile sensation....that's the best way I can describe what I'm hearing so far. The drivers of the 780's actually create air you can feel moving, and it just seems that the Rx has this vice-like grip on them. No distortion, just pure solid weight.

cn11, can you tell us/me a little more? right now i'm using sr71 & sr71a with my hfi780 but i just feel they're not doing the job. the bass is not there, the treble isn't as roll off and sharp as some other amps but that's only because i feel like it's not really powering it right.

cn11 · #51 (**permalink**) 11-03-2009, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fhuang

cn11, can you tell us/me a little more? right now i'm using sr71 & sr71a with my hfi780 but i just feel they're not doing the job. the bass is not there, the treble isn't as roll off and sharp as some other amps but that's only because i feel like it's not really powering it right.

Well the Rx has quite a bit more power and drive, due to its Class A rating, and it is noticeably more controlling with the 780's than the Shadow or Mustang. It was made to drive any headphone, which would over tax the RSA amps.

Jalo · #52 (**permalink**) 11-04-2009, 12:36 AM

In theory at least, the SR71 and SR71a should have more battery power than the Rx because they use double 9V battery and they used them togehter and not one for each channel. In other words, 18 V of battery is available at any given time for any draw as compare to the Rx's7.4 v. I had the ALO-HFI 780 and it is not that hard a phone for the sr71/a. I don't understand why fhuang has difficulty driving the 780.

cn11 · #53 (**permalink**) 11-04-2009, 01:43 PM

So the second time I charged the Rx, the indicator light didn't illuminate when I plugged the adapter in. I know it did the first time when I got the amp. Also, is it supposed to go out when the charge is complete, like the Shadow?

fhuang · #54 (**permalink**) 11-04-2009, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jalo

In theory at least, the SR71 and SR71a should have more battery power than the Rx because they use double 9V battery and they used them togehter and not one for each channel. In other words, 18 V of battery is available at any given time for any draw as compare to the Rx's7.4 v. I had the ALO-HFI 780 and it is not that hard a phone for the sr71/a. I don't understand why fhuang has difficulty driving the 780.

Jalo, the problem is not the volume. it's the sound quality. i really think meier audio headfi sound much better than both sr71 and sr71a. maybe it's the difference between home amp and portable amp. maybe it's the source problem, ipod vs cd player.

mattmacbeth · #55 (**permalink**) 11-04-2009, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cn11

So the second time I charged the Rx, the indicator light didn't illuminate when I plugged the adapter in. I know it did the first time when I got the amp. Also, is it supposed to go out when the charge is complete, like the Shadow?

The Rx has a sophisticated charging supervisor IC, which monitors charging current and voltage. It also has over/under voltage lockout (and some other cool features that will extend the life of the batteries), just in case the charger voltage is out of spec.

The feature you're seeing is if the Rx is more than around 80% charged, the charging supervisor IC will not charge the batteries. It does this to protect the batteries, as well as extend the battery life.

So in your case, your battery level is still "too high"; you don't need to charge yet. I typically have to run Rx's for around 12 hours from a full charge at a pretty significant output level to run the batteries down enough to get below the 80-ish% battery voltage level. (This is where the dual 12" subwoofer setup from above comes in to play - I use that "device" to accelerate running down the batteries, so that I can test the charging circuitry on Rx's)

Also, the charging indicator will go out when you're all charged up.

Basically, here's what to do - listen to music through the Rx. If you think you need to charge, plug it in. If the charging LED lights, keep it plugged in until it goes out (typically 2-4 hours). If the charging LED does not light, you still have plenty of juice - keep listening.

Matt MacBeth
GR9 Technologies

cn11 · #56 (**permalink**) 11-04-2009, 09:22 PM

mattmacbeth-

Thanks so much for the explanation. Since the amp didn't come with a manual, this will be very helpful for myself and future owners.

*The amp continues to impress.

FreeBlues · #57 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 11:23 PM

Holy Carp!!

I said I wasn't gonna do this, but I've changed my mind. I got my Rx yesterday and have burned it in for the last 24 hours. I've listened for a short bit, tracks I know very well. Okay, it's new, it has some changes to go through, but I need to say this much so far:

HOLY CARP!!

This might be the best amp I've ever heard, definitely the 2nd best at this point.

In front of my as I type are my well loved Lisa III, 2 years old and my all time number one (by a large margin) and an 8 month old Mustang P-51. Both have thousands of hours on them and I know them very, very well. Source is an iMod > pvcap > UE11's with ALO cables. Based on just what I've heard so far, the Rx is very, very close to the Lisa, better than the P-51. It is possible it will match - or exceed? - the Lisa.

I didn't think this was possible and results could and likely will change, but for right now I'd say the Rx is a SPECTACULAR amp. Yikes!

krmathis · #58 (**permalink**) 11-06-2009, 04:00 PM

Beautiful looking amplifier indeed. Well done Ken!

Any plans for a DAC/Amplifier unit in the spirit of this one?

kboe · #59 (**permalink**) 11-06-2009, 04:03 PM

The looks of the red one are just plain awesome! So different yet "right".

KB · #60 (**permalink**) 11-07-2009, 01:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krmathis

Beautiful looking amplifier indeed. Well done Ken!

Any plans for a DAC/Amplifier unit in the spirit of this one?

Hey All thanks for the posts and kind words.

Krmathis,

Yes we are kicking this around actually, I hope things go well with the ipod transport ~ DAC first though.

Thanks

Ken