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Besides The SR-71, Best All Around Portable Amp - Page 2

post #16 of 207
7/11/05 at 3:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by bhd812
"this is the famous sm v3?....its a toy...it's not even worth the money to ship it back to the owner!."
With statements such as these, I wonder if your posts are taken seriously.

I had the chance to hear the SR-71 for the first time at a meet in Hong Kong last week. It sounded very good, but was not very different or much better than the two SuperMacro-3's that were there.
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post #17 of 207
7/11/05 at 7:18pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Elephas
With statements such as these, I wonder if your posts are taken seriously.

I had the chance to hear the SR-71 for the first time at a meet in Hong Kong last week. It sounded very good, but was not very different or much better than the two SuperMacro-3's that were there.
LOL, it's actually kind of funny how almost every SR71 owner puts down SMv.3 and almost every SMv.3 owner puts down SR71. bhd812 appears to be Grado/Ray Samuels type of guy, which is cool. I am AKG/SM type of guy, and I hope to directly compare SR71 to my SMv.3 at the upcoming SoCal meet. But taken on absolute basis, judged against live music, there's just no way SMv.3 (AD744 class A) can be called a "joke."
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post #18 of 207
7/11/05 at 8:18pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jon L
LOL, it's actually kind of funny how almost every SR71 owner puts down SMv.3 and almost every SMv.3 owner puts down SR71. bhd812 appears to be Grado/Ray Samuels type of guy, which is cool. I am AKG/SM type of guy, and I hope to directly compare SR71 to my SMv.3 at the upcoming SoCal meet. But taken on absolute basis, judged against live music, there's just no way SMv.3 (AD744 class A) can be called a "joke."
I think its because where so used of the Product we have that when we look at another product of different build/sound will shoot it...lol

I really listened to the sm v3 fairly as possible, But the sound was Not on par...mostly using my g08 for the source though.

I can listen to a Gilmore or a single power and actually like there sound and the way they do it differently, And I know the reply was a total sounding RSA fan boy but I am telling you that it really to me the sm was just a toy.

Like I said, if you like then cool..
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post #19 of 207
7/11/05 at 8:50pm
I have invested in both and listen to both quite a bit. They are enjoyable amps and reproduce music to a very high degree. How anyone could say either one is inadequate would tell me that they have not spent any time with either. The 71 is smoooth and addictive while I find the SM V3 more like a live feed. They are both great and built to take most anything thrown at them.

John
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post #20 of 207
7/11/05 at 8:53pm
Jamato...

explain more about your live feed Idea of the sm v3,

reallym please
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post #21 of 207
7/11/05 at 8:59pm
Headroom AE-1 (haven't heard) or Xin SM V3 all the way.

In-case recharging = rules.

-Matt
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post #22 of 207
7/11/05 at 9:08pm

Comparing Amps

The SR-71 is my first amp. I bought it for my iPod. So when I upgraded sources, from iPod mini to Denon DM31S, to Rega Planet 2000, to Meridian G08, I had the pleasure of using it as a "home amp." At the iPod level, the superiority of the SR-71 over the Rega Ear is evident in terms of detail and soundstage, but not by much. With the Rega Planet 2000, the gap widens even more. With the Meridian G08, the SR-71 outclasses the Rega Ear. To date, the SR-71 easily competes with my HR-2 in terms of sound quality. It is no wonder that the SR-71 is my amp of choice when auditioning high-end sources at local audio shops.

What I am saying is, IMHO, if you have a low-fi source, such as in portable applications, most of these amplifiers will probably sound close enough that I would get the cheapest, best build, amp. You really don't get your money's worth until you upgrade the source. Ray and Dr. Xin will probably kill me for this, but for portable use, I would spend my money on a UE10 pro or Sensaphonics instead! LOL!

cheechoz, congrats on the purchase. You will not be disappointed.
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post #23 of 207
7/11/05 at 9:20pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by PATB
What I am saying is, IMHO, if you have a low-fi source, such as in portable applications, most of these amplifiers will probably sound close enough that I would get the cheapest, best build, amp. You really don't get your money's worth until you upgrade the source. Ray and Dr. Xin will probably kill me for this, but for portable use, I would spend my money on a UE10 pro or Sensaphonics instead! LOL!

cheechoz, congrats on the purchase. You will not be disappointed.
I'd probably say the same thing. UE-10 from the headphone out owns.

-Matt
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post #24 of 207
7/11/05 at 10:51pm
Quote:
You really don't get your money's worth until you upgrade the source. Ray and Dr. Xin will probably kill me for this, but for portable use, I would spend my money on a UE10 pro or Sensaphonics instead!
I would have to agree. I go with the optical out on a portable D-EJ955 to my portable dac to the V3. With this arrangement I get home enterainment on the road.

The V3 has a clarity and "jump" factor that reminds me of the listening to recording as it was being made. I used to sit in on some sessions that my friend was an engineer for. I loved listening to the clean dynamic sound. To me the V3 wipes away the barrier that can separate true contact with the drive and emotion of the music. Is it the end, no but it does a very fine job. I enjoy the 71 for its ability to get at the essence of the music. To me, they both do a fine job.

John
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post #25 of 207
7/11/05 at 11:10pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by PATB

You really don't get your money's worth until you upgrade the source. Ray and Dr. Xin will probably kill me for this, but for portable use, I would spend my money on a UE10 pro or Sensaphonics instead! LOL!
Sense when are UE10s and Sensaphonics considered sources?
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post #26 of 207
7/12/05 at 2:20am
If I understand correctly, since most portable sources are not that good, the SM3 and SR-71 may sound similar. The source would need to be upgraded to a high level before the differences become more apparent.

This would explain why I thought the two SM3s and SR-71 at the HK meet were similar, because the source I used was an iPod line out. Even with lossless and a Zu Pivot mini-mini cable, it is not a high-end source.

This is actually very good news (to my wallet). Since I'm not willing to carry around a DAC or bigger source, an SM3 is already overkill. With the iPod line out as the source, there is no need to upgrade the amp. Money would be better spent on upgrading to custom IEMs.
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post #27 of 207
7/12/05 at 2:24am
pretty much elephas, your limited by your source and when it comes to portable ipod is as good as it gets really, really cant carry the meridian with me on the train or in the library
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post #28 of 207
7/12/05 at 2:49am
Quote:
Originally Posted by recstar24
pretty much elephas, your limited by your source and when it comes to portable ipod is as good as it gets really, really cant carry the meridian with me on the train or in the library
Though you can carry a nice portable DVD player that will be a lot better than an iPod...
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post #29 of 207
7/12/05 at 2:54am
Quote:
Originally Posted by gpalmer
Though you can carry a nice portable DVD player that will be a lot better than an iPod...
And watch movies at same time, no? Most dvd's also have optical out, sorry for the OT but is there a decent small cheap portable DVD that could work in a portable situation with a amp, or even operate as a decent transport to a DAC? That would be cool
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post #30 of 207
7/12/05 at 3:22am
Quote:
Originally Posted by recstar24
And watch movies at same time, no? Most dvd's also have optical out, sorry for the OT but is there a decent small cheap portable DVD that could work in a portable situation with a amp, or even operate as a decent transport to a DAC? That would be cool
From HeadRoom's site:

Portable DVD players are everywhere these days and have become quite inexpensive. We recommend a variety of products from Coby which can be had for under $200, but the killer view is had on the Panasonic players, which come in between $400 and $700. The great thing about portable DVD players is that you’ll not only be able to watch movies but the majority of them play most flavors of CD from Red Book to ripped and burned MP3 discs.

I use the DVD-LA95, which does CD/DVD/DVD-Audio. It's a great little rig though it's not truly portable like an iPod, but it's great for things like a plane flight or work. Very light and easy to transport. I got the add on battery pack so I can go 13 hours playing just music with the screen turned off. It isn't a Meridian, but it is at least upper mid-fi level which isn't bad for on the road and with an amplifer it sounds pretty good.
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