Super.fi 5 Pro + Little Dot Micro Amp (LD Micro) - REVIEW

Hi folks, this is a short review of my new setup in various incarnations. Please note that I am not an audiophile of any sort and these are solely my opinions. This is my first experience with an IEM or headphone amp as well.

Sources:
MobiBlu DAH-1500i DAP
Behringer soundboard
Generic built-in PC soundcard

Phones:
Super.fi 5 Pro

Amp:
Little Dot Micro

Media:
128-320kbs MP3s
WAV files

Review:

First, let's start with the Super.fis (S.f for the rest of this article) on their own and then attached to each source, media type, and finally with the LD Micro amp.

I'm not going to go into much detail here as there are plenty of good threads out there. My short synopsis is that initially I wasn't very impressed considering they were $200 more than the nicest/costliest cans I've had before (Koss Porta Pro Jrs about 5yrs ago). Before the S.fs I was using a couple of generic headphones I have from DAPs so I did notice they sounded a little better, but not mind blowingly so.

I tried them with various MP3s ranging from 128-320kbs and still was waiting to be truelly impressed - it wasn't until I plugged them into my friend's soundboard and pumped some of his WAVs (he is a live electronica musician - www.digitallifestylelive.com) through them that they "woke up". The bass was impressive and the sound was very clean - they blow away his low-end Senns that he uses with little effort and in some ways are better than his monitors. The music really just sizzled! Ah, this is what I expected to hear. But maybe it was the WAV and not the sound board? Nope, played a few MP3s and I couldn't tell the difference - they just sounded great! Ok, so now what? I had heard how good they CAN be but was stuck with a lot less for normal use.

Well, I have the world's smalled MP3 player so I needed a small amp - I decided to try the LD Micro as it is fairly small and quite inexpensive. I figured if I was happy with the results I could consider a Xin Supermicro as an upgrade.

So today I hooked the LD Micro up to my DAP & PC using cheap RS cables. In a word - WOW. The sound is so much fuller & richer. The bass is deeper, the midrange is much cleaner sounding and the highs have some sizzle to them. This is just using 192kbs MP3s. I did a couple of A/B tests and it is instantly noticeable. Without the amp the S.fs sound a bit "dead" with the amp they really come alive.

As for the amp I'm pleased that it introduced no hiss to my setup even at high volumes. One thing that surpised me though is that the overall volume from the amp is somewhat low - on my DAP I use a volume of "18" as my max normal volume and with the amp I need to leave it that high to get a decent volume out of the amp w/o cranking the amp's volume all the way.

In short - if you have Super.fis try an amp with them as they will really shine when powered.

I'm pretty sure a Supermicro is in my future!

Please feel free to ask questions - I'm at work and just trying to throw something up

Josh, which tips are you using? I use the bi-flange mostly although I also like the single-flange (small) too which does seem to isolate and sound a little better but make me a little sore after 4-5hrs use.

I've noticed the IEMs have three "positions" - barely in the ear, in your ear, and REALLY in your ear. Using the lift the top of the ear method I can get the REALLY in your ear position and when they are like that I cannot hear the wall A/C unit or either of my PCs (which sport big PSUs and many fans). If I just push the IEMs in my ear then they still sound pretty good but the isolation level is nowhere near as good as I can hear the A/C going.

And yes, the bass is quite good IMO.