Holy Batman! This PINT kicks freakin' butt!!! - Page 15

how does a pint sound with grado sr-225's?

The issues just being people unimpressed with the Hornet and others flaming them for not burning them in for long enough, then the people respond with how they've burned it in long enough, then others respond back saying they have to burn it in for XXX more hours, etc.

Oh. Well, whatever. Back to the PINT.....that XP that MisterX is making sounds like a good option for you if you're not patient enough to wait for one to hit the FS forums. $110 with the battery and charger is a STEAL!

Don't mean to derail the Pint thread, but I guess this could apply to all amps (mostly with portables with large caps in them).

Oicdn, I see your point...I even own a D-25S just for burning in new amps and cables so I don't have to put extra hours on an expensive source that I'll be keeping for it's lifetime.

However, how would you have enough sources or splitters to burn-in 42 Hornets at a time? Just keeping an amp on, doesn't use all of the circuitry.

Here we go....

You're right, I will edit my post and send a pm.

so is the amp section of the HPDAC really a PINT? or is it a similar 3-channel amp? i've been wondering this and want to compare my PINT/alien DAC to the HPDAC...

Basically:
http://www.mb3k.com/hosted/mmmpint.pdf
http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showt...=173192&page=5

I'd love to hear how they compare as well. They are 2 very different DACs.

It is so close to being Pint that ... well, it's a Pint, or a mini3'ified version anyway (schematic is at http://www.ecp.cc/images/HPDAC_0.1b_sch.GIF if you want to dig the pint out of it). However, the Pint really concentrated on the AD8397 whereas the HPDAC concentrates on the LM6172. This is because the LM6172 chip uses less power which matters since the HPDAC is limited to what your USB jack can provide, the 6172 is more stable, and perhaps most importantly, I think the 6172 sounds better by a wide margin.

There is a seller (who has already been mentioned in this thread) who has a pair of these to sell for considerably less (he says in the $150 range) -- I already sold him the boards so I have no real interest in his selling these, but you can email or PM me and I'll forward your info on.

-d

Run a split signal to ALL of them from anmp3 player. Yeah it might be a crappy signal from the split cable, but I think an all tone sweep on loop would do the trick?

To put things into perspective, I know a guy that builds high-end carbon fiber composite skimboards, ALL BY HIMSELF. Syndrome skimboards.

http://www.skimsyndrome.com/

It's a one man job, much like Ray apparently is. It takes approximately 24 hours of WORK TIME (that's not actual time...actual time is roughly a week from waiting for resin to dry etc.) to make a skimboard. He sells to a distributor, as well as personally. His volume is probably VERY similar in demand to the Rays, in that he has different models, whereas, my buddy, has to build different color schemes and hand painted designs. One could even compare markets as wave riding skimming is a small nice, every body knows everybody market. But you can still make a living off selling JUST your own products if you market at the right portion of the community...i.e. pricepoint and possibly even quality ratio. One could say he in no way could run that by himself, but he does. His orders usually take 2-3 weeks to deliver....but his product is that good (and are also priced around $400) that people ARE WILLING TO WAIT. And for those that don't want to wait, can buy from his distributor.

So it's a sacrifice, order direct from him, get what you want with no surprises, but wait 2-3 weeks AND you have to meet him in person (can't order online AFAIK). If you don't want to wait, and just deal with what you get, go to his distributor.

So it works out as: If want a burnt-in amp, order direct. Want to get an amp now, get it from a distributor, or in this case you'de get a "fresh" un-burnt one.

Point is, I don't think it takes Ray one week to build an amp(could be wrong though). So I think it's DEFINITLY possible to pseudo burn-in a bunch of amps before selling them if my buddy can sell a butt-ton of skimboards. You'de even be looking at the same time frame. he could just start burning in what backstock he has. That is, unless of course he builds each as they are ordered, in which case, it even further proves my point....it doesn't take him a week to fabricate an amp

Wow...that was long again.....

/end rant, getting back on topic....

i think the HPDAC is a really cool device...i'd be all over it if i didn't already have my laptop rig...but i disagree with your comparison b/n the AD8397 and LM6172...while the LM6172 utilizes energy better and i agree has a smoother and warmer sound, it is so un-involving and blah that i could not stand it in another PINT i heard. if implemented correctly, i think the AD8397 sounds fantastic. so lively and crisp. but i understand why the HPDAC would opt for the LM6172...

oicdn

If you have a problem with Ray and the way he does things, then I think you should take it up with him. If you want to discuss the above, then you should start a new thread.

This current thread was supposed to be a thread about the PINT. I have one and am really enjoying it. When I see there is a new post in this thread, I come to read it assuming it is about the PINT.

At the rate this thread is going, being derailled more than several occasions, it has the possibility of being closed and that would not be a good thing, at least in my opinion.

You are more than entilted to your opinions. I just think they need to be in the proper location.

I'm a fan of the AD8397 now. Having both the PINT and the Faith amp, I'm hearing two different implementations of it. These amps use different designs, the Faith amp uses the AD823AN as the buffer amp and has a lively detailed sound to it. My PINT with the LM6172 as the ground channel has a lush, smooth sound that reminds me of a tube-hybrid.

The pint is an amazing performer and represents the best bang for the buck in the portable amp market IMO. For me, nothing else came close. I'd decided to go "team minimal" with my portable setup but if the XP betters the Pint.....

MisterX can just save a board for me and toss in a DAC. Gonna get me a MicroStack killer for my office listening pleasure!! Bet I can get BOTH for less than some of the other portables on the market! How cool is that?

Nothing against him or his amps, tehy're obviously top stuff and highly regarded (hopefully everybody understands that)...just kinda an opinion as to why he doesn't burn them in when it's completely possible....that's all.