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Review: Portable amp roundup! 56 portable amps reviewed and compared - FINAL update 12-20-10... - Page 2  

post #16 of 3234
1/2/07 at 12:47pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Andrea View Post
Especially as you wanted to include it in your ranking, without even a slightest mention of the fact that it's a surpassed product that's not made anymore. The deceivment that this can cause at a superficial sight (which - in a swift digression - is the only sight of many) is obvious, given that "0HA" is common to the entire series of amps. Would/could you have done the same with, say, a Xin Supermacro v1 ? No, I think not.
Andreas:

Sorry I wasn't as nice to your favorite little amp as you'd like But really, to call it "deceptive" makes you guilty of thread-crapping, and I don't appreciate that.

Actually, I had wanted to use the Xenos 1HA for the review, but they aren't shipping yet (I do have one on order). I wanted to include a Xenos amp. I'm not sure why it is unfair to include this version of the amp. I had it on hand, and I think it still serves as a somewhat valid comparison.

But for anyone who might have been confused: the 0HA I have is NOT the newest version of this amp, and it's possible that the newer versions might have fared better or differently. I have a Xenos 1HA on order, and I will add it to the review when it comes in.
post #17 of 3234
1/2/07 at 12:48pm
Great review...

Will you add the X-1 Amp to the review when you receive your replacement?
post #18 of 3234
1/2/07 at 12:51pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by MrJoshua View Post
Great review...

Will you add the X-1 Amp to the review when you receive your replacement?
Yes, when my replacement comes, I will add the X-1 back in. If it ever comes, I will also add the Larocco ISA Diablo, and as mentioned, I will add the Xenos 1HA. But just to piss off Andreas, I will leave my comments on the 0HA in there
post #19 of 3234
1/2/07 at 12:57pm
great insights skylab, thanks! reminds me of the Romanee spiels of old. I agree that the PRII sounded really nice the last time i heard it, but even then compared to a stock Hornet (not "M" mod) i preferred the Hornet in a loud ambient setting - the PRII was a tad too polite and probably deserved a quiet home use setting to bring out the subtleties. I like how the "M" has kept the portable "grr" of the Hornet, but is more refined than the stock. I miss that big boomy bass, but this "M" bass is still plenty huge and it's more accurate to boot!
post #20 of 3234
1/2/07 at 1:03pm
LOL! My wallet is thanking you for that review!!

Also, the test on the GV5 was that done using the elpac 24v and I assume there were 400+ hours on the Hornet???
post #21 of 3234
1/2/07 at 1:18pm
Nice review!!! Definitly something worth reading as I'm considering a new portable just to get my feet wet with other portables...
post #22 of 3234
1/2/07 at 1:20pm
Great review! I used a little of this review (comparison) to pop some green down for the Tomahawk
post #23 of 3234
1/2/07 at 1:26pm
excellent review!!

Comparison reviews, which state a common reference are always more valuable than "open ended" reviews.

On the Xenos, I think it IS a good thing to include it. They do show up used and on ebay so just because its out of production should not exclude it from a comparison review. Andrea makes a good point that one amp should never be a "representative" of an entire product lineup.

I'm kind of surprised you ranked the headphonia as low as you did. Its kind of a unique product with its USB DAC. I'm thinking about getting one just because of this feature. It might make a nice addition to my transportable laptop rig.

Thanks again!!
Garrett
post #24 of 3234
1/2/07 at 1:31pm
Excellent review! Very informative.

Thanks a lot!
post #25 of 3234
1/2/07 at 1:33pm
Fantastic review. Thanks Skylab! Out of curiosity, how many hours did your Tomahawk have on it when you listened for the shootout?
post #26 of 3234
1/2/07 at 1:33pm
Skylab, great review. What about the AE-1 or the new AE-2? Do you have one around to add this amp to the review?
post #27 of 3234
1/2/07 at 1:40pm
Hi skylab and thanks for the review. I have compared all the same amps (and some more) and I agree with your 4 top rankings. However I do have a couple of questions/comments.

1. Which OP-Amp on the LaRocco PRII? I as because with the AD744 it will sound even better. I do agree with you that it is huge and for some a pain to carry on a daily basis. But it sounds so gooood!

2. I would have ranked the Go- Vibe 5 as number 5. I realize we have different ears so different rankings.

3. The one area I disagree with you is on what I take as your dissing of Dr. Xin's amps. Even though he is a horrible communicator and time does not mean the same to him as for the rest of us I have to say the sound of his amps is IMO the best. It is a pity you did not include one in your review. Perhaps when I get my Supermacro LE I can send it to you for an audition.

Thanks for the nice review.
post #28 of 3234
1/2/07 at 1:44pm
Very nice reivew! Can't wait to get my Tomahawk from Ray!
post #29 of 3234
1/2/07 at 1:46pm
Well done, Skylab! Thanks for the effort, and for the nicely organized, well-considered comparisons.

Jahn raised an important point, that since portable amps are often used in venues that challenge them with varying degrees of noise, performance in noisy environs needs to be considered in addition to performance in quiet surroundings.

Happy 2007 to all!
post #30 of 3234
1/2/07 at 1:47pm
Skylab,
What are the dimensions of the RSA Hornet and the PRII?
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