All:
Here is an update - I can no longer add to the original post, so this update has to live here.
Storm Amp Storm 3
Info:
Storm-Amp
I was asked to review this amp by an EBay seller of them. I was really not enthusiastic - the last Storm amp I reviewed, the confusingly similarly named Storm STB3, was really not very good. I am happy to report that this amp is MUCH better. It's also much smaller, and more attractive. It runs on 2 AAA batteries. No charging facility. I have no idea what it sells for, and I do not see it on EBay currently.
In terms of sound, it was a good overall performer with no real glaring weaknesses, but no world-beating areas of performance.
Build Quality: A-: Attractive metal case. Loses a few points for the kinda difficult jacks.
Treble: A-: Generally clean and clear. Perhaps slightly laid back, but generally very good..
Midrange: A-: Again, generally clean and transparent, with no obvious coloration. In direct comparison to the iQube 2Move, or XXS, the mids of are not as transparent. Still, it offers generally very good performance here.
Bass: A-: The bass was also very good. There is the right amount, but it is not the tightest bass I ever heard. Also lacks truly deep bass. Still, pretty good.
Neutrality: A-: Generally neutral, with no obvious colorations. Only the slight treble reticence and lack of deep bass really subtracts here, and it’s not a big deal.
Soundstaging: B+: Decent, but not impressive soundstaging capabilities. Nothing special here, but not a disaster.
Transparency: A-: Here again, a competent performer, but not state of the art.
So - a pretty good all around performer that doesn't really push state of the art in any one area, but has no glaring weaknesses. A huge step in the right direction for Storm Amp company.
Conclusions (8/6/08)
OK, so now it’s now 41 amps! Here is my view on how the amps stacked up. Note that the sum of the "Grades" I give does not always tell the whole story in how I rank them, since the whole is sometimes greater or lesser than the sum of the parts, and I am often forced to split hairs here, since the list has gotten so long. Also please note that even if these amps include a DAC, that DAC performance was NOT a factor in these rankings AT ALL. Also, for clarification, this ranking is based on sound quality ONLY, and does not take things like size or battery life into account.
1. Triad Audio Lisa III
2. Qables iQube
2. Headamp Pico
2. Larocco Audio Pocket Reference II mk 2 (availability unknown - PLEASE read entire review)
2. Meier Audio 2MOVE (and the older MOVE)
3. RSA SR71
3. RSA The Predator
4. RSA The Hornet “M”
5. Xenos 1HA-EPC (discontinued)
6. RSA Tomahawk
6. Meier Audio XXS / Headsix
7. TTVJ Portable Millet Hybrid
7. Decware Zenhead
8. Xin Reference
8. Meier Audio Porta Corda III (discontinued)
8. Xin SuperMicro IV (current version auditioned 1/22/08)
9. Headamp AE-2
9. Graham Slee Voyager
10. Go-Vibe 7
10. Mini3
11. Leckerton Audio UHA-3
12. Portaphile V2^2
13. mSeed Spirit (discontinued)
14. Mini-Box E
14 Storm 3 (NOT B3)
14. Storm B4
15. iBasso P-1 (discontinued)
16. Visely HEA- 1
17. Microshar uAmp107
18. Practical Devices XM4
18. C&C XO
18. iBasso T2
19. Go-Vibe 6 (discontinued)
20. Xtra X-1 Pro
21. Xenos 0HA-REP (discontinued)
21. iBasso T1 (discontinued)
22. Xtra X-1 (discontinued)
23. C&C Box V2
24. Storm B3
25. Little Dot Micro+ (discontinued)
As always, this is JUST MY OPINION, but I hope it has been helpful.
