Update 10-21-08> ALO Double Mini3 Pocket headphone Amplifier
Info:
http://www.aloaudio.com/store/index....roducts_id=154
I received a loaner of the ALO Audio Double Mini3 amp from Ken at ALO Audio. This is an modified Mini3 he worked with Vinnie from RedWineAudio to develop. The Mini3 has been modded with some improved parts. At $285, it’s considerably more expensive than the stock Mini3. I liked the stock Mini3 (see review above), but no longer had one to compare the ALO amp to, so it was compared to the Meier Audio XXS, 2Move, and the Qables iQube.
The ALO amp includes built in rechargeable battery, and comes with a charger.
Build Quality: A-: Metal Hammond case, certainly sturdy enough, but essentially lacking any real industrial design. But well built and sturdy.
Treble: A-: Generally clean and tidy treble. Slightly laid back. Lacks the very last bit of resolution, extension, and air. Good performance, but below the Meier and Qables amps in this regard.
Midrange: A-: The mids are very nice – smooth and slightly lush. Not the last word in transparency, but very good. In the top class of amps in this regard. Overall the amp is on the soft side, including in the mids.
Bass: A-: Tuneful, punchy bass. Certainly plenty deep enough. The bass lacked some authority I felt, however – I expected a little more, but not a lot, and the bass quality is good. Bass definition was good, but not as good as the Meier 2Move or iQube.
Neutrality: A-: Lacks just a little at the very top and bottom, but generally very neutral, to just on the warm side of things.
Soundstaging: A: The soundstage was VERY deep, and very well defined, and had nice width. This was a definite strength. Better than the 2Move, and on par with the iQube in this regard.
Transparency: A-: It is basically transparent, but it is outperformed by both the Meier and Qables amps in this regard. There is a very slight degree to which I felt the amp lacked openness versus the very best. So again, very good, but not world class performance.
So where does that leave the ALO amp? It generally performs very well, and I enjoyed listening to it. But IMO it is not as good sounding as the almost identically priced Meier 2Move, which includes a DAC. In fact, I preferred the Meier XXS, which is cheaper. This makes it a little hard for me to unconditionally recommend it. Its sound is on the softer, laid back, smooth side. Mated with more aggressive headphones, it could really shine. But with my headphones, it underperformed for the money. It joins the Headamp AE-2 and Graham Slee Voyager in amps I felt sounded good, but were outperformed by amps of the same or lesser cost.
Conclusions (10/21/08)
NOTE: All new reviews have to be added to the end of the thread due to the length of this post - only the rankings will now change.
OK, so now it’s now 42 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. ALO Double Mini3
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.
