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Review: Portable amp roundup! 56 portable amps reviewed and compared - FINAL update 12-20-10... - Page 49  

post #721 of 3234
6/23/07 at 1:34pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Skylab View Post
I just added:


Update 6-7-07

> mSeed Labs Spirit

Info: http://www.mseedlabs.org/spiritAmp.html

I was leant a Spirit amp from MSeed labs by the manufacturer. See the above link for a full description, but this is a serious portable amp – Black Gate caps, JFET op amps biased into class A. I think the “plug in” board for use with an AC adapter is a little odd, but at least there is a way to use an AC adapter. No charging circuit though, which is a small bummer.

Build Quality: A-: It’s got a nice black anodized Hammond metal case. Jacks are very solid. No turn on thump at all. Fairly quiet -the amp exhibits very little noise at all.
Treble: A-: Treble is smooth, detailed, and uncolored. It was bright at first, but after break in for 200 hours it wasn’t. Excellent treble.
Midrange: B+: Open and enjoyable. Nice and neutral. Not lush or rich, but not thin. The very best amps are better, but the mids are enjoyable - not a liability.
Bass: B+: Great definition and depth. Not super-punchy and not the meatiest bass around, but very tight. Great pace and rhythm to the bass.
Neutrality: A-: Superbly neutral; only detraction is the ever so slightly lean bass. But this is NOT a colored sounding amp, as so many portable amps under $200 seem to be.
Soundstaging: B+: good depth, decent width. Good image specificity. Again, not the best ever, but not a liability.
Transparency: A-: Above average transparency. Excellent performance here.

The Spirit is a VERY good amp, and for the money it’s outstanding. I really liked it - I was very impressed. It ranks in the upper tier of amps, and it represents good value. If it were in sexy case it could sell for $300, but let’s not tell mSeed that
Skylab, I must concur with you on your excellent review of this amp. The mSeed Labs guys have outdone themselves this time. I DO miss the nice faceplate that was present with the Faith amp, but that's a minor quibble. A major player in this crowded portable amp world.
post #722 of 3234
6/23/07 at 9:00pm
im looking for the budget amp... how do the govibe 5 compare to the pa2v2? and how people seem to think govibe is the way to go, but here the pa2v2 was ranked much higher than the govibe 6?!?
post #723 of 3234
6/23/07 at 11:08pm
X2 on the mSeed Spirit. hadn't ever heard of Mustard Seed Labs until Skylab's review. I really like this amp and the folks at mSeed are a pleasure to work with.
post #724 of 3234
6/23/07 at 11:36pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by daveyostrow View Post
im looking for the budget amp... how do the govibe 5 compare to the pa2v2? and how people seem to think govibe is the way to go, but here the pa2v2 was ranked much higher than the govibe 6?!?
I didn't review the pa2v2. I have never heard one. Are you confusing it with the Portaphile?

Quote:
Originally Posted by dandi View Post
X2 on the mSeed Spirit. hadn't ever heard of Mustard Seed Labs until Skylab's review. I really like this amp and the folks at mSeed are a pleasure to work with.
The Spirit continues to impress me. I may not even have ranked it high enough. It's terrific.
post #725 of 3234
6/23/07 at 11:44pm
I wasn't impressed w/ the pa2v2
post #726 of 3234
6/23/07 at 11:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Skylab View Post
All of the above. Home amps will simply not make the inevitable compromises that are involved in making a very small amp.
but there are home amps that are the similar in size as a portable, like the arietta/headfive and the sr71.

so for the same price, say 400, a home amp like the eddie current, glite, etc. will perform better than a hornet, sr71, ae2, etc?
post #727 of 3234
6/23/07 at 11:56pm
Thread Starter 
Did you mean same PRICE? The Headfive is much bigger than an SR71.

I felt the Headfive was slightly better than a couple of somewhat more expensive portable amps I owned at the time, yes. I have a Glite in house (from Asr) right now and I will compare it side by side to my portables.
post #728 of 3234
6/24/07 at 12:20am
my bad, i thought the Portaphile V2^2 was the same as the pa2v2.
im such a newb, but im getting there.
post #729 of 3234
6/24/07 at 12:41am
Quote:
Originally Posted by daveyostrow View Post
my bad, i thought the Portaphile V2^2 was the same as the pa2v2.
im such a newb, but im getting there.
lol I made a similar mistake before...too many amps, so little time

...and Rob, what's up with snoog?



I've never heard of this A&W brand...is this some new beyer mod you've cooked up??
post #730 of 3234
6/24/07 at 12:47am
Thread Starter 
Woohoo! Snoog! My son's awesome creation of today. Great cans!
post #731 of 3234
6/24/07 at 1:32am
Redbull's got more energy if you ask me. Not nearly as much weight though.
post #732 of 3234
6/24/07 at 2:49am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Skylab View Post
Did you mean same PRICE? The Headfive is much bigger than an SR71.
i do mean size. it's just longer right? i've never compared them side by side.

do you have the glite with dps? it would be nice if you do the comparison with and without the dps. having the dps, i feel, is not a fair comparison in terms of price.
post #733 of 3234
6/24/07 at 6:33am
Currently I'm in a dilemma, whether to get the K701 or E500, because I'm going to drive them with my hornet, I'm afraid the hornet cant drive the K701 good enough...maybe I'll enjoy more with the E500 instead.
post #734 of 3234
6/24/07 at 11:32am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by manhattanproj View Post
i do mean size. it's just longer right? i've never compared them side by side.

do you have the glite with dps? it would be nice if you do the comparison with and without the dps. having the dps, i feel, is not a fair comparison in terms of price.
The Meier HeadFive is probably the size of 6 SR71's made into a brick :-) It's MUCH larger, owing in no small part to it's decent sized toroidal transformer (the Headfive/Arietta have a built-in power supply - no wall wart needed).

My loaner Glite has the DPS, no way to audition it otherwise, sorry.
post #735 of 3234
6/24/07 at 11:32am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sieg9198 View Post
Currently I'm in a dilemma, whether to get the K701 or E500, because I'm going to drive them with my hornet, I'm afraid the hornet cant drive the K701 good enough...maybe I'll enjoy more with the E500 instead.
I don't own either the 701 or Hornet but I'm fairly certain that you'll have no problem pairing those.
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Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Portable Headphone Amps › Review: Portable amp roundup! 56 portable amps reviewed and compared - FINAL update 12-20-10 added RSA SR-71B