Review: Portable amp roundup! 56 portable amps reviewed and compared - FINAL update 12-20-10... - Page 63  

Sit down and get ready to laugh your ass off. I do not have a Supermicro IV. Vorlon1 here has two, one of which he sent back to Dr. Xin for the 4/11 mods, I am waiting for its return to buy it from him.

When I get it I might just do that. I am thinking of sending a couple of amps on a tour to dw6928 and I could add you to the tour. Will keep you posted.

So does that mean you have been comparing other amps to the Supermicro IV from memory?

MOVE USB capability

I am in the water for an amplifier to hook up to my new laptop, and the MOVE is very tempting. Have you (or someone else) any comments on the SQ running it powered of the USB?

Of course not, I have had the Supermicro IV on loan for weeks at a time. Also we meet say about twice a month to compare various amps/cans/ICs. So when I say I have compared two amps they have been used side by side.

Skylab, do you have plans on getting your hands on a LaRocco Diablo somehow, if they ever come out?

For people who have (had) the Corda MOVE and Porta Corda MkIII, is the Porta Corda colder than the MOVE?
I find the Porta Corda MkIII pretty warm for my taste using ER4S... Is it just me?

The PR II was a great sounding amp, but with the ES2's the Hornet had more impactful bass. As far as the variable bass boost not being effective with the ES2's, I found the bass would actually start to sound distorted if I turned the knob past a certain level. It always had an effect, just not regarding impact.

...who knew?! I'll have to look into that one.

My HeadAmp AE-1 came today and it's glorious. Thank you Skylab for your reviews which helped me make a decision on my first headphone amp! (Also thanks Asr for selling the AE-1 to me)

Now I MUST resist upgrading any time soon. My bank account can't handle it. I've got school to pay for.

If you compare the Corda III with the Move, the move has more low end whereas the Corda III has strong mids. Personally, I find the Corda more balanced in sound/tone using Senn 650's.

The Move gives a sense of more power (almost) with its lower end but in comparison to something like a Go Vibe, both the Corda and the Move are warm sounding amps. The Move warmer than the Corda.
Ian

Indeed. I also expected the bass-boost to be way too much and being overruling when opened up completely but the difference is in such small spectrum it is so subtle. That really surprised me. Totally overcomes my expectations. I love it!

I figured as much because I know you and Vorlon1 seem to live close together but playing sort of a devil's advocate I thought I should ask so it's clarified for everyone.

Thank you both of you for answering my question. iancraig, your comparison to the Go-Vibe is just what I hear too. I'm wondering, can you do a brief comparison with the headfive/arietta too? I am interested in a desktop setup, but I'm afraid the headfive/arietta has even more warmth/'slowness' than the Porta Corda.

I get a lot of enjoyment from the Headfive although it doesn't seem to have as much gain as many other mains operated amps.

It has a clean sound that I prefer in comparison to the Porta Corda sound. This is just my preference, but I feel able to listen more 'inside' the music via the Headfive. It's quite airy sounding and the Senn 650's sound more open through it.

Don't get me wrong, the Corda is excellent for mobile use on a silly battery. It also has great transparency but I'm still making my mind up about the Move.

Ian