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Is this Micro amp a desktop or portable model? ASAP PLEASE.

post #1 of 14
4/27/09 at 5:29pm
Thread Starter 
Hi,

Just about to buy this, but unsure of something. Owner doesnt know.

Is it a portable model or desktop? The front doesnt say portable. it has a power selector switch. in and out on front. Just wall wart in on the back (presumably not power supply brick in) and the normal crossfeed, gain etc.









Very confused, doesnt fit any on the site! Older model? Which?

Is it a good amp while I am here? Would it be any good with sensetive IEM's like LW's, UE11's etc? Could drive something bigger oneday when I upgrade? Would this rival the likes of the Predator? Would it be any good with something like a little Alien DAC? I can't afford the Micro DAC... Wont be able to utilise the optical on the PC sound card.

Any comments/help appreciated greatly! ASAP please! Anything

Thanks in advance chaps,

Matt
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post #2 of 14
4/27/09 at 7:59pm
Hi Matt, the unit looks like the older HeadRoom Portable Micro Amp. Ask the owner if it uses two 9 volt batteries to go portable, if yes then it is the older (couple of years) unit.

Ask the owner if the unit has the Desktop Module, it was an upgrade which made the amp sound better. It would help to know what year it was build, around late 2006 HeadRoom improved the power supply. Also ask the owner what voltage is the wallwart for.

Hope others chime in to correct any mistakes I made.
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post #3 of 14
4/27/09 at 9:06pm
Correct, that's the older Micro Amp. It can take either AC (adapter was included) or 2 9-volt batteries, so it's both a desktop amp AND portable amp. If he has the Desktop module installed (was a no-extra-cost option), it drains batteries pretty quickly. Also, as mentioned above, there was an upgrade in that amp's mid-cycle before the current line came out.

Great amp. I upgraded to the latest but I think the old one sounds great.
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post #4 of 14
4/28/09 at 4:11am
Thread Starter 
I'm trading a Tomahawk straight up for it... Comes with KSC75's too

Pounce?

Matt
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post #5 of 14
4/28/09 at 4:14am
Thread Starter 
Warp, with a better dac than mine with a proper line out, do you think it would rival the EMU? Even more so with the Micro DAC? My future rig was going to be an EMU, a little dot tube I and maybe some 601's.
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post #6 of 14
5/9/09 at 10:25am
Thread Starter 
Right, well I have it here now... I opened it up, pretty sure it has the desktop module... the extra board sitting up off the main PCB, just infront of the front plate.

It takes 9v's, and comes with a hefty power supply block, and has the large DIN power connector on the back, that is it. 120v only. I have a step down transformer for it

So, any definitive answer now guys?

Thanks alot,

Matt
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post #7 of 14
5/9/09 at 10:34am
Thread Starter 
Thought some pics might help... (excuse the crappy shots!)









Matt
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post #8 of 14
5/9/09 at 10:57am
That's the Micro module. The Desktop module would be on a green PCB.
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post #9 of 14
5/9/09 at 11:07am
Hi Matt,

You made a great trade. I really liked my 2006 Micro Amp but the low battery life finally turned me off so it was sold to buy other amps...I wish I still had it though. I thought it sounded very nice and I loved the crossfeed. It has tank-like build quality. Even though the size is a bit too big for true portability, I liked the odd but original shape/design.

Mine had the desktop module, 2006 model.

Here are the pics from my Webshots:











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post #10 of 14
5/9/09 at 12:31pm
Thread Starter 
Oh, I thought i'd read somewhere that a red board was the desktop module

Oh well, either way, it sounds far better than my USB DAC/amp, and IIRC better than my DAC/amp -> Tomahawk, definitely more to my taste signature wise any way. Less bassy/dark.

And it will be able to drive something bigger for the next stage of Head-fi... Next i'm going to add a proper dac, I think the Micro is amplifying the UCA-202's hiss, it's pretty hissy with my very sensetive livewires on low gain with music off.

After that, I think K601's or something... Then probably a Micro DAC to go with it... Later I might add a bigger desktop amp, and keep the Micro amp and DAC for taking to dad's etc. (with rechargable 9v's, cos the step-down transformer + the power supply = hefty!)

So it's a 2006 without the desktop module?

Thanks All

Matt
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post #11 of 14
5/9/09 at 12:46pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Baines93 View Post
So it's a 2006 without the desktop module?

Thanks All

Matt
No, it's an original Micro module pre '06.
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post #12 of 14
5/9/09 at 12:53pm
Thread Starter 
Oh okay, thanks
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post #13 of 14
5/15/09 at 1:13am
I know I will be keeping my 2006 Micro Amp and Micro DAC for a long time. I have been using it in my bedside rig since March 2008, after Headroom was running a big sale on the pair when the non-portable version was introduced. It is very good with IEM and with full size cans, and I don't bother to use it portable right now.

I'm assuming mine from the last batch before being discontinued has the desktop module?
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post #14 of 14
5/15/09 at 6:20am
Quote:
Originally Posted by HeadphoneAddict View Post
I'm assuming mine from the last batch before being discontinued has the desktop module?
Likely but not certain. If you don't want to open it up, just send HR the SN on the bottom.
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