Hifiman 801 Appreciation thread - Page 17

Couldn't really a/b it but others think so.  I would like to find someone around here with a normal one and pull the chip back and forth and see what the difference is.  I like to do quick a/b tests due to audio memory.  The board looks better and from what i understand uses better chips.  I use the pico a lot but it is a lot easier to just plug in and throw it in my pocket alone.  The Pico external definitely sounds better though hands down......it killed the normal amp, i think it is a bit closer with the Game.  Hard to answer your question and i like to have a solid answer i can stand by before making a statement out here.

I read most of the threads around the HM-801, RMAA etc. etc.etc.  ... and I couldn't resist ... I bought a Clip + 4 GB.

Apart from its horrible packaging (I had to practically rip off the plastic to get at the parts) it looks not so bad ; in German it is called "Kindchenschema" and generally appeals more to woman.

(...the connected USB cable really looks gross on it though ...)

Then I plugged in my T 50 P (David Bowie, 1.Outside, FLAC, same on the Hifiman) ... not nearly loud enough with full volume ... it sounds not bad though ... that typical MP3 player crisp, narrow and bland sound ... (... perhaps it would sound better with a MP3, just joking  ...) ... I think I liked my old Sansa e280 still more ... so it depends all on your taste ... for some it's the Sansa sound and for others it's the Hifiman sound ... so what

Nice though that it is able to play FLACs gapless!

Will bring it back tomorrow, not only because of its "sound signature" but also because it would not be able to drive my T 50 P properly.

(Well, I already have a DAP of choice which does and which supports 32 GB cards, is able to play WAV files, has a line out, can act as an USB and Coaxial DAC, has an exchangeable battery, a sophisticated interface (I really like the buttons on the Hifiman, I'm a sucker for shrewd and weird interfaces!!) an exchangeable internal amplifier ... and it looks much more mature (... did I mention that I also like how it sounds ?))

( ... I just discovered that you can use the Up and Down buttons of the Hifiman to ffwd and rwd while a song is playing ... I really like these gimmicks )

Just some exciting news for the 801 owners: Fang announced over at another forum that two new amp cards are about ready for demo (though it appears to limit to only in China atm). One has balanced output, suitable for RE-ZERO's TRRS connector; the other one has higher output, designed for harder-to-drive full sized to achieve performance similar to using small desktop amp.

Shooooot. I must get an HM-801!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fang, gives the late guys (the ones who missed the special pricing) here a discount ;D.

That's some good news ClieOS, but I thought that the card with higher output power was the standard card that was eventually replaced with one that would work with IEM's.

Well, he didn't discuss any more detail about the spec, so that's all we know for now.

Quote:

Originally Posted by travisg 

What forum did you read that from?

Erji.net, HifiMan sub-forum.
 

Any ideas how the balanced connectors can be fixed to the Hifiman HM-801 with the new amp module? My HM-801 don't have any other connector or space to slot another connector. Was planning to order the Game module amp, but with this, will probably hold back. Hopefully the balanced amp module can be as good as the RSA Protector or the Toucan? Cheers, Mark

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkTwain 

Any ideas how the balanced connectors can be fixed to the Hifiman HM-801 with the new amp module? My HM-801 don't have any other connector or space to slot another connector. Was planning to order the Game module amp, but with this, will probably hold back. Hopefully the balanced amp module can be as good as the RSA Protector or the Toucan? Cheers, Mark

... perhaps it comes with a new special cover with built-in connector ...

Maybe its best to ask Feng directly about the new card it sounds interesting.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkTwain 

Hope it is not too fragile in the connection areas.

Anyone tried detailed audition of the standard amp module with Game module?

Worth investing in the game module?

Thanks!
Mark

Compared to the initially original standard amp I found it to be a great difference.

But I think it depends also on the phones you use etc.

I got the impression the whole sound got somewhat "broader" with a lot more air, more musical (even with the T 50 P, even more with the TMA-1)

But that's only my impressions.

Anyway ... I declared myself collector of Hifman amps ... ...

P.S. Nankai got somewhat contained regarding the HM-801 ... no answers to many questions here ... or I'm wrong? Perhaps the 602 business is too consuming right now ...

Looks like a good investment then!

Not sure about the new balanced amp module though, as not too keen to re-terminate my cables... again! Have a set of cables terminated for RSA Protector currently.

No complaints about the HM-801 after using for around half a year - loving it everyday. But no harm getting better firmware?

Cheers,

Mark

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkTwain 

...

No complaints about the HM-801 after using for around half a year - loving it everyday. But no harm getting better firmware?

 

Cheers,

Mark

For sure ...

http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/521773/is-hifiman-801-firmware-support-over-with
 

News update. The balanced amp module is going to the upcoming NYU meet.