Shadow Impressions - Page 3

Been listening a bit while it's plugged in charging... and wow, does this lil' bugger have some power and drive. I'm using the Sony X with its headphone out and I notice quite a bigger difference over using it with no amp than I do/did with the Mustang. Very nice findings early here.

Loving the Shadow. It is beautifully finished and the digital volume control works like a dream. This tiny amp sounds remarkably punchy, smooth, detailed and has bags of grunt. It simply sounds fantastic with every track i've thrown at it.

I've tried my UM3Xs, iGrados and SR-225is so far. The Shadow drove each with ease and was never less than superb. TBH I purchased this amp with my IEMs in mind. The UM3Xs certainly sound wonderful through the Shadow and the Grados? They seriously rock with it! The sound is so propulsive, there's bags of drive - all in all a very addictive sound. Now I just need to give it some time to burn-in properly.

I'd never heard a RSA amp before the Shadow. I can understand why their products are held in such high esteem here. I am very pleased with this amp. Thanks Ray.

received this shady package from Fedex 3hours ago..
that shady box and the red carry bag makes the shadow look like ..in a different league..
out of box sounds ok, can clearly hear the difference in separation and better mid. highs don't seem to have much difference.
gonna wait until it completely burns in before i make any more comment.

I got mine in California this afternoon (#S026). With all the anticipation, I couldn't help myself and plugged it in for a brief try with X10, NE8, KSC35 (rewired), Yuin G2, Senn 600 & Denon D2000 (w/ MarkL mod). I can hear the potential for it to sound "awesome". Bass is a little thick to start (which isn't a bad thing). Sounds good out of the box but I know it needs some burn in time to tighten up the instrument clarity and get more air. More to come once the 100 hours is done... I need to be patient. But I'm sooo excited I finally got the thing!!!!

Hey cn11 how does this little bugger sound with the s4's? Also, whats up with your s4's? The nozzles are like a turqoise color in the 4th pic?

Oh man, it's a great combo. The S4's, value priced as they are, scale up ridiculously well with this amp. They sound so much higher tier than their price would suggest. This rig sounds so good I find myself shaking my head in disbelief that there's a pair of sub-$100 earphones attached.

As for the nozzle color, it's the sleeve of the tip I'm using actually. They're the Sony hybrid silicone tips, and they are great on the Klipsch's.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Sony+-+R...hion&cp=1&lp=1

cn11, can you please post a pics of shadow on top of mustang if you have chance. I want to see how much smaller and a brief comparison? Is it worth it to get the shadow if I have the mustang already.

There should be one of the Shadow and Mustang above.. is it a broken link? It's showing for me. Also go over to the other main Shadow thread, I posted a couple others there. It may be a page or so in from the end at this point though.

It's hard for me to say at this point whether it's worthwhile to pick it up if you have the Mustang already, since the Shadow is not burned in yet. Also, these are my two first portable amps I've had, and since I use them with my Sony X and its headphone out, I always worried that I was never getting the best an amp had to offer. The Mustang offers subtle improvements over the X's HO, but you have to really listen for it. I can tell you that from the very first time I plugged in the Shadow I noticed a lot more scale, drive, oomph, and space in the soundstage and around instruments. The difference back to the X alone is much more noticeable over the Mustang, to my ears, even at this early stage.

That's about all I feel comfortable saying at this point....

Edit- Sorry, I missed the bit about the Shadow sitting on top of the Mustang... will do in a little while.

Well here are my "centerfold" pix taken with my iphone. Ipod classic with Shadow topped off with Ted Paisley/Cable Pro's new Reverie Super dock.
Attached Thumbnails

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Ipod Classic 160g with ALAC files > Ray Samuels Tomahawk > ALO Cryo > Grado RS-1's with APuresound V3 cable, Audio Technica ATH-ESW9's, Westone 3's with skinny Complys

MacBook Pro > Apogee Duet > NHT PROs

I got serial number 59. I'm letting mine sit in a locked drawer to burn in over the weekend so I won't be tempted to start using it out of the box. Please god give me the strength. LOL

I will tempt you with this... it sounds great even out of the box...

Why wouldn't someone listen to it right off? Enjoy it through and if there is a transition in sound. No live performance ever sounds the same again so enjoy what it it doing now and most of all, enjoy the music. I do burn in amps but that is between listening not in place of.

Awesome, i didnt think the s4's would work well with an amp.

+1

I agree totally...I regret not breaking in my D3