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RSA P71 vs Shadow vs Mustang?

post #1 of 32
2/11/10 at 2:07pm
Thread Starter 
I read in the 37 headphone amps compared that Mustang has very good mid-range, which is kind of source-dependent for my CK100. Does P71 and shadow produce comparable or better mid range? If I have to choose among P71, shadown and Mustang, which will have the best midrange?
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post #2 of 32
2/11/10 at 2:59pm
most people here tend to be big fans of the p51, i have never heard them but thats what ive seen while looking around.
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post #3 of 32
2/11/10 at 11:05pm
I assume you mean SR71 or P51 (but that is the Mustang). Skylab says the P51 and the shadow have such a similar sound he didn't botehr to review it. However, you will do well with any of these, so form factor may come into play. Or maybe just wait for the balanced Protector.
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post #4 of 32
2/12/10 at 12:09am
Again, I'm forced to work from the opinions of others, but I suspect that only a chosen few will be in a position to compare all 3:

- if you can afford the SR-71 Blackbird, get it
- if you can afford the P-51 Mustang, get it

I did find an SR-71 in Singapore recently but the asking price was hilariously high - I think it was just there to drag people in the door. By contrast, the D4 I purchased here in Thailand yesterday came in at about the same price I would have paid in Aussie dollars with shipping added, and that is well under the landed price of one of the RSA amps. If you want something that sounds good straight out of the box, I'd look further afield than Ray's amps. I know it has been a huge FOTM, but thus far I am very happy with mine - as always, if you use sensitive IEMs or have preferences which dont align with a particular amo, this may or may not be your best option.
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post #5 of 32
2/12/10 at 12:40am
is form factor will be your big concern? if it is not, i suggest you to buy SR71A or predator (with DAC).

if you need "really portable" amp that sound great and will use it only with IEM and earphones, then shadow is the best choice. Also shadow has already using digital potentiometer and it is the latest tech in recent portable amp.
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post #6 of 32
2/12/10 at 1:05am
Thread Starter 
Thanks guys. Do these things have a 3.5 mm hole? By the way, how do Tomahawk and Hornet fit into the picture? Are they superior or inferior to Shadow / Mustang? Many thanks!
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post #7 of 32
2/12/10 at 1:10am
I consider the SR71 to be one of the best portable amps every made. It is a classic that will never be forgotten or go away. Glad Ray is supporting it still with updates.
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post #8 of 32
2/12/10 at 1:31am
Thread Starter 
Hi Shigzeo, how does SR71 match with CK100?
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post #9 of 32
2/12/10 at 1:40am
Quote:
Originally Posted by shigzeo View Post
I consider the SR71 to be one of the best portable amps every made. It is a classic that will never be forgotten or go away. Glad Ray is supporting it still with updates.
And I'd love to hear it, and the 71A - we just dont all have that kind of money to throw at a portable amp. In time, all our toys are forgotten.
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post #10 of 32
2/12/10 at 2:08am
Well, I don't have one, but everytime I've used on, it has stood out among a bunch of other amps.
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post #11 of 32
2/12/10 at 2:23am
I have the Sr71a, Mustang, and the Predator. I have also listened to the Shadow. The Mustang is the one I am using now. Mustang and Shadow are two similar that I cannot tell two much different, but the Mustang has a little bit more power thus allow one to use more headphone besides iem. The SR71a is a nice amp but it is much more bigger. The Predator is nice with a DAC especially if you are using it with a computer. I do prefer the Mustang over the Predator for its personal, dynamic feel.
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post #12 of 32
2/12/10 at 2:44am
Quote:
Originally Posted by googleli View Post
Thanks guys. Do these things have a 3.5 mm hole? By the way, how do Tomahawk and Hornet fit into the picture? Are they superior or inferior to Shadow / Mustang? Many thanks!
in general, Shadow & Mustang > Hornet > Tomahawk

just remember, Shadow is only for high efficiency cans
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post #13 of 32
2/12/10 at 11:56am
Thread Starter 
Thanks all for your great advice.

I bought myself a pair of e-Q7 and a Ray Samuel Black Bird SR71A portable amp today as my own Chinese new year present.

I always thought my CK100 would be my last pair of universal IEMs since I ordered UE18 Pro last month. The 18 Pros are yet to be shipped (pending "arrival of a component" according to UE), and now I got e-Q7... This should really be my last pair of universal IEMs, I hope. So far, e-Q7 really gives completely different sound from CK100. Trying to burn in both e-Q7 and the RSA Black Bird using the STS Kharma burn-in CD now. Can anyone give me the approximate burn-in time for the e-Q7 and the Ray Samuels Black Bird?

By the way, would the Black Bird be enough to drive the HD800's? I am planning to get one later in the year.
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post #14 of 32
2/12/10 at 12:13pm
The Blackbird need about 300 hours to sound great and I did not notice any difference after 700 hours. It can certainly "power" HD800 but not drive it to it full potential. Out of all the RSA amps you mentioned, I like Mustang out of all of them. I only sold it to fund the up coming Protector purchase.
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post #15 of 32
2/17/10 at 3:00am
Thread Starter 
Thanks. 300 hours means I have to use 12 batteries... Kind of expensive when it piles up... Btw anyone experiences background hissing? If background hissing occurs should I turn down the gain (e.g. from med to low) and increase the volume instead? It works but not totally eliminating the hiss. On my new Ortofon e-Q7 the hissing is more obvious but on my CK100 there is no hiss.

By the way, is there an agreed good portable source that matches the Black Bird or the RSA portable amps in general? Many thanks.
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