Official Audio-gd Sparrow thread - Page 43

Yeah I posted here because what you last posted related to my issue. Kingwa did suggest that I may be able to just replace the socket myself. I've also asked him to look at this thread to consider your findings. I'll pop my Fun open to have a look. Hopefully as Kingwa stated it should only require the use of a screwdriver to replace the socket.

Quote:

Originally Posted by les_garten 

I have a FUN, I'll look at it.

 

 

EDIT:

  FUN is much different, and has a much better Jack.  You were in the Sparrow thread,so I thought that was what you were talking about, my bad.

 

 

I'll go back and look over your posts with FUN in mind.

 

............

 

OK, now I feel like Roseanne  Rosannadanna! Never Mind!

 

I would look carefully over your adapter.

 

 

les, I think I've well and truly isolated the issue to the Fun's socket. I've tried a number of different 1/8" to 1/4" adapters with different cans. I've also tested other jacks on my macbook and ipods to rule out the plugs on the headphones themselves.

Sounds like you've been thru it then.

The Sparrow jack arrangement and the FUN are nothing alike or related to each other.  Night and Day difference.

But this should really go to the FUN thread.  Poor Sparrow guys have to read it!
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by olor1n 

 

les, I think I've well and truly isolated the issue to the Fun's socket. I've tried a number of different 1/8" to 1/4" adapters with different cans. I've also tested other jacks on my macbook and ipods to rule out the plugs on the headphones themselves.

Sorry my bad. Thanks for your help anyway.

i wonder if it's worth asking Kingwa to qoute with a Neutrik jack on the Sparrow at ordering time. i do feel like the jack quality is one of the aspects of the user's physical interaction with a headphone amp that that is very important. i expect to see a fairly high number of plug/unplug cycles.

edit: hang on, on the website it lists Version A as having a Neutrik jack. i thought Neutrik jacks had the red tab thing and locked (like the ones on the FUN). but the photos of the Version A show a standard looking jack. i guess this is a lower model of Neutrik?

Neutrik does make other styles of 1/4" jacks besides the large locking jack that you are familiar with.

It's not really the jack as much as how it's mounted.

Here's Neutrik's jack.  I think it should have the Nut securing it to the front panel.

http://www.neutrik.com/us/en/audio/204_256671/M-Line_productlist.aspx

This would lock it into position.  I'm thinking that would make ALL plugs work perfectly with it.  Most work fine, but the jack does move a little with each cycle.  I need to shoot some PIX so you guys understand what I'm referring to.  I decided not to do it today because I thought the jack issue was done.

I'll chime in here for the last time and again apologize for leading this thread off topic. I just wanted to highlight the fantastic customer support from Kingwa and Audio-GD that I've experienced. Their replies to my queries were answered promptly and although Kingwa was apologetic about the language barrier I had no issues in understanding what was being conveyed. I'm confident my issues will be resolved and I can once again enjoy the well documented qualities that many here endorse in their products.

Edit: Ok that sounded like a PR statement lol! I just wanted to point out that the end result really is fantastic. I'm just devouring a new album at the moment and I can't seem to wipe this stupid grin off my face. It's all about the music folks. Enjoy it!

Quote:

Originally Posted by les_garten 

It's not really the jack as much as how it's mounted.

 

Here's Neutrik's jack.  I think it should have the Nut securing it to the front panel.

 

http://www.neutrik.com/us/en/audio/204_256671/M-Line_productlist.aspx

 

This would lock it into position.  I'm thinking that would make ALL plugs work perfectly with it.  Most work fine, but the jack does move a little with each cycle.  I need to shoot some PIX so you guys understand what I'm referring to.  I decided not to do it today because I thought the jack issue was done.

i wonder if Kingwa would install one for me when i order my Sparrow. although i think you mentioned the front face plate would have to be changed??

The front panel may only need the hole drilled out a little.  No big deal.

Quote:

Originally Posted by movi 

i wonder if Kingwa would install one for me when i order my Sparrow. although i think you mentioned the front face plate would have to be changed??

I tend to leave the adapter in the unit. Not the ideal solution but it may help.

I suppose this post is redundant with the NFB series being released but I'll write it anyway. (Comparison with the NFB-11 would be interesting though I don't think I'd buy a direct replacement.) This is for the most part impressions, not a detailed or controlled A/B session.

First off, impressions at power on, no comparisons, just the Sparrow (version B, AD1852, upgraded ALPS potentiometer). Setup: USB, Senn PX100 (what was to hand), Dave Brubeck, Time In.
The instruments all sounded natural, by which I mean believable. Each instrument had a separate identity, none masked another. I suppose this attests to the tonal balance and soundstage/imaging of the Sparrow. There was a good weight to the bass and it wasn't flabby or overbearing. Cymbals (hi-hats?) were clear and the cut-off was good. My initial thought after reading that the WM8741 should be smoother was, 'why would I want it to be smoother, this isn't harsh?' This may be due to the PX100.

The balance of instruments on some tracks sounded different to how I remember them (okay, technically that's a comparison but it's not in an analytical context, I'm not intending to use a reference). At the time I made notes about trumpets sounding recessed and violins not being particularly bright (the trumpets were probably on Katie Melua tracks, Crawling Up A Hill and On The Road Again, violins, can't remember). A few things could be happening here: i) infamous burn-in, I won't go there; ii) tonal balance is different; iii) more dynamics are being presented/that's really what's on the track. I don't know if the comment about dynamics even makes sense! I must listen again to these tracks.

In short, instruments and tracks had their own identity, so I was happy and confident that the Sparrow is reasonably transparent. The PX100 are a little dark IMO, so the neutrality of the Sparrow remains to be heard. I did experience some listening fatigue at the end of the session which led me to think the WM8740 (original) may be a good choice for long sessions but the fatigue was no worse than I've had with anything else.

Further comments are a mix of indirect comparisons (i.e. how I expect tracks to sound based on listening to them a lot with various equipment, e.g. Compass, CDPs, soundcards) and direct comparisons with lower league equipment [than the Sparrow]. Here, I don't intend to take the Sparrow in isolation, on its own merits. I added in the Senn HD497 too (clearer and punchier than PX100).
People have said that the treble on the AD chip can be a bit too much. Ironically, some tracks to me seem less harsh, which I take to mean that the DAC is more accurate than I'm used to or the HP are being driven better. I've also heard some distortion on a track that I've never previously noticed. I believe it to really be on the track, so the Sparrow is more revealing. I threw Jools Holland's Honey Dripper (Parts 2,3) at the Sparrow. For those who don't know it (almost everyone I suspect!) this is a complex piece with a lot of percussion and trios of instruments playing counter melodies. I don't remember it sounding this good. The instruments are realistic and have better definition from each other. The ensemble sounds more cohesive than it ever has; somehow the timing of each instrument/phrase is better. Is this the soundstage? The imaging is wider, there's more detail and the balance of instruments is better. In short, IMO a more correct musical message is getting through. I think listening to something complex has emphasised this.

I've also used the Beyer DT931 though not for critical listening. I don't think I learned anything about the Sparrow here, expect the change of sound signature again attests to its transparency, though it would be pretty bad if the signature wasn't different with these cans! Good clear dialogue for films with this combination.

Comparisons with the Compass are unfortunately from memory. I believe the Sparrow to be more neutral/transparent than the Compass with Earth. Whether this is due to the chips or ACSS I can't say. I could be way off base here, since the Sparrow amp should be fine but I have an inkling the Compass amp may be a bit more powerful and maybe the noise floor is better? Take that with a mountain of salt.

A final couple of comments. I do occasionally get pops when using the USB. This could well be the laptop. All I can say is that the Compass never did this (on a different laptop). Fortunately the new laptop has optical out, where all is fine. However, I'd be miffed at buying an external DAC to overcome the internal interference off a soundcard, only to find sound from the external device wasn't clean. Also, with high sensitivity, low impedance HP, the channel imbalance (on the upgraded potentiometer) is just about still there for low-medium volume listening.

These are minor gripes about an overall impressive little device. At some point I will try the WM8741.

Happy listening.

i had it all figured out and then i found out about the NFB. so now i have to research again. sparrow vs. NFB would be very interesting...

I'd just like to post my funny combination: Sparrow WM8741 with Beyerdynamic Tesla T1. They sound ridiculously good on the Sparrow, and even though they are 600-Ohm, the volume still doesn't ever go past 11 o'clock. No shortage of bass, wide as hell soundstage (wider than any other headphone I've heard), and great seperation. So if you were ever curious about DT 880 600-Ohm on the Sparrow, I'd say go for it.  It might just be my ignorance / lack of access to better equipment to see the differences, but I see very little flaw in the representation of the T1s on the Sparrow.

Cool, I didn't know the sparrow had the power to drive the 600ohm beasts.