Pico Slim first impressions and reviews thread. See p31 onwards for a couple of solid reviews +... - Page 32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nebby 

Label on mine says 100V - 240V
 

 

Thanks much Nebby ..

I finally received my Pico Slim back on 2 June.

After spending a little bit of time with mine for the past week, I would like to share some of my impressions of the unit.

The unit is very small (as expected), and is very nicely built. It feels very solid in my hand. The volume knob seems to be of a lesser quality, but I don’t think it will break too easily. Plus, mine has lifetime warranty. So, I am not worried about it. Like a few others have reported, mine also had one noticeable scratch on it (along with some really fine lines running along the length of the unit). As I had posted in an earlier post, I suggested using a product called Cape Cod Polishing Cloth to remove the scratch. Well, that’s exactly what I did.

Before.

After.

As you can see, the scratch is completely gone, and all it took was two to three minutes of rubbing and buffing. If scratches on the unit bother you, I strongly suggest using Cape Cod Polishing Cloth to remove them (But do so at your own risk, since I do not know how well the words on the unit are printed (?). So, please be careful not to rub on the printings too much.). I noticed the part where I had polished is looking better than the rest of the body, because the fine lines that I had mentioned earlier are pretty much gone along with the scratch. When I have time, I am going to polish the entire unit.

The rig that I use with the Pico Slim is the iPod Touch 3G through LOD (Null Audio’s Chromeline), and the JH13 with 64” TWag Elite cable. When comparing to just iPod Touch 3G hp out, the sound is warmer and the bass is punchier, cleaner, and deeper. If I have to quantify it, I would say around 5% more in each category. When comparing to iBasso D3 Python (DAC/Amp combo), I would say the sound too is a ted warmer, and the bass is punchier, cleaner, and deeper. However, the increase is dropped to about 3% or so. As for the highs and the mids, I would say there is not that much of a difference between the Slim and the D3 (the D3’s high is just a bit brighter, but not by much).

One thing that worried me was the reported RF issue with the Slim. Coming from the D3, it was one issue that REALLY bothered me. Well, I am happy to report that the RF issue with my Slim does not bother me at all. So far, I have only gotten buzzing sounds a handful of times, but the buzzing volume is much lower than the music volume. The D3, on the other hand, is a different story. The buzzing sound is so loud that I cannot listen to it without first turning off my BlackBerry Curve.

What I do not like about the Slim is the thump you get when you turn it on, and the noise you get when you turn the unit off. Nevertheless, the Slim more than makes up for these annoyances in other areas: great channel balance/detail even at low volumes and great digital volume control.

To give people some idea, my listening volume range on the Slim is between 10:00 and 11:30 (11:00 being my usual setting)—anything outside of that range is either too low or too high. For example, 12:00 is too loud for me even with CDs that I consider to be “quiet” ones. By the way, I can hear sounds beginning at the 07:00 position. For me, however, practical listening volume does not start until the 10:00 mark. When I listen straight out of the iPod Touch 3G’s hp out, my range is between 3 to 5 clicks from zero. For most albums, 4 clicks is my normal listening volume.

In conclusion, I think the Pico Slim is very enjoyable, not to mention extremely portable. As time pass, I think I will be able to forget about the painful wait time and the below par communication from Justin. Don’t get me wrong though, I do understand Justin is a one-man band. Anyway, if I buy something from Justin again in the future, I will know exactly what to expect communication-wise.

no problem, its been neglected a bit this week as i've been working on building my home rig and portabuffalo. but once ive had a bit more head time i'll do a bit more detailed review, perhaps with a more fair comparison, straight out of the modded D10 HP out and sabre LO to test resolving power. JH3a seems to have stolen the show a bit, or have there just not been any more arrivals?

Now that Qusp has his unit, I'm sure you are all missing his 'where's mine' rants.

I'll keep you need for these messages satisfied.  I've been calm and quiet but now . . .

WHERE'S MINE?  It's been ages since I ordered and ages since you said it was shipped.  I only live halfway around the world and even the milkman gets here before 7am everyday.  Could a tracking number be sent? Could other customers who have reported on how good this amp is hold back on the gushing thoughts until mine arrives?

Regards (tongue in cheek)

Sceptre

hmm, not sure what half way around the world has to do with it these days, but sure i've still got a few more rants in me if they are missed?? ;) it is fairly clear that the amp was not shipped until 3 weeks after the shipping notice ;) see there you go thats about all i've got in me. disappointed?? maybe i'll have another go tomorrow

lol, the post, although real info was more joke than anything, I wont be back tomorrow with another rant ;) just wired up the transformers in my dac, so have a proper single ended output as well as the balanced (rather than just half the balanced out referenced to ground), so can give more impressions there. I really dont use my DIYMOD much anymore, so iphone, D10 and sabre will have to do. sabre isnt really relevant to normal usage, but will help give some idea of resolving power. will get to it asap as there doesnt seem to be too many people willing to give impressions

Quote Hotdoggie:

"To give people some idea, my listening volume range on the Slim is between 10:00 and 11:30 (11:00 being my usual setting)—anything outside of that range is either too low or too high. For example, 12:00 is too loud for me even with CDs that I consider to be “quiet” ones. By the way, I can hear sounds beginning at the 07:00 position. For me, however, practical listening volume does not start until the 10:00 mark. When I listen straight out of the iPod Touch 3G’s hp out, my range is between 3 to 5 clicks from zero. For most albums, 4 clicks is my normal listening volume."

Well, i must say im a bit intrigued here... is it "normal" that i only hear any sound around 12:00 on the volume knob?

(was this question so dumb as it seems?)

Source: iPod Touch and almost all the library is ALAC or 320 kbps.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vitor Teixeira 

 

Quote Hotdoggie:

"To give people some idea, my listening volume range on the Slim is between 10:00 and 11:30 (11:00 being my usual setting)—anything outside of that range is either too low or too high. For example, 12:00 is too loud for me even with CDs that I consider to be “quiet” ones. By the way, I can hear sounds beginning at the 07:00 position. For me, however, practical listening volume does not start until the 10:00 mark. When I listen straight out of the iPod Touch 3G’s hp out, my range is between 3 to 5 clicks from zero. For most albums, 4 clicks is my normal listening volume."

 

 

Well, i must say im a bit intrigued here... is it "normal" that i only hear any sound around 12:00 on the volume knob?

(was this question so dumb as it seems?)

Source: iPod Touch and almost all the library is ALAC or 320 kbps.

1. What headphones are you using? Besides my JH13, I also have IE8, SE530 and IE-30. However, I have not paired them with the Slim yet, so I don't know if they would require a higher volume setting then the JH13s.

2. When you listen to your iPod Touch (hp out), what is your most used (default) volume setting for most albums?

3. Is your iPod Touch's volume limit turned on? (mine is off)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hotdoggie 

1. What headphones are you using? Besides my JH13, I also have IE8, SE530 and IE-30. However, I have not paired them with the Slim yet, so I don't know if they would require a higher volume setting then the JH13s.

2. When you listen to your iPod Touch (hp out), what is your most used (default) volume setting for most albums?

3. Is your iPod Touch's volume limit turned on? (mine is off)

1. I used it with Klipsch X10 and Yuin PK 1

2. Around 02:00

3. On and off doesn't make any difference

1. Sorry, I don't have either of those.

2. Wow, that's even lower than my listening volume on the Touch (BTW, which gen Touch are you using? I still have my 1st gen, but not the 2nd gen).

I guess it really just comes down to the pairing of your source, headphones, cables, etc. Just curious, what's the highest setting that you find comfortable listening to on your Slim?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vitor Teixeira 

 

 

1. I used it with Klipsch X10 and Yuin PK 1

2. Around 02:00

3. On and off doesn't make any difference

 

I listened to my ipod + slim + er-4s combo on my flight to California and it was quite an enjoyable experience. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hotdoggie 

1. Sorry, I don't have either of those.

2. Wow, that's even lower than my listening volume on the Touch (BTW, which gen Touch are you using? I still have my 1st gen, but not the 2nd gen).

 

I guess it really just comes down to the pairing of your source, headphones, cables, etc. Just curious, what's the highest setting that you find comfortable listening to on your Slim?

 

It's 14:00, not 02:00. I'm using iPod Touch 2G.