The Basshead's buyers guide! - Page 6  

That's why they are going to change the name for the second version. :p Cuz it's not only for bassheads, you have to capability to get any kind of bass strength you could ever possibly want but you can also listen at the flat/1st level where it doesn't boost the bass at all but still offers lots of improvements especially for $100.

Quote:

Originally Posted by slapshot30 

Haha I can not even imagine using the ZO with some XB500's, talk about an intense head massage. That would be very interesting if it could change neutral headphones like that though. It could open up new doors for listeners. Not sure what person here we could have try it out though, I don't know what neutral listener is going to want to try something with "portable subwoofer" in it's title .

I might eventually have to get a ZO to see how they pair with the Pro 900. Perhaps it will become my own personal brain massager

That ZO is just another portable amp with an apparently good sounding bass-boost in it.

I wouldn't get too excited and start ordering them to use at home.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kiteki 

That ZO is just another portable amp with an apparently good sounding bass-boost in it.

 

I wouldn't get too excited and start ordering them to use at home.

How about you read on what it does, and on experience from people who actually used it, instead of just badmouthing it?

Ok, reading......

"you usually find mentioned in the description of the professional $6000 Massenburg Model 8900 controller and similar"

holy crap and it's only $70 I better go buy one.

I use mine only at home at my desktop comp and bought an USB to AC power adapter for it so I don't have to worry about recharging (usb port would give me static). This is not the same as any amp with bassboost, the way it does it is different (probably unique for now).

Quote:

Originally Posted by kiteki 

Ok, reading......

 

"you usually find mentioned in the description of the professional $6000 Massenburg Model 8900 controller and similar"

 

holy crap and it's only $70 I better go buy one.

Wow, I'm sorry, I didn't know your sarcasm equated a professional and concise opinion. Now I won't get one I'm more inclined to believe on people here that had a vast experience with different gear from all tiers.

Talk from where the sun doesn't shine really makes for poor thoughts, lol.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kiteki 

Ok, reading......

 

"you usually find mentioned in the description of the professional $6000 Massenburg Model 8900 controller and similar"

 

holy crap and it's only $70 I better go buy one.

The ZO has been said to trump even the Cowon in what it can bring in bass impact. If it can really do that, then it may be the #1 basshead accessory. My only problem with it is the deal with double amping. I am really reluctant to double amp even if I can simulate a line out level. It wouldn't be the same as an actual line out.

Not all bassheads want V-shaped frequency response. For me it's like take LCD-2 apply 6~9dB or so to bass, ~3dB or so to mids and leave the highs alone (or maybe 1~2dB boost tops). :p I listen to electronica mostly, not dubstep but hardstyle and trance, don't know why I'd need to hear those sparkly trebles I don't hear in real life either as I find many headphones to sound brighter than real-life, LCD-2 is somewhere on the border regarding that, neither too bright or dark.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roller 

Wow, I'm sorry, I didn't know your sarcasm equated a professional and concise opinion.

Yes I'm a sarcastic fairy, recommending people not to get too excited about portable amps, at least not for home usage.

How does that dynamic range expander work with music that's already brickwalled?  

Quote:

Originally Posted by kiteki 

 

 

Yes I'm a sarcastic fairy, recommending people not to get too excited about portable amps, at least not for home usage.

 

People don't use ZO primarily as an amp.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wind016 

The ZO has been said to trump even the Cowon in what it can bring in bass impact. If it can really do that, then it may be the #1 basshead accessory. My only problem with it is the deal with double amping. I am really reluctant to double amp even if I can simulate a line out level. It wouldn't be the same as an actual line out.

Exactly, it doesn't have a volume control, and you feed it from HO, not LO, that should say enough in itself that you won't get a clean sound signature from it, and it will be dependant on the source you are using.

I'm not a fan of the Cowon sound, so I feel fairly confident I'm not interested in something that will only slightly trump the Cowon, when I didn't like it in the first place, subjective or not, that should make perfect sense =)  For example I bought an old Sony Discman the other day that has a dedicated chip to enhance the bass performance, to my ears it sounds better than any software algorithm I've heard on a portable DAP, not sure if the Zo is using software or chips but yeah... 

Here's some more quotes from the 'Zo' review:

"BBE, SRS, Samsung DNSe, Sony DSSE, Creative Xmod, and dozens of others – but once you heard the ZO you likely won’t settle for less anymore."

"Until now Cowon’s BBE and Mach3Bass have been the cream of the crop to my ears"

"What makes the ZO special is that it can recover up to 20dB of dynamic gain. Dynamic gain is something you usually find mentioned in the description of the professional $6000 Massenburg Model 8900 controller and similar".

he also recently wrote: "Westone 4 sounds identical to the Phonak PFE, with ultra-nano-tiny differences"

You can either get the 'Zo' and a Phonak, and think you're listening to a $400 quad-BA driver coupled with a $6000 messerschmit, or you can put your dark hype sunglasses on and look for real sound quality instead

And for the record I do like trance and hardstyle music, so I'm not just here to say "how dare you distort my classical"