V-MODA VAMP: DEVELOPMENT/REVIEWS/PICS/ETC - Page 44

It looks like VERZA is finally officially released. MSRP is $600. The question is, what's going to happen to us now?

If I recall correctly, last year when V-MODA first released the original VAMP, Val reassured us (many of whom were questioning if VAMP is future-proof) by saying that VAMP owners will get special upgrade offers for VERZA if it becomes available in the future. Well, that future has finally come.

I've been really eyeing the VERZA for months, but now that it's finally out, I'm kinda worried whether Val will keep the end of his bargain. Instead of buying a new VERZA for $600 just like everyone else and tossing away our old VAMP, what if we could return VAMP and have it upgraded to VERZA at extra cost?

Of course, from my experience, no one here in Head-Fi cares more about customer service and satisfaction than Val does. I hope he won't disappoint us this time.

Very true, and I hope that the VERZA will not have firmware issues with the iPhone 4/4S like my VAMP.  I just put my order in and we will see.  Maybe I will get an discount later since now I have both?

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrSheep 

Very true, and I hope that the VERZA will not have firmware issues with the iPhone 4/4S like my VAMP.  I just put my order in and we will see.  Maybe I will get an discount later since now I have both?

I'm not putting any orders until Val or V-MODA confirms discount or upgrade offer or whatever. I'm in no hurry yet, so I'll wait and see.

Quote:

Originally Posted by songmic 

 

I'm not putting any orders until Val or V-MODA confirms discount or upgrade offer or whatever. I'm in no hurry yet, so I'll wait and see.

+1 I would be shocked and highly disappointed if Val didn't show his appreciation to those of us who put faith in his groundbreaking products.  I would feel better if V-Moda customer service didn't tell me they knew nothing about a Vamp upgrade program and to ask Val......

Ultimately, I am confident Val will do right by us.

Can anyone tell me how the volume control works with the vamp?  When connected are you still able to control the volume from the phone or does it completely go to the vamp?  With an EQ music app like Equalizer or Sonicmax do the EQ controls still work?  

Quote:

Originally Posted by kessomatt 

Can anyone tell me how the volume control works with the vamp?  When connected are you still able to control the volume from the phone or does it completely go to the vamp?  With an EQ music app like Equalizer or Sonicmax do the EQ controls still work?  

If you have the VAMP on and have your phones plugged into the VAMP's port, then the volume can only be controlled by the VAMP (volume on iPhone does nothing).  However, no matter whether the VAMP is on or off, if you plugged your phones back to the iPhone 4/4S port, then the iPhone regain control of the volume.  I just tested my VAMP with SonicMax Pro, and the volume works no matter what port you use or mode the VAMP is in.  I don't use SonicMax anymore as the VAMP does a better job on the sound for me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrSheep 

If you have the VAMP on and have your phones plugged into the VAMP's port, then the volume can only be controlled by the VAMP (volume on iPhone does nothing).  However, no matter whether the VAMP is on or off, if you plugged your phones back to the iPhone 4/4S port, then the iPhone regain control of the volume.  I just tested my VAMP with SonicMax Pro, and the volume works no matter what port you use or mode the VAMP is in.  I don't use SonicMax anymore as the VAMP does a better job on the sound for me.

So I assume the eq controls work also on Sonicmax correct?  That's odd that you can control the volume from the non stock app.  If you turn the volume all the way down in sonicmax would that be considered neutral or do you have to leave it at the halfway point?

Quote:

Originally Posted by kessomatt 

So I assume the eq controls work also on Sonicmax correct?  That's odd that you can control the volume from the non stock app.  If you turn the volume all the way down in sonicmax would that be considered neutral or do you have to leave it at the halfway point?

Not quite sure but I have mine at a quarter.  The only neutral sound I found with the app is with BBE off.  My default iPhone music volume is a hair less than half and my VAMP at 30-40%.

Ok I didn't even know I got my VERZA until now, and from order to my place only took three and a half days!  Here my quick unboxing of the white/orange version, but review will have to wait as the battery is completely dead.

Box of VAMP and VERZA

Open box

QuiqCard removed

Content

VERZA in pearl white and metallic orange

Back of QuiqCard for settings

Over all the VERZA is slightly bigger than the VAMP but only about 3/5 as thick.  The gray "X" part is of semi-soft plastic like the black part from the VAMP.

Ok I charged my VERZA and here is my first test drive of it with my iPod Touch 5th Gen with the M-100.  All I have to say is WOW, if the iPhone 4/4S with VAMP was great, than this new VERZA just takes the M-100 to a whole new level.  Listening to AKB48's "1830m" with the VERZA at 1/3 volume gives a much stronger base than normal, with the highs and mids remain quite clear.  EQ mode bring the sounds even more base, and EQ + 3D is just too much for me.  As of now I do prefer the sound of my old VAMP as it is more even sounding, however, the overall package and everything else the VERZA trumps the VAMP.  If I have to pick I think I would like the VERZA better, and given time I might grow custom to its sound.  Note that I definitely like the volume control on the VERZA better, as it is more solid (my VAMP's knob is a bit loose) AND you can turn your VERZA completely off with it without touching the toggle controls.  It will be my perfect setup if Val and V-MODA release more Metallo cases so I can retire those (given very nice) rubber bands.  Releasing a 90 degree angled cable for Apple Lightning connection, like what VentureCraft did, would be great too (naturally since the VERZA was derived from the GO-DAP X).

Test Setup

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrSheep 

Ok I charged my VERZA and here is my first test drive of it with my iPod Touch 5th Gen with the M-100.  All I have to say is WOW, if the iPhone 4/4S with VAMP was great, than this new VERZA just takes the M-100 to a whole new level.  Listening to AKB48's "1830m" with the VERZA at 1/3 volume gives a much stronger base than normal, with the highs and mids remain quite clear.  EQ mode bring the sounds even more base, and EQ + 3D is just too much for me.  As of now I do prefer the sound of my old VAMP as it is more even sounding, however, the overall package and everything else the VERZA trumps the VAMP.  If I have to pick I think I would like the VERZA better, and given time I might grow custom to its sound.  Note that I definitely like the volume control on the VERZA better, as it is more solid (my VAMP's knob is a bit loose) AND you can turn your VERZA completely off with it without touching the toggle controls.  It will be my perfect setup if Val and V-MODA release more Metallo cases so I can retire those (given very nice) rubber bands.  Releasing a 90 degree angled cable for Apple Lightning connection, like what VentureCraft did, would be great too (naturally since the VERZA was derived from the GO-DAP X).

 

Test Setup

 

I'm confused with your setup. That's an iPhone 5 with a Lightning to 30-pin adapter? Then you're using the old 30-pin to USB cable? I thought those Lighting to 30-pin adapters have a Wolfson DAC in them?

P.S. I think your post is more appropriate in the VERZA thread instead ;-)?

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnakChan 

 

I'm confused with your setup. That's an iPhone 5 with a Lightning to 30-pin adapter? Then you're using the old 30-pin to USB cable? I thought those Lighting to 30-pin adapters have a Wolfson DAC in them?

 

P.S. I think your post is more appropriate in the VERZA thread instead ;-)?

Sorry wrong trend, but it is a iPod Touch 5th Gen and NOT a iPhone 5.  However it does use the new 9 pin Lightning.  I doubt that the adapter itself has a DAC in them, but I do know it has some kind of ID chip which makes 3rd party cables and adapters difficult to make.  I will post this to the VERZA trend.

Originally Posted by DrSheep 

Sorry wrong trend, but it is a iPod Touch 5th Gen and NOT a iPhone 5.  However it does use the new 9 pin Lightning.  I doubt that the adapter itself has a DAC in them, but I do know it has some kind of ID chip which makes 3rd party cables and adapters difficult to make.  I will post this to the VERZA trend.

It does. It uses a Wolfson 8533 DAC :-

http://www.chipworks.com/blog/recentteardowns/2012/10/18/inside-the-apple-lightning-to-30-pin-adapter/

Quote:

Originally Posted by shotgunshane 

The lightning to 30 pin adapter is confirmed to have a wolfson dac. It also supports digital out bypassing said dac if the connected device is apple certified. Or you could have DHC mod a regular lightning cable to be as small as you need and skip the bulk of the 30 pin adapter being in the middle.

 

That's interesting. So the lighting to 30-pin is somewhat more versatile in that you could choose between analogue lineout or digital. Kinda weird using it for digital though 'cos you're bypassing the iDevice's Cirrus Logic, and the adapter's Wolfson 8533. But good to know that you could if you wanted to.

I thought digital out had only one option with the Lighting->microUSB adapter only.

Quote:

Originally Posted by shotgunshane 

The lightning to 30 pin adapter is confirmed to have a wolfson dac. It also supports digital out bypassing said dac if the connected device is apple certified. Or you could have DHC mod a regular lightning cable to be as small as you need and skip the bulk of the 30 pin adapter being in the middle.

Thanks and I just learn something new.  I did another quick test of the VERZA with my iPhone 4S and found it sounding the same compare to my iPod Touch 5th Gen, so I guess you are right that the adapter is bypassing the Wolfson or else they would have sounded different.