[CareyPrice31]

For those who have the AK100 or AKMK2 - turn on Pro EQ. Let me know what you think.

 

[Mython]

Those of you having trouble finding the Japanese black triangle release of pink floyd's DSOTM, I can assure you it's out on the net, unfortunately I can't say more.

 
 
I understand the subtext of what you said, above (

), but for anyone looking to obtain the CD, it is available secondhand, but it ain't cheap. For example...
 
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/PINK-FLOYD-DARK-SIDE-MOON-1973-JAPAN-CD-W-OBI-CP35-3017-1A3-/121874252023?hash=item1c604580f7
 
Incidentally, considering my head-fi name, see if you can guess why I like DSOTM:
 

"Pink Floyd were such Python fans that they used some of the money they made from the initial success of the album to help fund Monty Python's 'The Holy Grail' film"

 
 
 
 

---

 
 
 
Quote:

  When will the dap addon be out?

 
 
Probably approximately 6 months from now, but it takes time to develop such things, so no one can say exactly when

 
Hopefully, the plastic case should be available sooner than that, though.
 
 
.

 

[Antihippy]

The more I listen to the mojo and testing it, the more I think I'm grasping the subtleties of the way it renders sound. One of the more subtle ways is that it seems to take the "edginess" out of the notes and either cuts it out or let it decay more fully. I guess this is what people meant by digital sharpness vs analog warmth? Though the mojo is digital.

 

[Rob Watts]

That's Mojo unique strength in that it sounds very natural. The essential problem with digital is that it is a sampled signal but the original music signal is continuous. Mojo restores the continuous analogue signal in a fundamentally much more accurate way. Indeed this was the reason why Hugo was so successful; frankly two years ago I did not appreciate how sensitive the brain was to extremely small timing errors. It is these very subtle timing errors that is responsible for why conventional digital sounds so awful and unemotional. But it does take some time to appreciate how much of a musical leap forward Mojo is.
Rob.

 

[Mython]

Owing to Mojos reasonable pricing, it wouldn't surprise me if some fullsize-hi-fi nuts try to implement 2 or 3 of them (maybe even 4!) into a multi-channel set-up.
 
 
I found this recent post interesting:
 

   
If you are looking for a more sophisticated method of playing back your SACDs through the DAVE, here is a more elaborate (and more expensive) method but it works very well although you will need to own an Oppo BDP103.
 
http://www.jvbdigital.nl/jvb.asp?cur=2&level=sdi&page=title&title=924

 

[fjrabon]

Finally done writing my review/m9XX comparison:
 
Thanks to @purk for getting me the review unit for a two week test!
 
Testing was done with (in order of most tested with to least tested with): HiFiMan HE400i, Fostex THX00, Innateck Woody IEMs, Grado SR225e, Grado SR80e, HiFiMan Edition X, Audio Technica ESW9, Audio Technica AD700, Shure SRH840, Macaw GTS100, Denon D1001, Sennheiser HD650
 
Build quality is excellent.  The aluminum casing feels nearly indestructible.  Only worry would be damaging protruding control button spheres.  Runs a bit hot, probably due to its Class A circuit design.
Ability to charge and play at the same time is nice.  Multiple inputs are nice, multiple outputs are nice.
 
Would prefer having an aluminum bump for feet instead of the rubber glued on nipples, which I am almost certain would come off over time if using this as a portable.  The large choices of input types is nice, even though I personally only ever used USB, the options didn’t hinder and it’s nice to be able to connect through optical and coax if needed.  
 
Sounds most similar to the F2 on m9XX.  Though maybe slightly more F2 than F2, ie it does what F2 does to the m9XX, but even more.  Slightly further back soundstage placement than m9XX.  Believe this is a time domain effect more than a frequency response effect.  You also seem to move forward soundstage at higher volume levels.  
 
Overall though, I’m struck by how incredibly similar these two units sound.  I’d guess that in blind A/B testing virtually nobody could actually hear the difference.  I think the differences between the DAC filters on the m9XX are about as different as the m9XX and Mojo sound, which for anybody who has heard the m9XX’s different filters, you understand how incredibly subtle that difference is.  Both units are very neutral.  Both tread the thin line between resolution and musicality.  They don’t impart “false detail” the way some DAC units will, by over sharpening the “edges” to impress with detail levels that A) were never intended by the artist and B) are fatiguing over time.  Both fall the tiniest bit short of ultimate transparency and soundstage depth of truly TOTL units (my guess is that this has to do with the size of the units more than anything, bigger units have more space for physical release of heat).  Both are better than the vast, vast majority of gear out there in this price range, and better sounding than a good majority of stuff that costs much more.  
 
If you’re a “neutrality is boring” type of person, or a “I need to hear insane levels of detail that no artist/producer/engineer could have ever intended!”, then these aren’t the units for you.  These are very much “present the music as it should be presented, as transparently as possible, and then get out of the way” DAC/amp combo units.  
 
If I was forced to find a sonic difference, I’d say that maybe the Mojo is a tiny bit smoother, and that the m9XX is a tiny bit more transparent.  I think this maybe comes from the Mojo perhaps having an ever so slightly rounded impulse response, whereas the m9XX is a bit “sharper” in its impulse response.  But I’m definitely not sure about that.  Every time I thought “okay, I definitely hear it here” if I switched back and forth, they sounded virtually identical.  I’ve A/B’d a lot of amps and DACs in my time, and these may be the most similar sounding tow units I’ve ever compared one vs. the other.  I’ve heard two of the same model amps whose manufacturing variations differed more than these two do.  I suppose it shouldn’t be as surprising as it is.  They’re similarly spec’d units, made by well respected manufacturers, who both tune their amps and DACs to strive for the same things: musicality and transparency. And they focus on quality builds, rather than knocking you over with buzzwords and inflated spec sheets (though both units spec sheets do look impressive).  
 
The Mojo also seems to have a “temperature sweet spot” which is a few minutes after it has warmed up, but before it gets hot, and I mean “warm up” in the most literal sense.  The Mojo, I believe is a class A circuit, and as such, it can get hot.  Especially due to its size and lack of venting holes.  Normally this works okay enough, with the aluminum case radiating heat out effectively.  However, it can get pretty toasty (not like burn yourself levels though) if it’s charging and playing at the same time.  And when it gets to the upper ranges of its heat level, it does take a small step down in sound quality.  Things become just a touch less clear.  It’s not an obvious difference, and I may have not even noticed it if I wasn’t comparing head to head with the m9XX.  Whereas the two units were neck and neck in transparency and blackness of background most of the time, when the Mojo was charging, the m9XX took a small step forward.    When the Mojo gets hot like that, the m9XX becomes a much blacker, more transparent, and more spacious unit.  It’s not a difference that will annoy you on the Mojo, however, and it’s still more transparent and black than any tube amp.  But it’s a difference that’s there.  And since I’m struggling so mightily to find differences, it’s worth pointing out.  Also, it means I definitely wouldn’t charge and listen to the Mojo unless I really needed to.  It sounds better when it’s not simultaneously charging and playing.  
 
Speaking of the heat, it was actually kind of pleasant when I took the Mojo out to walk my dog while playing my iPhone (though the CCK) into the Mojo and then through my beloved $10 Innateck woody IEMs.  A very expensive hand warmer, haha.  Which brings me to the obvious advantage of the Mojo, its portability.  
 
I’ll start by saying that a fully portable amp isn’t something I’m generally interested in.  When I’m fully portable, I’m not really doing critical listening, and I find that I tend to prefer the simplicity of playing straight out of the headphone jack of my iPhone, as opposed to using a portable amp.  Perhaps if I flew more or spent more time in hotel rooms.  But as is, where most of my portable listening is while walking, and most of my other listening is at my work desk or at home in a chair, I don’t really need portable.  
 
However, I realize that some people, for various reasons want and/or need fully portable amps.  So, while I ultimately find the Mojo too small for me to really like it, that is a pro for most who would be interested in it.  I do, however, find the button style odd for a portable, as they’re very easy to accidentally bump up while in a pocket as a “rubber band stack.”
 
I also hate the buttons.  I know some people like them.  I don’t.  I find the volume button integration awkward at best.  Not a fan:

• Colors aren’t super intuitive compared to a knob.  And I was a photographer who is very familiar with the color spectrum
• Difficult to be certain when you’re pressing the volume buttons down, very little tactile feedback
• why do the balls roll?  Intuitively this makes me want to scroll to adjust the volume
• with no markings it isn’t always immediately obvious which button to press for “up” when the logo is facing me, the controls are actually reversed from normal (down left, up right)
• can dim the lights, but can’t give them a time delay turn off?  I don’t constantly need this stupid red light staring back at me.
• buttons are very sensitive and easy to turn up and down on accident, especially if you’re using it as an ultra-portable and have it in a pocket, which defeats the whole purpose (assumed purpose at least) of not having a volume knob.
• makes matching volume levels on a consistent basis tedious, if not impossible, especially from one day to the next

 
Overall, if somebody was asking for a portable amp recommendation, Mojo would be the hands down, clear cut “this is your absolute best option” recommendation.  It is voiced so well, so neutral and so natural.  It’s not the final word on soundstage or resolution, compared to TOTL desktop units, but it’s no slouch there.  And it’s just so dang pleasant to listen to, for short stretches or marathon sessions.  I wouldn’t recommend it as a desktop non portable solution, as I think the m9XX is better suited for that usage.  Ultimately which you should go for should mostly be based on usage scenario, rather than sound quality.  Sound quality the two units are so close.  If you’re going to be at a desk, but still need to regularly move it, or need a smaller footprint, m9XX is the clear answer.  If you need a truly portable amp, Mojo is the clear answer.
 
I was honestly sad to send my unit back, I liked it a lot.  But ultimately it's just not a form factor I personally need, otherwise I wouldn't hesitate to put the money down.

 

[GreenBow]

That's Mojo unique strength in that it sounds very natural. The essential problem with digital is that it is a sampled signal but the original music signal is continuous. Mojo restores the continuous analogue signal in a fundamentally much more accurate way. Indeed this was the reason why Hugo was so successful; frankly two years ago I did not appreciate how sensitive the brain was to extremely small timing errors. It is these very subtle timing errors that is responsible for why conventional digital sounds so awful and unemotional. But it does take some time to appreciate how much of a musical leap forward Mojo is.
Rob.

I think so too, that it's incredible how articulate human hearing is. Take a 20KHz signal; it means hearing can detect pulses every 1/20,000 of a second. On top of that it can detect and send information to the brain about the phase of the sound wave.
 
Hardly surprising then a timing error or a few error bits, make a difference.

 

[Ike1985]

Here are my results from using a more powerful 12w(5.2V 2.4A) official Apple USB charger as suggested by Moon Audio.
 
Gear used w/Mojo: ADEL A12 CIEMs + Iphone5 via CCK
Music: Bandcamp streaming
LED setting: Bright
Volume Level: ~90% of the time 3 red lights
 
The Test:
I used Mojo until it died (Normally I charge at yellow but for the test I wanted to go: empty->full->empty), then immediately plugged it into the wall using 12w Apple charger + included Mojo cable.  Charged from 11:12AM-1:30PM w/LED showing correct color for charging, after 2 hrs 18 minutes the charging light went off and Mojo would not charge anymore. 
 
Test Results: (duration each light was on)
Blue: 10 Minutes
Green: 1 Hour 29 Minutes
Yellow: 16 Minutes
Red: 4 Minutes
Flashing Red: 2 Minutes
Temperature throughout test: Felt slightly warmer than body temperature, barely warm to the touch
 
Total time before Mojo died from full charge: 2 Hours 1 Minute
 
Conclusion:
Same battery life as the last test(last test = charged w/1A Apple block from empty), poor battery life.

 

[fjrabon]

  Here are my results from using a more powerful 12w(5.2V 2.4A) official Apple USB charger as suggested by Moon Audio.
 
Gear used w/Mojo: ADEL A12 CIEMs + Iphone5 via CCK
Music: Bandcamp streaming
LED setting: Bright
Volume Level: ~90% of the time 3 red lights
 
The Test:
I used Mojo until it died (Normally I charge at yellow but for the test I wanted to go: empty->full->empty), then immediately plugged it into the wall using 12w Apple charger + included Mojo cable.  Charged from 11:12AM-1:30PM w/LED showing correct color for charging, after 2 hrs 18 minutes the charging light went off and Mojo would not charge anymore. 
 
Test Results: (duration each light was on)
Blue: 10 Minutes
Green: 1 Hour 29 Minutes
Yellow: 16 Minutes
Red: 4 Minutes
Flashing Red: 2 Minutes
Temperature throughout test: Felt slightly warmer than body temperature, barely warm to the touch
 
Total time before Mojo died from full charge: 2 Hours 1 Minute
 
Conclusion:
Same battery life as the last test(last test = charged w/1A Apple block from empty), poor battery life.

yeah, something seems definitely wrong with your battery.  Two hours isn't usable.

 

[CareyPrice31]

That's Mojo unique strength in that it sounds very natural. The essential problem with digital is that it is a sampled signal but the original music signal is continuous. Mojo restores the continuous analogue signal in a fundamentally much more accurate way. Indeed this was the reason why Hugo was so successful; frankly two years ago I did not appreciate how sensitive the brain was to extremely small timing errors. It is these very subtle timing errors that is responsible for why conventional digital sounds so awful and unemotional. But it does take some time to appreciate how much of a musical leap forward Mojo is.
Rob.

 
Couldn't of said it better myself - this is why Chord Electronic changes the game. Building everything from ground up; your own technology, patents and design. Not lending off another manufacturers chips.

 

[Antihippy]

2 hours is definitely a defect. I would send it in for a replacement.

That's Mojo unique strength in that it sounds very natural. The essential problem with digital is that it is a sampled signal but the original music signal is continuous. Mojo restores the continuous analogue signal in a fundamentally much more accurate way. Indeed this was the reason why Hugo was so successful; frankly two years ago I did not appreciate how sensitive the brain was to extremely small timing errors. It is these very subtle timing errors that is responsible for why conventional digital sounds so awful and unemotional. But it does take some time to appreciate how much of a musical leap forward Mojo is.
Rob.

It's honestly why I think most pure BA iems or technically quick headphones never sounded right to me, because I've only heard a few that are able to properly render the decay of notes in a natural environment properly.

 

[Ike1985]

 
yeah, something seems definitely wrong with your battery.  Two hours isn't usable.

 
I'm no expert but one thing I notice that bothered me about the unit when I received it is that the data port(the port that transmits 1's and 2's to Mojo) is touching the black aluminum body, the port isn't centered in the space.  I have no idea whether this could leak electricity or affect it somehow.  I mentioned this off-centeredness way back in the thread when I first received my unit.

 

[wym2]

   
I'm no expert but one thing I notice that bothered me about the unit when I received it is that the data port(the port that transmits 1's and 2's to Mojo) is touching the black aluminum body, the port isn't centered in the space.  I have no idea whether this could leak electricity or affect it somehow.  I mentioned this off-centeredness way back in the thread when I first received my unit.

 
If you haven't already done so, hopefully a note to Drew with your charging results will result in him responding for you to return what may be a defective unit (it happens) for a quick fix or change out.

 

[Antihippy]

Just sounds like a defective battery. It happens.

 

[KowalskiFUT]

After some aditional research I narrowed my choice between Jays Q Jays, Obravo ERIB-5A and Flare R2S. Any thoughts?