[Mimouille]

Quote:

Hi Mimouille,
 
How do you compare the trio [AK120, HM901 and Tera]?  
 
I have the 1Plus2 and the Tera and interested in knowing how the AK120 & HM901 paired with the 1Plus2 (silver cable).
 
Cheers

I said maybe  because I have not heard the 901 at all. I am trusting KKCC on this.
 
I think the Tera pairs best with the SE5 then with the 1plus2 and the AK120 pairs best with the 1plus2 then with the SE5. The Tera has a more musical, organic, analog sound. With the 1Plus2 Tera and AK120 are quite close, but I think the AK120 (on 1.00 fw) is slightly better than Tera. I would not say it is worth getting the AK120 for the SQ. Because it is different and you might not find it better. In any case it is not much better.

 

[flymetothemoon]

Quote:

I said maybe  because I have not heard the 901 at all. I am trusting KKCC on this.
 
I think the Tera pairs best with the SE5 then with the 1plus2 and the AK120 pairs best with the 1plus2 then with the SE5. The Tera has a more musical, organic, analog sound. With the 1Plus2 Tera and AK120 are quite close, but I think the AK120 (on 1.00 fw) is slightly better than Tera. I would not say it is worth getting the AK120 for the SQ. Because it is different and you might not find it better. In any case it is not much better.

Thanks Mimouille.
 
Cheers

 

[kkcc]

Thanks Mimouille.

Cheers

I would say I find the 1+2 benefited more with the gold cable when paired with the 901 than AK120. I think this holds true also for uber with the brief demo I had. The better cables let the 901 and 1+2 really shines. You can feel the power AND refinement at the same time. AK120 with it less powerful output stage benefited less from the higher end cables. I observed the same on my tg334+twag v3 8wire paring.

 

[LarsHP]

Quote:

Anyone knows the output power of the balanced amp?

I got an answer from Head-Direct Customer Service via mail:
 
Quote:

For the low gain, it is 2.32 v (179 mw), for high gain, it is 3.91 v (477 mw)

That's actually more than the Balanced amp for HM-801.

 

[kkcc]

Quote:

I got an answer from Head-Direct Customer Service via mail:
 
Quote:

For the low gain, it is 2.32 v (179 mw), for high gain, it is 3.91 v (477 mw)
 

That's actually more than the Balanced amp for HM-801.

 
Thanks Lars!  This is even higher than I expected.  Was thinking around 2 for low gain and ~3 for high gain.  Wonder that is the output for the stock amp board....

 

[LarsHP]

Standard amp is 9 mW. Yes, it's nine milliwatts. That's what I was told by Head-Direct customer service. I couldn't believe it, but this was confirmed. In other words it's enough for sensitive IEMs, but not for anything semi-hard to drive.

 

[axl1]

The question is when we can buy it? When will it be on sale for international buyers?

 

[LarsHP]

Nobody knows for sure, but this is the answer I got from Head-Direct customer service on July 1st:
 
Quote:

Thank you for your interest in HM-901. It should be out soon in July.

 
This of course sounds promising, but we have been waiting for a year now so frankly I wouldn't be surprised if it gets further delayed. Domestic demand (in China) has alledgly taken what they can make in the production line, and this is supposedly the reason for hesitating bringing it to the international market.

 

[Poetic]

Quote:

Nobody knows for sure, but this is the answer I got from Head-Direct customer service on July 1st:
 
 
This of course sounds promising, but we have been waiting for a year now so frankly I wouldn't be surprised if it gets further delayed. Domestic demand (in China) has alledgly taken what they can make in the production line, and this is supposedly the reason for hesitating bringing it to the international market.

I wanted to get the 901 when I first heard it's release in march. and it kept delaying and delaying and delaying. So I just settled with the DX100 and it pairs excellent with my heaphones ^_^

 

[LarsHP]

I understand you. However, I have chosen to pull the Ace I have up my sleeve: my brother is in China and he will buy it for me

 

[axl1]

Quote:

I understand you. However, I have chosen to pull the Ace I have up my sleeve: my brother is in China and he will buy it for me

Where is the best place to buy HM901 in China?

 

[kkcc]

I wanted to get the 901 when I first heard it's release in march. and it kept delaying and delaying and delaying. So I just settled with the DX100 and it pairs excellent with my heaphones ^_^

I did the same, DX100, then AK100, then AK120, now finally got the 901 and it really doesn't disappoint (oh btw AK120 is also marvelous especially given the form factor)

 

[kkcc]

Where is the best place to buy HM901 in China?

I would recommend buying from their official taobao storefront for the best return/repair/aftersales service as you won't need to deal with the middleman.

 

[pekingduck]

x2 on buying from the official online store. It is a lot faster to deal with Hifiman's customer service personnel (i.e. provided you speak some Chinese). 
 
Quote:

I would recommend buying from their official taobao storefront for the best return/repair/aftersales service as you won't need to deal with the middleman.

 

[Mimouille]

Quote:

x2 on buying from the official online store. It is a lot faster to deal with Hifiman's customer service personnel (i.e. provided you speak some Chinese). 

I agree with that. But you need some Chinese indeed. And to be able to pay on taobao. More or less easy depending on the store.