[reddog]

The Alpha Primes are in my hands, just arrived today! They come in a nice package, not over the top like the PM-1's but I would rather spend the money on the headphones then a fancy wooden box anyway! Nothing against Oppo for this however. These Alpha Primes are extremely gorgeous and well built, when you first put them on you will notice how comfortable these things are instantly. I went with the 3.5mm jack on these ones to get me started, will most likely invest in the larger one very soon for use with my home system. The cable is well built, not one of those cables that will tangle and twist, thumbs up on that. I just plugged them into my Cypher Labs Therom 720 DAC/AMP and am listening to some EDM with lots of female vocals. These are AIFF files and are playing Crystal clear out of my MacBook Air into the Therom and into the Alphas. I know there will be some break in time but wow, out of the box the vocals are simply amazing! So perfect they sound, they are not to far forward or to far back, they just seem to be heard at the perfect spot, blended with the instruments. I am so pleased at the moment with this purchase! The bass OMG, I just put on one of my favourite bass tracks which is "Tracking Treasure Down Revisited feat. Molly Bancroft (Gabriel & Dresden ON Remix)", the beginning starts off with some bass sounds that are simply not heard with other headphones I own. Then at 5minutes in there is an amazing bass frequency in this track that the Alpha Primes handled with ease! Sounded like I was listening to my KEF LS 50's but in a headphone! They sound so open for a closed can, roomy if I can say that. Mr. Speakers claim that they hand tune the highs on each and every pair of Alpha Prime's for smoother response using 0,1,2, or 3 Blue Monkey Dots directly affixed to the driver, under the ear pad. They also include 4 additional dots should you want to tweak this further, In my opinion for what I am listening to they have nailed this, I do not see me needing to tweak this anytime soon if ever. There are points in some of my music were other headphones sound a little distorted, I have not yet heard any of this from these, it seems to play all the frequencies just superbly. 

Well done Dan, these may be the best cans I have ever owned or will ever own! WOW! Already a huge fan!

Thanks for sharing your impressions on the Alpha Prime's. I can not wait for my AD's to be upgraded. I am Jones in for my Dogs lol. My Beyerdynamic Dt 880 600 ohm headphones sound great, but do not beat the AD's sweet, sound.

 

[fzman]

Good to read all these positive impressions. Mine have just been shipped

I had some concerns about my V281 being overkill but I see Dan runs his out of a Cavalli amp

 
I've used the Icon HP8 Mk2, a Hifiman EF-6 and an Auralic Taurus, and even my iFi micro iDSD.  The Primes show the differenences between them all, and they are well worth the best source and amp,, cords, and power distribution you can use with them

 

[SteveloRCA]

Any of them. We know for sure from a post from CasperBXL as he is running the AK 100ii. 

 

[Tony1110]

I wouldn't have thought any of them TBH. I don't believe in driving full-sized headphones with portable players - although they're getting better and better. If I was hell-bent on using something portable with the Alpha Prime, I'd probably be looking at the Hi-Fi M8 or Hugo.

 

[Tony1110]

I've used the Icon HP8 Mk2, a Hifiman EF-6 and an Auralic Taurus, and even my iFi micro iDSD.  The Primes show the differenences between them all, and they are well worth the best source and amp,, cords, and power distribution you can use with them

That's good to know. Out of that lot, which did you like best?

 

[fzman]

That's good to know. Out of that lot, which did you like best?

 
I did not compare them to each other per se, and have made other running changes in that system as well.  that and the iDSD is phenomenal, especially for the money.....  What I am confident in saying is that the Primes are not the bottleneck with any of them, and that the Primes are excellent in all performance parameters, so that they allow each amp and dac to 'be itself', e.g. they don't prevent a system with excellent dynamics from being excellently dynamic, etc....
 
Hope that helps a bit.

 

[wahsmoh]

   
I did not compare them to each other per se, and have made other running changes in that system as well.  that and the iDSD is phenomenal, especially for the money.....  What I am confident in saying is that the Primes are not the bottleneck with any of them, and that the Primes are excellent in all performance parameters, so that they allow each amp and dac to 'be itself', e.g. they don't prevent a system with excellent dynamics from being excellently dynamic, etc....
 
Hope that helps a bit.

iDSD sounds like the best portable option if they drive the ADs or Primes with authority. Sadly I'll have to wait after my trip to Peru in January before I can spend anything more. I can live with the Alpha Dog's sound though for awhile

 

 

[aamefford]

For portable with the Alpha Dogs, I've used:
 
HIFI-M8 - Killer set up, for a portable.  Just to darned big for me.
 
iBasso PB2+ DB2 - also killer for a portable set up, and a bit more portable than the HIFI-M8.  I kinda wish I hadn't sold this rig.
 
HRC Microstreamer - Sounds nice, reaches a passable listening volume, doesn't get loud.  Not the best choice.  Stunning with iems and efficient phones though.
 
Oppo HA-2 beta unit.  So far, so good.  This is a beta unit, and the final sound and functionality are still variable.  That said, it sounds good, and drives the Alpha Dogs well.
 
Note that the above is with the Alpha Dogs, not the Primes.  I'm guessing here, but I think the results will extrapolate to the Primes.

 

[reddog]

For portable with the Alpha Dogs, I've used:

HIFI-M8 - Killer set up, for a portable.  Just to darned big for me.

iBasso PB2+ DB2 - also killer for a portable set up, and a bit more portable than the HIFI-M8.  I kinda wish I hadn't sold this rig.

HRC Microstreamer - Sounds nice, reaches a passable listening volume, doesn't get loud.  Not the best choice.  Stunning with iems and efficient phones though.

Oppo HA-2 beta unit.  So far, so good.  This is a beta unit, and the final sound and functionality are still variable.  That said, it sounds good, and drives the Alpha Dogs well.

Note that the above is with the Alpha Dogs, not the Primes.  I'm guessing here, but I think the results will extrapolate to the Primes.

Thanks for your recommendations on portable rigs for the Alpha Dogs. I am interested in the Ibasso PB2 + DB2 set up.

 

[sydneyaudio]

   
Where are you located in Sydney? You're more than welcome to hear my setup...

Thanks for the generous offer. Will see how I go with the XC before looking at the AP's.

 

[mrspeakers]

We've had a very good week for production and are now way ahead of schedule.  All orders placed through October will ship by tomorrow.  Thanks for the patience, everyone!  
 
I expect we will be in stock shortly, and we'll be doing units from the first upgrade batch tomorrow.  

 

[SteveloRCA]

OK, this is just stupid, I am listening to a Tiesto podcast on my Macbook Air through my Cypher Labs Therom 720 and have the new Alpha Primes plugged into the 720! I must say a Podcast has never sounded so good. These headphones are picking up sounds in the tracks that I have not heard with other headphones, I mean really this is stupid for a recording that is not that great a quality. These headphones are so enjoyable and the comfort, I think I could wear these all day! These are absolutely amazing when listening to higher quality tracks, but they make a podcast even sound good! Just saying!
 
Steve

 

[wahsmoh]

  OK, this is just stupid, I am listening to a Tiesto podcast on my Macbook Air through my Cypher Labs Therom 720 and have the new Alpha Primes plugged into the 720! I must say a Podcast has never sounded so good. These headphones are picking up sounds in the tracks that I have not heard with other headphones, I mean really this is stupid for a recording that is not that great a quality. These headphones are so enjoyable and the comfort, I think I could wear these all day! These are absolutely amazing when listening to higher quality tracks, but they make a podcast even sound good! Just saying!
 
Steve

I am still in awe by the way vocals are presented with the regular AD. Listening to Journey - "Who's Crying Now" from the Essential Journey CD1. Steve Perry's voice never sounded better and the YouTube clip doesn't do it justice.
 
The AD is a chameleon for music. I can go through all genres comfortably and get the same satisfaction. The AP refines what the AD has and takes the grain away from the treble and opens up the space for the music to travel. To me it sounds like thereis a void where the drivers once where and sound can now travel freely through the earcups, atleast that is what I took away from my comparison early this month.
 
 

 

[CasperBxl]

Hi All,
 
Disclaimer, I'm review my own Alpha Prime's. I got them delivered at the start of the week.
Nobody asked me anything ... so this is just me and opinion as a user. I'm no audiophile or specialist by any means.
 
The headset has been passed around the office, like I did for my FIIO X1 review.
 
 
A full review is to follow,
this is an attempt to help people select equipment for their new MrSpeakers Alpha Prime 

and to give a first feedback.
 
 
My first tests ... and they are sometimes a bit bewildering:
 
MrSpeakers Alpha Prime

1. with 3.5mm jack cable (and 6mm converter if needed)
2. with XLR balanced cable

 
 
DAP                   Astell & Kern AK100 II (new model)
DAP                   FIIO X1
DAP                   iPod Classic 160GB
DAC/AMP           Centrance HiFi M8 LX
DAC/AMP           FIIO E18
Phone                 Samsung Galaxy S5
PC Soundcard     ASUS Xonar Xense
 
 
Source Setup’s tested with the Alpha Prime:
Samsung Galaxy S5 (with PowerAmp and Viper V4 installed)
Astell & Kern AK 100 II
FIIO X1
iPod Classic
PC (Asus Xonar Xense)
 
Samsung Galaxy S5 (OTG) + FIIO E18
AK 100 II (optical) + Centrance M8 LX
FIIO X1 + E18 (analog, only AMP)
iPod Classic + E18 (analog, only AMP)
 
Gain and EQ:
FIIO E18: “gain; high”, “bass; off” for best result
Centrance HiFi M8: “gain; medium”, "bass; off", "treble; off" for best result
NO EQ set on any device, DAP or PC
 
 
First the obvious, sound levels with the combinations …. Does it push the Alpha Primes?
(

= happy,

= it works,

= not happy)
 

Source​	Volume (0-10)​	Bass​	Treble​	Quality​	Feels like​
Samsung Galaxy S5	7​	8​	9​	8​
AK 100 II	9​	9​	9​	10​
FIIO X1	9​	9​	9​	9​	Impressed​
iPod Classic	5​	8​	8​	8​	-
PC (Asus Xonar Xense)	10​	10​	10​	10​
	​	​	​	​	​
Samsung Galaxy S5 (OTG) + FIIO E18	10​	10​	10​	9​
AK 100 II (optical) + Centrance M8 LX	10​	10​	10​	10​
FIIO X1 + E18 (analog, only AMP)	10​	10​	10​	9​
iPod Classic + E18 (analog, only AMP)	10​	10​	10​	8​ (only lossy possible)​

 
 
In general, most sources shine more with additional amplification.
 
That said:
To get a high volume with the X1 and AK100 II I'm at about 80% - 90% of max volume.
They do still produce wonderful sound though!! No or not detectable deformation.
 
Both the X1 and the AK100 II gave good base, a solid and nice sounding base.
(Tested with Seasick Steve and Walking Man)
 
Discovery of the day; for the FIIO X1 I was amazed at the little bugger, it did fantastic, keeping in mind the device costs about the price of XLR cable for the Prime!!

 
 
Well, that will be all for today!!
I hope it can help some people ...
 
Ohhhh, almost forgot ... The Alpha Prime is FANTASTIC!!! 

 
 
Greetings from Belgium,
 
CasperBxl
 
 

 

[TheChillburger]

  We've had a very good week for production and are now way ahead of schedule.  All orders placed through October will ship by tomorrow.  Thanks for the patience, everyone!  
 
I expect we will be in stock shortly, and we'll be doing units from the first upgrade batch tomorrow.  

How is the updating process going along? I'm thinking about upgrading my Alpha Dog next year if the process is still offered (graduating from school and going full time should open up funds somewhat).