Quote:
Originally Posted by atx
It looks like he may be raising the price a little because of the upgraded capacitors. Good thing I'm in with the first batch !!
I think it's completely subjective. I've read several posts saying that tthe Supermacro is close to SR-71. I couldn't disagree more. The two amps are very different. The sr71 is completely neutral sounding-- it doesn't add warmth or brightness to the sound. Supermacro isn't neutral-- it adds its own characteristic to the sound depending on the configuration you chose (opamps, buffers, etc).
The reason for the sr71's "blackness" and clarity is due to its amazing control over the sound. Musical notes that come out seems to get sucked and disappear in just the right amount of time, so that you end up with a clearer image. Because of this clarity, different instruments then starts to separate themselves and you start noticing each instruments individually, rather than as a monolithic noise-making group.
The sr71 sounds "dry" because of this speed and blackness. The Supermacro doesn't have this dry characteristic. This isn't to say that the sr71 is better than the supermacro-- some people may not like the 'dry' sound of the sr71. But since the sr71 is neutral sounding, it pretty much works with most if not all headphones you plug into it. Whereas when I had the supermacro with the opa134 installed, it wasn't a good match with my sennheiser since it makes the sound much darker, losing detail.
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Preface: Sorry I'm still at work (1:50am EST!) and really exhausted. I'll do my best to relate some things about the Portaphile V2 (beta), and forgive me if my post isn't finely honed or terribly cohesive.
I'm in agreement with and can't improve on atx's comments above. Sorry in advance for the wordy post -- I'm trying to clarify here some of my impressions about three amps.
I haven't posted much about the Portaphile V2 lately because I've been listening to a couple of different beta versions of the Portaphile V2, and they are not final production versions -- they've been works in progress. The SM we had available at and since the Jan. 30 NYC meet at immtbiker's place (I've referred to that SM as "standard" in various threads) is slightly above standard, having 2xAD8610 and 2xBUF634 soldered on board. I have not as yet been able to audition the SM with all options and a range of opamps -- which I hope to be able to do reasonably soon, to hear what it's capable of, and I can only comment on this unit (I heard a different at the big November NYC meet and that had its own problems which I've heard were addressed immediately after). We've also heard the SM through a few sources and headphones and not through some of the popular ones discussed lately, such the various IEMs, Senns...
Neither the SM nor the Portaphile V2 is "close to the SR-71" IMO. To my ears, the SR-71 is the best portable available to date and in certain respects no other portable comes close. I won't go much farther until I've gotten hold of a maxed-out SM with a wide range of opamps, as well as a few other amps I'm waiting for. I will say I feel that the SR-71 is unparalleled in superfine detail, nuances, subtle overtones and harmonics, low-level dynamics, "air", beautifully balanced/integrated left-to-right soundstage front, placement and definition of performers, timbral "rightness", frequency spectrum that's smooth and balanced from top to bottom, speed and intricacy (it doesn't miss a lick, so to speak). And of course the build, finish and feel makes it the Bentley of mini amps (for lack of a better analogy at the moment). I have experienced the highs being a little much on some recordings, but still -- after hearing any other amp, I switch to the SR-71 and feel "Ahhhhhhh". So much air, such smooth, sweet inner detail, such ease, etc. On some music I've felt the SR-71 didn't have the oomph, impact and energy I'd like to have heard -- which other amps do better. I can't go point-for-point now on what various amps do better or worse with different music, sources, phones, listening environments...
The SM (2x8610) we heard, and that I've been listening to nearly every day, along with the SR-71, in comparing with not just the Portaphile V2 betas, but several other amps -- I have found to have a somewhat compressed frequency spectrum, very little soundstage depth or image dimension, slightly rolled off at times both at the top and bottom (very surprising for 8610s!), missing a lot information in fast or low-level passages, timbre and body of many instruments is off the mark, noticeable lack of air, dynamics, and energy compared to the SR-71 and Portaphile V2 beta. Overall disappointing from what I would have expected from its configuration. I will say, though it seems odd after that -- if I didn't have other amps at hand for comparison, it is a quiet amp, and very pleasant to listen to, with some music. I could enjoy listening to it -- except when I'm in comparative auditioning mode. With some music it's been too frustrating, knowing what musical information the SM is missing. And more often than not, for enjoyment I keep reaching for either the SR-71 or the V2. (No discussion here of larger amps.)
What the Portaphile V2 beta has offered (remember it is not a production unit and various adjustments have been made since this unit) is great dynamics, a big open sound with beautiful timbral presentation, a lively and very engaging sound that is very musical and fun to listen to. I have spent many hours comparing a wide selection of musical recordings, listerally phrase by phrase -- hearing the V2, SM, SR-71, Super Mini Moy, PC MkII, CIAudio VHP-1, ANT Amber, Coda/Overture starting tomorrow, and more I won't mention now. I've been waiting awhile for a Gilmore Lite and a WNA MkII, which I hope to receive sometime soon -- so of course I can't comment on those amps yet. I've gotten down to auditioning the 3 prime mini amps (SR-71/V2/SM) with very finite passages by the numbers, and have often found the Portaphile close to SR-71 in nuance, detail and timbre -- though not the same, and the beta is still lacking the super clarity and sweetness of some high/fast passages as well as the super black background.
There are, however, many phones we have not heard with this amp, and I just don't currently have the resources to hear and review many of the phones headfiers have been asking about. Sorry.
All told, if (and it's an if I can't answer yet) the production V2 matches your system, it's a great value for its price/size class. Where it might give SR-71 a run is in musicality, impact, liveliness and involvement in the performances and in the musical exerience. We'll see. Everyone knows a prototype is not a production unit. I hope the final version is even better. BTW -- the beta version had the new 3 opamp topology -- 2x8610 for L&R and 8610 in the ground channel, with 2 Nichicon Muse KZ 1000uf caps (2000uf total). As far as I know at this time, there will be no socketed option, no crossfeed, no gain switch. It will have a DC back option, but no built-in charging. It's not the Swiss Army Knife that the SM is and has no bells and whistles. It's nice to have adjustable gain and impedance and a built-in charger, but you pay every add-on. I like the idea of a more affordable amp with a great sound, and Cesar will adjust the gain for your phones. (I know -- that doesn't help if you want to use multiple phones...) The Porrtaphile V2 is in some ways like SR-71, in that strives to be a purist amp with all efforts put into producing a really good musical sound.
I'll be interested to read how other ear/brain interfaces with other systems respond to this nice little amp.
A word of caution (one of the ubiquitous lessons at headfi): Amps need lots of burn in time and big cap needs lots and lots of burn in time. I've seen references to hundreds of hours for some caps (no arguments in this particular thread please). In any case, my own experience with getting a lot of new amps to hear is that the sound most definitely changes this way and that for a while, and takes many hours to stabilize, open up throughout the spectrum, extend and tighten up the bass, smooth and clean up the highs, etc. --------- so be patient. What you first hear out of the box is not what it, or any amp, is capable of. Ain't burn in a pain? (kinda fun tho' -- a little adventure).
Happily, I don't have to say "sorry about your wallet" at its price point. It's not -- and isn't meant to be -- one of the really cheap bargain amps, but it's a bargain in its own way.
If Cesar goes with the better caps, the small increase in price will be worth it. The idea is to get the best sound possible in a tiny case at a very competitive price-for-value. It remains to be seen how others will perceive the sound.
Best Regards To All.
