Brand new portable amp user needs advice

[indigo]

Ok, I got a Mister X XP (AD8397) amp two weeks ago, and have been using it with an Ipod Touch, Turbo LOD and Shures E500s. Trouble is, I don't seem to hear much of a difference between amped and unamped, except the absence of hiss.

I know this topic was covered with another head-fier and his RSA/ Shure E500 combo, but I would like advice specifically for me, especially from other members with experience of the Mister X XP and other portable amps.

So the options for me are:

1. Give it more time for burn in etc (the amp has less than 20 hours use, I believe).

2. Sell it and buy another portable amp that would be an improvement.

3. If it's option 2, what would be my best bet (anything else but Xin- no patience)? For eg, would a Headsix/ Move be more of an improvement?

Thanks.

 

[mrarroyo]

I listened to the Mini^3 built by Rockhopper and found it to be outstanding sounding. I would give your amp at least 100 hours to settle, if you still do not like it then you could look at other options like the MiniBox-E, the SR-71, or the iBasso D1 (with op-amp rolling).

 

[tomjtx]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrarroyo /img/forum/go_quote.gif I listened to the Mini^3 built by Rockhopper and found it to be outstanding sounding. I would give your amp at least 100 hours to settle, if you still do not like it then you could look at other options like the MiniBox-E, the SR-71, or the iBasso D1 (with op-amp rolling).

Or the Meier headsix or Move.

 

[indigo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomjtx /img/forum/go_quote.gif Or the Meier headsix or Move.

I am actually very tempted by the headsix. Would there be a significant difference to the XP?

 

[tlie00]

Have you tried the trick of listening through the amp exclusively for a week?

For me, that's how I was able to finally tell the difference between amped and unamped.

 

[gtp]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlie00 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Have you tried the trick of listening through the amp exclusively for a week? For me, that's how I was able to finally tell the difference between amped and unamped.

This is the truth!

The XP amp is very good, comparable to the Mini^3. I've never heard a Meier amp so I don't know about the Headsix/Move. I don't personally believe that solid-state amps change dramatically with burn-in, but others do so YMMV.

Especially with IEMs, it takes a while to hear the subtle differences from adding an amp. IEMs are very efficient and do not change as dramatically as dynamic headphones with amplification. There are differences, they are just subtle.

Listen to the amp for one week straight, then go back to the headphone out. You might well hear a difference after that. If you don't, sell your amp and be glad your IEMs saved you a bit of money.

 

[indigo]

Thanks for the advice. I will try the "listening for a week thing". I guess my expectations were that the amp would dramatically improve the sound, and failing to hear that dramatic improvement, I thought perhaps that it may have been the wrong amp, or my ears.

 

[tlie00]

I've been told that it really is not that easy to hear whatever improvement there is (especially since the E500 is so good with the headphone out to begin with,) but once you're used to the improvement you'll notice the downgrade when you take the amp away.

 

[mrarroyo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomjtx /img/forum/go_quote.gif Or the Meier headsix or Move.

I did not mention the Move, since I found the ones I listed to sound better.

 

[Lil' Knight]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrarroyo /img/forum/go_quote.gif I listened to the Mini^3 built by Rockhopper and found it to be outstanding sounding. I would give your amp at least 100 hours to settle, if you still do not like it then you could look at other options like the MiniBox-E, the SR-71, or the iBasso D1 (with op-amp rolling).

I wonder which will give out the best synergy?? Mini3+E500 or Minibox-E+E500