Please keep in mind this was after a short period of listening.
More impressions after a few days and decent hours of listening.
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Mini-M8
Initial out of the box impressions. Further detailed impressions to follow at a later date.
Mini-M8 – ipod touch 5G – Flacplayer app – Venturecraft 7N lightning cable – Dita The Truth IEMs and ATH-ESW11.
Nice packaging, a step up from the early Hifi-M8 packaging (I don't know the current packaging).
Inside is the standard set of the unit (Mini-M8), charger, two rubber bands, a USB-A to USB-B cable and a simple cloth bag for transporting the Mini-M8.
No LODs or other connector cables included, the thinking I am guessing is that many people who buy such devices such as the Mini-M8 usually have their own cables etc.
The Sound.
Initial sound quality impressions are good, clear, more smooth than the Hifi-M8.
Certainly I notice that there is less power than the Hifi-M8, the sound seems less `big` and more laidback.
I understand that the output impedance is 1ohm on the Mini-M8, so I set the Hifi-M8 switch to 1ohm.
Gain (I am not sure how to compare the Mini-M8 with the Hifi-M8 and wonder what gain settings would be best).
Step one- is adequate but not loud enough for me. No hiss at full volume.
Step two – Good sound. Lacks the beefy ness of the Hifi-M8 still (The Mini-M8 having a less powerful amp). At the extreme end of the volume pot, well PAST listenable levels there is a SLIGHT hiss.
Step three – Good , I like it set at three. I have been conditioned in the past, perhaps erroneously that using the lower gain of a device is best (I prefer gain two on the Hifi-M8 for my ATH-ESW11). Also at the extreme end of the volume pot well PAST listenable levels there is a SLIGHT hiss.
Note: At my regular listening level (Quite, quite loud) there is no hiss. Only when one turns it up well past acceptable levels. Each person has their own threshold for volume of course and I checked this out quite thoroughly.
The smoothness can maybe be put down to a refinement in research, experience and design since the earlier Hifi-M8 was released by Centrance. The Mini-M8 certainly has a blacker background than the Hifi-M8 (unless you turn the volume pot to unlistenable levels, and I like a lot of volume, I usually use my device on my daily train commute).
This is a short initial out of the box set of impressions. They are surface and quite superficial. I look forward to sharing my further insights after a few days of commuting, then at a week, a month and so on as the device and my ears burn in somewhat.
I will also take the Mini-M8 to stores around Tokyo and demo various headphones and IEMs with it.
