[dakanao]

   
I don't have time for an AB now but the sound is punchier, more refined, less grainy and the soundstage is bigger. 

Hmm alright, very interesting... Maybe the amp/DAC combo from Music Alchemist didn't have good synergy with the Spirit Pros, and the Geek out does.
 
What is your laptops onboard soundcard name?

 

[Music Alchemist]

  Hmm alright, very interesting... Maybe the amp/DAC combo from Music Alchemist didn't have good synergy with the Spirit Pros, and the Geek out does.
 
What is your laptops onboard soundcard name?

 
Or maybe my laptop is just audibly transparent. ^‿^
 
The Magni 2 Uber and Modi 2 are perfectly neutral, as far as I can tell.

 

[peanuthead]

  Has anybody tried using a V-MODA BoomPro Microphone with any of the Focal Spirits? Does the plug fit?

It fits.

 

[macro]

It fits.

Excellent! Thank you.

 

[Stuff Jones]

  Hmm alright, very interesting... Maybe the amp/DAC combo from Music Alchemist didn't have good synergy with the Spirit Pros, and the Geek out does.
 
What is your laptops onboard soundcard name?

 
Realtek HD

 

[ohotonge]

I have had some good with these babies.

 

[pOOB73]

  Has anybody tried using a V-MODA BoomPro Microphone with any of the Focal Spirits? Does the plug fit?

I'm not sure about that exact cable, but I'm using this one http://v-moda.com/audio-only-cable/ and it fits perfectly fine into the FSP.

 

[ohotonge]

well, pm-3 vs focal pro...
different tonal balance, as expected.
but I don't see one is better than the other.
focal's tonal balance is more fit with loud noise environments(metros, buses, studios etc....), and isolates more.
and pm-3 is not, more forward in presence region, but less extension in treble, and less emphasis in sub-bass... and that's it.
this impression more or less correspond with the measurements.   
I still enjoy focal pro enormously. 

 

[dakanao]

 
well, pm-3 vs focal pro...
different tonal balance, as expected.
but I don't see one is better than the other.
focal's tonal balance is more fit with loud noise environments(metros, buses, studios etc....), and isolates more.
and pm-3 is not, more forward in presence region, but less extension in treble, and less emphasis in sub-bass... and that's it.
this impression more or less correspond with the measurements.   
I still enjoy focal pro enormously. 

What amp/DAC are you running the FSP with?

 

[ohotonge]

in outdoor environments ; 
mostly ipads, iPod, and galaxy
 
indoor ;
mostly oppo blue ray player, O2, and nasty 320bee. and I borrowed isabellina hpa. 

 

[dakanao]

 
in outdoor environments ; 
mostly ipads, iPod, and galaxy
 
indoor ;
mostly oppo blue ray player, O2, and nasty 320bee. and I borrowed isabellina hpa. 

Do you notice a difference between without amp/DAC and with?

 

[ohotonge]

I think I did. but frankly, except nasty nad 320bee, could be just volume difference.
and what I had tried was not finding out the difference between dacs or amps, but
the difference between focal and pm-3, which is more easy.  

 

[dakanao]

I don't know if I should pay $150 and buy the MT220 and use them with no amp/DAC on my laptop and with the xbox 360, or if I should get the $200 Geek Out 450 USB amp/DAC and use it with the Spirit Professional...

 

[chailee80]

  I don't know if I should pay $150 and buy the MT220 and use them with no amp/DAC on my laptop and with the xbox 360, or if I should get the $200 Geek Out 450 USB amp/DAC and use it with the Spirit Professional...

I think you definitely need to upgrade to a better amp/dac first especially if you use or plan to use hi-res music. If you still don't find the fsp to your liking then sell it and get the mt220.

 

[Music Alchemist]

  I think you definitely need to upgrade to a better amp/dac first especially if you use or plan to use hi-res music. If you still don't find the fsp to your liking then sell it and get the mt220.

 
My $250 amp + DAC stack sounded the same as directly from my laptop with the FSP.
 
Also, there is no benefit to high-res. The only thing that matters is the master.
 
https://xiph.org/~xiphmont/demo/neil-young.html