Fostex HP-P1 Portable Amplifier and DAC for iPod/iPhone (Short REVIEW and Impressions Thread)
Sep 21, 2011 at 11:16 AM Post #106 of 1,448


Quote:
The HP-P1 (and CLAS too..) only works with iDevices...
frown.gif

 


that is really unfortunate.. especially considering that the DAC unit is connecting thru an ordinary USB cable. I would think that should be relatively easy to make it work as PC DAC as well.. Clearly not the case :p
This won't be my next DAC/Amp then :p
 
Thanks for the answer though :)
 
 
Sep 23, 2011 at 2:01 PM Post #107 of 1,448


Quote:
Hi NewMexiCat and all I am looking at the Fostex and have Edition 8 phones, I have been amazed at the quality from my iPhone 4 with these headphones but am looking to get the best out of them. How much of an improvement was the Fostex with your Edition 8s? I won't be able to try here in the Uk without hearing first so your experience would be invaluable!! My main player is a Naim CDX 2 and I want to get as close to that as possible in a portable rig. Thanks for your help in advance David



Hey David,
 
In my short audition time, I thought the Ed.8's sounded very good with the HP-P1 and certainly a huge improvement over the Ed.8 straight out of the iPhone 4.  My only quibble was that, for my ears at least, the bass was a little over-emphasazied on the HP-P1.  As you know, the Ed.8's are not boomy, bass-heavy phones like others in the Ultrasone line, but the HP-P1's amp sent them more in that direction.  Still sounded very good, but I prefer the synergy with my Pico and the Ed.8 better.  Of course, you can always use the HP-P1 as a DAC only and add the amp of your choosing, but you are then going to be carrying around a fairly substantial brick.
 
 
Sep 23, 2011 at 7:55 PM Post #108 of 1,448
subscribed! I haven't got time to read all posts in this thread - this is late at night in Denmark - so I'm sorry if this has been mentioned a hundred times already:
 
I find the HP-P1 (dac and amp) to have incredibly good synergy with my ER4S.
 
Generally I feel, that the amp section is lacking when compared to top portables like iQube and Lisa III. Still the dac section is a killer!
 
Sep 23, 2011 at 10:01 PM Post #109 of 1,448


Quote:
Hey David,
 
In my short audition time, I thought the Ed.8's sounded very good with the HP-P1 and certainly a huge improvement over the Ed.8 straight out of the iPhone 4.  My only quibble was that, for my ears at least, the bass was a little over-emphasazied on the HP-P1.  As you know, the Ed.8's are not boomy, bass-heavy phones like others in the Ultrasone line, but the HP-P1's amp sent them more in that direction.  Still sounded very good, but I prefer the synergy with my Pico and the Ed.8 better.  Of course, you can always use the HP-P1 as a DAC only and add the amp of your choosing, but you are then going to be carrying around a fairly substantial brick.
 



 


Quote:
subscribed! I haven't got time to read all posts in this thread - this is late at night in Denmark - so I'm sorry if this has been mentioned a hundred times already:
 
I find the HP-P1 (dac and amp) to have incredibly good synergy with my ER4S.
 
Generally I feel, that the amp section is lacking when compared to top portables like iQube and Lisa III. Still the dac section is a killer!


Two very good arguments for keeping my CLAS...
 
 
Sep 28, 2011 at 10:16 AM Post #110 of 1,448
Well my HP-P1 has just come in, plan to do some testing with it using my UM Miracles and Merlins (Merlin's yet to arrive). I used to have the CLAS+SR71B setup and found the bulk a little much, so decided to move onto smaller venture. This seemed ideal. Let's hope that's the case 
L3000.gif

 
Sep 29, 2011 at 6:35 AM Post #111 of 1,448


Quote:
  •  
I had a custom LOD to USB made using Mundorf silver/gold cables for my HP-P1. Compared to the stock Fostex LOD to USB cable, the Mundorf cable gave a much cleaner and smoother sound overall. Separation was much improved. The only negative I found was that the stock Fostex cable had more bass quantity but a bit murky.
Hope this helps.


To me that sounds like saying your digital pictures from you camera look slightly redder when you transfer them to the PC using a cheap USB cable, but bluer when when the absolute code of the image passes through a silver cable. You can probably gather what I think about that... the emperor is indeed naked.
 
It's a nice DAC though from what I've heard so far, but without the ability to run an SPDIF or USB device in it's a bit overpriced. Sounds nice though, very clean, with emphasised low extension. I have it for review too, but I won't be paying to keep it. I might've done if I could've connected SPDIF or something else.
 
 
Sep 29, 2011 at 7:19 AM Post #113 of 1,448
If one can carry 30-pin protocol to USB within the space of a short cable, is it not possible to convert from standard USB to the USB end of a 30-pin in a similar space? Does anyone know if it's just a matter of pins or a completely different setup?
 
Sep 30, 2011 at 4:56 AM Post #114 of 1,448
Hey
 
I just received the HP last night, but my Itouch wants to act up and throw random clicks in the sound..
 
A reveiw posted somewhere else had a ipad issue, but its was cleared with a reboot...
 
Either mine needs a new install, already did that once before because it acted up in another way, pretty annoying no plug and play just yet...
 
 
 
Sep 30, 2011 at 8:05 AM Post #115 of 1,448


Quote:
Hey
 
I just received the HP last night, but my Itouch wants to act up and throw random clicks in the sound..
 
A reveiw posted somewhere else had a ipad issue, but its was cleared with a reboot...
 
Either mine needs a new install, already did that once before because it acted up in another way, pretty annoying no plug and play just yet...
 
 


This is the second time I hear about clicking with ipod touch and hp-p1. I had no problems at all with my classic...
 
 
 
Sep 30, 2011 at 8:09 AM Post #116 of 1,448
Sep 30, 2011 at 1:51 PM Post #118 of 1,448


Quote:
To me that sounds like saying your digital pictures from you camera look slightly redder when you transfer them to the PC using a cheap USB cable, but bluer when when the absolute code of the image passes through a silver cable. You can probably gather what I think about that... the emperor is indeed naked.

 
I'm not touching that topic with a 10ft pole. 
wink.gif
  But I myself was looking for a back-up for the stock cable and found this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230676753934
 
 
The stock cable is on the right (says 'Fostex').
 
It's the exact same length as the Fostex cable.  The construction is also virtually identical with a very few minor differences.  I bought two (total of $4.52 shipped) and they both work and fit well.  I'm keeping an eye out for a black one (I know ALO has them, but after shipping it's almost $20).  The black ones I've seen so far are either too short or a little bit too long.


Quote:
Hey
 
I just received the HP last night, but my Itouch wants to act up and throw random clicks in the sound..
 
A reveiw posted somewhere else had a ipad issue, but its was cleared with a reboot...
 
Either mine needs a new install, already did that once before because it acted up in another way, pretty annoying no plug and play just yet...
 
 


Yeah- I had that problem with my iPad and it went away after one reboot.  I also had the problem come up with my iTouch 4G recently.  I didn't have it at the beginning.  We're not really sure why this happens.  But the fact that a simple reboot makes the problem go away has me thinking it has something to do with allocated resources or memory.  For my 4G (and most of my iDevices) I hardly ever do reboots- maybe once a month or so.  So if it means I have to do this ritual once a month, that's fine with me.  Also (I mentioned this earlier in the thread), make sure you are running the latest iOS.  Apparently there were some noise issues (not sure what they were) with some earlier versions.  http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&ie=UTF8&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=auto&tl=en&twu=1&u=http://www.fostex.jp/news/153  Hope it works out for you!
 
 
Sep 30, 2011 at 2:34 PM Post #119 of 1,448
[size=11pt]I received my HP-P1 from Moon Audio on Wednesday and am enjoying this greatly!  Two years ago I took the plunge and bought an Ipod Classic 160G.  I LOVED the capacity of this thing and loaded it with my entire collection of lossless CD’s.  And I have been dissatisfied ever since.  I have good headphones (Audio Technica W1000’s and Etymotic ER4-P/S).  They tend to be detailed and analytical and they expose the flaws of the source.  So, I got a line out dock and a Corda HA-1 amp and things improved a bit at the expense of portability.  But I was never fully satisfied.  The combo was, frankly, boring, flat and lifeless.  My classical collection suffered most as I just wasn’t moved when I played them.[/size]
 
[size=11pt]And now, what a difference!  I noticed it right out of the box.  I started with my Ety’s and I was like, wow, this is what this music sounds like!  This is what these fabulous earphones are truly capable of!  I am now revisiting my wonderful classical music collection as though for the first time.  The amp powers my W1000’s well and good.  But it seems like the pairing of this unit with the Er4-S is truly a match made in audio heaven.  The music is richer, less analytical and more dynamic while preserving/enhancing details (searching for words here).  The Ety’s were a set of sleepy phones that have now come to life.  So, I recommend this for anyone with the Er4-S.  And now I know what I have always suspected:  The latest generation Ipod Classic DAC was the weakest link (the Corda is a great amp by the way, It serves my computer rig now).  I had been hoping that the Ipod DAC could do what it simply could not do, was probably never designed to do, which is deliver truly audiophile sound through the dock to a decent amp.  It never could.  Problem solved.  My classic is now a first rate transport for a wonderfully matched DAC/Amp magically mated to my Ety’s.[/size]
 
[size=11pt]Another winner with this dac/amp is, of all things, my Cambride Soundworks Model 88 table radio!  Go figure!  I can clearly hear a significant difference when connected through the line-out of the Fostex.  Better bass and detail (like with the Ety’s).  I certainly didn’t expect that and it speaks to the quality of this device.[/size]
 
[size=11pt]Ironically, now that I am enjoying my Ipod like never before I am now presented with rumors about Apple discontinuing the Classic!  I might have to go out and buy another as a back-up! [/size]
 
[size=11pt][note: I posted this "review" at Moon Audio's website][/size]
 
 
Sep 30, 2011 at 4:00 PM Post #120 of 1,448
Norbert, I fully agree with you on the great synergy with ER4S. This is the main reason I had to order the Fostex, that I had a chance to review :) Also the line out is very good. I find the internal amp lacking when compared to top portable amps. But above all, the DAC is superior to the iPod's internal DAC, and I find that alone to be a big upgrade.
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top