[dallan]

Thanks for the clarification Justin.  It isn't really an issue, just minor OCD on my part probably.  I did adjusted the gain settings as I said and it was fine.  It is now an integral part of my system and I am very happy with it by the way.

 

[mtntrance]

I am pretty pleased with the how low I can go on the pico power before any inbalance.  Practically to the point of silience.  This is with iems.

 

[verber]

At least on my unit, Justin's parts select is paying off.  Ran a quick test in my office, actually two.  The first was testing for the wrong thing.  The second test measure pink noise with a small mic inserted into the left headphone  (measure 85db) with the volume at the half way point.  Then I dropped the volume until it was at 42db, about 4db above the room's ambient (roughly 8 of the grip ridges).  Moved volume back to original level and played with the mic position on the right side until the meter showed 85db.  Then I dropped the volume to the same lower position I used earlier on the left channel... the meter 43-44db.  Not a bad match.  Unlike an audiologist, I don't have the ability to do real ear measurements with IEM, but I did drop the unit down to low gain, fed both channels the same signal and they seemed (to my ears) well matched. Overall, I am very impressed with the Pico Power.
 
--Mark

 

[dallan]

It actually keeps sounding better an better to me.  Really a gem.

 

[feverfive]

Wish I was in the market for something like this when the bulk of pre-orders was occurring.  I'm impatient, a character flaw, I know.  I want/need something right now, so I have an RX MK3 on it's way to me, but I know at some point after the crush of pre-order shipping is done, this is an amp I will want to get.  Please keep the impressions coming guys

 

[AJHeadfi]

I turned away from the 9V battery or even any standard battery amp because it seemed too painful to have to exchange batteries/recharge etc. 
 
How is the comparison with the Lisa III?

 

[justin w.]

phototristan has put up an unboxing video/review here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?list=UUwaaV6YJs5FqQ6I8ad2DdCw&feature=player_detailpage&v=2xh6FkDWKZI

 

[IceClass]

I turned away from the 9V battery or even any standard battery amp because it seemed too painful to have to exchange batteries/recharge etc. 

Last time I had a portable amp that used 9v batteries I found it somewhat liberating. As I'm often on the road and totally off grid, it's nothing to strap a few spares together with electrical tape and chuck them in the pack.
I find it much preferable to requiring an AC outlet when power gets low. I also don't miss packing wall warts and their cables.

 

[MilesDavis2]

Thanks for the wonderful video, Phototristan. I enjoyed it.

 

[justin w.]

Quote:

Last time I had a portable amp that used 9v batteries I found it somewhat liberating. As I'm often on the road and totally off grid, it's nothing to strap a few spares together with electrical tape and chuck them in the pack.
I find it much preferable to requiring an AC outlet when power gets low. I also don't miss packing wall warts and their cables.

this is one reason why i made it even though it is "dated".  it is a return to simplicity.  Most of the engineering work that goes into TOTL portables these days is in DC switching power supplies and filtering out the noise they add, power optimization and trying not to let it hurt sound quality, and any software programming that comes with it.  Once that is done, you get to the work of the actual amplifier, a little chip in the corner by the headphone jack.  With this its all amplifier.  

 

[En_R]

edited first post with impressions

 

[AJHeadfi]

Thanks for the impressions En_R. 
 
Looking at the Pico range, if audio quality comes first, using low impedance headphones, would the PP be the choice?

 

[En_R]

Thanks for the impressions En_R. 

Looking at the Pico range, if audio quality comes first, using low impedance headphones, would the PP be the choice?

Not sure, this is my first Pico amp. Though I will say that even though the PP is stated to drive "hard to drive full sized cans", it did just fine with the TH900.

 

[justin w.]

Quote:

Thanks for the impressions En_R. 
 
Looking at the Pico range, if audio quality comes first, using low impedance headphones, would the PP be the choice?

I would say it has the best sound quality overall, with any headphones, though with sensitive IEMs the Pico Slim deserves more consideration with its digital volume control.

 

[mtntrance]

Quote:

Thanks for the impressions En_R. 
 
Looking at the Pico range, if audio quality comes first, using low impedance headphones, would the PP be the choice?

 
I bought mine for use with my iems.  I had a pico slim which was outstanding but the small form factor of it was not useful for me.  As I mentioned in an early post the POT on my pico power does not demonstrate low volume in-balance issues with my particular iems (1964 Q4s).