HeadAmp Pico Slim Portable Amplifier

[LONZO]

This sounds fantastic in such a portable device. So the customized settings will be maintained in firmware until a change is made? This will be a big draw once released!

 

[dfkt]

Quote:

Originally Posted by justin w. /img/forum/go_quote.gif - Left/right balance adjustment. I have seen several people ask about this recently. It could be adjusted through the USB port.

That would be the absolutely most awesome feature ever.

I'm a bit hearing impaired, my left ear is about ~3dB quieter than the right one (same frequency response though), so until now I was stuck with Rockboxed MP3 players or Cowons, since recently every other company does not include that most basic of features, pan/balance, anymore in their firmwares (except Archos, but I don't like their stuff).

For other players I've build myself an impedance adapter with different value resistors for both channels to crudely "fix" that issue. But those are big and a hassle to carry around, and might break the jacks on the amps or players.

So please, if you put a balance control on that amp I'd be the first in line to get one. Not to mention the size alone would make the Pico Slim win over every other of my amps by default.

 

[WalkGood]

Justin, So far everthing looks great, what about price point? Some feedback from 09 CanJam visitors would be nice to read.

BTW, my origional pico is still great one year later now, my thoughts in detail in pico link on sig.

 

[justin w.]

Quote:

Originally Posted by WalkGood /img/forum/go_quote.gif Justin, So far everthing looks great, what about price point? Some feedback from 09 CanJam visitors would be nice to read. BTW, my origional pico is still great one year later now, my thoughts in detail in pico link on sig.

I have not set a price yet, I will have to look at all of the costs once the enclosures are finished

I demoed the Pico Slim for maybe 25 people yesterday so I hope they share their impressions, and there is still 1 day to go. Those who brought their IEMs, especially sensitive ones, were able to fully understand the range of adjustment that the volume control offers.

 

[dfkt]

Sound like it's exactly what I need for my UE11, since they really don't perform their best with almost anything out there.

 

[WalkGood]

Thanks!

By volume control are you refering to the potentiometer step adjustments or it's quality?

 

[justin w.]

Quote:

Originally Posted by WalkGood /img/forum/go_quote.gif Thanks! By volume control are you refering to the potentiometer step adjustments or it's quality?

The number of steps (255) is enough that nobody can tell there are steps, it feels like an analog pot, completely smooth. The left/right is matched better than any analog pot, even ones costing hundreds of $. And the volume level starts out at -110dB, compared to most volume controls (analog or digital) that start around -60dB. This is significant because with sensitive IEMs, I think you can start hearing sound around -90dB with a 1Vrms input from the source.

 

[dfkt]

Very nice, so it's probably enough for 24bit audio, since 16bit (theoretically) only has about ~96dB headroom (or around ~90dB in reality).

 

[deadguy99]

Justin, Any idea if the adjustable boost(s) would be an easy addition through the firmware?

 

[gilency]

I listened to it saturday at CanJam. It was naked (without the case) showing its tiny circuits in all its glory!

I tried lowering the volume and increasing it slowly and both sides remained at the same level. The sound is nice and warm. I really liked it. The battery is pretty tiny too. Justin, when you mention USA upgrades do you mean software/firmware upgrades to change its sound characteristic, battery life, etc?

 

[HeadphoneAddict]

I listened to the Pico Slim as well, and really liked it with my ES3X. It has the extra warmth that I said I was missing in the original Pico, and yet retains the bigger/spacious soundstage that I have always like about the Pico, instead of becoming more forward or aggressive like I sometimes find with other portable amps around here.

I told Justin that I am 100% on board for one when they are released, and the end of summer cannot come fast enough for me now. I will pair it with my Pico DAC-only and have a great complimentary dac/amp rig in a tiny package.

 

[nc8000]

Sound compared to T4 ?

 

[HeadphoneAddict]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nc8000 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Sound compared to T4 ?

No comparison - the T4 is on the level of a D2 Boa, and the Pico slim is higher up there with the best of the portables. When I get a slim I'll cancel my order for the Xin Super Mini.

 

[dfkt]

Here's a Sizeasy comparison with the measurements provided in the first post: Sized Up: Apple iPhone vs COWON S9 vs Headamp Pico Slim vs Sansa Clip

 

[markh78]

Quote:

Originally Posted by HeadphoneAddict /img/forum/go_quote.gif No comparison - the T4 is on the level of a D2 Boa, and the Pico slim is higher up there with the best of the portables. When I get a slim I'll cancel my order for the Xin Super Mini.

Wow, seems like a sure winner.
All I need to know now is how much is it and when can we start to preorder one