Headroom 2007 portable desktop amp

[aamefford]

Hello all!

Will anyone who owns or has any significant experience with this amp please post their impressions, or a review?!? I am very interested in this amp, and it seems I'm not alone. It also seems that there is little information here or elsewhere on this particular model.

I am interested in SQ with both analogue and digital imputs, any noise issues with sensitive IEM's (shure SE530's in my case), ability to drive Senn 580's, 650's, 25-1's, and other higher impedance phones.

I am also interested in comparisons with it's headroom piers, i.e. the desktop home and the ultra micro stack.

Lastly, I am interested in subjective comparisons with other amps at similar price and/or performance point.

This amp seems a perfect concept, but it is pretty pricey, and has limited battery life. I really am curious as to other's experience, and what you feel you gain over other portable options, and what you give up over more stationary amps.

 

[schugh]

I don't have any comparisons, but I have had it for 8 months and have been very happy with it.
I have not had any sensitivity issues. It drives all my headphones just fine. These include the Shure 500, the RS-1/GS1000, HD600, Denon D5000, AKG701. It's not super portable but it doesn't have to be for me.

 

[aamefford]

schugh, You seem to have used some pretty nice DAC's in your time. Does the HR desktop portable's compare favorably? I'm really trying to like this amp in spite of the $, as the physical format would work great for me, plugged in bedside most of the time, grab it to take to work or downstairs once in a while. Also, any issues with hiss with your Shures?

All, My concerns are that I'm ponying $1,000. for an amp/dac combo, and I want to feel that I have a truly high end amp and dac enclosed. The ultra micro stack, the desktop single ended and the Meier Opera (used, I know) are all in this $1,000 range. I want that level of sonic greatness (or really, really close) for my money. If I'm not getting very, very near that level of sound quality from the portable desktop, I probably ought to look elsewhere.

 

[schugh]

It is a lot of money for a portable/battery operated unit, I agree.
I also had reservation about it. However I upgraded from the 06 Micro Stock so I had to pay a little bit less but still quite a bit.

In my opinion most products are built to a price point and are compromises in one way or another. If you are worried that you are getting your money's worth, I don't know how to answer that because I don't know what is "truly hig end". There is always something that is "higher ended". The DAC in the DP won't compare with the Micro Ultra DAC for example. Even Headroom says that. But then the Ultra DAC isn't battery powered and for myself I needed a portable that is battery powered.

So what I am trying to say is it really depends on what you want. I think the DP is a wonderful unit and it meets all my expectations and what I want from such a unit. Does it have the best DAC, off course not. Do I care when I am listening through it when writing code on my computer? No.

If you are worried about best for the money, definitely look at the Ultra Micro Stack. I haven't listened to the Ultra Micro Stack but from what I have heard it should be better then the DP. How much better, I don't know off course. But the Ultra Micro is designed to give you the most in that size. The DP is designed to meet other criteri in addition to the best sound you can get. It also has excellent sound but only within the parameters in which it is designed. One of them being battery power. The DP is certainly somewhat better then the the 06 Stack I had and doesn't have the frustration with the batteries.

I hope all my rambling makes sense.