Headroom Maxed Out Home Review

[KR...]

Well, kind of anyway. I just have way too much homework to do, that I can't do a big bad review, like I wish I could.

But, there are some things about this amp that I need to say, and I will use this thread for that. I will post some thoughts as follow ups and I will also be open for any and all questions, so I want to make this a Q and A type of thing, something different rather than your plain old review.

I am ready when you are!

Fire away!

 

[bootman]

What were your expectations of the MOH?
Did the MOH meet your initial expectations?

 

[KR...]

Quote:

Originally posted by bootman What were your expectations of the MOH? Did the MOH meet your initial expectations?

I honestly thought it was going to be as first-rate as the Wheatfield HA4, but not better.

But, I must say I was shocked to discover that the MOH (which was not even the MOHR) blew away the HA4. Now, when I say “blew away”, I mean by audiophile standards, the average person who doesn’t have hearing like I do, or knows what to hear for, may only think it’s a little better, but better nevertheless.

 

[Old Pa]

1. Did you actually buy a Maxed out Home and are you keeping it?

2. Can you compare its performance to Jan's CORDA?

3. What are you using for interconnects?

 

[dhwilkin]

What are the differences in sound you heard between the Wheatfield and MOH?

How did you feel upon discovering the MOH sounded better to you? Maybe more importantly, how did your wallet feel?

 

[KR...]

Quote:

Originally posted by Old Pa 1. Did you actually buy a Maxed out Home and are you keeping it? 2. Can you compare its performance to Jan's CORDA? 3. What are you using for interconnects?

1. No, it was given to me by Headroom as part of their loaner program. It shall be shipped back shortly.

2. I don't not have Jan's amp, but the Wheatfield HA4 has Jan's crossfeed.

3. MIT MI-330 CVTerminator Series Two these retail for $600 and are some of the best cables money can buy. A few guys at Stereophile use these as their reference.

 

[bootman]

I don't think his wallet hurt at all.
The MOH he is reviewing is part of the Headroom educational loaner program

 

[Old Pa]

Whether or not it was good enough to spend his own money to keep kind of says it all for me . . . .

 

[KR...]

Quote:

Originally posted by dhwilkin What are the differences in sound you heard between the Wheatfield and MOH?

Since almost no one here has heard the Wheatfield amp expect Bootman, since this is his amp, I will describe the improvement from going to the Grado RA-1 to the HA4 to the MOH.

With the HA4 (bootman can post the power specs) the biggest different between this amp and the Grado is the power supply. I firmly believe that power supplies play an enormous factor on how good an amp sounds. A good example of this would be how the X-Cans sound with and without the X-PSU. The HA4 has much larger soundstage (headphone wise) and deeper, tighter bass, which is the 1st thing which is brought to your attention when you 1st hear it. It is just a more refine sound, it’s also a bit more laid back than the Grado RA-1.

Now, with that in mind, going from the HA4 to the MOH showed even more improvement and refinement. The bass is the big star here and it is far superior to anything other amp that I have heard thus far. The highs are much clearer and extended, and the midrange is silky smooth. There is just more of everything there, every single last possible factor about the sound that you could think of has been improved upon with the MOH.

Quote:

How did you feel upon discovering the MOH sounded better to you?

I was a bit shocked, I honestly didn't think it was going to be that much better.

Quote:

Maybe more importantly, how did your wallet feel?

Well, once I start making the big bucks, I will most certainly give Headroom a call.

 

[jude]

Quote:

Originally posted by Old Pa Whether or not it was good enough to spend his own money to keep kind of says it all for me . . . .

Keep in mind that the qualifications for obtaining the loaners are based on post count. Neruda has enough posts to qualify for a BlockHead loaner. Given his age and situation (student), I'd guess he might not be able to afford to actually buy the BlockHead, but I'd still find his opinions worthwhile, as I do KR's, whether he buys it or not.

 

[joelongwood]

Thanks for sharing, KR. I'm wondering if anyone has compared the MOH to the similarly priced Sugden Headmaster. Anyone?

 

[Audio-Me]

Now try to get Cosmic Reference with Base Station 1 and tell us if it's better than the MOH.

 

[Old Pa]

And KR did say that once he was making the big bucks he was going to give HeadRoom a call (although I imagine a knowledgeable and discerning individual like KR will look around at that time and see what he likes best). I think the expression remains "actions speak louder than words" and I stand by my "politically incorrect" sentiments. This opportunity by post count phenomena is another matter entirely . . .

 

[KR...]

Well, I am a poor University Student, so it's just isn't feasible to spend $999 on an amp now, but yes I strongly feel it's worth the asking price!

 

[Duncan]

I think I understand where you are coming from Old Pa re the post count, and - If i'm right, I do agree with you - It does seem prejudiced...

Then again, how are the guys and gals at HeadRoom going to discern who is 'worthy' of their products? - They obviously don't want to hand a killer amp worth $$$ to someone who they'll never hear from ever again...

Its all in the name of marketing... and, hats off to HeadRoom - My only personal gripe, is that I live in the UK - So, i'm exempt from this scheme, but - hey, can't win them all