[cn11]

I bet the Arrow would be a great match with DAP's with no sound tweaking capabilities, which supposedly are very clean sounding, like Zunes. If I'd been able to have this amp long ago, I'd have surely experimented with far more DAP's.

 

[wuwhere]

That bass booster should shoot some serious lows to my ER4P. My HE is still in order processing status.

 

[dfkt]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cn11 /img/forum/go_quote.gif I bet the Arrow would be a great match with DAP's with no sound tweaking capabilities, which supposedly are very clean sounding, like Zunes. If I'd been able to have this amp long ago, I'd have surely experimented with far more DAP's.

That's exactly what I'm using it for, paired with my Cowon O2. While the O2 is the most botched and ass-backwards Cowon ever made, firmware-wise, it's somewhat "better" sounding than the rest (TI instead of Wolfson inside) and has very good video capabilities. It has none of Cowon's usual BBE sound enhancements in video mode - that's where the Arrow comes in more than handy.

 

[cn11]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dfkt /img/forum/go_quote.gif That's exactly what I'm using it for, paired with my Cowon O2. While the O2 is the most botched and ass-backwards Cowon ever made, firmware-wise, it's somewhat "better" sounding than the rest (TI instead of Wolfson inside) and has very good video capabilities. It has none of Cowon's usual BBE sound enhancements in video mode - that's where the Arrow comes in more than handy.

Man, that's excellent to hear. The flexibility it offers other non-adjustable DAP's is one of its strongest aspects IMO. And with its gain selections, it is driving my recabled Ultrasone 780's spectacularly.

 

[dfkt]

The higher the gain setting, the more rolled off the bass, it seems. Didn't really hear a difference with my own ears, though. Maybe I need to listen more closely. But then again, I don't intend to use the highest gain level - and it gives people with less desire for bass something to play around with.

 

[cn11]

Yeah, I can't hear it either. Since I only can use my Sony with headphone out right now, I need gain III for my Ultrasones. But once I get the ALO line out, I'm hoping that it'll supply a louder cleaner signal and I can back it down to II even for the Ultrasones.

Sure sounds great though to my ears even on III.....the Ultrasones have never had such treble sparkle, and mid presence (when running straight out of the Sony X, the mids are noticeably more sucked back).

 

[Hellenback]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dfkt /img/forum/go_quote.gif The higher the gain setting, the more rolled off the bass, it seems. Didn't really hear a difference with my own ears, though. Maybe I need to listen more closely. But then again, I don't intend to use the highest gain level - and it gives people with less desire for bass something to play around with.

I like your frequency graphs for different settings. I didn't know why, but even when using the 650s I tend to use the second gain setting with volume a little higher. I think the first batch of Arrows had a slightly lower db Bass boost on the highest setting (9db as opposed to 12).
Do you mind me asking what frequency response analyzer this is?

 

[dfkt]

I used RMAA for those graphs. I also use ARTA to double-check, and because it's real-time.

 

[Hellenback]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dfkt /img/forum/go_quote.gif I used RMAA for those graphs. I also use ARTA to double-check, and because it's real-time.

Thanks very much...and freeware to boot !

Just thought I'd mention this; Robert might not believe his amp benefits from burn in, but I'm either hearing things or this amp has gotten better with some time. Bass response seems noticeably tighter/deeper. I'm always reluctant to make statements like this because of our susceptibility to placebo effect. I suppose becoming accustomed to an amp's particular sound can also account for at least some of the perceived improvement .

 

[average_joe]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hellenback /img/forum/go_quote.gif Thanks very much...and freeware to boot ! Just thought I'd mention this; Robert might not believe his amp benefits from burn in, but I'm either hearing things or this amp has gotten better with some time. Bass response seems noticeably tighter/deeper. I'm always reluctant to make statements like this because of our susceptibility to placebo effect. I suppose becoming accustomed to an amp's particular sound can also account for at least some of the perceived improvement .

I 100% think this amp (as all others I have heard as well as op amps when rolling) benefit from burn in! One other thing that has really grown for me is the soundstage. And even with the bass boost off (I had to check), the Arrow makes some of my lower end IEMs just crank out the bass, too much bass!

 

[dfkt]

I've dumped a boatload of RMAA tests of the Arrow on my server, feel free trying to make any sense of it.

Scroll past the folders, down to the HTML files: Index of ./Various/

 

[prone2phone]

does that mean fiio e5 is better or what?!

 

[Hellenback]

Quote:

One other thing that has really grown for me is the soundstage

x2

 

[dfkt]

Yeah, I'm a sucker for soundstage as well, and the Arrow opened my IE8/O2 combo up like I haven't heard it before.

Before I used an iBasso T4 between the O2 and IE8, and while it didn't make the sound worse, it didn't improve anything over the headphone out of the O2 - I just used it as a bass booster. Now, unfortunately, my worst player which I just use for watching videos in bed is unfortunately my best sounding rig, and I found myself shlepping that POS out on the streets, thanks to the Arrow...

Quote:

Originally Posted by prone2phone /img/forum/go_quote.gif does that mean fiio e5 is better or what?!

Like, totally!

 

[HeadphoneAddict]

How do you use an O2 on the Arrow? I have an electrostatic amp for mine.