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Headstage Arrow HE: Reviews, Impressions, Perceptions & Sensations
Dec 5, 2010 at 8:55 PM Post #1,324 of 4,123
Wow, harsh... but funny. 
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Dec 5, 2010 at 9:48 PM Post #1,327 of 4,123


Quote:
dizzyraider said:
Quote:
soulsyde said:
@DizzyRaider, have you been able to spend enough "quality time" with your new found friend to offer up a more detailed review?
Click to expand...



Hahaha, I have spent around 30 some hours with it and it's all with smiles. Not sure if it's burned in yet, but I thought it sounded pretty darn good right out of the box. I haven't had the time to listen to my (now my brother's:) ) SolderMonkey's upgraded Mini^3. I have been doing most my listening at night before going to sleep since I've been pretty busy the past few weeks. When I do get a chance to do the comparison with the Mini^3 and possibly the now extinct mSeed Labs Spirit amp, I'll be sure to post something up. Because quite frankly without a comparison with another amp, all I can really say is how well this amp sounds (which is pretty much everything).
 
Sound Impressions
 
The amp provides plenty of current (likely due to the powerful AD8397) to make my Grado happy. The highs aren't bright, but nice and clean, while the same thing can also be use to describe the lower frequencies. The bass isn't exaggerated nor is it bloated, it is just clean with impact.
There isn't much to say about the mid besides that is sounds lush and full, very satisfying.
I find the sound stage to be excellent and the clarity is also outstanding.
The above were my thoughts on the amp with bass set at 0
 
For good volume with the Grado and Ultrasone, the pot is turned about 3/4 with the gain set to 1 (keep in mind that Cowon S9 as a source isn't as loud as your typical line out and was set at 32/40 ). With gain set to 2, good volume is achieved at about 1/3 to 1/2.
 
With the bass set to 1, the lower frequencies are boosted by quite a bit. Listening to The Temper Trap's Sweet Disposition, the kick drum sounds like its just behind the other instruments (clean sounding btw). With bass set to 1, the kick drum sounds like it's right next to your ear sounding nice and deep. With bass set to 2, my Grado's will start to rattle because the bass is just too powerful. 
With Kanye's Love Lockdown, you can definitely feel the bass even with the setting at 0, once again the bass become too strong for my Grado, but this time 1 will cause a slight rattle and 2 sounds like its going to blow the drivers. But then again, the song Love Lockdown is incredibly bassy to begin with. Overall, I love being able to turn up the bass whenever I encounter a song that I think lacks bass. As dfkt's review mentioned, the 9db boost is "noticeable" (bass boost 1), while I would describe the 9db+9db bass boost as "holy crap!" (bass boost 2)
 
I'm not sure how to describe crossfeed feature as I never had an amp with this function before. The soundstage sounds the widest with the function off and more intimate as more crossfeed that you get. A fun feature to play with. You can get more detail and better understanding of this feature by reading dkft's comprehensive review of the Gen1 Arrow.
 
Almost forgot to mention the battery life. This amp's battery life is incredibly impressive. I have already had to recharge my S9 3 times while the Arrow is still not in need of a recharge. Quite frankly, I'm starting to think this thing is solar powered and charges itself during the day... just incredible.
 
My S9 strapped to the Arrow G2.2

 
A side by side look
 

 
A thickness comparison
 

 
and finally, the setup
 

 
 
*Updated with pics
Click to expand...

 
Nice setup dizzyraider ^_^
 
 
Dec 5, 2010 at 10:34 PM Post #1,328 of 4,123


Quote:
davewave said:
Where'd ya get those bands? I need them.
Click to expand...


As SoulSyde pointed, I picked them up from Amazon. I have found them to work really well because they are a lot tighter than the typical wristband type, it is very elastic too (keep in mind they are clear, so if you have it going across your screen, you can see right through it). Also unlike ALO who charges $10 for 3 of their hold-together rubber band, a pack of 3 nuforce costs $3. Not too bad if you ask me.
 

 
Quote:
golden monkey said:
Nice rig!
Click to expand...

    Quote:
soulsyde said:
Looking good DizzyRaider.
Click to expand...


    Quote:
syaknikwa said:
 
Nice setup dizzyraider ^_^
 
Click to expand...



Thanks 
biggrin.gif
 Hopefully you will all receive your amp soon. I have to tell ya, I understand your pain waiting for the amp to finally ship and arrive. 
 
Dec 5, 2010 at 11:34 PM Post #1,330 of 4,123
Dec 6, 2010 at 9:16 AM Post #1,332 of 4,123


 
Quote:
dizzyraider said:
Quote:
soulsyde said:
@DizzyRaider, have you been able to spend enough "quality time" with your new found friend to offer up a more detailed review?
Click to expand...



Hahaha, I have spent around 30 some hours with it and it's all with smiles. Not sure if it's burned in yet, but I thought it sounded pretty darn good right out of the box. I haven't had the time to listen to my (now my brother's:) ) SolderMonkey's upgraded Mini^3. I have been doing most my listening at night before going to sleep since I've been pretty busy the past few weeks. When I do get a chance to do the comparison with the Mini^3 and possibly the now extinct mSeed Labs Spirit amp, I'll be sure to post something up. Because quite frankly without a comparison with another amp, all I can really say is how well this amp sounds (which is pretty much everything).
 
Sound Impressions
 
The amp provides plenty of current (likely due to the powerful AD8397) to make my Grado happy. The highs aren't bright, but nice and clean, while the same thing can also be use to describe the lower frequencies. The bass isn't exaggerated nor is it bloated, it is just clean with impact.
There isn't much to say about the mid besides that is sounds lush and full, very satisfying.
I find the sound stage to be excellent and the clarity is also outstanding.
The above were my thoughts on the amp with bass set at 0
 
For good volume with the Grado and Ultrasone, the pot is turned about 3/4 with the gain set to 1 (keep in mind that Cowon S9 as a source isn't as loud as your typical line out and was set at 32/40 ). With gain set to 2, good volume is achieved at about 1/3 to 1/2.
 
With the bass set to 1, the lower frequencies are boosted by quite a bit. Listening to The Temper Trap's Sweet Disposition, the kick drum sounds like its just behind the other instruments (clean sounding btw). With bass set to 1, the kick drum sounds like it's right next to your ear sounding nice and deep. With bass set to 2, my Grado's will start to rattle because the bass is just too powerful. 
With Kanye's Love Lockdown, you can definitely feel the bass even with the setting at 0, once again the bass become too strong for my Grado, but this time 1 will cause a slight rattle and 2 sounds like its going to blow the drivers. But then again, the song Love Lockdown is incredibly bassy to begin with. Overall, I love being able to turn up the bass whenever I encounter a song that I think lacks bass. As dfkt's review mentioned, the 9db boost is "noticeable" (bass boost 1), while I would describe the 9db+9db bass boost as "holy crap!" (bass boost 2)
 
I'm not sure how to describe crossfeed feature as I never had an amp with this function before. The soundstage sounds the widest with the function off and more intimate as more crossfeed that you get. A fun feature to play with. You can get more detail and better understanding of this feature by reading dkft's comprehensive review of the Gen1 Arrow.
 
Almost forgot to mention the battery life. This amp's battery life is incredibly impressive. I have already had to recharge my S9 3 times while the Arrow is still not in need of a recharge. Quite frankly, I'm starting to think this thing is solar powered and charges itself during the day... just incredible.
 
My S9 strapped to the Arrow G2.2

 
A side by side look
 

 
A thickness comparison
 

 
and finally, the setup
 

 
 
*Updated with pics
Click to expand...


Nice first impressions review.I know like you do that the S9 benefits greatly combined with an amp.It's sounds fantastic with my ALO Mini^3.What UCI are you using on your S9?Looks slick.
 
 
Dec 6, 2010 at 10:05 AM Post #1,334 of 4,123
Guys (I assume), I don't want to be a buzz-kill here, but please don't quote an entire review and/or photos in a reply.  When replying to a post that does not immediately proceed your reply you can address the poster by saying:
 
@dizzyraider, [insert your reply here...]
 
It's just a pain in the *ss to scroll through a re-post of an entire review just to hear you liked it, especially if I happen to be on a smart phone.
 
I'm not trying to be mean, just passing along some helpful netiquette tips.
 
Dec 6, 2010 at 10:57 AM Post #1,335 of 4,123
It takes alot more than that to offend me! 
beyersmile.png

Honestly, I was looking at the pics with a not very good monitor and couldn't see the NuForce branding.
Anyway, now that I've got an audience with you smart guys, can you recommend a good quality LOD cable for iPod that doesn't cost more than $100?  I tried to get by with the FiiO L3 but the sound was so terrible I initially thought the Arrow was defective; fortunately I had a SendStation lying around and was able to confirm that it was the cable's fault, not the amp's.  But the SendStation isn't that great either and the cable is way too long.
Ideally what I'd like is something with right-angle plugs (both ends) to minimize added length to the whole rig.  My google searches (yes, I DO know how to use google!!) have yielded a few products in the $120+ range (including RSA, the Ear Candy Lite on TTVJ) but I'd prefer to stay well south of a Benjamin (at least for now).  Any suggestions?
 
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