[TheDudeNextDoor]

I can't wait for mine to arrive, that review just got me even more excited.

 

[dfkt]

Quote:

I finally got around to doing a proper review of the Arrow. Here's the link for anyone interested:
 
http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/538016/review-the-headstage-arrow-he-portable-amplifier
 
rock it.
joel.

 
Thanks for putting the review in a normal thread, as well.
 

 

[Djo77]

Just ordered mine : )

 

[proedros]

Terrific piece of review - if interested in buying an arrow , read it ASAP
 
Quote:

I finally got around to doing a proper review of the Arrow. Here's the link for anyone interested:
 
http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/538016/review-the-headstage-arrow-he-portable-amplifier
 
rock it.
joel.

 

[Phoenyx1]

How would you guys say it would pair with a set of SM3s?  What would you recommend (<$300)?  

 

[dfkt]

What player are you pairing the SM3 with? The SM3 usually don't need an amp, except you've got a player like the Sony A845 or X1000 that perform really badly with multi-armature IEMs.

 

[Golden Monkey]

The SM3 doesn't really gain anything by amping them, but like dfkt says if your source is lousy it'll help.  I DO use it with my SM3s though because I like the crossfeed and bass boost options.  If I want to travel uber-light though, it's just the Brothers 3, J & SM.

 

[Redmetal1897]

Uh oh

...
 
Quote:

I have to disagree. Have you heard any of the Hifiman players? It is not possible for you to compare this player with a Sansa Fuze, for example. Even J3 loses by a wide margin.
 
Cheers,
 
Peter
 

 

 

[Phoenyx1]

I just play it out of my iPhone 4 or iTouch 4th Gen.  Mostly 320 and some FLAC/AIFF.  I hope the Arrow helps, I also have a pair of TMA-1s.

 

[CARRION FEAST]

Mine arrived about a couple of hours ago, first impressions: very good, the size is unbelievable...smaller than expected. So far I've only been playing around with my SR80i's using a 7th gen iPod classic & find that the Arrow really fills out the sound just as well as my Yulong D-100 (the SR80's to me sound great un-amped but really open up with a little amplification) The bass feature is great. Been listening to some Daft Punk, and now some Guns & Roses.......might be listening for a while 

 

[cn11]

 
Just received the upgrade 3G Arrow today, and am having my first listen. I am going to do some comparing back to back with my 1G for a day or so before I send it back. I appreciate that Robert sends out the upgrade unit before he receives the older one so this is possible. 
 
I did have a quick back and forth with both briefly already, and I think I do hear a slight improvement in treble sparkle. But additionally I believe I'm hearing a tad more depth to the soundstage. It seems every so slightly more spacious. Hiss seems about identical to me between the units using my Pro 900s during quiet musical passages. Of course the bass increases are more noticeable at each setting. 
 
 

 

[grokit]

Thanks for the impressions cn11, I am hoping my exchange will be here soon as well. Actually I haven't been to the po box in a while, maybe it's here now. Mostly I am glad I didn't cancel, as I have been wondering what the point of upgrading actually is but your impressions are exactly what I suppose I was hoping for.
It "sounds" like it will be worth it 

 
On another note, has anybody tried the Arrow with an Edition 8? Hopefully I will be able to compare the two Arrows with a set soon!

 

[cn11]

No prob grokit. So far it does indeed 'sound' like the upgrade is worth it! I just did a little more going back and forth with both Arrows, listening to Radiohead's In Rainbows, and I am confirming what I thought from before. Over lunch hour I was out thinking to myself... 'did I really hear any difference?'... but it is there. It's quite subtle, but the new one is just that slight bit more open sounding, and leaves you with this feeling of a hint of bigger sound. I think this is mostly from the increase in space and stage depth. It's actually a nice discovery hearing that extra openness. Instrument separation is that little bit more deep and noticeable as a result. I'm surprised Robert didn't talk about any gain in stage when he was noting the sonic differences because I do hear that. 
 
More to come as the 3G burns in.

 

[Smokhee]

I have paired the Arrow with my iphone 4, ipod mini (second generation), and ipod nano (first generation) via LOD.  All sources sound much better in powering my SE530s and especially my HD650s.  I have found that the mini sounds the best to my ears.  The iphone 4 is next best, then the nano.  Both the mini and the nano carry Wolfson DACs.  With the iphone 4, I have to go to "airplane" mode to eliminate interference-- another reason to use my previously dust-gathering mini.
 
What do you guys think about getting a better portable player?  What would you recommend?  I don't want to shell out more than say $200 and I don't want something too bulky.  I have looked into the Sansa, the sflo2, cowon, etc. on this board and can't really discern what I should do.  There appears to be some serious debate as to how much of an improvement that a "better" source will sound compared to the ipods.  Thoughts? 

 

[rehabitat]

The three daps you mentioned are good choices by all accounts. I would select one based on personal preferences regarding features desirable to you such as form factor, ergonomics, storage size and ease of use. Sound quality variations between these highly regarded units is probably minimal.