[KT66]

Send it back, I had similar problem and got it swapped. esp if flicking the balanced/normal switch fixes it.
 
I believe the same cards will work.
What card are you referring to? there were two Classic cards

 

[LarsHP]

The HD/Vintage switch will be in software in the HM-901s IIRC.

 

[KT66]

There must be a delay or is this the quietest flagship launch ever on Head Fi?

 

[T.R.A.N.C.E.]

^ Well it is internally 99% same as the old 901 so not exactly hype worthy.

 

[Mimouille]

^ Well it is internally 99% same as the old 901 so not exactly hype worthy.

 


I slightly disagree:
- There is a bit more optimisation internally (more credible technically than AK240 vs. 240SS which had a huge hype)
- There is new amp card with it, Minibox Gold
- The 901 with Minibox was according to me already better or at least as good than all other competitors in terms of sound, so slight improvement keeps it a the top

 

[T.R.A.N.C.E.]

Well, I was anti-hyped for the 240ss (and now ak380) 

 Yes the 901s is a more credible upgrade than the 240ss, which isn't saying much 

 
Minibox Gold isn't specific to 901s though. I'm not concerned with the addition of an extra clock, which does nothing for people that listen to 16/44 (aka me). The only internal optimization is the analog stage "tweak", which I'm not sold on (based on the pcb pics where new and old look very similar), but any little change is usually audible, so it may be a bit better. The new stepped attenuator is welcome though. Of course the old 901 is already great, so stands to reason it doesn't need much if any fixing, and the new minibox gold is impressive.
 
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't interested in buying the 901s 

 

 

[KT66]

Have you heard minibox gold, and why cant I find one review of the Dock anywhere on the web ?

Just the removal of the silly balanced/normal switch and more vol steps means I am tempted. Though now listening to 901 with classic card & Ath-Es10, and I struggle to think how the sound could be better! I must admit I was little disappointed in first minibox card.

 

[Vartan]

Guys how can line out have THD 0.008%, but amp card have much lower? (mini box gold 0.0003)

 

[T.R.A.N.C.E.]

I haven't heard the new gold card, but it is impressive that it uses the metal can version of opa637 with a staggering 8x buf634.

 

[shakur1996]

Have you heard minibox gold, and why cant I find one review of the Dock anywhere on the web ?

Just the removal of the silly balanced/normal switch and more vol steps means I am tempted. Though now listening to 901 with classic card & Ath-Es10, and I struggle to think how the sound could be better! I must admit I was little disappointed in first minibox card.

I'm still not impressed with 901 w/ classic card and I heard 901 w/ minibox, IEM and balanced (in SE mode) and wasn't impressed either with those cards. To my ears, with my CIEMs Dx100 has more or less same SQ level, but its UI is far better than 901's UI; addtionaly, 901 step attenuator is a nigtmare with my CIEMs. On the other hand 901 wins in terms of size and battery life.

 

[Musicdiddy]

I see from their Facebook page that it is now available to buy. Does anyone know if you can create playlists on the HM901S because I thought I read somewhere that it wasn't possible on the 901?

 

[KT66]

@shakur1996 I can only guess the 901 you heard was broken

 

[goodvibes]

 

  ^ Well it is internally 99% same as the old 901 so not exactly hype worthy.

 


I slightly disagree:
- There is a bit more optimisation internally (more credible technically than AK240 vs. 240SS which had a huge hype)
- There is new amp card with it, Minibox Gold
- The 901 with Minibox was according to me already better or at least as good than all other competitors in terms of sound, so slight improvement keeps it a the top

To be fair. AKs get bumped and tons more ink due to the evil empire contingent. Their FW, portability and availability also gives them a larger audience.
 
As for the 901s I heard, I thought it was very good.

 

 

[shakur1996]

@shakur1996 I can only guess the 901 you heard was broken

Nope it is fully operational and most of the time I'm using it via line out. 901 w/ LO to my amp does not sound better than dx100 via LO to my amp. Actually I prefer dx100. For the time being dx100 sounds more natural to me, is less aggresive and of course is more spacious. 901 is very, very good, but not better than dx100. It does not have better separation, better texture or better extension, maybe 901 is just a tad more resolving (but the differences is like 1%), but 901 has this strange coloration to the vocals which does not sound right to me (this coloration is also heard by at least other three people - one of them listened to my 901 but the other one listened to 901 at local shop). For the time being I don't hear any benefit of dual DACs (I know that the main purpose is to have fully balanced sound, but I also hear that some say that dual DACs gives for example better separation etc. - IMHO this is not the case).
 
Please though bear in mind that I'm using both of the DAPs with my CIEMs i.e. SE 5way Ref, so maybe there is a pairing issue, but honestly I don't think so.

 

[Mimouille]

I found 901 only a little bit better than AK240 or Cowon P1 with iem. The difference was much too subtle to justify the bulk. Especially with 240, because even if 901 had more depth, fullness and authority, I preferred 240 clarity and texture.

I still want to listen to 901 and see how it feels in hand.