Hornet's Sound Signature

[luckybaer]

Hi. I'm still thinking about buying a nice, portable headphone amp, and I have my heart on a Hornet.

Could Hornet owners please post about the sound of the Hornet and what it was like going from no amp to the Hornet with a DAP of some sort?

Thanks.

 

[F1GTR]

http://www4.head-fi.org/forums/searc...archid=1971642

 

[luckybaer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by F1GTR http://www4.head-fi.org/forums/searc...archid=1971642

The link got me really excited. Unfortunately, it is dead.

And yes, I've tried the search. I was hoping that people would chime in after going through their burn-in period.

 

[rickcr42]

BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZzzzzz zzzzz


like a bee but different

 

[doctorjuggles]

Quote:

Originally Posted by luckybaer The link got me really excited. Unfortunately, it is dead.

The link was actually just a link to a search on the word 'Hornet' anyway

 

[F1GTR]

Quote:

Originally Posted by luckybaer The link got me really excited. Unfortunately, it is dead. And yes, I've tried the search. I was hoping that people would chime in after going through their burn-in period.

The burn-in period is long and gone for many owners of the Hornet. Feedback is already abundant.

Just click on the Search tab, then click on "Advanced Search" at the bottom.

Go in and type "Hornet" in the search bar. In the drop down tab below the search bar select "Search Titles Only". Then on the right where it says "Search in Forum(s)" click on "Amplification" so it searches that forum only.

Waalaaa....80+ threads with all the information you could want about the Hornet.

Head-fi has one of the best forum search engines on the web IMO. Just gotta know how to use it.

 

[wakeride74]

You'll want to use a line-out for best SQ. That said, the Hornet really adds a nice tube like texture to the music. It's fairly colored and has a nice sonic depth and weight. Bass is smooth and controlled with nice attack but could be a little tighter for my tastes. The highs have detail and sparkle but seemed a tad rolled off and maybe slightly too smooth for me.

Most of my impressions are based on use with the UM2 so FWIW some of these flaws may be more related to the UM2. I have also used it with my PS-1 and found similar pros and cons.

I would rate the Hornet above the SM3 and Micro amps for my tastes as I like the tube-like sound it has but I have not heard the SM3v6 yet and for some the options it offers may be of greater value... depends on your tastes and needs.

Good luck!

 

[luckybaer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wakeride74 You'll want to use a line-out for best SQ. That said, the Hornet really adds a nice tube like texture to the music. It's fairly colored and has a nice sonic depth and weight. Bass is smooth and controlled with nice attack but could be a little tighter for my tastes. The highs have detail and sparkle but seemed a tad rolled off and maybe slightly too smooth for me. Most of my impressions are based on use with the UM2 so FWIW some of these flaws may be more related to the UM2. I have also used it with my PS-1 and found similar pros and cons. I would rate the Hornet above the SM3 and Micro amps for my tastes as I like the tube-like sound it has but I have not heard the SM3v6 yet and for some the options it offers may be of greater value... depends on your tastes and needs. Good luck!

Thanks. The signature sounds like something I'll enjoy.

What do you mean by "tube like texture?" I've never heard a tube-amp before.

 

[rincewind]

I have a Hornet, the iRiver H140 (which has a pretty hefty output on it's headphone jack) and the Ety ER4-S. Also the Senn HD650 for home use.

This is going to be cliche, but the first song I pressed heard through the iriver>hornet>ety's was A Perfect Circle's "The Package" and I heard sounds I didn't know was there. The most obvious difference to me between amped and non amped was that with an amp, is that everything has a lot more (and natural) decay. I imagine this is because the amp is souping up those super delicate echo parts of the audio and they get all the way through to your head/earphones, as opposed to the hp out of the dap which I can now see was more or less going "meh... not loud enough, won't bother!). Not really a matter of volume but sensitivity. So it's the sum of all these little extras you hear. I won't pretend it makes much of a difference for really heavy metal. It does make a difference, but definitely less so than music where the instruments and singers have room to move. I find my metal benefits most in it's more laid back sections.

The Hornet most definitely colours the sound. Keyboardy effects on Jean-Michel Jarre's "Metamorphosis" CD take on (what I find to be) a very nice edge. Phase and flange effects are so much clearer. Who knows whether it's closer to what was originally recorded or whether it's mostly the Hornet's influence, but man does it sound good. I read somewhere else that someone else used to only hear warbled effects in some songs and now they can actually not only tell it's a human voice, but what the voice is saying too

I've found exactly the same with some Machine Head tracks, which have several layers and sometimes the mix gets cluttered going straight from the hp out, but from the Hornet, things are separated a lot better.

Side note: I must say, I first listened to this setup using no EQ. The Ety's lack bass impact without EQ'ing. It's there, but it's diminuitive. With classical it's fine, accoustic stuff fine, but once I got to electronica and rock/metal, I realised I would do my ears in if I turned up to the volume I wanted to achieve the kick I like for guitars and drums. So after rockboxing my iRiver, I've not dialled out some of the higher frequencies to make up for the lack of kick (note dialled OUT, since gain shouldn't be added if u want to maintain SQ). This is purely an Ety thing, as when I listen with my Senn HD650, the Hornet and Senn's are VERY well balanced. This is most likely because the Senn's are naturally darker/laid back. With Grados or something like that, I expect they'd be brighter. I'm hopefully going to listen using some MS-1s and see.

(After fixing the bass deficiency in my Etys) .. Fast bass lines are more well defined and there is even more tone to them, I used to think the bass lines were all the same on JMJ, but now I can hear how he has applied difference effects on each track.

Anyway, if you pick a track/album you know very well, and play that first when u receive ur Hornet, you will hear a few new things straight away. And I will vouch for the Hornet changing slightly with burn in. Mine's probably seen about 70 hours (nowhere near what Ray recommends as fully burnt in) and it has definitely become a bit more fuller sound than when I first received it (which seemed slighly bright).

Add to this the fact that I'm not even using lossless or CDs (just 32-320kbps VBR lame mp3) and I'm sure you'll find it worth getting a Hornet.

With the Shure's I expect you'd hear a difference. Does the Nano have a line out? I have NFI. Don't feed the Hornet from the HP jack

I can't wait til I hit 200 hours playtime and see what it sounds like. Hope this helps.

 

[luckybaer]

Thanks for the detail. That's the kind of stuff I was hoping would be posted.

No, the iPod doesn't have a line-out. I am going to get one of those adapters when I order my amp.

Thanks again!

 

[LFF]

Hornet owner here.

Let me briefly just say that the Hornet is an awesome amp and I couldn't be happier with it.

 

[Jasper994]

Quote:

Originally Posted by LFF Hornet owner here. Let me briefly just say that the Hornet is an awesome amp and I couldn't be happier with it.

I'm with you on that one...

I was about to mention how great it pairs with the UE-10 and E4, but then I realized, it makes all of my headphones (as well as your HF-1 and Petery83's HD650/Zu) sound great!

I'm definitely picking up one of Ray's home amps when I have the cash!

 

[909]

Quote:

Originally Posted by LFF Hornet owner here. Let me briefly just say that the Hornet is an awesome amp and I couldn't be happier with it.

DITTO!

Plus it's back by Ray's great customer service and warranty.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jasper994 I'm with you on that one... I was about to mention how great it pairs with the UE-10 and E4, but then I realized, it makes all of my headphones (as well as your HF-1 and Petery83's HD650/Zu) sound great! I'm definitely picking up one of Ray's home amps when I have the cash!

It probably sounds a little bit better, you lucky Hornet raffle winner.