[blue4n3]

http://cgi.ebay.com/cMoy-Headphone-A...QQcmdZViewItem

what do you guys think? Uses BB2134PA, like the airhead. Anyone think that it will give the airhead a run for it's money??

 

[Pappucho]

The airhead now uses the AD8397.

 

[blue4n3]

is stand corrected.

The 8397 in my macro is nice...I like the sound. Has the airhead's sound then come close to the micro? I think the micro still uses the 2134, I know that Op-Amp isnt the main thing that shapes the sound, but do you think that the airhead competes well? Is the Bithead thicker than the Airhead?

 

[blue4n3]

is stand corrected.

The 8397 in my macro is nice...I like the sound. Has the airhead's sound then come close to the micro? I think the micro still uses the 2134, I know that Op-Amp isnt the main thing that shapes the sound, but do you think that the airhead competes well? Is the Bithead thicker than the Airhead?

 

[TheSloth]

The airheads and bitheads share the same outer casing, and overall weight.

The CMOY is unbuffered, and the current output and slew rate of a 2134 driving a headphone directly isn't particularly fantastic.

Also, regarding the sound of opamps in comapring one amp to another, remember that HeadRoom upgraded their sound quality when moving from the '03 to the '04 reference, despite the fact that they downgraded the opamp from the 627, king of opamps, to the 2134. It really is what you do with it that counts. And look at the Meier amps - they use LMwhatevertheyare's which as far as I understand are extremely cheap and cheerful opamps, yet they sound fantastic in his circuit design.

 

[jbloudg20]

Exactly, it is all about design. The CMOY, although a great design, can be easily beaten with a little thought. Not that this is such a surprise, as the intention of the CMOY was to have a cheap, simple amp for the masses to build.

 

[kramer5150]

isnt the 2134 a variant of the 2132?... and hence nearly identical?

 

[TheSloth]

Yes, they are the same design. The 2134 has higher tolerance for DC offset.

 

[ryanhayn]

how does this one compare? http://cgi.ebay.com/Rechargeable-Hea...QQcmdZViewItem

 

[TheSloth]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryanhayn how does this one compare? http://cgi.ebay.com/Rechargeable-Hea...QQcmdZViewItem

Compare to what?

 

[blue4n3]

cool, thanks for all the replies. That said, any opinions on the comparison/difference betweent the NEW bithead and the microstack? I am guessing that the Microstack blows it away, but Curious how much difference. I ask this becuause I am considering a portable rig for my laptop to take to school, different locations in my house, Panara, etc. The MicroStack is more transportable than portable, but that is ok if the quality of sound is that large. BTW...I will mainly be driving IEM with them, but may get some smaller cans to use with it now and then. I also want to be able to drive my 240m (600ohm) with it at home, but if the sound with IEM is not that vastly improved by the Microstack that cannot be done with the Bithead, then I may just get an ultraportable setup, and invest in a staionary set up later.

thanks for the replies

 

[ryanhayn]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheSloth Compare to what?

duh...to the one in the first post.

 

[Teerawit]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryanhayn duh...to the one in the first post.

That one uses a crankier opamp, so the circuit would have to be a little more complex than the OPA2134 cmoy circuit. Anyway, the LM6171 opamp has a faster, cleaner, and more neutral sound than the OPA2134.