FreeBlues
100+ Head-Fier
I’ve had the Lisa and iQube since mid December and I've now had some time to compare them (the Lisa was out on loan and the iQube will be going out soon. Oicdn reviewed my Lisa and will soon do a review on the iQube. You can read his report http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f5/upd...e-soon-237038/). Both are fully burned in and I’ve spent considerable time with each. I am hard pressed to say which one is better. That in and of itself should tell you a lot about the iQube!
First, I'm using a 5.5g iMod, portable vcap (sometimes), ALO Au/Ag cables and UE11's. I listen to blues/blues rock, classic rock, pop, acoustic guitar, some country and bluegrass. While all my files are lossless (ripped with EAC) the original recordings on lots of this music is average at best. I listen almost entirely at the gym where I spend between 2 and 3 hours every day.
Comparing the iQube to the Lisa is interesting. Neither is clearly better overall, but each has its strong points. Bass on the Lisa (without boost) is at times almost too strong, there seems to be a very slight bump in the mid bass. It is strong and detailed but sometimes, just sometimes, I wish I could cut it just a tad. The iQube bass is very quick, tight and amazingly detailed. It has all the slam and impact you could ever want. Opposite the Lisa, there are times, few but still times when I wish the iQube had a bass boost. This gets to be a song specific thing. Recordings with heavy bass sound better on the iQube, light bass recordings are better on the Lisa.
The midrange on both is beyond superb, best I've ever heard. (In the past I've owned a PRII, Pico, Move, SR71, Hornet and Tomahawk.) Detail, soundstage, bloom are all there. The iQube might be a bit more neutral and transparent while the Lisa might be a bit warmer. This is a personal preference and again is recording specific. For me and my music I might slightly prefer the Lisa. If I were a listener of classical music I think I would slightly prefer the iQube.
The treble on the Lisa is the best in the world, period. Everything in this range is rendered exactly right, just enough chime, perfect decay, nothing harsh or fatiguing, just natural, real life sounds. I never expected the iQube to match the Lisa here. I was wrong. The iQube is not better in the treble but it is as good. Well, let me think, in some ways it’s better and worse at the same time. Bad recordings, recordings with shrill treble and/or sibilance are much more obvious on the iQube. The Lisa seems to make bad recordings more listenable. I guess the iQube is more accurate and the Lisa more “musical,” if that makes sense.
Overall that last sentence may capture my feelings about these two amps. The musician in me likes to listen to each individual instrument and hear micro details, while the main use of my music is to get lost in the sounds. The iQube is maybe better for the former and the Lisa better for the latter. This might overstate my feelings, these are very minor differences, each amp is just exceptional and I’m glad I don’t have to pick between the two, at least based on SQ.
Some other things about both these amps that really sets them apart from others: balance, soundstage and power. The proportion of bass to mids to treble is perfect, exactly the way I imagine the bands sounded when the music was recorded (or that I’ve heard when listening to these bands live.) Bass isn’t forward or recessed, same with all the other frequencies. On recordings with great imaging and soundstage both these amps capture it fully. Particularly depth, these amps really render it well. Finally, especially with the Lisa is the sense of ease with which music is presented. The sense that the amp is barely breaking a sweat, that there are unlimited amounts of power in reserve, the control is just so relaxing! There is no strain, no effort at all. The Lisa does this better than the iQube but both do it with true magic.
Practically, the iQube is a far better choice for portable use. It’s smaller, built like a tank, gets 100 hours on a battery charge and is perhaps more user friendly (mini jack input and output). The Lisa is big, gets 5 hours on a charge, uses RCA and quarter inch plugs. The volume control on the Lisa with UE11s is hyper-sensitive. The slightest twitch on the volume control is noticeable. I actually prefer this micro control, others probably won’t. Cost and availability for the two should now be about the same.
Let me add some additional words about the other amps I’ve owned. These comments will be from memory since I don’t currently have them in house. My PRII has been out for repairs for the last 6 weeks so I haven’t had it on hand for a direct comparison. My memory is that this amp was very close to the Lisa. It had maybe a bit less bass. The treble was maybe even better than the Lisa. Hard to say without having the two to compare. My dim recollection of the PRII is that it might actually be the “best” amp for my system and my music, but it has proven to be a bit too fragile for my use. I take good care of my stuff but I do use things daily and portably. Carrying all this stuff with the attendant cables will be harder on equipment than using it around the house or office. Still, I just love the sound of this amp.
My next favorite was the SR71. For rock and music with energy and drive this was a great choice. The PRII replaced this amp, it was just better overall for me, but I could be very happy with the SR71.
I have to say that I sent the Pico back after giving it a good solid 3+ week trial (and 300 hour burn in). I ONLY used the amp section. It was okay, but the mids were waaayyy too forward for me, making the bass particularly recessed. I didn’t like it at all, which was too bad. I loved the size and build quality. Comparing it to the Lisa and iQube, which I did head to head, showed it to be a couple notches lower in terms of SQ. Not bad, just did not stand up to the very best.
My reactions to the Hornet and Tomahawk were very positive at the time. It’s been many months since I owned these amps. They were the best when they first came out but the latest offerings have eclipsed them, at least on my system. Great products, fairly priced, excellent value. In the money-no-object search for the best they aren’t in the same league.
Okay, bottom line. I hate it when I read a review and the reviewer says something like “these are all great products and you can’t go wrong… “ So, if I were absolutely forced to pick one amp and one amp only, I guess I would pick the Lisa, at least today. It has a certain “magic” about it that is hard to describe. Maybe it’s the power and control I mentioned above, maybe the “musical” vs. “analytical” nature of the beast, I’m not really sure. It is maybe more relaxing and easier to get totally lost in the music. It may well just be the hype and power of suggestion on these boards that keep reinforcing the “Lisa is the best” mindset! Whatever, the Lisa will probably get used slightly more than the iQube, but the mix will likely be in the 60/40 range rather than 90/10.
“Really, these are both great products and you can’t go wrong!”
First, I'm using a 5.5g iMod, portable vcap (sometimes), ALO Au/Ag cables and UE11's. I listen to blues/blues rock, classic rock, pop, acoustic guitar, some country and bluegrass. While all my files are lossless (ripped with EAC) the original recordings on lots of this music is average at best. I listen almost entirely at the gym where I spend between 2 and 3 hours every day.
Comparing the iQube to the Lisa is interesting. Neither is clearly better overall, but each has its strong points. Bass on the Lisa (without boost) is at times almost too strong, there seems to be a very slight bump in the mid bass. It is strong and detailed but sometimes, just sometimes, I wish I could cut it just a tad. The iQube bass is very quick, tight and amazingly detailed. It has all the slam and impact you could ever want. Opposite the Lisa, there are times, few but still times when I wish the iQube had a bass boost. This gets to be a song specific thing. Recordings with heavy bass sound better on the iQube, light bass recordings are better on the Lisa.
The midrange on both is beyond superb, best I've ever heard. (In the past I've owned a PRII, Pico, Move, SR71, Hornet and Tomahawk.) Detail, soundstage, bloom are all there. The iQube might be a bit more neutral and transparent while the Lisa might be a bit warmer. This is a personal preference and again is recording specific. For me and my music I might slightly prefer the Lisa. If I were a listener of classical music I think I would slightly prefer the iQube.
The treble on the Lisa is the best in the world, period. Everything in this range is rendered exactly right, just enough chime, perfect decay, nothing harsh or fatiguing, just natural, real life sounds. I never expected the iQube to match the Lisa here. I was wrong. The iQube is not better in the treble but it is as good. Well, let me think, in some ways it’s better and worse at the same time. Bad recordings, recordings with shrill treble and/or sibilance are much more obvious on the iQube. The Lisa seems to make bad recordings more listenable. I guess the iQube is more accurate and the Lisa more “musical,” if that makes sense.
Overall that last sentence may capture my feelings about these two amps. The musician in me likes to listen to each individual instrument and hear micro details, while the main use of my music is to get lost in the sounds. The iQube is maybe better for the former and the Lisa better for the latter. This might overstate my feelings, these are very minor differences, each amp is just exceptional and I’m glad I don’t have to pick between the two, at least based on SQ.
Some other things about both these amps that really sets them apart from others: balance, soundstage and power. The proportion of bass to mids to treble is perfect, exactly the way I imagine the bands sounded when the music was recorded (or that I’ve heard when listening to these bands live.) Bass isn’t forward or recessed, same with all the other frequencies. On recordings with great imaging and soundstage both these amps capture it fully. Particularly depth, these amps really render it well. Finally, especially with the Lisa is the sense of ease with which music is presented. The sense that the amp is barely breaking a sweat, that there are unlimited amounts of power in reserve, the control is just so relaxing! There is no strain, no effort at all. The Lisa does this better than the iQube but both do it with true magic.
Practically, the iQube is a far better choice for portable use. It’s smaller, built like a tank, gets 100 hours on a battery charge and is perhaps more user friendly (mini jack input and output). The Lisa is big, gets 5 hours on a charge, uses RCA and quarter inch plugs. The volume control on the Lisa with UE11s is hyper-sensitive. The slightest twitch on the volume control is noticeable. I actually prefer this micro control, others probably won’t. Cost and availability for the two should now be about the same.
Let me add some additional words about the other amps I’ve owned. These comments will be from memory since I don’t currently have them in house. My PRII has been out for repairs for the last 6 weeks so I haven’t had it on hand for a direct comparison. My memory is that this amp was very close to the Lisa. It had maybe a bit less bass. The treble was maybe even better than the Lisa. Hard to say without having the two to compare. My dim recollection of the PRII is that it might actually be the “best” amp for my system and my music, but it has proven to be a bit too fragile for my use. I take good care of my stuff but I do use things daily and portably. Carrying all this stuff with the attendant cables will be harder on equipment than using it around the house or office. Still, I just love the sound of this amp.
My next favorite was the SR71. For rock and music with energy and drive this was a great choice. The PRII replaced this amp, it was just better overall for me, but I could be very happy with the SR71.
I have to say that I sent the Pico back after giving it a good solid 3+ week trial (and 300 hour burn in). I ONLY used the amp section. It was okay, but the mids were waaayyy too forward for me, making the bass particularly recessed. I didn’t like it at all, which was too bad. I loved the size and build quality. Comparing it to the Lisa and iQube, which I did head to head, showed it to be a couple notches lower in terms of SQ. Not bad, just did not stand up to the very best.
My reactions to the Hornet and Tomahawk were very positive at the time. It’s been many months since I owned these amps. They were the best when they first came out but the latest offerings have eclipsed them, at least on my system. Great products, fairly priced, excellent value. In the money-no-object search for the best they aren’t in the same league.
Okay, bottom line. I hate it when I read a review and the reviewer says something like “these are all great products and you can’t go wrong… “ So, if I were absolutely forced to pick one amp and one amp only, I guess I would pick the Lisa, at least today. It has a certain “magic” about it that is hard to describe. Maybe it’s the power and control I mentioned above, maybe the “musical” vs. “analytical” nature of the beast, I’m not really sure. It is maybe more relaxing and easier to get totally lost in the music. It may well just be the hype and power of suggestion on these boards that keep reinforcing the “Lisa is the best” mindset! Whatever, the Lisa will probably get used slightly more than the iQube, but the mix will likely be in the 60/40 range rather than 90/10.
“Really, these are both great products and you can’t go wrong!”
