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Originally Posted by mkozlows /img/forum/go_quote.gif
Yeah, the Micro Amp is really great. Three and a half years now, I've had the Micro Amp (the 2005 version, which is not even as nice as the one you can buy today). And nearly that whole time, I've intended to upgrade to HeadRoom's higher-end stuff, on the basis that if they can do this at the low end, just imagine what they can do at the high end. But I keep getting stymied but not being able to really find any flaw in what I have or to imagine how it could be better.
(If you read that linked post, don't worry: I've since moved the headphone system to the bedroom with a Squeezebox Duet, so I'm not being perpetually cut short of sleep...)
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I recently upgraded from a MicroAmp to Ultra-Micro Amp and DAC. For DAC, I was using a FireStone SpitFire 24bit. When I ordered the Ultra Micro Stack, I was feeling the way you did in that I really couldn't see my sound getting significantly better than it was. My former rig really sounded great, especially after obtaining some flac formatted DVD-Audio rips and with the amp burning in.
However, I decided to put my trust in HeadRoom and try the upgrade.
Just to appease my curiosity ... 'could it actually get better than this?' The MicroAmp and SpitFire DAC seem to be seen as entry level audiophile products, so I could afford to and wanted to see what the fuss was about.
After the upgrade, I was surprised at the similarity in overall sound, i.e., the general balance etc. The general fun factor in listening to my new rig was pretty much the same. However, there was distinctly more detail in some recordings where I could hear even more in the music. Your headphones will play a distinct role in appreciating these difference. The difference in extra detail varied from negligible, to more than subtle, depending on the recording quality.
So I've found more fun and fascination in the detail, detail that isn't essential for all, and even me. I could afford the Ultra Micro Stack and have no regrets getting it. However, I would, without any hesitation whatsoever, recommend my previous setup since it's not at all far removed from the ultra micro stack sound. IMO, it's no night and day thing, but there's a still easily heard improvement in sound detail and staging which in the realm of diminishing returns and where differences become increasingly subtle, may be considered to be a night and day difference. While I may not care about it when listening to my rock collection, it certainly adds to the fun when listening to some new age instrumental, classical and jazz.
So all in all, it can indeed get better than what you're hearing from the MicroAmp, but the point of diminishing returns does loom very near and it's a matter of what you want out of your system as well, the state of your wallet, and if you wish to explore the possibilities.
I think though that you could easily lay to rest the possibility of things getting better, by upgrading your headphones first, and not the amp.
It has separate DAC's for each of it's seven inputs so I can use all my older gear with the Micro amp as well as the Oppo. Haven't had time to burn the Micro in yet but so far the improvement over the Total AirHead I've been using for three years is astounding. No REALLY, I'm not kidding. My HD580's with the Micro have improved immensely. I'm hearing a clarity and space in the sound stage I never knew existed! Sweet highs with no subliminal grunge and rock solid bass. This was an impulse buy for me and I wasn't expecting this much improvement. Now you couldn't get the micro amp away from me unless you pried it out of my cold dead hands
Headroom, I'm a believer.....
