[vYu223]

Which is better based on sound quality?

A mini^3 or a portable/semi-portable pimeta?

 

[FallenAngel]

I haven't tried the Mini3, but I did have a Mini^3-fied PINT and I would say that I liked my portable Pimeta more. I had it running AD8066/AD8610 buffered by a single BUF634 on each channel and I enjoyed the sound quality more. Now I have it running OPA637/OPA627 and think it's pretty nice as well

Mind you that the Pimeta is somewhat larger and I run off 2x 9V batteries.

 

[applegd]

If you want the amp to be portable, I prefer Mini3v2 as it is more compact....

 

[amb]

Quote:

Originally Posted by FallenAngel /img/forum/go_quote.gif I haven't tried the Mini3, but I did have a Mini^3-fied PINT and I would say that I liked my portable Pimeta more.

The Mini³fied PINT is very similar to the old, never-released Mini³ v1. The current Mini³ v2 is different. Just thought I'd point that out.

 

[MisterX]

If this is your first build I would suggest the Pimeta.
(socketed op-amps and plenty of board space make it a very easy amp to debug)
Problem is the BUF634's have become very hard to find.

 

[vYu223]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MisterX /img/forum/go_quote.gif If this is your first build I would suggest the Pimeta. (socketed op-amps and plenty of board space make it a very easy amp to debug) Problem is the BUF634's have become very hard to find.

Nah, I've already built a cmoy before.

So are you saying that the mini^3 is better (SQ-wise)?

 

[MisterX]

Quote:

So are you saying that the mini^3 is better (SQ-wise)?

Nope.
I have one of each in front of me and I dunno that I could pick one over the other if the decision was based on sound quality alone.

 

[gtp]

Also realize that they are just very different. Mini^3 is small while Pimeta is large. Mini^3 runs on 9V while Pimeta runs 9-24V. Mini^3 does not allow opamp rolling while Pimeta does. Mini^3 has a built in regulator and charger while a Pimeta does not. Pimeta can be built high-end while Mini^3 is what it is. Etc, etc, etc.

I think a Pimeta CAN sound better than a Mini^3, but not all Pimetas do sound better than a Mini^3.

I would say my 24V OPA627 Pimeta was better than my Mini^3. But my 9V AD8620 Pimeta was not better than my Mini^3.

 

[NelsonVandal]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gtp /img/forum/go_quote.gif Also realize that they are just very different. Mini^3 is small while Pimeta is large. Mini^3 runs on 9V while Pimeta runs 9-24V. Mini^3 does not allow opamp rolling while Pimeta does. Mini^3 has a built in regulator and charger while a Pimeta does not. Pimeta can be built high-end while Mini^3 is what it is. Etc, etc, etc. I think a Pimeta CAN sound better than a Mini^3, but not all Pimetas do sound better than a Mini^3. I would say my 24V OPA627 Pimeta was better than my Mini^3. But my 9V AD8620 Pimeta was not better than my Mini^3.

Yes of course, it's almost all about what opamps you use.

You could use any opamps with enough current in Mini3, I think. Why not do some opamp rolling

. I have a modded Xenos with AD8066 as L/R and LMH6642 as ground, but it's more or less a Mini3 in a Xenos box. I prefer the sound of AD8066 to AD8397, at least when used with HD650.