lz7j
New Head-Fier
- Joined
- Jan 22, 2007
- Posts
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I ordered a Go-Vibe V6 standard-gain (4), with a rechargeable MAHA 230mah battery, 12v circuit-test adapter and a 6’ mini-mini Cardas cable.
The package arrived 4 days later in a secured box with popcorn filling, each part sealed in individual bags. Well packaged.
The amp is housed in the Hammond aluminum case with durable plastic end caps securing the board. The volume knob feels nice – firm, but smooth at the same time. Adjusting the volume, there’s no scratches unlike my PA2V2 (low-gain, 2.5). Overall, I’m very impressed with the build quality. No imperfections that I’ve noticed.
The equipment I used is as follows:
Headphones – Sennheiser HD600 (with HD650 drivers and HD650 cable), AKG K701 (still burning in, 30 hours), AKG K81dj’s (150+hrs) and both my Westone UM1/UM2.
Source – Creative Zen Vision: M using the LOD and Cardas mini-mini interconnect cable. MP3’s encoded via LAME - - extreme.
Other amps – EM-U 0404 usb, RSA Hornet M (friends amp 250+hrs, iirc) and a PA2V2.
The GV6 has been burning in for 50+hrs using pink noise. And so far, here are my initial impressions regarding SQ.
For this test, I used my ‘HD625’. Before I start, I’d like to point out that there’s no “thump” during turn on or audible hiss with high impedance cans (HD625 and K701). However, with my iem’s (UM1/UM2), the ‘thump’ is audible on turn on and off (static fade off) – this might not be the case with the low-gain version. Also, it’s true what they say about the Hornet M. NO NOISE!
Soundstage - free flowing, good depth and width. I can vividly pin point instruments while listening to my limited collection of Classical music.
Mids – Transparent, good clarity and delivery. I feel that the sound isn’t tainted with warmness, unlike the PA2v2. The sonic signature is similar to the Hornet M. With the HD625 connected through my ZVM’s headphone jack at max volume, it sounded very anemic, lacking with no energy. With the GV6 inline, my 300ohm cans are being driven effortlessly. Listening to “The Art of Glenn Gould,” I was very surprised to hear the intricate details in the background – ie: him breathing.
Treble – Clear, good extension and has air. To be frank, I’m not too sure what to listen when it comes to treble. Though, I can attest that the GV6 sounds much like my friends Hornet M in both mids and highs.
Bass – Punchy, powerful and extends deeply. Not quite as much as the Hornet. This is where I was able to discern the two. I’m able to replicate the Hornet M bass performance with adjusting the EQ. At 80hz by + 3db and 250hz by + 1db.
On a blind test between three people, none of us were able to correctly guess which amp was used between the GV6 (EQ adjusted to compensate for bass) and Hornet M. Even with no EQ, it is still very difficult to correctly guess.
Songs used were: Beethoven - Symphony No.9 (Scherzo), Martha Wainwright – I Will Internalize, N.E.R.D – Things Are Getting Better.
Battery life – charges in 4hrs. With high impedance cans at 50% volume, I’m able to get an average of 9-10hrs using the 230Mah optional battery.
Problems with my GV6:
I’ve contacted Norm regarding a problem with my AKG K81DJ’s (2 weeks old), stock other than the foam removed. For the life of me, I can’t get these headphones to work properly with my GV6. Anything pass the 10 o’clock position, clipping/distortion starts and a blanket of white noise is added. Once the white noise ensues, I can turn the volume to minimum and yet, the white noise is still audibly present. I would have to turn the amp completely off for 2-3 seconds for the white noise to dissipate. I tried everything to no avail – whatever I do, I still can’t pass the 10 o’clock position on the volume knob. And no, it’s not my headphones as the problem does not exist on the Hornet M, PA2v2, or my EM-U 0404usb. Norm has offered to send me a low-gain version to see if the problem can be alleviated. Talk about customer service!
I’ll report back.
Thanks for reading!
UPDATE March 8/06
I received the new Go-Vibe V6 from Norm yesterday as promised. He sent me a low-gain version with the revised op-amps (AD8620/8610). I'm here to report that the problems with my AKG K81dj's no longer exists with the new amp!
Sound quality has improved in a dramatic sense, to my hearing. The AD8397 sounds warmer compared to the AD8620 - which is brighter, more analytical/detailed op-amp. Fast!
new - top. With the blue LED.
Sound Quality
Mids: Slightly recessed. It's not as pronounced or forward as the AD8397. Still clear and well defined.
Treble: So that's how it's supposed to sound! Breathes new life in my flat sounding K81's (I didn't know that these could sound like Grado's with healthier bass) and UM1's. Crispyness that extends in the higher range. The new soundstage is phenomenal - 'much larger than life'. Lots of 'air'.
Bass: Not as prominent as the AD8397, but still tight, refined and textured.
--------------------------------------------
PROS: Synergizes especially well with my "dark" sounding HD650's. Compliments my other cans quite good, too (k701, k81, um1/um2). Longer battery life (3x) 28-30 hours. More powerful! Despite of this amp being the low-gain version, it powers my high-impedance cans the same as the standard-gain AD8397, same volume position. Background noise/hiss is less using my sensitive iem's to check.
Now I can plug in/out my headphones without turning the amp off. You can't do that without risking damage to the op-amp using the AD8397 - from Norm.
CONS: Turn on thump is more audible, turning off thump is even louder, "turn on/off noise is normal and harmless" according to Norm.
I tried a pair of Grado sr60's with the new amp. To my ears, it was too shrilly and unpleasant. I guess I'm too much of a basshead and slightly unattuned to good sound, says a friend who loves the grado + ad8620 combo.
The package arrived 4 days later in a secured box with popcorn filling, each part sealed in individual bags. Well packaged.
The amp is housed in the Hammond aluminum case with durable plastic end caps securing the board. The volume knob feels nice – firm, but smooth at the same time. Adjusting the volume, there’s no scratches unlike my PA2V2 (low-gain, 2.5). Overall, I’m very impressed with the build quality. No imperfections that I’ve noticed.
The equipment I used is as follows:
Headphones – Sennheiser HD600 (with HD650 drivers and HD650 cable), AKG K701 (still burning in, 30 hours), AKG K81dj’s (150+hrs) and both my Westone UM1/UM2.
Source – Creative Zen Vision: M using the LOD and Cardas mini-mini interconnect cable. MP3’s encoded via LAME - - extreme.
Other amps – EM-U 0404 usb, RSA Hornet M (friends amp 250+hrs, iirc) and a PA2V2.
The GV6 has been burning in for 50+hrs using pink noise. And so far, here are my initial impressions regarding SQ.
For this test, I used my ‘HD625’. Before I start, I’d like to point out that there’s no “thump” during turn on or audible hiss with high impedance cans (HD625 and K701). However, with my iem’s (UM1/UM2), the ‘thump’ is audible on turn on and off (static fade off) – this might not be the case with the low-gain version. Also, it’s true what they say about the Hornet M. NO NOISE!
Soundstage - free flowing, good depth and width. I can vividly pin point instruments while listening to my limited collection of Classical music.
Mids – Transparent, good clarity and delivery. I feel that the sound isn’t tainted with warmness, unlike the PA2v2. The sonic signature is similar to the Hornet M. With the HD625 connected through my ZVM’s headphone jack at max volume, it sounded very anemic, lacking with no energy. With the GV6 inline, my 300ohm cans are being driven effortlessly. Listening to “The Art of Glenn Gould,” I was very surprised to hear the intricate details in the background – ie: him breathing.
Treble – Clear, good extension and has air. To be frank, I’m not too sure what to listen when it comes to treble. Though, I can attest that the GV6 sounds much like my friends Hornet M in both mids and highs.
Bass – Punchy, powerful and extends deeply. Not quite as much as the Hornet. This is where I was able to discern the two. I’m able to replicate the Hornet M bass performance with adjusting the EQ. At 80hz by + 3db and 250hz by + 1db.
On a blind test between three people, none of us were able to correctly guess which amp was used between the GV6 (EQ adjusted to compensate for bass) and Hornet M. Even with no EQ, it is still very difficult to correctly guess.
Songs used were: Beethoven - Symphony No.9 (Scherzo), Martha Wainwright – I Will Internalize, N.E.R.D – Things Are Getting Better.
Battery life – charges in 4hrs. With high impedance cans at 50% volume, I’m able to get an average of 9-10hrs using the 230Mah optional battery.
Problems with my GV6:
I’ve contacted Norm regarding a problem with my AKG K81DJ’s (2 weeks old), stock other than the foam removed. For the life of me, I can’t get these headphones to work properly with my GV6. Anything pass the 10 o’clock position, clipping/distortion starts and a blanket of white noise is added. Once the white noise ensues, I can turn the volume to minimum and yet, the white noise is still audibly present. I would have to turn the amp completely off for 2-3 seconds for the white noise to dissipate. I tried everything to no avail – whatever I do, I still can’t pass the 10 o’clock position on the volume knob. And no, it’s not my headphones as the problem does not exist on the Hornet M, PA2v2, or my EM-U 0404usb. Norm has offered to send me a low-gain version to see if the problem can be alleviated. Talk about customer service!
I’ll report back.
Thanks for reading!
UPDATE March 8/06
I received the new Go-Vibe V6 from Norm yesterday as promised. He sent me a low-gain version with the revised op-amps (AD8620/8610). I'm here to report that the problems with my AKG K81dj's no longer exists with the new amp!
Sound quality has improved in a dramatic sense, to my hearing. The AD8397 sounds warmer compared to the AD8620 - which is brighter, more analytical/detailed op-amp. Fast!
new - top. With the blue LED.
Sound Quality
Mids: Slightly recessed. It's not as pronounced or forward as the AD8397. Still clear and well defined.
Treble: So that's how it's supposed to sound! Breathes new life in my flat sounding K81's (I didn't know that these could sound like Grado's with healthier bass) and UM1's. Crispyness that extends in the higher range. The new soundstage is phenomenal - 'much larger than life'. Lots of 'air'.
Bass: Not as prominent as the AD8397, but still tight, refined and textured.
--------------------------------------------
PROS: Synergizes especially well with my "dark" sounding HD650's. Compliments my other cans quite good, too (k701, k81, um1/um2). Longer battery life (3x) 28-30 hours. More powerful! Despite of this amp being the low-gain version, it powers my high-impedance cans the same as the standard-gain AD8397, same volume position. Background noise/hiss is less using my sensitive iem's to check.
Now I can plug in/out my headphones without turning the amp off. You can't do that without risking damage to the op-amp using the AD8397 - from Norm.
CONS: Turn on thump is more audible, turning off thump is even louder, "turn on/off noise is normal and harmless" according to Norm.
I tried a pair of Grado sr60's with the new amp. To my ears, it was too shrilly and unpleasant. I guess I'm too much of a basshead and slightly unattuned to good sound, says a friend who loves the grado + ad8620 combo.
