oicdn
Headphoneus Supremus
- Joined
- Aug 28, 2006
- Posts
- 3,381
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- 11
Well, it arrived before I had to goto work, but luckily, I had a long lunch and ALSO got to play office jockey today. So this isn't a review per say, as I will include a review in my amp review (found in my sig) when I get a Hornet to compare it to (thanks to a kind head-fier lending it to me, Boomana) directly as well as get this beast burned in.
1st comes first. The packaging is IMPECCABLE. Size cut foam, everything put in seperate baggies. You also get a replacement rear panel AS WELL as a replacement battery door AS WELL as battery foam thingies to assure the battery seats good against the contacts. You don't get a cheesy allen wrench, but a decent one that's actually useable and has the balled end so you can use it at different angles. It's long and useable by people with large hands (not me). you also get an IC that doesn't sound half bad. It's no ALO cable, but hell, it's free and sounds pretty good! Honestly, the little details like this impressed me, and he gets a thumbs up! Kinda reminded me of Apple products. He took the time to include quality accessories/tools and gave you some pretty packaging....even if you are going to just toss them in the trash. It's the thought and presentation of it all, reminding you of your purchase.
Accessing the battery is cake cause it's a little panel that you take off, similar to that of something you'de find on a cell phone for your sim card. No unscrewing or anything. Nice. The battery polarity is clearly and easily marked, making it ALMOST idiot proof. I say almost, because you could be a complete jackass and ignore the clear as day, rather large symbols.
Let me just start off with saying I changed nothing, and left it with whatever the way it was shipped to me. However I did play with the crossfeed. Honestly, it's very subtle, however is DEFINITLY more noticeable on some recordings, and not too noticeable(if at all) on others. I suspect this is due to the loudness wars and some recordings being hotter than others. Also, it seems to have a much less effect when it's connected via USB. It's definitly more noticeable when on battery operation, some recordings getting distorted on the upper and lower extremes...
Now, onto the meat....
Songs used:
Aqualung - Brighter than Sunshine
Radical Face - Welcome Home
Bob Marley - I shot the Sheriff
Timbaland ft. Elton John - 2 Man Show
Kronos Quartet - Black Angels
Mindless Self Indulgence - Shut Me Up
Incubus - Warning
DJ Shadow - Organ Donor (extended Overhaul)
Transplants - Tall Cans
Eric B. and Rakim - Don't Sweat the Technique
Zero 7 - In the Waiting Line
Elsa - Dancing
Steelo - Let It Roll
As you can see, I've tackled pretty much EVERY genre....
Transparency and Hiss.
This amp is VERY transparent. There seems to be no recession, no clipping, and definitly no veil. I was quite surprised with it out of the box. With UM2's connected via TurboDock to a Nano, there was NO HISS. Hoever, via USB, there is a very audible hiss. Nothing annoying, but you know it's there, like on silent parts of songs, or when switching tracks. About as equivalent in hiss as say, a shuffle coming out of the HP jack.
Frequencies
Now...I don't know if this is because it's burning in, but HOLY **** THIS THING HAS BASS. In Presence, impact, and quantity. This thing hits some nasty low notes like I've only heard on Mister X's XP and a PRII. It has as much impact as an RSA amp from memory (will get a better comparo when the hornet arrives), but goes as low as an XP. The treble can equally get as high as the bass can get low. You can hear the cymbals really decay well. the midrange, this thing seems to handle female vocals REALLY nicely. Although, I'm not much a fan of male vocals as I am female vocals, unless it's rock, hip hop or just jammin music.
I will say however, the "weak link" in this little amp is the USB end. Not only because of the slight hiss, but because well, it seems to get really tamed down when acting as a USB device, rather than just an amp. The bass doesn't slam as hard, but it does go as low. Basically, if you've ever heard an XP it sounds like that. It has the quantity and silky-ness and oh so smooth sound with a large soundstage, but the brutal impact is missing. Otherwise, it's still a beast, and I still don't regret selling my XP and Indigo DJ to give this a shot. I honestly did not want to sell my XP, but the IDJ was just too much for what I needed, and one extra thing to carry/take out and put in. The Move made more sense to give a shot. And so far, is excelling in this respect.
Soundstage and seperation
Well, not much to say here. it does this very well. With IEMs, it's pretty impressive. The stage is fairly large but it's very upfront sounding. you can clearly pipoint where the instruments would be. It has a very studio live feel. If that makes sense...like you're listening live, but you're in the recording room.
Ergonomics and quality
This thing is SOLID. It's a slightly heavy bugger, but it's SOLID. Very nice case and everything. As stated by many, the volume knob is VERY close to the HP jack. With my UM2s there's very little room. S o those of you who have recabled cans with huge terminals, may have problems. It's not too hard to turn, I suspect it varies from amp to amp. It is stiff though, but definitly not as stiff as the PCIII I heard in Tampa, that thing was annoying hard to turn.
I'm not a fan of the symbals and whatever on the front, but who cares...I honestly forgot all about it once I heard it. But I like how everything is on the front unlike the PRII or TTVJ millet where some stuff is on the back. But this amp is CRAZY nice. The symbols I thinj are the only thing detracting from it being ABSOLUTELY beautiful like a PRII or RSA amp. That, and the jacks themselves look SLIGHTLY DIY, but that's just being *****hole-ish picky, lol. Otherwise, this amp is sexy.
Summary
For $235, this thing is a STEAL. The USB is great, and puts it almost sounding like an XP clone...which is definitly not a bad thing, if anything I would say is a HUGE HUGE compliment. Infact, I would say blind test, aside from the hiss (which the XP doesn't have whatsoever), you wouldn't be able to tell the difference. But on Battery-power, this thing sounds VERY VERY close to a PRII with the bass knob I would say about half way up, in impact, amount, and presence. I assume it will (unfortuneatly IMO) mellow out as burn in occurs, but this thing is a Bass-monster. It sure satisfies my want for bass as it sits now. The other frequencies DO NOT suffer as it sits out of the box. I have about 15 hours of burn-in as it sits while I type this. And like I said, I didn't change any settings from the way it comes from Jan, so there may be a different setting, but the only settings I played with are the Xfeed.
Skylabs review wasn't skewed at all...this amp is incredible. It will probably only get better as burn-in goes along, in which you can expect a "final and proper" review, as well as it being compared directly to a Hornet, as well as the other amps in my review(found in my sig).
1st comes first. The packaging is IMPECCABLE. Size cut foam, everything put in seperate baggies. You also get a replacement rear panel AS WELL as a replacement battery door AS WELL as battery foam thingies to assure the battery seats good against the contacts. You don't get a cheesy allen wrench, but a decent one that's actually useable and has the balled end so you can use it at different angles. It's long and useable by people with large hands (not me). you also get an IC that doesn't sound half bad. It's no ALO cable, but hell, it's free and sounds pretty good! Honestly, the little details like this impressed me, and he gets a thumbs up! Kinda reminded me of Apple products. He took the time to include quality accessories/tools and gave you some pretty packaging....even if you are going to just toss them in the trash. It's the thought and presentation of it all, reminding you of your purchase.
Accessing the battery is cake cause it's a little panel that you take off, similar to that of something you'de find on a cell phone for your sim card. No unscrewing or anything. Nice. The battery polarity is clearly and easily marked, making it ALMOST idiot proof. I say almost, because you could be a complete jackass and ignore the clear as day, rather large symbols.
Let me just start off with saying I changed nothing, and left it with whatever the way it was shipped to me. However I did play with the crossfeed. Honestly, it's very subtle, however is DEFINITLY more noticeable on some recordings, and not too noticeable(if at all) on others. I suspect this is due to the loudness wars and some recordings being hotter than others. Also, it seems to have a much less effect when it's connected via USB. It's definitly more noticeable when on battery operation, some recordings getting distorted on the upper and lower extremes...
Now, onto the meat....
Songs used:
Aqualung - Brighter than Sunshine
Radical Face - Welcome Home
Bob Marley - I shot the Sheriff
Timbaland ft. Elton John - 2 Man Show
Kronos Quartet - Black Angels
Mindless Self Indulgence - Shut Me Up
Incubus - Warning
DJ Shadow - Organ Donor (extended Overhaul)
Transplants - Tall Cans
Eric B. and Rakim - Don't Sweat the Technique
Zero 7 - In the Waiting Line
Elsa - Dancing
Steelo - Let It Roll
As you can see, I've tackled pretty much EVERY genre....
Transparency and Hiss.
This amp is VERY transparent. There seems to be no recession, no clipping, and definitly no veil. I was quite surprised with it out of the box. With UM2's connected via TurboDock to a Nano, there was NO HISS. Hoever, via USB, there is a very audible hiss. Nothing annoying, but you know it's there, like on silent parts of songs, or when switching tracks. About as equivalent in hiss as say, a shuffle coming out of the HP jack.
Frequencies
Now...I don't know if this is because it's burning in, but HOLY **** THIS THING HAS BASS. In Presence, impact, and quantity. This thing hits some nasty low notes like I've only heard on Mister X's XP and a PRII. It has as much impact as an RSA amp from memory (will get a better comparo when the hornet arrives), but goes as low as an XP. The treble can equally get as high as the bass can get low. You can hear the cymbals really decay well. the midrange, this thing seems to handle female vocals REALLY nicely. Although, I'm not much a fan of male vocals as I am female vocals, unless it's rock, hip hop or just jammin music.
I will say however, the "weak link" in this little amp is the USB end. Not only because of the slight hiss, but because well, it seems to get really tamed down when acting as a USB device, rather than just an amp. The bass doesn't slam as hard, but it does go as low. Basically, if you've ever heard an XP it sounds like that. It has the quantity and silky-ness and oh so smooth sound with a large soundstage, but the brutal impact is missing. Otherwise, it's still a beast, and I still don't regret selling my XP and Indigo DJ to give this a shot. I honestly did not want to sell my XP, but the IDJ was just too much for what I needed, and one extra thing to carry/take out and put in. The Move made more sense to give a shot. And so far, is excelling in this respect.
Soundstage and seperation
Well, not much to say here. it does this very well. With IEMs, it's pretty impressive. The stage is fairly large but it's very upfront sounding. you can clearly pipoint where the instruments would be. It has a very studio live feel. If that makes sense...like you're listening live, but you're in the recording room.
Ergonomics and quality
This thing is SOLID. It's a slightly heavy bugger, but it's SOLID. Very nice case and everything. As stated by many, the volume knob is VERY close to the HP jack. With my UM2s there's very little room. S o those of you who have recabled cans with huge terminals, may have problems. It's not too hard to turn, I suspect it varies from amp to amp. It is stiff though, but definitly not as stiff as the PCIII I heard in Tampa, that thing was annoying hard to turn.
I'm not a fan of the symbals and whatever on the front, but who cares...I honestly forgot all about it once I heard it. But I like how everything is on the front unlike the PRII or TTVJ millet where some stuff is on the back. But this amp is CRAZY nice. The symbols I thinj are the only thing detracting from it being ABSOLUTELY beautiful like a PRII or RSA amp. That, and the jacks themselves look SLIGHTLY DIY, but that's just being *****hole-ish picky, lol. Otherwise, this amp is sexy.
Summary
For $235, this thing is a STEAL. The USB is great, and puts it almost sounding like an XP clone...which is definitly not a bad thing, if anything I would say is a HUGE HUGE compliment. Infact, I would say blind test, aside from the hiss (which the XP doesn't have whatsoever), you wouldn't be able to tell the difference. But on Battery-power, this thing sounds VERY VERY close to a PRII with the bass knob I would say about half way up, in impact, amount, and presence. I assume it will (unfortuneatly IMO) mellow out as burn in occurs, but this thing is a Bass-monster. It sure satisfies my want for bass as it sits now. The other frequencies DO NOT suffer as it sits out of the box. I have about 15 hours of burn-in as it sits while I type this. And like I said, I didn't change any settings from the way it comes from Jan, so there may be a different setting, but the only settings I played with are the Xfeed.
Skylabs review wasn't skewed at all...this amp is incredible. It will probably only get better as burn-in goes along, in which you can expect a "final and proper" review, as well as it being compared directly to a Hornet, as well as the other amps in my review(found in my sig).
