[EFN]

[size=x-large]UPDATE:[/size]
A full review has been posted following up this thread. Read them here
http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f105/t...s-pics-400687/


================================================== ================================================== =====



I just can't believe it. Being a Xin amps fanatic for a very long time I am, I just cant swallow this thing called MiniBox-E+.....

Eh pardon me, the amp just arrived 3 hours ago and I plugged her in for some shakedowns. Since my replacement iRiver iHP-140 is not here yet, I jacked her in to my laptop headout. Can't resist the temptation, I took a listen with my ol ER-4S and bang! my brain melted! Xin Killer! that was the first my first reaction......... My laptop was notoriously noisy and scratchy with all other amps I ever paired with her (through the headout), but this baby was as silent as night.

Now I am just at third song, I was listening to Nick Cave's "Where the wild roses grow" and oh god how the danmed thing smoothen out the ER-4 highs - I mean silky smooth - and gone are the SS sibilance!. The mids are as transparent as can be expected and yes, just like my SuperMini-IV (latest) this MiniBox-E+ have bass boost as well and this worked like a charm to warm ER-4S bottom end without a hint of coloration....

And this with no more than 30 mins of burn in.

Most of you know I am a notorious supporter of Xin SuperMicro-IV (04/11/07), loved it to death. And now I have a SuperMini-IV which I loved too. But this MiniBox just trumped em.

Oh well, I will do a proper review when the MiniBox is all cooked and burned through 400hours. But already my SuperMini-IV is looking for a bleak prospect of collecting dust....and some pics too.


PS:
Sidenote, it seems that Head Direct has changed the design a bit. Gone are the SFOR switch which was, according to Mrarroyo, will enhance the soundstage or some sort of spatial control

......Oh dang, I just finished Nick Cave "the kindness of strangers" and I am just still in a state of disbelief.....

 

[ZoNtO]

Sweet man! So how does this rank so far then on your list of amps to use with the Etys?

Also, pics would be nice cuz the Head-Direct ones don't show the 75-ohm resistor switch anymore...

Seems like this or the XM5 would be great for the ER4p!

 

[ZephyrSapphire]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZoNtO /img/forum/go_quote.gif Sweet man! So how does this rank so far then on your list of amps to use with the Etys? Also, pics would be nice cuz the Head-Direct ones don't show the 75-ohm resistor switch anymore... Seems like this or the XM5 would be great for the ER4p!

They still do actually.

It's labeled PtoS

Lol.

 

[RAQemUP]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZephyrSapphire /img/forum/go_quote.gif They still do actually. It's labeled PtoS Lol.

I'm taking a guess that PtoS switch means ER4P to ER4S? Never really understood what that meant until now.

 

[ZephyrSapphire]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RAQemUP /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'm taking a guess that PtoS switch means ER4P to ER4S? Never really understood what that meant until now.

Yep somewhat. It's the resistor switch. More convenient to call it PtoS as most Headfiers would know about the Etymotics PtoS adapter cable rather than something called "75ohm resistor".

 

[EFN]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZoNtO /img/forum/go_quote.gif Sweet man! So how does this rank so far then on your list of amps to use with the Etys? Also, pics would be nice cuz the Head-Direct ones don't show the 75-ohm resistor switch anymore... Seems like this or the XM5 would be great for the ER4p!

This baby has it all to take the crown for ER-4 synergy - at least this what my ears tell me. As per my opinion stated earlier in a different post, the Xin SuperMini-IV is still a great partner for ER-4 as well - with that handy 6db Bass Boost and P to S switch (75 oHM).

But let's see how it goes and we will know for sure.

PS:
Yes, MiniBox-E+ does have that 75 oHM switch which is aptly named PtoS. Funny enough, this makes me think that the builder of MiniBox-E+ is an avid ER-4P....probably

 

[ZephyrSapphire]

Quote:

Originally Posted by EFN /img/forum/go_quote.gif PS: Yes, MiniBox-E+ does have that 75 oHM switch which is aptly named PtoS. Funny enough, this makes me think that the builder of MiniBox-E+ is an avid ER-4P....probably

I suppose he's one of them smart people who actually was smart enough to design it for IEMs and IEMs only. I mean c'mon. What's the point of getting a portable amp if not to pair it for IEMs.

 

[EFN]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZephyrSapphire /img/forum/go_quote.gif I suppose he's one of them smart people who actually was smart enough to design it for IEMs and IEMs only. I mean c'mon. What's the point of getting a portable amp if not to pair it for IEMs.

Makes perfect sense. This is why I practice monogamy of ONE IEM only

LOL!. And since I am a full time porta audiophilia, I don't have any full sized cans at all. My rigs have changed until I have lost count but my one and only IEM the rusty ER-4 remains.

 

[ZephyrSapphire]

Quote:

Originally Posted by EFN /img/forum/go_quote.gif Makes perfect sense. This is why I practice monogamy of ONE IEM only LOL!. And since I am a full time porta audiophilia, I don't have any full sized cans at all. My rigs have changed until I have lost count but my one and only IEM the rusty ER-4 remains.

I'm still laughing my arse off with some of the newer amps, especially from a certain company. I mean, who cares if a portable amp can power ________ headphones. They'd still be used with a pair of IEMs anyways. Might as well make a transportable amp if someone plans on lugging around a pair of full-sized headphones. Some of the marketing and initial review hype is just hilarious while being ridiculous at the same time!

 

[Z4N5H1N]

I'm pretty sure a ton of people use full-size headphones in their portable setup, myself included.

 

[4sound]

Head direct price jumped on the MiniBox E+ from $149 to $179 to now $229. Is it the same design or are there technical changes between the older ones?

 

[wuwhere]

EFN, what is an "UltraModded Etymotic ER-4S"?

 

[GreatDane]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Z4N5H1N /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'm pretty sure a ton of people use full-size headphones in their portable setup, myself included.

Count me in too.

 

[EFN]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wuwhere /img/forum/go_quote.gif EFN, what is an "UltraModded Etymotic ER-4S"?

It simply means my ER-4 has gone so many stages of mods LOL!

Anyway mine was probably the most abused and modded (so many times).

At some stage last year with Custom Molds

Second Recable using Zune stuff

Latest Incarnation...(will be recabled again very soon with 5N pure silver wires)

 

[wuwhere]

^^^ Cool! I'm like you. I've been a fan of ER4S for 10yrs now, I'm on my second one.