[Fixup]

 

[Andrew Pielet]

What make this a META rather than a CMOY?

 

[jpelg]

Su-weeeeet!

 

[RickG]

Why can't I see these pics?

 

[Fixup]

Andrew:
They have the key features of META: FET input, buffered output and multiple feedback loops. The spiders are LMH6643 used as the buffer (unit gain). This chip works officially at 3V, so the amp can use either 4.5V or 9V batteries. The caps are Panasonic P-series polypropylene. The cases are Radio Shack 4-AAA and 4-AA battery hlders with cover and power switch.

 

[grinch]

that looks like it would be THE amp for a minidisc user.. just get some velcro and put the two together. what an awesomely portable amp/source combo!

 

[Fixup]

Grinch, exactly. I use them with my sharp MT877. Before you attach the amp to a MD, you may want to cut shorter the power switch button.

 

[Tim D]

I just got mine in the mail...thanks Fixup! As always when it comes to things this small it truly needs to be seen to be appreciated. Having tried and still using Fixup's Ety replacement cords I knew he was just great when it comes to working with just tiny things...and this is just another example. Again the build quality and just design really just blew me away. The battery compartment snaps on and off securely...there is also a great on/off switch that I didn't notice from the pictures before.

Anyways I just got it and I'm listening to it right now and the impressions are quite positive, but I'll comment further on that later after more listening. As far as looks, build, and design it is really a winner. I say this after going through a variety of DIY and commercial portable amps. I will try to take my own photos later so one can appreciate scaling better in case anyone can't tell how small the amp in scale of the AAA batteries which are small in themselves.

 

[lextek]

So Fixup is selling these?

 

[nanahachi]

indeed. fixup, are you selling things? how can we get our hands on them?
EDIT: oops, here it is:

http://www.fixup.net/tips/pktamp/

also, forgive my rank amateurish nature, but how does this stack up against JMT's mint tin amps, or others of the same size/nature (are there any???)

damn, it looks great btw.

thanks all

 

[tanfenton]

Nanahachi,

Nevermind, it looks like you found it.

NGF

 

[FCJ]

I just ordered one. It looks too good to pass up.

 

[Tim D]

Someone shot me a PM concerning this amp even though I have had it less than a day. I ended up giving my thoughts and impressions as asked of me. It turned out to be a bit long so I felt I should post it since I know the question was asked and is bound to be asked again and again. Basically the "how does it compare blah blah blah?" question.
---

The Fixup amp is a great portable amp because it really pushes the limit of performance/price, performance/size, and performance/battery life. It manages to sound good with not a whole lot of juice, but seems to do it very well when even compared to something like the Porta Corda (original) off a 9V, or the TA(latest).

A long time ago I remembered the CHA-47 as being a leader in portable amps (admittedly there weren't too many varieties of portable amps to choose from back in the day) in terms of having the right compromises and didn't think it could get much better in terms of portable performance. But I think things have managed to progress since then. The Cha-47 is a punchy amp but somewhat colored and far from the last word in transparency or neutrality. Strangely enough this amp is most like the SR Grado of amps in terms of its sonic characteristics. Indeed the CHA47 was originally meant for the Grado line of headphones but of course was still good enough to be used for other phones. In size, performance, price, looks, etc I think it hit a real sweet spot for the time being and was a favorite of mine.

The PC(original) came along and was a lean and mean good sounding machine, but had slightly hard highs and a 9V battery truly did seem like the minimum it can run off of. It had a good design and features to boot. Strangely enough the PC(original) sounds like the Beyer DT931 of portable amps. It became my next new favorite.

The TA(latest) was good for a 3 AAA amp, and goes loud effortlessly but may lack the last bit of detail and refinement compared to most amps discussed. I really liked the use of 3AAA's however.

The Fixup amp has some of the better qualities of both the CHA-47 and Porta Corda amps even off the batteries of a TA(3AAA). It is very punchy yet still has plenty of detail without being harsh. Can't compare with other Meta designs as I never heard 'em...the Fixup design is obviously custom variant or cousin meant to be tiny running off minimal power and is obviously not an over the top or full-fledged Meta design although it borrows elements from it.

I can't compare with a full-sized Meta but I think its a pretty safe assumption that other Meta variants can have more power and part selection and other design features that c/would make them a better performer sonically.

My AKG240S despite being marketed as easily powered, is still classic AKG in being pretty difficult to power and taxing of battery powered amps. It has low sensitivity and low impedance, so it is often both current hungry and just power hungry only second or third to its older bigger brothers like the K501, K240M in this respect. I could always clip many a portable amp with the AKG240S, and with the Fixup and an over-compressed album like Lenny Kravitz, I could get it to clip at moderately high volume. But even the Porta Corda and other 9V amps I've tried could clip in some circumstances even with twice the voltage. With the ER4S I think I would have a very difficult time getting the Fixup amp to ever clip without bleeding ears. I will need more time to see its overall performance with my Nimh AAA battery set which probably gives less than 4.5 volts because they are Nimhs. I have the 3 AAA super-mini so maybe the 3AA or 9V mini amp has more power reserve with also the bigger caps. Right now I'm using the same set of 3 AAA batteries on Queensryche Operation Mindcrimes with plenty of gusto with no clipping, but that is because it isn't a terribly compressed recording like Kravitz.

All in all even the super-mini is still good enough even with the K240S for most listening conditions and AKG's are always some of the hardest to please with portables(yes even the one AKG phone designed with portables in mind). I think the Fixup amp has a lot of potential to hit a new sweet spot in performance/price, performance/size, and performance/battery life in a portable amp. Also I like the novelty of having an amp so small, that is so deceiving of what it is capable of in sound...kinda like my Ety's, and I can see it as a new favorite portable amp as I continue to listen to it.

Anyhow I still haven't divulged too much on its sound and may do so after longer listening. Right now I hear a good deal of warmth compared to the PC, but not to the extent of distraction. Also a *very* suprisingly powerful and rich bass line as opposed to an almost overly tight bass of the PC(original). Although I don't think I can call it absolutely transparent yet, it definitely doesn't hide me from poor compressed or harsh bad sounding recordings either. Likewise it makes good recordings that much more enjoyable.

I took another picture of it...I think it is the coolest picture yet with it lying on top of some floppy disks.

 

[FCJ]

TimD,

Excellent.

BTW--did you try the Fixup with Etys?

 

[Fixup]

Note that there are two amps in the pictures at the beginning of this thread: super mini and mini. The mini is only slightly larger than the super min, but can use either 9V or 3 AA. The two pictures at the bottom have been updated. Now there is no more that button connector and 9V batt can be inserted directly. No any damage if the 9V is inserted in wrong polarity. They even work with just two AA or AAA batteries and automatically detect and make the best use of the batteries.