PK1 with Sony NWZ-A818

[Vaughn]

Has anyone tried this particular combo?

Does the Sony have enough juice to power the PK1's?

 

[tstarn06]

Enough juice, yes. Though barely.

As you will find if you search the PK1 threads, these buds NEED an amp to really deliver their true identity. At $169, I guarantee you will be disappointed if you use them through your Sony sans amp. I have both a Sony DAP (A816) and the PK1s (I'm a major fan and early buyer), and I don't even bother to plug them in without the MiniboxE+ nearby. Even the Pengamp works okay. So save your money and buy the PK2s or PK3s (which sound fantastic paired with the Sony DAP). Heck, for $50 you can get a great set of buds in the PK3s, and spend the balance on a nice amp.

And regardless of what others might say, the Sony A816 can benefit from an amp, even without a line out cable (using the headphone jack). Right now, I am listening to the Sony with AL 716s amped with the Minibox, and Prince sounds fantastic on When Doves Cry.

 

[mcoleg]

even d2 can't open up pk1 completely... an amp is needed to get full potential out of them with 818 for sure.

that said, the combo sounds pretty nice as is - i dug out my pk1's and plugged them into 818; listening to it right now...

 

[tstarn06]

Agree the sound is nice (PK1/Sony DAP), but at its price point, all I meant to say is the PK1 needs an amp to deliver its true colors. Otherwise, it's not much more than an expensive ear bud. And on my 816, you need to put the volume to the max to get decent sound. Maybe your experience is different. I just would not recommend buying the PK1 to use with the 816 without an amp.

 

[montell]

So how much of an improvement is the penguin amp? You say it works ok? That doesnt sound really positive

Does it do like an adequate job but I'm better of buying an amp in the $100-200 range? I got the pk1 too and I'm just looking for a cheap amp. No bells or whistles. But I do want to unlock the pk1s potential

 

[tstarn06]

Quote:

Originally Posted by montell /img/forum/go_quote.gif So how much of an improvement is the penguin amp? You say it works ok? That doesnt sound really positive Does it do like an adequate job but I'm better of buying an amp in the $100-200 range? I got the pk1 too and I'm just looking for a cheap amp. No bells or whistles. But I do want to unlock the pk1s potential

Let me do a quick listen this afternoon and I will post a response. Haven't used the Pengamp much lately, but I remember it was fine. But I will check it out and let you know.

 

[tstarn06]

Okay, so I listened to a variety of tracks (vocal, jazz, classical, etc.) and the main difference with the Pengamp is that on some older recordings, where the volume was low to begin with, the Pengamp gives you much more flexibility in terms of volume. That right there to me is a reason to add a lower budget amp for a PK1 setup, if you don't want to shell out $100-$200 for an amp on the next level.

But even saying that, my ears say the Pengamp has a definite positive impact on the PK1s out of the A816, even without a line out on the Sony. I just hear a richer, deeper sound with the PK1s when I use the Penguin vs. when I don't. Without an amp, they sound like good ear buds, but no better than the PK3s, though harder to drive. In fact, some are going to think I am crazy, but the PK3s sound better out of the Sony A816 than the PK1s unamped.

Just my view. If I had to choose not having an amp, I'd choose the PK2s or PK3s over the PK1s, not just for value, but for SQ too. The PK1s ampless are not worth $169 in my view. And the Pengamp does them justice. I am sure there are other CMOYs that also will get it done, and it won't cost you a lot. Of course, at $69, the Pengamp isn't that far from some of the other mid-value amps getting good reviews on Head-Fi.

I would read any and all reviews of the Penguin Amp on here, and then compare it with the reviews on other amps.

One thing I do like about the Penguin is the tin. While it's the basic CMOY case, it's light, and the volume knob is large, so when you are moving around, all you need to do is rubber band it to your Sony, stick it in your pocket, and when you need to adjust volume, it's very easy to do. That means something to me, since I do walk around with an amp. Even the volume control on the Sony isn't easy to adjust when it's in your pocket.

That may seem like a mundane thing, but I find it valuable.

Anyway, here's a review of the lower-priced Penguin.

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f5/rev...-lyrix-262751/

Note: See post #39 in particular.

 

[kaushama]

I use PK1 with A818 but amp with it either Xin Reference or Supermini IV. The best portable I have heard for sometime!!!!

 

[tstarn06]

I can understand that. Couldn't really afford/justify a Xin, but I would love to have one. For less movement, I do use the MiniboxE+ extensively with the PK1s and the A816, and that sounds even better than the Penguin, but it's got some added bells and whistles (bass boost, PtoS switch, etc.).

 

[faichiu]

I tested PK1 with A818 in Sony store. They do not work very well.

 

[montell]

Thanks alot. I was considering the minibox D. Its $80 excluding shipping.

I'll guess I'll get the penguin. Do you think the minibox E is worth double the price of a penguin amp? If you had to rate both pure on bang for buck wich one would score

 

[tstarn06]

Quote:

Originally Posted by montell /img/forum/go_quote.gif Thanks alot. I was considering the minibox D. Its $80 excluding shipping. I'll guess I'll get the penguin. Do you think the minibox E is worth double the price of a penguin amp? If you had to rate both pure on bang for buck wich one would score

If I only I wanted to use an amp on the go, I'd choose the Penguin, since it's light (the Minibox is smaller, but weighs more) and much simpler to control. Hard to quantify if something is worth double the price. I really like them both, for different reasons. If I had to give up one, though, it would be the Penguin, because I do like the added features on the Minibox. Confused? I'd hate to have to give one up, I guess.

However, I own the older Penguin Classic, which has no bass boost, something the newer Penguin has to offer. Something to consider, because the PK1s can use a little bass boost for deeper, extended bass.

 

[montell]

Is the minibox e actually smaller then the penguin? It looks kind of big in the pictures. Is the weight really significant? Cause of its smaller then I dont see how weight would make it not the amp for on the go

 

[HardHeadCase]

How bout a Meier Headsix? Its very small and should sound very nice.

 

[tstarn06]

Quote:

Originally Posted by montell /img/forum/go_quote.gif Is the minibox e actually smaller then the penguin? It looks kind of big in the pictures. Is the weight really significant? Cause of its smaller then I dont see how weight would make it not the amp for on the go

Minibox is thinner and smaller than the Penguin, but to me, just seems clunkier, especially because I use the penguin in my pocket (first with the Zen V and now with the A816). As I mentioned, the lightness and ability to change the volume with the Penguin makes it more amenable to carrying while walking. When I am at home or sitting (plane, train, etc.), I always use the Minibox. One for each situation, you could say.