[jamespb78]

Just incase anyone is interested in my non-professional basic thoughts on these 2 Amps that I own.

My Hornet M probably has about 700 - 800 hours on it. Predator is in the burn in process.

When I first got the Predator about a month ago - I must say it was pretty average. I couldn't really stand listening to it - so kept on using my Hornet while I burned the Predator in.

I think I can safely say that at the 150 hours of burn in mark - the Predator had overtaken the Hornet. Soundstage seems wider, everything just a bit brighter. Switching back to the Hornet things seem a bit flat in comparison.

Predator is now up to 250 hours of burn in, and still sounding good. I am now using the Predator all the time - I haven't used my Hornet in a week or so now!

Other thing I have noticed between the Predator and the Hornet - the Predator is virtaully silent. I would occasionally get hissing noise with the Hornet, especially when adjusting the volume knob when nothing was playing. On the Predator this is completely silent.

So so far I'm impressed and happy. I should hopefully be getting my Pico mid March - so will then add that into the mix to compare too.

 

[Audio-Omega]

Is The Predator your best portable amp so far ?

 

[shigzeo]

mate, you are burning a hole in your cash plastic... shame

 

[illkemist]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamespb78 /img/forum/go_quote.gif When I first got the Predator about a month ago - I must say it was pretty average. I couldn't really stand listening to it - so kept on using my Hornet while I burned the Predator in.

Wow! What a turnaround! I also own a Predator, but I did not have the same initial impression that you did. Even before burn-in, I could tell that the Predator was a very good product.

 

[jamespb78]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Audio-Omega /img/forum/go_quote.gif Is The Predator your best portable amp so far ?

I only own the Predator and the Hornet - so out of those 2 the Predator is certainly my favourite. Will wait and see if that changes when I eventually get my Pico.

I wasn't suprised when I first listened to the Predator and wasn't overally impressed - as I'd read many reviews here of people saying the same thing. At 0 hours burn-in the Hornet was well ahead of the Predator, but as I mentioned earlier, by 150 hours burn-in I felt the Predator had already overtaken the Hornet.

Just my 2 cents worth!

 

[Audio-Omega]

Did those amps improve the sound of your IEMs by a factor or two ?

 

[jamespb78]

Absolutely. Without an amp the sound to me just isnt the same.

Volume wise - without an amp it is more than adequate, but the amp brings quality. In the case with the Predator, the sound stage is definitely wider too.

 

[jonoliew]

then where does the sr-71 fit into the equation? better than the predator? skylab doesnt seem to think so

 

[Jaska]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonoliew /img/forum/go_quote.gif then where does the sr-71 fit into the equation? better than the predator? skylab doesnt seem to think so

Skylab's comments in this thread:

I wish I still had the Hornet to compare directly, but if memory serves me, the SR71 is a tiny bit better everywhere other than the bass, and likely just a little better overall.

 

[jonoliew]

but isnt that in comparison to the hornet and not the predator? so do you think the amp module in the predator is very similar if not identical to the sr71?

 

[Jaska]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonoliew /img/forum/go_quote.gif but isnt that in comparison to the hornet and not the predator? so do you think the amp module in the predator is very similar if not identical to the sr71?

Yes indeed. Other things to note about Skylab's famous thread are that he ultimately ranks the Predator (based on the amp alone) at the same level as the SR-71, and one step above the Hornet "M."

I haven't heard the SR-71 nor the Predator, but owned a Hornet "M" for a year (I just sold it). As Skylab said in the same thread, "Given all of RSA’s other excellent portable amps, I really don’t think anyone would buy the Predator unless they needed a USB DAC. But the amp performance is TERRIFIC. Ray knows his stuff."

 

[jonoliew]

sweet.. got to start saving up now.. lol. thanks for the advice