Predator vs. Pico?

[DLeeWebb]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Asr /img/forum/go_quote.gif No, the HD650 is just as difficult to drive as the K701 and requires approximately as much power.

So the Pico will not drive the HD650's properly?

 

[jamato8]

I don't think they are saying that nor would I assume it would not. What they are saying is that it won't have the voltage swing of a home amp that has a lot more current and voltage at its disposal and normally inherent in a home amp design.

 

[grawk]

The pico drives the hd650s as well as any portable amp you'll find. Whether that's good enough for you is a matter of taste.

 

[DLeeWebb]

Quote:

Originally Posted by grawk /img/forum/go_quote.gif The pico drives the hd650s as well as any portable amp you'll find. Whether that's good enough for you is a matter of taste.

OK, I understand. Appreciate the advice...

 

[dw6928]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cankin /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'm looking new source myself. Do you think MicroDac is better than the Dac in Pico(technical issue aside, SQ only) ?? Do you have Ultra MicroDac or "regular" MicroDac?

My version of the Microdac is the '06 which Headroom upgraded to the '07 board for me. It is not the Ultra. I have no basis for comparison with the Pico...mine is the amp only version.

 

[PFKMan23]

Last night I heard both the Predator and the Pico. For me it was no contest, the Pico is a much better sounding product.

 

[basman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wakeride74 /img/forum/go_quote.gif I know next to nothing about that stuff so I have no plans to pop the top of either one, it would mean nothing to me. All I care about is how they sound with the headphones I use and I could care less about the people that want to argue over curcuit design or chip shoice, etc.

Of course decision should be taken from the ears and not the eyes, too bad I dont have any opportunity to listen on both amps unless I have the bucks. Thanks for the positive comment Wakeride just keep it comin I'll wait for your impression on both amps.

By the way, you've got a nice toy in there PS1, UE11, Pico...

 

[wakeride74]

Quote:

Originally Posted by basman /img/forum/go_quote.gif Of course decision should be taken from the ears and not the eyes, too bad I dont have any opportunity to listen on both amps unless I have the bucks. Thanks for the positive comment Wakeride just keep it comin I'll wait for your impression on both amps. By the way, you've got a nice toy in there PS1, UE11, Pico...

Ray and Justin both make great BBQ, they just cook it a little different

. Curiosity is what kills wallets around here!

 

[frozenice]

I'm looking forward to the comparison between the Predator and the Pico with the Grado's. Thanks to Ray and Wakeride for making this happen.

 

[akwok]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DLeeWebb /img/forum/go_quote.gif So the Pico will not drive the HD650's properly?

I use the HD650s out of my Pico and it sounds damn good. It drives them as 'properly' as any of the home amps I've owned.

 

[pearljam5000]

good to hear that.
the problem is there are so many contridincting posts that it's just damn confusing for a pearson like me who never had a headphone amp.
some say the pico is great but not as great as a desktop amp,and some people like you say it's as good as a desktop amp,so it's very hard to know what is more true.
i tend to belive you (=
Quote:

Originally Posted by akwok /img/forum/go_quote.gif I use the HD650s out of my Pico and it sounds damn good. It drives them as 'properly' as any of the home amps I've owned.

 

[grawk]

People have different ears and different standards. If you're interested and in the market, justin's return policy makes it hard not to give it a shot, imho.

 

[OptionTrader]

Quote:

Originally Posted by PFKMan23 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Last night I heard both the Predator and the Pico. For me it was no contest, the Pico is a much better sounding product.

If both amps had only a few hours on them (if even that much), any substantive comparison would be premature. Granted the Pico could have an advantage on the DAC side, but once burned in, I am not so sure that the amp sections of both amps would be that significant. I have a Predator with about 200 hrs on it and it's damn impressive and the battery life is insane. The Pico I have on order has not yet arrived, but when it does and I have a decent number of hours on it, I'll be able to give a decent comparison.

 

[grawk]

You should be able to compare the pico out of the box with a predator with any number of hours, given that the pico design isn't as impacted by burn in, as has been stated by both designers about their respective amps.

 

[jamato8]

The Predator totally changes in sound quality with burn-in but such a loooong burn-in but that is ok as Ray states right up front that if you don't believe in burn-in then his amp is not for you. I have NEVER heard such a change nor have I had this long a burn-in even though I use Black Gates and have had them take hundreds of hours but the change was not as dramatic. The bass impact keeps me thinking I have my amp that has very solid big bass hooked up because the bass wasn't nearly like this at first.

The Pico has to be a gem also and I look forward to hearing one.