Dreadhead
500+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Aug 29, 2007
- Posts
- 529
- Likes
- 11
A while ago I asked Justin at Headamp to let me try out the Pico and he graciously arranged for me to borrow one from Recstar24. I want to thank both of them for giving me the opportunity and also curse them because now I really want to buy one.
IF you look at my signature I have a rather high end rig at home with a GS-X sourced by a Bel Canto DAC3, HD800s and Qualias. Also for portable listening I use a Creative Zen Vision M, Headamp AE2, and Etymotic ER-4s.
Amp Listening:
This amp is perfect for portable listening and also has the added benefit that when you arrive you can plug it into your computer and use it to play audio from you computer (usually lossless in my case, more on this later). The signature is that there is no signature and that's the way any amp should be in my opinion and is Justin's signature.
The noise floor is vanishingly low with my ER-4s or any other phones I have. I am afraid I don't have any other more sensitive IEMs to check for noise issues but if you read elsewhere it seems like the Pico is good/great in this area too.
DAC Listening:
I have not compared the Pico with my DAC3 but I have compared it to the M-Audio Transit USB. Even at first glance the Pico's relative drubbing of the transit on build quality alone is enough to justify the price difference. The Pico also adds a much easier to use driver (no having to switch for hi-rez) and less clunky mini-usb connection to boot.
Sound wise the to my ear the two are more similar than they are different (which is how DACs should be) but I think the Pico is more transparent and powerful than the Transit.
Summary:
Great Stuff (as usual) from Justin
Some Pics (please excuse my phone camera):
IF you look at my signature I have a rather high end rig at home with a GS-X sourced by a Bel Canto DAC3, HD800s and Qualias. Also for portable listening I use a Creative Zen Vision M, Headamp AE2, and Etymotic ER-4s.
Amp Listening:
This amp is perfect for portable listening and also has the added benefit that when you arrive you can plug it into your computer and use it to play audio from you computer (usually lossless in my case, more on this later). The signature is that there is no signature and that's the way any amp should be in my opinion and is Justin's signature.
The noise floor is vanishingly low with my ER-4s or any other phones I have. I am afraid I don't have any other more sensitive IEMs to check for noise issues but if you read elsewhere it seems like the Pico is good/great in this area too.
DAC Listening:
I have not compared the Pico with my DAC3 but I have compared it to the M-Audio Transit USB. Even at first glance the Pico's relative drubbing of the transit on build quality alone is enough to justify the price difference. The Pico also adds a much easier to use driver (no having to switch for hi-rez) and less clunky mini-usb connection to boot.
Sound wise the to my ear the two are more similar than they are different (which is how DACs should be) but I think the Pico is more transparent and powerful than the Transit.
Summary:
Great Stuff (as usual) from Justin
Some Pics (please excuse my phone camera):