Review: ALO RX Amp (Quite Possibly the Perfect JH13 Amp)

[estreeter]

Thanks Sherwood. Because I seem to find myself referring to these reviews from What Hi-Fi repeatedly, I am going to start a new thread. When What Hi-Fi claims that the result from either transport isnt as good as an entry level CDP , I get a little concerned that it may not be worth it ....

 

[YtseJamer]

pico DAC + ALO Rx + JH13 PRO (with the SCSCag cable) = Audio Nirvana !

 

[Tidus]

Quote:

Originally Posted by pfillion /img/forum/go_quote.gif pico DAC + ALO Rx + JH13 PRO (with the SCSCag cable) = Audio Nirvana !

Nice

)is it cable from Whiplash Audio?Give us more impressions?pl

thanx

 

[Rico67]

Imod + ALO SX Cables + PVcaps + THE RX + Grado GS1000 = AUDIO NIRVANA.
I had never heard a such Good Sound !
My Opinion : Best Transportable system in the world, notihng less.
Thank you Ken.

After a long way to find the "audio graal", i'll take a pause with this amazing setup.

 

[Podtweaker]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sherwood /img/forum/go_quote.gif They have produced a number of good DACs, sure, but the 170i is not a DAC. There are, hypothetically, ways to make one digital transport better than another, but the difference is extremely subtle at best.

So, you're completely positive the differences will be "extremely" subtle "at best"? For some of us subtleties are more significant. As an example of this; I would just as soon not listen to music if it's compressed music! This thread I believe is all about the "quality" of this portable amp, I'm pretty sure there isn't a "Night & Day" difference btw this amp and a lot of the other offerings that are available. (I know the 170i is'nt a DAC. I mentioned Wadia's reputation because "hypothetically" this circuit should be a "walk in the park" to make a much higher than above average product)

 

[Sherwood]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Podtweaker /img/forum/go_quote.gif So, you're completely positive the differences will be "extremely" subtle "at best"?

I am at that. Wadia's reputation is solid, no doubt, but I've never heard much of a difference at all between digital transports, regardless of the system. I would love to hear one, but I haven't. The difference is, to me, much more subtle than different compression levels.

Do you have any firsthand experience that would run counter to my assertion? Admittedly, I've never heard the onkyo, but I have heard the Wadia a number of times in a number of different systems. It sounds awfully similar to a good CD transport, if the ipod in question is playing lossless files ripped from that cd.

It sounds like you're letting their reputation as a company influence your opinion on this product. That's their whole strategy, but it's not necessarily valid.

Just my 2c. I would worry about transports long after I'd locked in things like cables, and I'm not much of a cable believer. The real virtue of the Wadia is that it lets you use an ipod as a viable digital source, which is major.

 

[NewMexiCat]

Quote:

Originally Posted by pfillion /img/forum/go_quote.gif pico DAC + ALO Rx + JH13 PRO (with the SCSCag cable) = Audio Nirvana !

Drooooool!!!!

A MacBook Pro + Pico DAC are on my wish list to pair with the Rx for transportable nirvana. I'm sure it is an awesome combination.

 

[Podtweaker]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sherwood /img/forum/go_quote.gif Do you have any firsthand experience that would run counter to my assertion? Admittedly, I've never heard the onkyo, but I have heard the Wadia a number of times in a number of different systems. It sounds awfully similar to a good CD transport, if the ipod in question is playing lossless files ripped from that CD.

From my viewpoint Ipods playing lossless files very rarely sound that close to a good CD transport without some help so I guess the Wadia is doing it's job . As I said before it's all about subtleties. To be honest I have'nt heard the Onkyo either. Ipods sound a bit lifeless at the frequency extremes(I don't listen to much electronic music, mostly classical) & are definitely not transparent sounding enough to be called "a digital transport"(without some help). Now my Korg MR1 is transparent enough to be called a"digital transport" but that's an entirely different little player.

 

[estreeter]

If the Onkyo cant better the 'entry-level CDP' baseline per What Hi-Fi's reviews of both units, I wont go down that path. We really need more reviews of this thing.

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f105/w...s-ipod-455231/

 

[Sherwood]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Podtweaker /img/forum/go_quote.gif Ipods sound a bit lifeless at the frequency extremes(I don't listen to much electronic music, mostly classical) & are definitely not transparent sounding enough to be called "a digital transport"(without some help).

I think we're perhaps not on the same page. An iPod couldn't be called a digital transport at all if you're not getting a digital signal from it, which only a very few devices are capable of delivering. I agree that there are shortcomings to the analog output of an iPod, but I'm not sure what you're contrasting the Wadia unit against when you say "without some help". What gives you a digital output from an iPod without that "help"?

 

[Podtweaker]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sherwood /img/forum/go_quote.gif I think we're perhaps not on the same page. An iPod couldn't be called a digital transport at all if you're not getting a digital signal from it, which only a very few devices are capable of delivering. I agree that there are shortcomings to the analog output of an iPod, but I'm not sure what you're contrasting the Wadia unit against when you say "without some help". What gives you a digital output from an iPod without that "help"?

Sorry about that, I work evenings so I guess I was'nt totally awake when I wrote that , however I will stick to my first sentence. If the Wadia is bringing the sound closer to that of a good CD player then I have to believe it is overcoming some of the analog deficencies of the Ipod. I was'nt thinking about the right domain that most DAPs rarely pay enough attention to, the analog domain. I would imagine there there are any number of digital players that could sound much better if they had implemented a more sufficient analog section in their basic design. The companies who produce DACs probably would'nt have appreciated it though.

 

[krmathis]

Quote:

Originally Posted by pfillion /img/forum/go_quote.gif pico DAC + ALO Rx + JH13 PRO (with the SCSCag cable) = Audio Nirvana ! http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2548/...d218d0b3_o.jpg

Awesome looking setup!

What transport do you use to feed the Pico DAC?

 

[YtseJamer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by krmathis /img/forum/go_quote.gif Awesome looking setup! What transport do you use to feed the Pico DAC?

Thanks, I use a MacBook Pro.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tidus /img/forum/go_quote.gif Nice )is it cable from Whiplash Audio?Give us more impressions?

Yes it's the cable from Whiplash Audio, I will write a complete review of the cable soon. (With only 10 hours of burn-in, I can tell you that I am very impressed)

 

[Bolardito]

Quote:

Originally Posted by pfillion /img/forum/go_quote.gif Thanks, I use a MacBook Pro. Yes it's the cable from Whiplash Audio, I will write a complete review of the cable soon. (With only 10 hours of burn-in, I can tell you that I am very impressed)

I'm waiting for the Wiplash cable, Craig sent me by mistake an Ipod LOD instead of the cable, so maybe another week till I can get it. Also waiting for the RX amp which will be paired with an Imod and Vcap dock. Lets see how it compares with the Lisa III, which I use with an Apuresound Impedance Apapter (25 ohm) and sounds amazing with the JH13

 

[VicAjax]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Podtweaker /img/forum/go_quote.gif Sorry about that, I work evenings so I guess I was'nt totally awake when I wrote that , however I will stick to my first sentence. If the Wadia is bringing the sound closer to that of a good CD player then I have to believe it is overcoming some of the analog deficencies of the Ipod. I was'nt thinking about the right domain that most DAPs rarely pay enough attention to, the analog domain. I would imagine there there are any number of digital players that could sound much better if they had implemented a more sufficient analog section in their basic design. The companies who produce DACs probably would'nt have appreciated it though.

I'm with Sherwood... Bits is bits. The digital information contained in the iPod, as long as it's lossless, is no different from the information contained in a good (or bad) CDP. As long as those bits are delivered properly, the iPod itself shouldn't be part of the equation.

I'm somewhat skeptical of What HiFi's review.