[Skylab]

Quote:

Skylab, I suggest you to clarify your ranking in your first post or any its continuation where you explain this ranking.
How do you sort amps inside the level? 
I do not see the answer there in your ranking description.
 
Also (sorry if you already answered) - was D4 review sample stock or upgraded with op-amps?

Kostalex - the first post DOES contain an explanation of the ranking.  You must have missed it.  It's right above the rankings

 
All my reviews are done using stock op-amps.
 
Thanks.

 

[kostalex]

Is this a right quote? I see no explanation how do you sort amps inside the level. For example, I do not get which do you prefer better - Rx or Pico.
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Skylab /img/forum/go_quote.gif
 
OK, so now it’s now 53 amps! NOTE: I have decided to change the way the rankings work. I have created LEVELS, rather than individual ranks. As before, note that the sum of the "Grades" I give does not always tell the whole story in how I rank them, since the whole is sometimes greater or lesser than the sum of the parts, and I am often forced to split hairs here, since the list has gotten so long. Also please note that even if these amps include a DAC, that DAC performance was NOT a factor in these rankings AT ALL. Also, for clarification, this ranking is based on sound quality ONLY, and does not take things like size or battery life into account.

 

[Skylab]

Is this a right quote? I see no explanation how do you sort amps inside the level. For example, I do not get which do you prefer better - Rx or Pico.
 

Ahhh...sorry, now I understand. But the point is that I am no longer ranking amps within the levels.

 

[ddr]

is the arrow 12HE on your future list?

 

[kostalex]

May I suggest you to sort them either

1. alphabetically
2. by the price
3. by the review date

 
and describe this order in your ranking legend?
 
Or just to mention that you do not rank them within the levels
 
Quote:

Ahhh...sorry, now I understand. But the point is that I am no longer ranking amps within the levels.

 

[Skylab]

Quote:

Or just to mention that you do not rank them within the levels
 

Done! Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[kostalex]

Probably you would like one more suggestion. Here are how I ranked the heaphones:
 
 
Quote:

My sound quality ranking chart for May 1, 2010

I tried more than 90 headphones, but I list only those I may rate with confidence. I divide them into the 5 classes by sound quality alone - Hi-End, Hi-Fi, Mid-Fi, Low-Fi and Consumer Grade. Then I divide some classes with 3 subclasses - like H1, H2, H3 for Hi-Fi. Inside the rows headphones are listed in the order of my personal preference with no regards to the pricing - I asked myself: "Which do I like more to receive as a gift?". I also discovered an interesting phenomena - I prefer some headphones (say DT770) to those higher rated (say DT880). Unfortunately, I found no way to represent this in a simple way.

I made the headphones I reviewed clickable or bold, most links lead to their reviews or descriptions. This chart may differ from its previous versions shown in my former reviews. Most of the cans from L category are rated un-amped, some of them (say Koss) may move up when amped.

HE Tesla T1

H1 SR-404; HD650; W5000;
RE252km; ER-4S (custom tips, OFC cable); AD2000
H2 RE0 (custom tips, no filter); CK10; ER-4S (custom tips); D2000; E500 (same to SE530); K701; W1000; HD600; AD1000PRM
H3 TM5; RE0; RE-Zero; ER-4P (custom tips); DT880/250; AD1000

M1 K501; G1A; ER-4P; DT990/250; OK1; AD900; SA6; UM2; Ergo 2
M2 KSC-35km; PK1; MDR-F1; AD700; DT770/80; SR225; HD595; E4c
M3 G2A; SR80; EW9; ER-6i; CM700; HD555; DT660; HD280

L1 OK2; iGrado; HD485; PX100; PMX100; UE 5 EB; A900
L2 MDR-Q68LW (EQ-ed); UR40; OK3; PortaPro; K319; SportaPro; Grado clip-ons; D-Jays; DT231
L3 PK3; KSC-75; PXC250 (leather pads); PK2; UE 3; E2c; CX300

CG v-Moda Vibe; HA-FX33 (kramer mod); SHE2550; SHP2700; iPod earbuds; K27i ; SHL9500; MX75

 

[trentino]

I know Skylab states that the Protector is tested in balanced mode and the Toucan is not, but I can't get rid of the feeling that the Toucan, if reviewed at all, should of course be reviewed in balanced mode. The SE mode is also of interest to all readers of course, but it is ( I hear) a small balanced amp with great specs so not including the balanced mode in a review doesn't seem right. I love this thread and it has helped me several times in making my amp buying decisions, and I'm not trying to be rude. But please Skylab, if you have the time, include the balanced mode in the Toucan review.

 

[Skylab]

I would sure like to, and I hope to have the chance to. The iBasso reviews I do are based on the kind loans from Miguel and others, since iBasso does not send me loaners for review anymore. This is what happens when you are honest in reviews, sometimes - the manufacturer reacts by refusing to send you any further products for review. Which is understandable, but unfortunate.

Not all are like that, though. I wasn't impressed with the first ALO Rx, but ALO was undaunted, and happily sent me the RX MK II for review, and I am glad they did, since it's excellent.

 

[hasanyuceer]

Can you give some info about why you didnt impressed or like the first ALO Rx? Is it that different from MK2?
 
Also thanks for all that reviews Skylab.
 
Quote:

Not all are like that, though. I wasn't impressed with the first ALO Rx, but ALO was undaunted, and happily sent me the RX MK II for review, and I am glad they did, since it's excellent.

 

[Skylab]

Yes, it's quite different! For more detail, please check my review of each

 

[hasanyuceer]

I didnt thought if there is a ALO Rx review because there is nothing about it in ranking. Searched google and this topic but still nothing. Can you help me where can I find the review of original ALO Rx?
 
Quote:

Yes, it's quite different! For more detail, please check my review of each

 

[Skylab]

Sorry, my mistake. It was the ALO Double Mini3 that I reviewed previously, NOT the Original RX.

 

[hasanyuceer]

Ok then, thanks

 

[Zuqi]

Hi, Skylab, here is a bit suggestion, what about make a new comparison among the 'newer generation' portable amps, such as meier stepdance, pico slim, ttvj slim, alo rx mk2, etc. because people may pay much more attentions to these amps, and lesser attention to the 'older generation' amps.