RSA **Predator** A review in stages ** With some "NEW" images on 1st and page 64 . . .

[Jaw007]

Quote:

Originally Posted by immtbiker /img/forum/go_quote.gif Read the last 10 pages of the thread, it is stated a couple of times. Before asking a question, please read the thread to see if it has already been asked.

Some threads are so long people just don't have all day to read hundreds of posts!

 

[IvanBarista]

I have the Predator since 27DEC. Been Using a old XLO Pink Noise + Tone Sweep Track To run it none stop since. To my limited head amp experience... this is really Good. Too Good, Both via HD580 & ER4s. details and Drive are both Great after a few days of burning-in.
I was going to Get 'the Hornet' from Ray. then I discover 'the Predator is coming....so price is good and I was very surprise the SQ is so good even better than my three year old headroom Supreme.
My question is have anyone use this amp with the Beyer BT880? as I know My HD580 is only so good. I am looking to get one of either Senn HD650, AKG K701, or the Beyer BT880.
Any suggestion comments are welcome.

 

[jamato8]

Well if you like the Senn sound the HD650 is a good one. I am listening to them right now on the Predator. It can push them way beyond a volume you could ever listen to. They sound very nice with the Predator, being well controlled, dynamic and with good tonal bass. I would listen to my 650's more as they work very well and come alive with the Predator but they are open headphones and I am too near the person I am working with all day.

 

[k371n]

Ok, so I've finally setup fb2k + asio4all
and hooked up the predator to my comp's USB port.

Playing a couple of ALAC files now via fb2k
and noted the music volume via my UM2 to be much lower
compared to using the regular Ipod-dock-to-predator-input.

I've set the gain to medium and dialed it up till just over "10am".
I only have it around "8am" while using low-gain and Ipod.

I wonder how it'll be able to handle the HD650 via USB DAC..
Any ideas anyone?

cheers
k_

[edit]
ok, silly me.
Into control panel, sounds and audio devices, select audio tab,
select a different sound playback default device -- namely the USB
Audio Dac -- click on volume button and set volume to max

All is good now.
Just remember to lower the predator volume or unplug phones
before doing the above especially if you're wearing IEMs

Ouch.

 

[Jalo]

Jamato8, I am new the to portable Amp arena, so I can't really doubt your opinion with regard to the need for 600+ burn in hour for the Predator. But I think about it a number of times if it really need that many burn in hours for the predator? It would seem that the traditional wisdom for burn in is around 300-400 hrs at most for headphone or amp. I have a Predator and I have about 50 hrs of burn in and I thought it sounded pretty good. It may continuous to improve but so far so good.

 

[jamato8]

When I received the Predator it had 300 hours of use. I continued to hear changes after that so I can only report what I have heard. In the area of Burn-in, I find no traditional wisdom. :^)

 

[OptionTrader]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaw007 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Some threads are so long people just don't have all day to read hundreds of posts!

That's why there is a Search this Thread tool at the top of the page. Threads would be shorter if more people searched first and then posted, wouldn't they?

 

[jamato8]

I just learned how to subscribe to threads after all this time now there is a "search this thread" !! Wow, cool. :^)

 

[OptionTrader]

I thought it was pretty cool when I first tried it.

 

[powertoold]

Jamato, how does the Predator compare to the P2 amp or the D1 Dac?

I'm interested in buying a D2, but I'm not sure I would be satisfied.

 

[jlingo]

Ok now about 100hrs and I prefer Predator DAC with itunes, than Predator iMOD combination. Using the DAC predator sounds BIG, rich, musical, dynamic, it's no longer sterile nor boring.

At the moment, running of iMOD, the bass seems missing, the sound is 2D, weak and flat. Strange, it's more on a boring side. :/

 

[vcoheda]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamato8 /img/forum/go_quote.gif In the area of Burn-in, I find no traditional wisdom. :^)

that be da truth.

 

[jamato8]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlingo /img/forum/go_quote.gif Ok now about 100hrs and I prefer Predator DAC with itunes, than Predator iMOD combination. Using the DAC predator sounds BIG, rich, musical, dynamic, it's no longer sterile nor boring. At the moment, running of iMOD, the bass seems missing, the sound is 2D, weak and flat. Strange, it's more on a boring side. :/

I am glad you have a reference to compare to. I think this makes it much easier to determine what you are hearing is a real change or not and not something based on mood, hearing fatigue or any number of other variables. I find that having my Monica II dac with an optical feed from the iRiver as a reference to gauge from I have a solid point to work from.

 

[jamato8]

Quote:

Originally Posted by powertoold /img/forum/go_quote.gif Jamato, how does the Predator compare to the P2 amp or the D1 Dac? I'm interested in buying a D2, but I'm not sure I would be satisfied.

Knowing what the D1 dac sounds like with the P2, which will be the amp section, I don't think you would be disappointed at all.

I have not any strong comparisons as I really want to make sure the Predator has settled and then I will do a head on comparison.

 

[slwiser]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlingo /img/forum/go_quote.gif Ok now about 100hrs and I prefer Predator DAC with itunes, than Predator iMOD combination. Using the DAC predator sounds BIG, rich, musical, dynamic, it's no longer sterile nor boring. At the moment, running of iMOD, the bass seems missing, the sound is 2D, weak and flat. Strange, it's more on a boring side. :/

It sounds like your iMod broke while listening to your Predator based on your past comments: (post #8 in thread below)

<<V-cap is making the sound more 3 Dimensional, better depth, with texture, and airy floaty. The midrange becomes much sweeter highly emotional. The sound is very articulate, It's got those swinging, pull and push kinda sound. Sorry I don't know the proper way to describe it.

between iPOD and VCap. it's like the comparing the same person singing. One is singing without any emotion flat, and the other one could give you a goose bump. you should be able to tell something easier about how the singer feels.

V-Cap = High Musicality with Emotions! >>http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f15/my...crobag-264559/

Does this mean that the Predator is better than your Lisa III you have with the iMod and V-cap device? Or am I misunderstanding you. Has the iMod changed that much?