Single Amp Choice To Replace Current Home and Portable Amps?

[swmtnbiker]

I'm thinking about consolidating my home and portable amplifiers by purchasing a single amp that can do BOTH well. And, of course, I'm looking for something that will be an upgrade sonically. My sources are a Denon DVD-2900 at home for Redbook, SACD, and DVD-A, and a Zen Micro DAP playing 256K VBR LAME MP3. Currently I have a Go-Vibe V3 portable and an original Home-Vibe. The amps I'm considering are the following:

* HeadAmp AE-1
* Headroom Micro amp w/Desktop Module
* Ray Samuels "The Hornet"
* Xin Supermini3
* Firestone Battery Cute II

Due to the fact that I will be using this with Beyer DT531's, Grado HF-1's, and Ety ER6i's, selectable gain would be a nice feature to have and only two of the amps in my list have it - the Micro and the Hornet. I really like the RCA inputs on the AE-1 and the crossfeed on the Micro. The Hornet is of course very popular right now and it seems that people's initial impressions are very favorable.

So, I'm tossed up about what to do. I'd love to keep it as inexpensive as possible, so at almost $400 (with battery, shipping, and Paypal fees) The Hornet is at my absolute max budget-wise.

Does anyone have any suggestions for me?

 

[fewtch]

I for one am dying to read a review on the Firestone battery Cute II (other than the two near-useless magazine reviews linked to at the site). The specs look fantastic (and it's opamp rollable), but unfortunately specs don't tell anything about the sound. Price is excellent.

P.S. interesting coincidence, we've both got Home-Vibe and Go-Vibes

.

 

[swmtnbiker]

Holy cow, we DO have the same amps! What are the chances?

I'm also looking forward to a review of the Cute Battery II for the very reasons you mention. I'd just go ahead and get one to try it out if the shipping wasn't so prohibitively expensive.

By the way, you changed your cat, didn't you?

 

[fewtch]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dpippel Holy cow, we DO have the same amps! What are the chances? I'm also looking forward to a review of the Cute Battery II for the very reasons you mention. I'd just go ahead and get one to try it out if the shipping wasn't so prohibitively expensive. By the way, you changed your cat, didn't you?

Yep

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[kugino]

i'll also throw the larocco pocket reference in the mix. version 2 is not yet out (at least i don't think it is) but i owned a version 1 that was my home amp. version 2 is smaller and probably more portable than v.1. it's beautiful, as well.

 

[PFKMan23]

Why aren't you considering the SuperMacro 3V6? It's the same price as the AE-1 and the Hornet and has a gain switch. And yes I'm aware of the Supermini that you have on there.