bobjew
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Jul 17, 2002
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Received another version of the SuperDual prototype from Xin yesterday. This one has basically the same appearance as the first prototype. The only external differences are minor. All the jacks and plugs are in the same place as the last proto unit.
One nice addition is that the switches are marked (see photo). The case on this one is also the Serpac with hand-cut openings for the various openings and switches; not the final manufactured case from Serpac. I'm going to ask him also to mark which side is input and output as well as this is my biggest faux pas with this amp- which side to plug the source and phones into.
The switches are also new, they have a kind of non-slip texture molded onto their front surfaces which presumably make them easier for your fingers to contact.
As before, there is the two digital up and down volume buttons far left and the row of three switches in the center. All the switches are two position- left/off- right/ on. The switch marked "X" is for the Xinfeed(crossfeed) "P"- power, "B", Bass boost.
This unit does not have the auto detect, sleep timer or Ety4p-s adapter. These items will be standard on the production model. I am not sure of the timings on the auto detect and sleep timer, but I think the auto detect will automatically shut the amp off in about 2 minutes the sleep timer about 90 mins.
The new feature to the SD is the Bass boost. It is a circuit similar to the one in the PPA. A steep rise at about 50hz going up +15db. Way too much. The boost sounds really big, fat and artificial. I would think this is too much even for Techno fans. Xin will be dropping this down to around 10 db; he says its an easy adjustment. The standard Bass on this amp is more than sufficent for me.
I got about 6 hours listening last night and a couple today as well as going back and forth a little between the old proto and new. Xin has been working on the sound as he puts it,"tweaking and listening, listening and tweaking" for the last few weeks.
It shows. This amp uses the AD8620 opamp and it really sounds good. The SDII proto is significantly more refined sounding than the first and puts it way beyond any other Mini amp. I would say it puts it into the Maxed Out META or Pocket Reference class. I lacks only in some transparency and layering/size of the soundstage.
The Bass control without boost is excellent. I am using Ety4s' and Bass is tight, deep and fast. Midrange has been improved greatly, nicely presented, transparent, with good separation and range. This amp sounds best to me with a Straightwire mini to RCA (with Radio shack RCA-mini adapter). The highs have much better detail and separation than before. This SD tends toward being warm and is a great match for Ety's.
I went a little nuts trying different cables last night. (I liked the absuridty of it all) From a Homegrown Silver braid to the Straightwire to a DIYcable "Superlative" to a VD Reference to VD Nites.
I will continue to burn-in this amp for a few days more- it sounded very good right out of the bag. I expect it to open and bloom even more in the next few days.
One nice addition is that the switches are marked (see photo). The case on this one is also the Serpac with hand-cut openings for the various openings and switches; not the final manufactured case from Serpac. I'm going to ask him also to mark which side is input and output as well as this is my biggest faux pas with this amp- which side to plug the source and phones into.
The switches are also new, they have a kind of non-slip texture molded onto their front surfaces which presumably make them easier for your fingers to contact.
As before, there is the two digital up and down volume buttons far left and the row of three switches in the center. All the switches are two position- left/off- right/ on. The switch marked "X" is for the Xinfeed(crossfeed) "P"- power, "B", Bass boost.
This unit does not have the auto detect, sleep timer or Ety4p-s adapter. These items will be standard on the production model. I am not sure of the timings on the auto detect and sleep timer, but I think the auto detect will automatically shut the amp off in about 2 minutes the sleep timer about 90 mins.
The new feature to the SD is the Bass boost. It is a circuit similar to the one in the PPA. A steep rise at about 50hz going up +15db. Way too much. The boost sounds really big, fat and artificial. I would think this is too much even for Techno fans. Xin will be dropping this down to around 10 db; he says its an easy adjustment. The standard Bass on this amp is more than sufficent for me.
I got about 6 hours listening last night and a couple today as well as going back and forth a little between the old proto and new. Xin has been working on the sound as he puts it,"tweaking and listening, listening and tweaking" for the last few weeks.
It shows. This amp uses the AD8620 opamp and it really sounds good. The SDII proto is significantly more refined sounding than the first and puts it way beyond any other Mini amp. I would say it puts it into the Maxed Out META or Pocket Reference class. I lacks only in some transparency and layering/size of the soundstage.
The Bass control without boost is excellent. I am using Ety4s' and Bass is tight, deep and fast. Midrange has been improved greatly, nicely presented, transparent, with good separation and range. This amp sounds best to me with a Straightwire mini to RCA (with Radio shack RCA-mini adapter). The highs have much better detail and separation than before. This SD tends toward being warm and is a great match for Ety's.
I went a little nuts trying different cables last night. (I liked the absuridty of it all) From a Homegrown Silver braid to the Straightwire to a DIYcable "Superlative" to a VD Reference to VD Nites.
I will continue to burn-in this amp for a few days more- it sounded very good right out of the bag. I expect it to open and bloom even more in the next few days.