Quote:
Originally Posted by vorlon1
I hope so! I'd be very interested in how the K 701's sound with it.
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Vorlon,
I tried the K-701's with the transportable rig listed in my sig. below. I expected something more akin to my experience with the GS-1000's (i.e., little or no difference between SuperMicro III and SuperMicro IV). I am pleased to report that I could not have been more wrong!
The K-701's seem to BLOOM with the SuperMicro IV. The perception of an open, 3-dimensional experience with the K701's was exceptional, and more pronounced than with the E4c's in the same configuration (which, as I already posted, was quite impressive). This is without question the finest my K-701's have ever sounded. I compared the sound to the SuperMicro III and to the Headroom MicroAmp. The IV blew the III away with the K-701's; no comparison. In my opinion, I must say that the SuperMicro IV even outshined the Headroom MicroAmp w/ Desktop Module when used with the MicroDac and a digital source (Iriver H140, optical-out to MicroDac). I had a very big smile pasted on my face with this configuration.
(I didn't try the K-701's with an analogue line-out, so I don't know how that configuration sounds with the different amps).
So, here's a summary of my initial impressions with various phones and the sources in my signature below, using 3 different amps: The Xin SuperMicro III, The Xin SuperMicro IV, and the Headroom MicroAmp w/ Desktop Module.
GS-1000:
poor synergy with the Xin SuperMicro IV. These phones sound best with the Headroom Micro Amp. The difference between Xin III and IV is track-dependant; in many cases the III actually sounds better than the IV. More specifically, when listening to the IV, the "S" sound sometimes sounds a bit shrill, like a hissing "Shhh" sound.
PX-100:
When used with the MicroDac in the audio chain, the PX-100's do not sound siginficantly different using either Xin amp. There are minor tonal differences, but they are track-dependant and variable. This is also true when using the MicroAmp with the MicroDac and PX-100's, however. The PX-100's seem to sound better with a simple analogue line out; the more revealing sound you get when using a standalone DAC makes the PX-100 sound like what it is: an economy headphone. When the PX-100 was used with the Xin amps using an analogue line out, the IV did have better resolution/soundstage than the III, but it was not a huge difference.
E4c:
Wow. The SuperMicro IV really shines with the E4c's. The perception of an open, 3d experience is quite noticeable in comparison to the SuperMicro III. The distinction is most pronounced when used with the MicroDac in the chain, but is still very discernable with just an analogue line out to the amp.
K-701's:
Double-Wow. Really brings the most out of K-701's, at least when used with a standalone DAC in the chain.
Now, a couple of qualifiers: I seem to be one of the first to have had the opportunity to post impressions about the Xin SuperMicro IV in it's current "final" configuration. That is significant, if you are considering a purchase based on my impressions. Although I post frequently, I am still quite new to the world of high-end audio. I have very little experience with any equipment other than that which appears in my signature. I do not have a technical background, and I am not a musician. I just love music, and have very recently discovered that quality gear brings music listening to an entirely different level of enjoyment. I am as susceptible to the "placebo effect" as anyone else.
In other words, I may very well have no idea what I'm talking about
I am looking forward to hearing impressions of the SuperMini IV and the SuperMacro IV (particularly the later). I strongly suspect that these "tweakable" amps will allow owners to find a good match for just about any decent headphone.
