FreeBlues
100+ Head-Fier
I'm a little surprised no one has yet started or asked about this comparison. I know we're still burning our new Tomahawks in, but it seems time to begin!
I've had my Horner M since August 2006 and have put the requisite 450+ hours of burn in on it. I got my Tomahawk on December 26th and have probably close to 200 hours at this point. With both amps I have a 30gb iPod (ALAC), Cryo Jumbo and Westone ES2's. I listen to electric and acoustic blues, classic rock. some country and pop. I use this rig for the most part only at the gym, 2 to 3 hours per day.
My initial conclusion, to this point, is that the Hornet is very slightly "better" than the Tomahawk. I find the ES2's to be a warm sounding IEM. The Hornet is a bit more transparent, is slightly more detailed and seems to go deeper into the music than the Tomahawk, making this a better match with the ES2's. The TH is wider, a bit warmer, not quite as detailed and less fatiguing than the Hornet. Electric guitars, drums and cymbals are ever so slightly clearer on the Hornet. As I alluded to above, this can make the Hornet a bit more fatiguing after long listening sessions, edges are a little sharper with the Hornet. The bass on the TH might be a bit lower weight, which is a good thing with the ES2's, sometimes the Hornet can be a bit bass heavy.
Now, I really like the size and convenience of the TH, it really is a much better amp for my gym type situation.
Over the last day I've taken both amps to the gym and tried playing the same song through both amps and also tried switching amps mid-song. In this A/B setting I can maybe hear a difference between the two if I listen real, real close. If I just put one amp in the chain and forget about it I'm hard pressed to say there is really much difference.
When all is said and done I'm going to keep only one of these amps. If I had to chose today I would pick the Hornet for a very slight difference in sound quality, but would easily pick the TH for convenience. Truth is, I really can't say which one I will keep. I'm going to get the TH to 450 hours then make a final call.
I've had my Horner M since August 2006 and have put the requisite 450+ hours of burn in on it. I got my Tomahawk on December 26th and have probably close to 200 hours at this point. With both amps I have a 30gb iPod (ALAC), Cryo Jumbo and Westone ES2's. I listen to electric and acoustic blues, classic rock. some country and pop. I use this rig for the most part only at the gym, 2 to 3 hours per day.
My initial conclusion, to this point, is that the Hornet is very slightly "better" than the Tomahawk. I find the ES2's to be a warm sounding IEM. The Hornet is a bit more transparent, is slightly more detailed and seems to go deeper into the music than the Tomahawk, making this a better match with the ES2's. The TH is wider, a bit warmer, not quite as detailed and less fatiguing than the Hornet. Electric guitars, drums and cymbals are ever so slightly clearer on the Hornet. As I alluded to above, this can make the Hornet a bit more fatiguing after long listening sessions, edges are a little sharper with the Hornet. The bass on the TH might be a bit lower weight, which is a good thing with the ES2's, sometimes the Hornet can be a bit bass heavy.
Now, I really like the size and convenience of the TH, it really is a much better amp for my gym type situation.
Over the last day I've taken both amps to the gym and tried playing the same song through both amps and also tried switching amps mid-song. In this A/B setting I can maybe hear a difference between the two if I listen real, real close. If I just put one amp in the chain and forget about it I'm hard pressed to say there is really much difference.
When all is said and done I'm going to keep only one of these amps. If I had to chose today I would pick the Hornet for a very slight difference in sound quality, but would easily pick the TH for convenience. Truth is, I really can't say which one I will keep. I'm going to get the TH to 450 hours then make a final call.
