[HiFlight]

Below is what I posted following our Ft. Myers meet regarding our brutal testing of the PB1:
 
"Yesterday at our SW FL Mini-meet, we were experimenting the with PB1's drive ability and someone suggested trying it with my K1000.  Ha!  Fat chance it could even drive them to an audible level, much less a suitable listening level, but nevertheless, I decided to humor the request and lashed up the K1Ks. 
 
Believe it or not, to our amazement, the Toucan on high gain was not only able to drive them to an audible level, but also to a satisfying listening level that sounded not only well-balanced, but also one that was tonally correct.   This was done using the balanced output.  Of course, the volume control on the PB1 was nearly maxxed, but nevertheless....!!!
 
Who woulda thott???? 
 
Needless to say, the Toucan impressed all who auditioned it with my K1000s and K340s.   In balanced mode, it was also able to drive my HE-5LE's. 
 
In comparison, my *other* balanced portable did not fare as well. "
 
Ron


 
UPDATE:   I did not mean to imply that high gain is needed to drive the HE-5LE using the Toucan's SE output.  It drives them just fine, but balanced there is improvement in imaging and soundstage.  

 

[paulybatz]

Thanks for all the contributions everyone to my thread....I am patiently waiting as I wanted to have both the DAC and AMP, but now I am very lonely...but soon...
 
I do a lot of listening online so really want to see the full potential of the amp with balanced DAC

 

[Young Spade]

Quote:

Thanks for all the contributions everyone to my thread....I am patiently waiting as I wanted to have both the DAC and AMP, but now I am very lonely...but soon...
 
I do a lot of listening online so really want to see the full potential of the amp with balanced DAC

Same here. I think I'm going to save up and use some of the money I make from selling my summer books back and see how the balanced DAC plays out. Computer + DAC + PB1(AMP) + K702 = amazing desktop rig
 
Plus right now I'm using the SE with a T51 for an amazing transportable rig as well. 
 

 

[paulybatz]

No saving up...already paid...waiting for it to be built and shipped!!!!!!
Soooo Excited!

 

[BebopMcJiggy]

How much is it going to cost, if you do not mind my asking?

 

[debitsohn]

they told me less than the toucan.

 

[BebopMcJiggy]

Yeah I just figured that, having already paid, he could say exactly how much it might cost.  

 

[Young Spade]

^Hmm. And that's good. It's really tempting since I want this headphone cable.... :/

 

[paulybatz]

Well...I paid for the amp and shipping and once they release I'll pay for for the DAC.

Just wanted to reserve my amp...

 

[debitsohn]

im gonan get both on the sole fact that it sounds as good as bigger systems. it may not be the best but for its size. wow.

 

[BebopMcJiggy]

Oh, I thought you meant you had paid for the DAC already, my mistake.  Any particular reason you have only reserved the amp?  They shipped mine to the east coast of the US in only 2 to 3 days.

 

[Young Spade]

Lucky you; mine took about 5 days lol...Sadly when I got it I had a test that week so it was killing me that I waited so long and I still couldn't use it. However I'm getting at least 3 hours in every day now

 

[paulybatz]

Save shipping

 

[Sid-Fi]

Ron,
 
Any way of describing how much of an improvement this is over topkit D10's amp? It obviously has a lot more power, but I'm wondering if it would be a significant improvement in sound quality even when not using the balanced features and when only using IEMs like my IE8, which don't seem to require the additional power.
 
Since I will be picking up some full-size cans soon (HD 650 or D5000), this is especially intriguing...
 
Thanks,
Dave

 

[mrarroyo]

Dave, if you do not need the DAC in the D10 then the Toucan is smaller and offers the ability to later go balance. On the other hand your IE8 should not require that much power and carrying any amp makes things complex when you are on the go.