What is the Total AirHead's competition? It seems like a clear winner currently.

[wnewport]

I currently have a PA2V2, it is alright, but I want something of higher quality for portable use. As of now the Airhead, for the price, seems like the best amp. The build quality, support, made by a Head-Fi sponsor, etc. are all selling factors to me. But before I pull the trigger I want to make sure I am making a good decision.

I listen to a lot of hip-hop, prog rock, classical, electric, and operas.
I want a versatile amp for all cans (the gain switch is a winner here), I use hd595's and SR-80's currently. But if the 595's don't improve much I will probably sell those for a nice pair of IEM's.

I think my main question should be, will the AirHead be a significant improvement over the PA2V2 in SQ. I know in other departments it wins. (Don't get me wrong, for the price the PA2V2 cannot be beaten.)

Thanks for your time.

-Wyatt

 

[Asr]

For the same price you can get Xin's SuperMini-3 (mine is from the second iteration which used the AD8397, the current iteration uses a different AD op-amp), or the Portaphile V2^2. I haven't heard the Portaphile, but the SuperMini-3 is a very good amp for the money.

 

[2426]

Isn't the Supermini $199?

Anyways, you could go the DIY route, I'm sure you could get somthing like a PIMETA, or you could buy used.

 

[Asr]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2426 Isn't the Supermini $199? Anyways, you could go the DIY route, I'm sure you could get somthing like a PIMETA, or you could buy used.

I meant the SM-3 is the same price as the Total Airhead, which is $199, yes.

 

[mkozlows]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Asr I meant the SM-3 is the same price as the Total Airhead, which is $199, yes.

The Total Airhead is $149 now.

 

[PFKMan23]

Some additional suggestins if you're willing to do DIY would be a PINT or the upcoming mini cubed.

 

[Asr]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mkozlows The Total Airhead is $149 now.

I sit corrected, I didn't notice.

 

[K2Grey]

For what it's worth I'm waiting for the Mini^3 boards to be released. Some pictures, albeit they have no real bearing on the sound:

http://headwize.com/ubb/showpost.php...=48670&fpage=7

Supposedly costs about $40, $50 in parts (doesn't include batteries or the Elpac or whatever is going to be used to connect to wall), AD8397 opamp, has a built-in battery recharger.

 

[wnewport]

Quote:

Originally Posted by K2Grey For what it's worth I'm waiting for the Mini^3 boards to be released. Some pictures, albeit they have no real bearing on the sound: http://headwize.com/ubb/showpost.php...=48670&fpage=7 Supposedly costs about $40, $50 in parts (doesn't include batteries or the Elpac or whatever is going to be used to connect to wall), AD8397 opamp, has a built-in battery recharger.

Thanks, I didn't know about the Mini^3. I'm not much of DIY'er, but if it novice friendly then I might give it a shot. Or I could have someone build it for me.

 

[granodemostasa]

I've heard the prototype of the mini^3, it's unbelievable, the best portable amp i've ever heard...sounds as good as the full sized M^3, costs less, and very portable.
it was doing so well that they actually put it in competition with a dynahi and only a small difference was heard (the tone of the tenor sax and marimba gave it away).

 

[ComfyCan]

I have the Xin Super Micro III and the Total BitHead; they are my first and only dedicated headphone amps. The Xin Super Micro III with a Nano playing apple lossless with either a pocket dock to bypass the headphone-out, or (better) an apple remote radio to perform this function, sound much better than the BitHead does when used with the Nano. The BitHead/Nano combination is ok, it's just not as good as the Xin/Nano combination.

Conversely, when using laptop as source (either cd drive or I-Tunes), the BitHead does a much better job than the Xin Super Micro III. The Xin performs quite poorly with my laptop; treble turns to noise. It is a very poor match, to the extent that I can't listen to it. I think it is because of the DAC in the Bithead; the Xin has no DAC, and my laptop internal and Audigy 2 ZS soundcards both suck. Nonetheless, I get better sound plugging into the headphone out on the cheesy Creative card than I get if I add the Xin to the laptop configuration.

What has really surprised me, however, is that the Nano/Xin combination actually sound *significantly* better than the Laptop/BitHead combination.


Don't get me wrong--the BitHead/laptop setup sounds good, the music just isn't as clear as it is on my pint-sized SuperMicro III/Nano setup.

All testing has been with new Shure E4c's and new AKG 701's. Although the comparisons and conclusions above remain unchanged regardless of which phones I use, I place more faith in the results with the Shures, which sounded superb straight out of the box. The 701's only have about 30 hours on them, and from what most users say they need significantly more burn-in time before they will perform well. (I hope this is true, because the 701's don't sound like they're "cooked yet," to coin a phrase. Bass is undeveloped, and the sound is just not always smooth, depending on the song. They still beat the pants off of the Triports they replaced, but if they don't improve I will be disappointed to the extent that I will buy another set of full sized phones).

 

[Coffeegeek]

Comfycan-

Is this the new version of the TotalBithead that you have, or the old version? Because I imagine that it might make some difference.

Chris

 

[TheSloth]

Also relevant in the case of the bithead is that the use of USB power reduces the voltage and current potential, and adds noise and distortion to the circuitry, something that is not relevant to the AirHead.

 

[ComfyCan]

Thanks Sloth; that makes sense. Coffee, I have the new Total BitHead.

By the way, I just discovered the gain switch in the Bithead's battery compartment, so I will have to play with that a bit and see if it has any impact on the comparisons I made between the 2 amps in different applications.

 

[2426]

Quote:

Originally Posted by granodemostasa I've heard the prototype of the mini^3, it's unbelievable, the best portable amp i've ever heard...sounds as good as the full sized M^3, costs less, and very portable. it was doing so well that they actually put it in competition with a dynahi and only a small difference was heard (the tone of the tenor sax and marimba gave it away).

Wow. This is making me really excited for the Mini^3 release. Can you give us some more details.