ComfyCan
500+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2006
- Posts
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Most of this was previously posted in the "Waiting for Xin" thread, but since I just added a new toy to my collection, the Shure E500 IEM, I thought I'd go ahead and put it all in a separate thread.
Construction:
The weakness in the SuperMicro. The tiny plastic housing, about the size of a 9 volt battery, is not the best. It is subject to cracking if over compressed. I cracked the case on my old SuperMicro III by sitting on it, and the case on the version IV is identical in all material respects. The differences: The version IV is engraved, and the slot for the volume wheel has been enlarged in a rather unatractive fashion, presumably so that the version IV would fit into the same housing that was used for the version III. For pictures, see Skev's post here: http://www4.head-fi.org/forums/showt...=190644&page=5
Like Skev, I purchased a clear housing (actually two: one light purple, and one light yellow). I suspect that the clear cases will show the consmetic imperfection more than the solid color cases.
The volume wheel is recessed almost flush with the housing. This makes it safer from the standpoint of avoiding any chance of accidentally increasing the volume while the amp is in your pocket. However, I have also found that it is a bit of a pain to change the volume on this amp. It's a bit too recessed, IMO. This is significant because this tiny amp is capable of producing truly eardrum-blasting volume, so a very slight turn of the dial can have a dramatic impact on volume. It is simply more difficult to make tiny adjustments on the volume wheel when it is as recessed as it is.
The lid on the amp is held in place by friction, which is not ideal. However, the lid on my version IV is nice and snug. The lid on my III was not. Nonetheless, I cover it with a rubber band or poly band, for insurance. Xin included a polyband for this purpose when I ordered a replacement case for my version III, but did not include one with the version IV amp.
Finally, the copper battery contacts for the single AAA battery that powers the amp are the same thin strips of flashing that were used on the version III. These are subject to breaking if you overbend them. The battery must be placed carefully into the slot, not forced. If you are gentle, the contacts should be fine. I snapped one of the contacts on my version III by forcing it, and had to reinforce it with a bit of copper from an old flashlight. It's an easy fix, but one best avoided by being careful with the battery contacts.
In sum, from a construction standpoint, the Xin SuperMicro is not terribly robust, but should hold up fine if you are careful with it. The SuperMini and SuperMacro do not seem to share this issue.
Sound:
Now for the good part. This is the world's smallest headphone amp, but you would never know that from the sound. The SuperMicro III was an amazing little amp, but the SuperMicro IV outshines it substantially it in most configurations I have tried. The primary difference is a dramatic increase in the perception of soundstage, with most headphones. Version III sounds flat and two dimensional in comparison to Version IV, which sounds quite open, detailed, and 3 dimensional.
The improvement in soundstage in version IV was most apparent with Shure E4c's and the AKG-701's. The expansion in soundstage is still there, but not as dramatic with the Shure E500. The E500's sound better than the E4c's with either amp, but the difference between the amps is more apparent with the E4c's. Just so there is no confusion here: The E500's sound heavenly through the SuperMicro IV.
The GS1000's, however, just don't seem to be a good match for the Xin SuperMicro IV. Highs have a tendancy to sound shrill (the "S" sound turns into "Shh"). I'm sure there is an audiophile term for this phenomenon, but I don't know what it is. The SuperMicro only has one adjustment: volume. Therefore, unlike the tweakable SuperMini and *very* tweakable SuperMacro, if there is poor synergy between your phones and the SuperMicro IV, there's not much you can do about it.
I also briefly tested the PX100's with both amps, and again the soundstage difference was apparent, but was not as dramatic as it was with the E4c's and K-701's.
The improvement in soundstage perception is most noticeable when using a standalone Dac fed by a digital source, but is still quite obvious and pleasant using an analogue line out from a DAP. Like version III, the SuperMicro IV seems to be forgiving when used with less than perfect digital music files; Even 128-192 kbps Mp3's on my Nano sounded remarkably nice with a lineout and the SuperMicro IV.
Finally, I should note that in testing the Xin amps I also compared them to the Headroom MicroAmp w/ Desktop Module, which is my normal amp for everything other than the I-Pod Nano. I love the Headroom MicroStack, but I have found that when using the MicroDac and a digital source, I prefer the sound of the SuperMicro IV over the Headroom MicroAmp with some headphones, most noticeably the K701's, the E4c's, and the E500's (in that order). It's just a more lively, 3 dimensional sound. That was not the case with the SuperMicro III, although the difference between the sound of the two amps (when used with the MicroDac) was never huge. The MicroAmp remains a mutch better match for the GS-1000's, however.
In sum, I love this little amp, and it has surpassed my expectations. I chose it over the SuperMini or SuperMacro for the novelty factor--it's just so tiny and will make a Nano sing like you would not believe. It is the only amp I've tried that is so small that it is never too much trouble to carry along. That said, if I had it to do all over and could only buy one portable amp, I'd probably go with the SuperMini or SuperMacro for greater durability and adjustment options.
If you are in a position to own more than one portable and you want "tiny" without giving up quality, this is the amp for you.
Construction:
The weakness in the SuperMicro. The tiny plastic housing, about the size of a 9 volt battery, is not the best. It is subject to cracking if over compressed. I cracked the case on my old SuperMicro III by sitting on it, and the case on the version IV is identical in all material respects. The differences: The version IV is engraved, and the slot for the volume wheel has been enlarged in a rather unatractive fashion, presumably so that the version IV would fit into the same housing that was used for the version III. For pictures, see Skev's post here: http://www4.head-fi.org/forums/showt...=190644&page=5
Like Skev, I purchased a clear housing (actually two: one light purple, and one light yellow). I suspect that the clear cases will show the consmetic imperfection more than the solid color cases.
The volume wheel is recessed almost flush with the housing. This makes it safer from the standpoint of avoiding any chance of accidentally increasing the volume while the amp is in your pocket. However, I have also found that it is a bit of a pain to change the volume on this amp. It's a bit too recessed, IMO. This is significant because this tiny amp is capable of producing truly eardrum-blasting volume, so a very slight turn of the dial can have a dramatic impact on volume. It is simply more difficult to make tiny adjustments on the volume wheel when it is as recessed as it is.
The lid on the amp is held in place by friction, which is not ideal. However, the lid on my version IV is nice and snug. The lid on my III was not. Nonetheless, I cover it with a rubber band or poly band, for insurance. Xin included a polyband for this purpose when I ordered a replacement case for my version III, but did not include one with the version IV amp.
Finally, the copper battery contacts for the single AAA battery that powers the amp are the same thin strips of flashing that were used on the version III. These are subject to breaking if you overbend them. The battery must be placed carefully into the slot, not forced. If you are gentle, the contacts should be fine. I snapped one of the contacts on my version III by forcing it, and had to reinforce it with a bit of copper from an old flashlight. It's an easy fix, but one best avoided by being careful with the battery contacts.
In sum, from a construction standpoint, the Xin SuperMicro is not terribly robust, but should hold up fine if you are careful with it. The SuperMini and SuperMacro do not seem to share this issue.
Sound:
Now for the good part. This is the world's smallest headphone amp, but you would never know that from the sound. The SuperMicro III was an amazing little amp, but the SuperMicro IV outshines it substantially it in most configurations I have tried. The primary difference is a dramatic increase in the perception of soundstage, with most headphones. Version III sounds flat and two dimensional in comparison to Version IV, which sounds quite open, detailed, and 3 dimensional.
The improvement in soundstage in version IV was most apparent with Shure E4c's and the AKG-701's. The expansion in soundstage is still there, but not as dramatic with the Shure E500. The E500's sound better than the E4c's with either amp, but the difference between the amps is more apparent with the E4c's. Just so there is no confusion here: The E500's sound heavenly through the SuperMicro IV.
The GS1000's, however, just don't seem to be a good match for the Xin SuperMicro IV. Highs have a tendancy to sound shrill (the "S" sound turns into "Shh"). I'm sure there is an audiophile term for this phenomenon, but I don't know what it is. The SuperMicro only has one adjustment: volume. Therefore, unlike the tweakable SuperMini and *very* tweakable SuperMacro, if there is poor synergy between your phones and the SuperMicro IV, there's not much you can do about it.
I also briefly tested the PX100's with both amps, and again the soundstage difference was apparent, but was not as dramatic as it was with the E4c's and K-701's.
The improvement in soundstage perception is most noticeable when using a standalone Dac fed by a digital source, but is still quite obvious and pleasant using an analogue line out from a DAP. Like version III, the SuperMicro IV seems to be forgiving when used with less than perfect digital music files; Even 128-192 kbps Mp3's on my Nano sounded remarkably nice with a lineout and the SuperMicro IV.
Finally, I should note that in testing the Xin amps I also compared them to the Headroom MicroAmp w/ Desktop Module, which is my normal amp for everything other than the I-Pod Nano. I love the Headroom MicroStack, but I have found that when using the MicroDac and a digital source, I prefer the sound of the SuperMicro IV over the Headroom MicroAmp with some headphones, most noticeably the K701's, the E4c's, and the E500's (in that order). It's just a more lively, 3 dimensional sound. That was not the case with the SuperMicro III, although the difference between the sound of the two amps (when used with the MicroDac) was never huge. The MicroAmp remains a mutch better match for the GS-1000's, however.
In sum, I love this little amp, and it has surpassed my expectations. I chose it over the SuperMini or SuperMacro for the novelty factor--it's just so tiny and will make a Nano sing like you would not believe. It is the only amp I've tried that is so small that it is never too much trouble to carry along. That said, if I had it to do all over and could only buy one portable amp, I'd probably go with the SuperMini or SuperMacro for greater durability and adjustment options.
If you are in a position to own more than one portable and you want "tiny" without giving up quality, this is the amp for you.
