sonq

Thanks for the feedback. I'm not really into mega bass; as long as the bass is balanced and not overly bloated and slow. Most important for me are balanced tonal balance and refined treble & mids since most of my recordings are acoustic type. The have some good reviews and only the look is kind of cheap: http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Head-Di...Yuin/OK1/4.html http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f103/yuin-ok...arisons-315035/ I tried the Image X10 at Jaben and seems a lot more dynamic & full bodied than the tiny size suggest. The recording quality from someone else iPod is quite poor, so I can't really confirm the treble quality. My pet peeve is thin bright sound, so this seems promising too. I also found this really positive review of the Nuforce NE-7M; seems really increable for the price and looks good too. http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f103/review-...15-09-a-383617/

I'm using the version by Walker Audio. I've tried it on my main rig and the impact is more obvious on speaker cables and powercords; least on digital interconnect to my Dac. The tonal balance seems to be slightly emphasized at the treble area on analog & d interconnects.

Thanks for sharing. I'm not sure if the SE530 will be an overkill as all these portables are compromised in some ways to meet budget and size constraints. I'll look into the Yuin OK1. I got the Pico DAC to use it on my notebook's USB. My purchase decision is not entirely based on SQ (though this is important too) as I like its clean looking casing in clear anodized finish. I find design clutters like unnecessary details and loud busy graphics an eyesore.

Received my Pico DAC Sep last year but hardly use it as I did not get a good ear phone to match it. Since I don't have a system now, thinking of buying something suitable. Any Pico users here care to share their choice of phone?

Yutiao's PS-1 is the best phone I've heard. Will be amazing if PS1000 actually sound much better. I really look forward to a comparison between HD800 and PS1000. I'll be starting from scratch again and look forward to assembling a good headphone system soon; hopefully something to end any urge to upgrade.

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I feel the same way too. If Sennheiser spent so much effort with this new phone and limitation of the cable on 650 is so well known, I doubt they'll just dump some low grade cable with the 800.

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May I ask how much are the Q-jays? How do they compare with ER4P? For acoustic & vocals, which do you think is better? Thanks.

I have not tried. Not sure if the person who answer the phone make a mistake but she said they only have VHP1.

AR18 used to be a really popular hifi speaker, likely the best seller during it's time. It was my 1st speaker. I was using Thoren TD160 which was still a current model then.

I'm awaiting my Pico but has a DT880 that i don't expect to work well with it; even if the Pico can drive it, I'm not too sure if the 880 can take well to typical SS sound. Even if my former triode amp, it sounds beautifully neutral.

I've yet to try anything beyond those attached after a year. It's an impulse purchase as I really like the aesthetics. I don't own any MP3 nor portable amps, so only use it to play piped music on flight w adpator; more to block out noise. I'll try your suggestion when the Pico arrive.

Found a few positive posts and reviews on the VHP2 but nothing beats an actual audition. I've lost count of the no of times I'm all psych up after reading positive posts/reviews and then feel utterly disappointed on the 1st date. Sound quality can be so subjective. Supposed to have some tube-like signature as it is a chip amp but I have reservations. Had a HA-1A, nice liquid midband with airy spacious sound stage. I don't like the 15-20 min warm up period before they start to sound nice, high background noise compared to SS amp. Also feel the need to wake up to switch the thing off after I dose off. I've rolled a few tubes but if I keep going, the tubes will cost more than the amp.

Hi tbln, thanks for the info. BTW, I was really impressed with what solid state is capable of after listening to your Apache at the last meet. I sold my tube amp and ordered a Pico for office and may get VHP2 with VAC for home. Unlikely to sound anywhere near as good as the Apache but fine with me at a fraction of the price and as long as the sound is musical and engaging. 'll lose the harmonic richness of tubes but the hassle of tube doesn't suit me.

Anyone here knows where I can try to CI Audio amp? Thanks

The 325i sounds really dynamic and engaging during a short 10 min audition at Jaben. Didn't sound bright or etched; just really bouncy, larger than live even. I thought the GS1000 sounds bright but the PS-1 is pretty well balanced and liquid; both on ZD.

So the 20% is case by case and for all models or OK2 only?

I'm new to DAP, can I assume D2 is the best sounding player unamp? I think iPod through the headphone out is not impressive at all but how does it compare to D2 through use of a LOD to a good portable amp? Thanks.

Mine sounds quite thin on iPod Touch and only slightly better on Classic. I've ordered a Pico with DAC and will give an update if it sounds any better.

Has anyone tried either of these 2 amps? The PH100 has discrete class A output instead of opamps; just like LD V. http://www.shanling.com/English/P300%20series.htm

The AD700 has good reviews and came up tops in a group test on Hifi News. Never audition it before, but heard the AD2000 from same series on Yotiao's Zana during a recent meet; except PS1, I like it the most.

Actually eyeing Little Dot's upcoming VI balanced tube amp. I have a 880 but the balanced mod will not be reversible.

I'm hunting for a pair of used 650 to convert to balanced. I hope someone here can advice me on the following: Where can I get balanced cables made for 650 locally? I've heard the RAL cable sound incredibly good but maybe hard to come by. Should I get 3-pin X2 or 4-pin XLR connectors for better sound quality? Anything I should be looking out for when buying used 650? Thanks.

Glad to hear you're off the upgrade cycle. I heard that the current price is USD2.5K but comes with all the "right" tubes. Will tube rolling still yield drastic improvements with these new stock tubes?