loop_ 0 Report post Posted September 7, 2006 (edited) Some photos: The supermini came in an padded envelope, with the biggest joke for a box from anything I've ever purchased! Good attempt by Xin to improve his packaging, but it's really just a folded piece of paper. Came crumpled too.. Compared with an EZlink card. Using a 'paperclip' mod here in place of another AAA battery to reduce background noise on certain opamp configurations. Xin's instructions. Nice engraving, and it comes with a blue LED Great thing about this amp is that it can be tweaked by swapping opamps. Many permutations here, and you can discern the changes in the way it sounds easily. First thing I asked myself when I heard it was...why did I build my twinkle??? The twinkle isn't a step down, but it's not a step up either. Just a different sound. But then again, at a price of $199usd compared to $75sgd for the twinkle, plus a three month wait, I expected it to sound great. For those unfamiliar with Xin amps: http://www.fixup.net/products/ http://www.fixup.net/talk/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1759 Edited September 7, 2006 by loop_ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
loop_ 0 Report post Posted September 7, 2006 ' date='7 Sep 2006, 01:43 PM' post='77474'] Question : Is it possible to power up the Supermini with just only one piece of batt?? Yep..so long as you use a metal conductor at the other one. Provides enough power for about 10 hours or more I think, depending on what opamps you use. Some opamps cannot use 1 battery only too... enough photos la... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest joi-ful Report post Posted September 7, 2006 This should be more appropriate under the portable audio forum yea? But at such such a high price (relative to myself), some might want to consider using it for their home set-up as well....bleh. Next upgrade.... supermacro IV? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
afbug 0 Report post Posted September 7, 2006 That is a fine looking amp but boy! What a box! How it sound? AD8397 in it? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jasonhanjk 0 Report post Posted September 7, 2006 Nice amp. I wonder could I get my hand on these baby and do some THD measurement... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
loop_ 0 Report post Posted September 7, 2006 (edited) oh yes it should be in the portable. sorry for the mistake...mods please move it..i'm using it with at home though..with my hd600.. Yes one ad8397 in the 3&4 channel socket, lmh6643 in the buffer socket, and the 'solid tube wide voltage' opamp in the L&R socket. Xin erased the opamp number on this one... How does it sound? A bit hard to describe because it changes according to the opamp. It came stock with 2xad8397 with the buffer socket bypassed. I didn't quite like this. By and large, one feature common to most opamps is the slightly warmer characteristic of this amp. It's warm but detailed, and very musical. Bass can be strong or not, just change the jumper setting. Those who are thinking of the supermacro IV, I would suggest getting a supermicro or supermini as an interesting alternative. Xin did not price them lower because they sound worse. In fact, Goto2003, a prominent figure in Xin's forum and someone who helps Xin with prototyping, has mentioned that from the start of the IV series, the supermini and supermicro sounds better than the supermacro. Xin is still prototyping the supermacro to 'catch up' (http://www.fixup.net/talk/topic.asp? TOPIC_ID=1910&whichpage=3). The supermicro is weaker because you cannot play with settings, and change opamps. The supermini because it only takes dual opamps, and settings are changed via jumpers, not external switches, so the 'pimped out' version of the supermacro (at $99usd extra) cannot be used on the supermini. Edited September 7, 2006 by loop_ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
loop_ 0 Report post Posted September 7, 2006 Nice amp. I wonder could I get my hand on these baby and do some THD measurement... what is THD? Xin has taken some measurements using RightMark Audio Analyzer test. Is it the same? Links are here: http://www.fixup.net/talk/topic.asp?TOPIC_...759&whichpage=1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jasonhanjk 0 Report post Posted September 7, 2006 Yes, it's somewhat similiar. THD stands for Total Harmonic distortion. It measures how much extra coloration it adds to the music. (I am trying to use layman term here.. ) This time though I wanted to measure using another equipment and not soundcard... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jeremy 0 Report post Posted September 7, 2006 (edited) Those who are thinking of the supermacro IV, I would suggest getting a supermicro or supermini as an interesting alternative. Xin did not price them lower because they sound worse. In fact, Goto2003, a prominent figure in Xin's forum and someone who helps Xin with prototyping, has mentioned that from the start of the IV series, the supermini and supermicro sounds better than the supermacro. Xin is still prototyping the supermacro to 'catch up' (http://www.fixup.net/talk/topic.asp? TOPIC_ID=1910&whichpage=3). So the Supermacro IV sound still can't compared to the supermicro or supermini yet ? Maybe need to wait for sometimes. Thought of getting the Supermacro IV Edited September 7, 2006 by Jeremy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
aegisofrime 0 Report post Posted September 7, 2006 I thought of getting the Supermacro too, just because it had a massive amount of op-amp sockets to play around with. (8 if I remember correctly). But its just a playful thought. I will never get a Xin product, because somehow I don't like Xin as a guy. Weird personal bias I guess, but I would rather buy from Gary Ali. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jasonhanjk 0 Report post Posted September 7, 2006 (edited) Gary's amp is well received... Edit: I too find Xin....... Edited September 7, 2006 by jasonhanjk Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
aegisofrime 0 Report post Posted September 7, 2006 (edited) I'm probably hijacking the topic, but just need a quick answer. Sometime ago, while buying the PA2v2 on behalf of my friend, I asked Gary if there's going to be a PA3 and he said there's one in the works. The friend I bought the amp for also mentioned that someone on this forum beta-tested the PA3 for Gary. Is it true? Anyway, hope to read a full sonic impression from you loop! Edited September 7, 2006 by aegisofrime Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jasonhanjk 0 Report post Posted September 7, 2006 I'm not quite sure as I spent most of my time in the local forums. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mackie 0 Report post Posted September 8, 2006 I'm probably hijacking the topic, but just need a quick answer. Sometime ago, while buying the PA2v2 on behalf of my friend, I asked Gary if there's going to be a PA3 and he said there's one in the works. The friend I bought the amp for also mentioned that someone on this forum beta-tested the PA3 for Gary. Is it true? Anyway, hope to read a full sonic impression from you loop! Really? Hmmm.....he promised to let me test his prototype long time ago, maybe I should be so thick skin as to ask him again? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jojo 0 Report post Posted September 8, 2006 Fasle Alarm! Replied form Gary " Thank you for reply. Some day there will be a PA3 but this will definitely not be soon. I have not finalized any designs. Keeping up with the orders for the PA2V2s takes most of the time. I think someone may have posted that a new amp is coming soon. It will not be soon, things are only in an early stage and progress slowly. " Really? Hmmm.....he promised to let me test his prototype long time ago, maybe I should be so thick skin as to ask him again? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
