N@Z 0 Report post Posted August 16, 2003 As requested by Ckng, Marantz CD-80 (fixed analog output) -> DNM Reson+Eichmann Bullet RCA plugs -> KurtW META -> AKG K501 Had to relisten to Mint prior to the 'normal' META. Incidently the specs & original META vs PCII comparison were posted here. The following are just my impressions in point form & put down as & when I listen to them. Tangent Mint META Rage Against the Machine - RAGE : Tight punchy bass with very good extension. Very forward upfront sound. Maybe a tad bright & harsh at times. Lisa Ono - Luesta Bossa Mia : Pleasant airy sound. The bass is less pronounced here emphasis on clarity. KurtW META Lisa Ono - Luesta Bossa Mia : Top end is more controlled. Bigger soundstage. More detail & clarity in the music, like faint nuances & separation of instruments. Bass is pretty much the same, except on 'O Sole Mio where there's this drum which sounded like it had a little more weight. Rage Against the Machine - RAGE : The weightier sound is apparent here. So is the bigger soundstage. Guitars sound less conjested. I think the I/C's helped with the punchy bass which I heard even with the Mint META (on Rock). The Van Den Hul sounds brighter. The K501 worked quite well on both META amps. FWIW, at one point I forgot about writing this & was lost in the music! This happened with both amps lean bass or otherwise! I think only the HD600 with Equinox cables will ever convince me to let go of these headphones. So I'm 1/2 way there so... Headphonecrazy, look into my eyes... you will GIVE me your cables... LOL! Enough OTing! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
N@Z 0 Report post Posted August 16, 2003 As usual, the PORN Now where is the op-amp?! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ablaze 0 Report post Posted August 16, 2003 on the underside? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
N@Z 0 Report post Posted August 16, 2003 You win the $1 throphy! Hehe... my next question is, why?! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ablaze 0 Report post Posted August 16, 2003 why? hmm..thats a good one. I've no idea why its on the underside to make it neater? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ckng 0 Report post Posted August 16, 2003 why? hmm..thats a good one. I've no idea why its on the underside to make it neater? Probably a SMT one. The META docs say there are pads for SMT Op Amps like the AD8620. N@Z: Thanks for the review! Regards CK Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jtfoo 0 Report post Posted August 16, 2003 Why is there a mini blue pot beside the C1L location? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
N@Z 0 Report post Posted August 16, 2003 ckng: The op-amp is an AD8620. I still am not sure why it is down there, unless it is harder to solder on the top but what would I know! Jtfoo: That actually is the 'blend pot' it control's the amount of crossfeed operated by the toggle switch next to the volume pot. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jasonhanjk 0 Report post Posted August 16, 2003 The opamp is on the other side due to design constraint. The PPA has the same config too... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ckng 0 Report post Posted August 16, 2003 ckng: The op-amp is an AD8620. I still am not sure why it is down there, unless it is harder to solder on the top but what would I know! Jtfoo: That actually is the 'blend pot' it control's the amount of crossfeed operated by the toggle switch next to the volume pot. Well, the AD8620 is a SMT IC, meant for soldering directly onto a PCB. This is unlike the other DIP-format ICs (like the 2 TL2001CN buffers seen in the pic) which you can fit from the top directly or via a socket. Regards CK Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jtfoo 0 Report post Posted August 16, 2003 ckng is right, there's a pad for soldering the SOIC AD8620 underneath the meta board. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ablaze 0 Report post Posted August 16, 2003 i thought DIP-8? edit: oh, DIP-8 on top, SOIC pads underneath? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jtfoo 0 Report post Posted August 16, 2003 edit: oh, DIP-8 on top, SOIC pads underneath? Yes, that's how the meta board is. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
matbon0013 0 Report post Posted August 16, 2003 (edited) Or maybe that is why you have the brown dog adaptor then IIRC the OpAmp will have no space to go underneath. Hence the Adaptor not only free the space but reconfigure the opamp to the PCB due to the rightside up from right side down placement (sorry I can't describe it technically). Please correct me if I'm wrong, thanks! Edited August 16, 2003 by matbon0013 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
N@Z 0 Report post Posted August 17, 2003 The Brown dog adaptor, that is not the same as the ones used by the Buffers? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
