Sennheiser Amperior

Quite some time ago, a fellow acquaintance sent me the Amperior, but my Magni and Modi wasn't reaching me anytime soon, so I had to wait for the M&M to arrive before i start the review on the unit.

Appearances 

The amperior on first look is a very versatile and mobile headphone. It is an on-ear instead of over ear. Design wise some may suggest it odd looking, and I agree to a certain extent.

The first thing that I couldn't understand is the extending socket cable for the Amperior. Secondly would be the cable near the top of the driver cans, why did they do it like that, it's not like mainstream users are able to replace the drivers and the cable connecting both sockets.

Sound

Treble

The treble on Amperior seems a bit lacking in comparison to the Q701, but they are in totally different league, I would think the Amperior will have suffice treble to be powered by DAPs out there. 

Mids

The vocal is very forward, in comparison (yet again) with Q701. They really excel with rock music genre, and something like Linkin Park's Hunting Party really makes the Amperior feel like a badass! Forward sounding music, yeah, great!

Bass

Bass is quite light on the Amperior, it doesn't go down to sub bass, and will rattle a bit when trying to do so. Typical music will have suffice bass translated, but lacks the downright power of sub bass. 

Soundstage

The soundstage of Amperior isn't exactly wide to be said, maybe cause I'm used to Q701 that the Amperior feels lacking in this section. It is quite confined although not restrained. 

Conclusion

IMO, this Amperior will serve really well as a mobility option, but not suffice to be a home relaxing audio headphone option, since the leather on the cups will cause sweat around , and the audio quality puts it in second class, next to other on ears, but better marginally.

Fiio X5 Review: Flat Head

Special thanks to Fiio for this amazing chance to test the Fiio X5 that has not been released in global market (as of the time this review is written). X5 has been debuted as the next big thing in budget multi-functional DAP. Let's see how does it stand up to the test.

Packaging

Packaging pic below is pre-release items. Final retail pack list of accessories are in list below the image.

I have to say that the accessories are quite complete, with everything you will need. The promo code is 15% off purchases from HDTracks, and is repeatable use.

Design

The X5 gives a similarity looks to the IPod, but with more functions and slots to use. There are 2 microSD slots, Line out, Micro USB slot, and other illustrated in the pictures below.

Navigation

Navigating through the X5 interface could get some used to. The top left button is the menu, top right is back, bottom left is a track backwards and bottom right is the forward. The center is clickable and the black region is actually a coarse scrolling wheel for navigations. I myself am not quite fond of such a layout, cause I intend to make press errors and get lost a while among the buttons that does different things when in different menu layouts. Later I also realized that while playing the center button can be pressed to pop up the volume dialog and use the scroll wheel to navigate audio volumes.

Sound

This category will be layout into 2 different sections. One for the DAC only on desktop config, while another on the Headphone output as a portable DAP. Coaxial is not used cause I don't have the use of it.

Line out

For the line out, I had it compared to my trusty old DACPort LX that I had for years, and find no reason of changing it. In direct comparison, LX has a much higher gain than of X5. The sound on the X5 is deeper but does require quite abit more volume on the amp to run it. 

Second point, the LX is a "right off the bat" plug and play, but the X5 needs their own driver pack to be downloaded and installed in order for it to work. It might be due to the feature of 24bit/192khz that requires the specific driver. The driver installed on Windows 7 without any hiccups. The X5 will show the sample rate of the song that is currently playing, which is a plus for me in particular.

Oh, and the X5 does charge while using as a dedicated DAC, which is convenient.

For this section, still my LX beats the X5, by gain and clarity, but technicality goes to X5. If you need the 24/192, this might be a good choice.

Headphone out

For this section, I'm using X5 with the Q460, which is my daily "on the go" headphone.

Treble

The treble on the headphone out is quite weak to say. There isn't as much clarity on the high notes as what I could hear on the Sansa Clip+ which makes me wonder how Clip+ can do something I was looking forward on the X5. The X5 is plain flat on the treble, which sounds a bit boring and lack of impact on some power  house songs. Clip+ brings the fun and energy more than X5 is able to.

X5: 0

Clip+ : 1

Vocal / Mids

Vocals are done very well on the X5, as vocals are supposed to be portrayed flat to showcase the actual voice of the singers. Any coloration beyond this point makes it sound nice, but unauthentic. Background singer voices doesn't cover the main singer's vocal, and in simple, X5 has great vocalist power for me.

The mid range area of instruments are generally still a flat, but has much more attraction for me. It's quite hard to describe it, but particularly favorite the mids on Justin Timberlake's songs and also Avenged Sevenfold.

X5: 1

Clip+: 1

Bass

Bass, I can say, is quite light weight. Not much mass on the bass region, as Jason Derulo's Talk Dirty has some serious bass pumps, and X5 just doesn't cut it. It is sometimes so light that it just feels absent. Quite sad on the case that X5 is priced in such a way that it only focuses on function and omits "taste" in their headphone output.
X5: 1
Clip+ : 2

Conclusion

All I can say is the X5 are for listeners who are purists to their music taste. They will demand everything is flat, so they can hear the characteristics of a mastering, but for average users, this might not be a great choice, and psychologically will make you feel that you have just wasted your money on something that dull. So, better be damm sure that flat music is what you are after, or not regrets might influence you.

At the meantime, I will stick to my Clip+ until the next big thing comes along.

Alessandro MS1

Thanks to Alan for the loan unit, I am going to review the MS1, not the MS1i as previously mentioned.

MS1

Design

The design on the Alessandro and Grado series always has to feel weirdly classic to me. They are still one of the more famous open back headphone line ups known to head-fi. They expose the drivers so much that it can be used as a pair of speakers themself. The MS1 itself is quite light and can be used for long durations without a problem.

Sound

Treble

The treble on MS1 is quite clean, the high pitches are clearly portrayed, especially on classical orchestras. They do real nice on it. The cymbals are crispy, and not ear deafening piercing at all.

Mid

Guitars and vocals do remarkably well on the MS1. Vocals are quite laid back on the MS1 compared to what I remember of MS1i. Guitars strike with authority and makes rock very sensational to listen to.

Bass

Bass on MS1 is quite a polite one. Not too much power on it, but has the beats that you can feel the presence to. I like to refer it as a "polished" bass rather than a "quantified" bass.

Soundstage

There isn't quite much soundstage on the MS1. It is still that Grado / Alessandro house sound that is more a studio sound than a stage sound. Separations are quite clear cut, and can be dissected into left right mid back and forward starring.

Conclusion

You know I like to cut the bullshit descriptive illustrations going as thick as a JR novel, so I will just tell you what kinda music will suit the MS1 or in fact any Grado related cans to say. Rules of thumbs when it comes to Grado / Alessandro is Rock music and Metal Music or anything that is similar to it. Now, that's a fact! So, unless you are into these music genre, Grado / Ales is a must have, for other genres, try first before deciding to get it, it's a 50/50 chance you will like it.

Alessandro MS1i review coming soon

Nothing much to say, but thanks to a recently met friend, who coincidentally also called Alan (which is my name too anyways FYI), lend me to try his MS1i, and hence, I will have a chance to reminiscence on the good old days when I had a MS1i. Ah~ the good old days when everything seems like curiosity and hype.

Observation of bass port of Q701

Here are my observation of the bass mod for Q701. With the sticky removed, bass had more volume, treble got slightly more appearing, so are dynamics.

With the sticky on, soundstage was greatly different, though bass is lesser volume but with the same authority. The high "tings" get more appearance in comparison too, those are like the super highs.

So, for you readers, bass mod for the bass and treble up, or no bass mod for the flat sound and wide soundstage?

Schiit Magni

Schiit ( named exactly what you think it is ) is a company established by Jason Stoddard. Their ideal is simple, clean, powerful, made in the USA using USA parts. I love them for the plain humor they imply on their site, and also the design of the item. Oh, not forgetting the great sound from a simple circuit board implementation.

Some do feel that simplistic means lousy, this redefines it! Here we will talk about the Magni, an "entry" level $99 amp that packs some absurd power. 1.2W RMS per channel on 32 ohm, like seriously.. and on 600 ohms, 130mw RMS. So, who says $99 amp cant get you nowhere?

Magni

Design

I absolutely love the aluminium looks of the Magni. It looks real simplistic and is a definite space saver on a desk. The Magni is connected via RCA ONLY. 

Rear

There are 2 variations for voltage and 4 types of plugs to choose from.

Sound

When I plugged in this amp, I was skeptical for a $99 amp. I wasn't expecting something extraordinary, apparently from the early part of this article you should know I had my mind turn upside down.

Treble

The treble on Magni is really really nice. From an orchestral perspective, you can hear all the minor details that are in the music clearly. The high hats are just plain crispy. All the little "ting tings" possible in a music is clear cut and apparent. No top parts of the music gets let off.

Vocal / Mids

Wow, the trumpets in this Magni is mesmerizing.  Vocals mix real well with the trumpets in "Trumpets, by jason derulo" That really proves that vocal isn't always necessarily be overturning other mid range audio parts. Piano, goosebumps, period!

Female vocal is quite sweet and warm on the "Vertigo" duet between Jason Derulo and Jordin Sparks. Their mix with the piano really caught me in my emotions!

Bass

I used "Talk Dirty" by Jason Derulo to test the deep down bass of Magni, and it did not disappoint at all! Beats can go real down thumping, but very well controlled and precise. It will not give you the WAAAYYY overpowered bass that "some brands" will give, but instead quality speaks better than quantity.

Soundstage

The soundstage projected by the Magni is very wide, as explainable in "the fire rises" by Hans Zimmer. The whole scene can almost be very well positioned, with every instruments pin pointable to their exact location, near or distanced. Echos transverse wide and clear without early cut offs.

Dynamics are very well done in Magni. It feels like everything is equally appearing and mix real well together, giving you the feeling that this is at the Alo Audio level material but at a $99 price level.

Conclusion

Well, with that many praises from Head-Fi, and Jason with his humor, I can say it is undeniable that Schiit is making them a challenger to be reckoned with at this already diverse market of amp and DAC options. If you do have an interest in audio, the first step to go for will be the Magni, it's $99 pure awesomeness! I wonder what other Schiit will sound like.. Schitty perhaps? haha. For Magni, I give a 100% definite recommendations, no questions asked!

Q460 coming soon; JDSLabs USB OTG Mini to Micro arrived

2 notes here to mention real fast.

1. Q460 coming soon

Following the line up, I have the Q701 for quite some time, the Q460 will soon to follow for a review. 

2. JDSLabs USB OTG Mini to Micro

Well, in short, the cable has arrived, and my days of convenience to use my android S3 to connect to my Hippo cricri+ using shorter cables has arrived. YAY!

More to come soon! Thats all for now