Sound surprising good with the L3000, although struggle a bit with the HD-650.

Who needs an HD650 with an L3000 in the house?

x2 (sold my hd650 long ago)

Who needs an HD650 with an L3000 in the house?

I use them every now and then with my SDS-SE. Sound pretty amazing with the SDS though.

I don't think the Pico performs particularly well with the L3000 or the HD650. It drives the ESW9 very well, however, and I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything there. The Pico and the ESW9 are the perfect couple for my small work rig.

I compared the headroom micro amp/dac combo to the pico today. The headroom pair is almost 300 dollars more than the pico and way larger, and require a mini-mini to operate.

Too bad the headroom combo got dusted badly by the pico. Both units were tested using grado sr60/flac/foobar/usb. The headroom unit had a higher noise floor, less detail, and slightly fatiguing. This was a bit of the thin diffuse sound I'm used to hearing from portable rigs, and I wasn't enjoying the experience.

Plugging in the pico, I noticed the background was much quieter, allowing each instrument to be easily discernible. The soundstage wrapped around my head more, and the vocals had more body, making them more believable. Bass sounded cleaner and sibilance was reduced. Overall the presentation was more accurate and listenable.

Biggie.

Biggie, I believe the Micro stack combo retails for $600 for the pair so only a $100 more than the Pico. Regardless though, I pretty much agree fully with your assessment of the two, the difference between them isn't subtle.

Biggie, I believe the Micro stack combo retails for $600 for the pair so only a $100 more than the Pico. Regardless though, I pretty much agree fully with your assessment of the two, the difference between them isn't subtle.

On the headroom site, they be $399 each. ^^

Unless what I listened to is a discontinued model?

Biggie.

The new Portable Micro Amp/DAC one box thing is $399 + $199 for the DAC module to be added. There is also a separate Mirco and and Micro DAC for $399 each.

It was the older 9V Micro Stack not the newer stuff. Mackay Maus picked them about a year ago, they were included in a couple of boxes of demo gear Headroom sent for a meet we had about a year ago, he decided to keep those. If I remember correctly those retailed for $299 each and were reasonably well regarded, especially the DAC.

Thanks for the clarification. ^^

Biggie.

Quick newbie question... Are Headroom products considered fairly expensive?

I really think it depends on what you're specifically considering and what you're comparing it to.

How about the iBasso D2? Same DAC chip for $300 less. I believe the two amps feature the same DAC chip, but the PICO has an upsampling circuit and the D2 doesn't. It will be interesting to hear the two side by side.

http://www.ibasso.com/ShowNews.aspx?ID=63

Quick newbie question... Are Headroom products considered fairly expensive?

Compared to used and DIY (and I don't mean buying someone else's DIY, I mean actually soldering the stuff together yourself), yes; compared to real world market prices of competitive gear, no.

How about the iBasso D2? Same DAC chip for $300 less. I believe the two amps feature the same DAC chip, but the PICO has an upsampling circuit and the D2 doesn't. It will be interesting to hear the two side by side.

http://www.ibasso.com/ShowNews.aspx?ID=63

Including the asynchronous resampling circuit, oscillator, DC/DC converter, voltage regulators & filtering, output stage for the DAC, i have around $35 in components surrounding the $5 DAC chip. None of these things are being mentioned. "Same DAC chip" is really simplifying things too much. It is not an "all-in-one" type chip where you just apply power and go. If it were that simple, I could side-step to a different $5 chip and end the comparisons, which is exactly what iBasso did but for other reasons. I'm trying to figure out if it's a good thing that iBasso wants to draw this comparison instead of against other DAC/Amp units.

The trouble is people don't look except for skin deep or listen for 15 seconds before coming to a firm life decision on these things before calling it they way "they" know it is.

Including the asynchronous resampling circuit, oscillator, DC/DC converter, voltage regulators & filtering, output stage for the DAC, i have around $35 in components surrounding the $5 DAC chip. None of these things are being mentioned. "Same DAC chip" is really simplifying things too much. It is not an "all-in-one" type chip where you just apply power and go. If it were that simple, I could side-step to a different $5 chip and end the comparisons, which is exactly what iBasso did but for other reasons. I'm trying to figure out if it's a good thing that iBasso wants to draw this comparison instead of against other DAC/Amp units.

Thanks Justin for clarification. The iBasso D2 even use similar chasis to yours Pico but your looks way better probably sound wise too.

Hey Justin,

When is the next planned update of the pre-order page?

Thanks,

Brendan

Hey Justin,

When is the next planned update of the pre-order page?

Thanks,

Brendan

You really think he's going to answer you here?

You really think he's going to answer you here?

why not? i'll try to do it this weekend

why not?

Because then people come here just to harrass you

Heh, one can only hope. I know he is slammed with orders and busy as can be building, shipping and so forth.. so my hopes aren't high.

I was debating offering to write an order taking application for him to help automate all of that. I'd do it for the fun of it (ie: free).. and it would surely be easier to monitor and update than a 173 page thread on headfi :>

Heh, one can only hope. I know he is slammed with orders and busy as can be building, shipping and so forth.. so my hopes aren't high.

I was debating offering to write an order taking application for him to help automate all of that. I'd do it for the fun of it (ie: free).. and it would surely be easier to monitor and update than a 173 page thread on headfi :>

Or you could let him run his business the way he wants to?

doh - thanks for the update Justin!

Sorry head-caser's if my post attracts flocks of naggers.

(it was offer to help - that's all - not telling him how to run his business)

Heh, one can only hope. I know he is slammed with orders and busy as can be building, shipping and so forth.. so my hopes aren't high.

I was debating offering to write an order taking application for him to help automate all of that. I'd do it for the fun of it (ie: free).. and it would surely be easier to monitor and update than a 173 page thread on headfi :>

But then billy would spam it with fake orders...so i'd have to take some money, which I don't want to do.