The Headcase pico Lovefest: Post your impressions here

[Nenso]

what does that mean?

It means that the AT amp is pretty bad.

Nenso, that looks really good, and I bet it looks even better in person. Congrats.

Thanks!

[Smeggy]

Yep, that does indeed look very nice. Congrats Nenso.

[recstar24]

what does that mean?

"...AT Amp: It is pretty muddy overall and when I listen to more complicated tracks, different guitars sound identical and the lower range like the kick drums and bass are more similar sounding. In hindsight, I realized I couldn't hear a lot of things with it. I don't think this amp is worthy enough to drive my headphones because it simply did the job of providing a DAC but has a horrible amp...

...ummm...I think he just explained right there...

Glad your enjoying it!

[recstar24]

suggests things that i don't think were meant.

I re-read and I hear what you are saying. Like it gets out of the way and doesn't muck up anything, whereas it appears it is mucking up the sound.

[Nenso]

Hmm, I see.. I'll try to make things clearer next time.

[recstar24]

Wavelength Audio, USB DACS, Crimson, Cosecant, Brick, Proton, Tube DACs

I was cruising the wavelength audio usb dac site and saw that he is planning on releasing a portable usb/dac headphone amp. But damn look at that price! Even more amazing what Justin is offering.

[Knuckledragger]

Price/performance has never been Wavelength's strong suit.

[justin]

The Pico is about the size of the RCA jacks on that so I'm not sure it qualifies as portable. I'm sure its very well designed though

[n_maher]

$900 in a $20 fricken Hammond aluminum chassis...

[luvdunhill]

$900 in a $20 fricken Hammond aluminum chassis...

1/3 of a Hammond chassis at that

[n_maher]

1/3 of a Hammond chassis at that

How you figure? Looks like 100% pure Hammond to me, just with some engraved panels where someone didn't even bother to have the engraving infilled. :palm: Let's hope that picture is just a prototype, it is an absolute fail compared to their normal fit and finish.

[recstar24]

How you figure? Looks like 100% pure Hammond to me, just with some engraved panels where someone didn't even bother to have the engraving infilled. :palm: Let's hope that picture is just a prototype, it is an absolute fail compared to their normal fit and finish.

Yah - hopefully there is enough guts to qualify the pricetag. If its just a pcm2702 and an opamp buffer for the output than pretty much your looking at a $900 bithead

[Iron_Dreamer]

$900 in a $20 fricken Hammond aluminum chassis...

My thoughts exactly!

[justin]

Yah - hopefully there is enough guts to qualify the pricetag. If its just a pcm2702 and an opamp buffer for the output than pretty much your looking at a $900 bithead

It's a lot more than that

[recstar24]

It's a lot more than that

Well there better be a tube hiding in there transformer coupled for that price tag. Even though I would imagine a big part of the cost is the "R & D" needed to "crack the code"

[hadden]

Typical arrogant offensive audiofool pricing from that company. WTF. The Proton has the headphone output at the back stupidly -- it won't properly drive Senns, either.

[purk]

I just re-purchase another Pico. The Pico sounds great with my L3000. Very nice synergy.

[Iron_Dreamer]

I just re-purchase another Pico. The Pico sounds great with my L3000. Very nice synergy.

Don't say I didn't warn ya!

[Smeggy]

I'm wondering if the Pico will have enough grunt to drive orthos (my newest best toys). They're a total fucker to drive but I still want a Pico. I'd buy one now If I could but I'm such an impatient ass I really hate waiting lists. Any of you lot have an old ortho to test with it?

[diebenkorn]

I had some YH 100's and the starving student could not drive them, I think ASR said something in his review about the pico not being the best for the 340's (only in theory) so don't know if this is any help.

[spritzer]

Considering the insane power requirements ortho's have I'd say the Pico wouldn't work well. Just get a B22, works wonders on the T-50.

[Icarium]

I don't really believe in portable amps anyways. I've never really understood the obsession. Are people seriously bringing that shit to the gym or on their jogs or busting it out while they commute?

The only use case that's ever fit my needs is for plane rides... but otherwise barf.

Of course I only use my Pico as DAC anyways since it has a mod that lets me use the line in as a line out (Or as a line though I have to be careful using it as a line in and as a dac at the same time). It's pretty awesome as the DAC runs purely off usb and doesn't need battery power whatsoever.

Of course since I leave it feeding my office rig I don't really need it to be portable either.. except to marvel at its quality + tininess. The fact that it doesn't need to be plugged in or fed by battery is a big plus though.

[guzziguy]

I agree. I only use an amp on some plane rides and on train rides, etc. Normally, it's PK2 or UM2 straight from an iPod. Or it's iBuds if I'm working out. Don't want to destroy my nice portable phones.

[Dusty Chalk]

I have to admit, the Shures that I used to use sounded distinctly better with an outboard amp, but I have since switched to not commuting...I mean, to Etymotic ER-6i's, which sound quite good without additional amplification.

[Icarium]

Yeah I currently use ER-6is. While I recognize even with something like ER-6s which will assuredly benefit at least somewhat from an amp... the tradeoff just isnt worth it for me.