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Post by Deleted on Feb 3, 2012 20:35:00 GMT
I received this lovely looking little CMoy today. I didn't expect that much because it was SO cheap and I also didn't expect it to arrive so quickly from Latvia. The guy selling these is really on the ball.
The sound is amazingly powerful and it actually drives the K601 very loud. How clean may be another long term listening matter, but it works well for sure.
It's a plastic casing and doesn't recharge the battery but the sound is quite amazing for this sort of money. I have no idea what op amp is in there, but it delivers fine sounds.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 3, 2012 21:49:47 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 3, 2012 22:49:21 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 4, 2012 20:23:41 GMT
Great little portable Amp,
Ian (toad) put me on to this guys cmoy`s about 2yrs ago, mine is powered by a 15v battery pack, although there is provision for a 9v internal battery. Mine also has the metal bodied LME49720HA op amp fitted.
I have always rated its SQ on par with my Neco portable, has many hrs under its belt, and has been 100% reliable.
Mick.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 4, 2012 22:26:22 GMT
Hi Mick,
Yes, it is very good. Certainly way better than the price suggests. It even provides enough power to get the K601 going quite loud as well.
A very communicative seller and I'm not sure I've heard anything at this price that gets near it tbh.
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Post by JohnnyBlue on Feb 5, 2012 8:19:33 GMT
I got one last summer, as a truly portable replacement for a PA2V2, and found it a very worthwhile step up in performance over the PA2V2 (I think the price had dropped and made it more tempting, having read about it here on RG ages ago).
It has in turn been superceded by a GS Voyager (an eBay bargain I couldn't resist, and with an even bigger step up in SQ) but the Zigisg still wins on portability: great sound on the go!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2012 8:43:09 GMT
It produces less noise than the Pocket Amp. I like the sound of the PA but it does produce hiss and it also runs out of steam on a difficult load. This one seems to hold up quite well for a portable.
I never saw the post on here about it but it's very low rices for the sound.
It's in a plastic enclosure and needs feet if you don't put it in a bag but it has a nice full and open sound for a portable.
What surprised me was the way it drives the K601 which is almost laser-like for sound problems and signs of compression or that kind of 'squashed' sound you can get when amps are underpowered.
It's quite a clean, tidy sounding amp with a sprinkle of nuts. ;-)
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mrarroyo
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Our man in Miami!
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Post by mrarroyo on Feb 5, 2012 14:09:10 GMT
Ian, a couple of years ago Gary of Electric Avenues modified the PA2V2 so the user could adjust the gain. Is your PA2V2 of the newer kind?
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2012 14:12:44 GMT
No, mine is an early version, Miguel. I'd be surprised if it would work with more gain once the batteries start to go. It has quite a problem driving more difficult loads. Once the volume goes up, it goes into clipping.
It's fine on low impedance headphones.
Maybe the newer ones are improved?
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Post by JohnnyBlue on Feb 5, 2012 14:34:28 GMT
The RG thread where I first read about the Zigis was here. My PA2V2 is adjustable internally for gain, but it still doesn't sound as good to my ears as the Zigis. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2012 18:52:12 GMT
Does anyone know what voltage and polarity for the socket? I just noticed, it can be plugged in!!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2012 19:08:46 GMT
Does anyone know what voltage and polarity for the socket? I just noticed, it can be plugged in!! . Hi Ian, On mine + is the central pin, i use 10x1.5v(15v) in a battery pack obtained from Maplins and lasts forever. I think voltages can go as high as 30v, although i have not tried higher than 15. Mick. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2012 19:20:45 GMT
Hi Mick,
It seems that I could use a 30v (!!!!) dc supply. Here's what he wrote to me:
Hi,
actually you are on of the first, receiving not what you see in ebay listing, but my new, improved CMoy amp:) I am working on photos and description right now, new (your) model may be listed only today late or tomorrow.
Main difference from first model: DC input socket (before only on request for extra money), now amp is DC coupled, this mean no more caps in signal path, less colored sound.
DC socket is 5.5/2.1mm, center pin positive. You can use PS up to 30V with this amp and this chip. If you change chip, see new chip datasheet for max voltage. Some chips work with +-12V max, this mean with 24V PS you are safe with any chip. Of course you can use any lower voltage too. You need plug 5.5/2.1mm preferably, however 5.5/2.5mm work too.
Best regards,
Zigis
That sounds good to me. I can't believe the price he sells these at. They are REALLY good value.
It sounds really good with the K601 as well so the 30v would do it for me!!!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2012 19:31:25 GMT
Hi Mick, It seems that I could use a 30v (!!!!) dc supply. Here's what he wrote to me: Hi,
actually you are on of the first, receiving not what you see in ebay listing, but my new, improved CMoy amp:) I am working on photos and description right now, new (your) model may be listed only today late or tomorrow.
Main difference from first model: DC input socket (before only on request for extra money), now amp is DC coupled, this mean no more caps in signal path, less colored sound.
DC socket is 5.5/2.1mm, center pin positive. You can use PS up to 30V with this amp and this chip. If you change chip, see new chip datasheet for max voltage. Some chips work with +-12V max, this mean with 24V PS you are safe with any chip. Of course you can use any lower voltage too. You need plug 5.5/2.1mm preferably, however 5.5/2.5mm work too.
Best regards,
ZigisThat sounds good to me. I can't believe the price he sells these at. They are REALLY good value. It sounds really good with the K601 as well so the 30v would do it for me!!! Yup, Sounds good to me, give it the full monty should sound great, i have no complaints at half its maximum voltage range. Mick. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2012 19:52:26 GMT
This is one heluva 'n amp Mick. I found a cheap horrible 24v supply (from one of the Bravo types) and it takes off.
It drives the K601 with ease and the bass attack is tremendous. It also has a really see through type sound.
The more I listen to this, the more I really do like it.
At first, I didn't see the DC socket and he hadn't advertised it so I didn't notice. I did notice the see through sound on battery but it's one of those cheap plastic enclosures (like the POcket Amp) and the battery clips in and you pack it in. No recharge.
So, I was expecting a middle of the road/cheap type amp.
The sound got my attention straight away but with more volts down it, it jumps to life with real authority.
I just can't believe the price of these. Way ahead of a pocket amp and it's nice that it's not a Chinese one for a change as well!!
The K601 is really pleasant from this and thanks to JohnnyBlue, I read the old thread which put me on to that DC socket. It didn't even occur to me that something so cheap could run 30v. Real authority there. From such a tiny amp as well.
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Post by JohnnyBlue on Feb 6, 2012 6:52:42 GMT
Ian, your mention of the DC input had me running to look at mine, because I'd never noticed it, either!
Turns out I was not unobservant, I just have one of the previous models: thanks for posting Zigis reply so I've got an explanation!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2012 7:56:38 GMT
He hadn't mentioned it in the Ebay listing so I just didn't look until I saw it in the earlier thread!!
Talk about blind?
I found a nasty cheap 24v supply and it does actually provide a better dynamic range. No changes to the sound - but there again, I noticed that it was good from the start.
It seems a really good match for the K601 and I have no idea why since it would be low output impedance. I would describe it as a good 'compact' sound with clear lows and really not harsh highs. It also works well at pretty low volumes - the presence hangs around!!
It also works well with the Senn HD250 II. They both sound 'smoother'.
And ... it's just a CMoy?
The more stuff I listen to, the more I like this amp - especially on 24v and with the K601 which seems to have developed real character with it.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2012 20:47:42 GMT
I've had some extended listening to this amp now and I think that it is one of the best buys I've seen for good sound. It costs a mere £30 and the cost in no way reflects what you're getting from this amp. I listen to a lot of speech as well as music on headphones and voices are a great sound to use to listen for colourations. I often find for instance, that mens' voices tend to sound ramped up in the mid bass so they go a bit boomy sounding. Also, sibilance can easily show as well. On the Zigis, speech is clear, with body and no boom in mens' voices and not a trace of sibilance in the top ..... on a K601!! You'd think that the bass is lacking when listening to voice and yet, when you put some well recorded music on, the mellowness is retained in the top end but the bass appears into the mix and makes the K601 seem so rich sounding. I only have the amp set at 11:00 and it's plenty loud on the AKG. I can't believe how well the Zigis pushes an AKG headphone and seems to be a good match. Tonally, it's absolutely spot on. The blandness that you can feel with the K601 isn't there and the headphone has a character that's really good. Bass attack is fast and pretty powerful. It sounds like a big amp and putting 24v through it really lifts it. It kind of feels a bit daft listening to a headphone like the K601 on a portable amp but it really is a full bodied, rich sound which I really like a lot. This type of sound for £30 is an absolute bargain and whoever the guy selling them is (Zigis?), he knows what he's doing and he's totally on the ball with regards to communication and speed of delivery. If anyone is looking for a first amp or a cheap amp that is really good - this is quite an amazing little box. www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DC-CMoy-Portable-Headphone-Amplifier-5-5-2-1mm-DC-input-socket-amp-Headamp-/260951034368?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cc1e4ca00#ht_3240wt_69810 of the new version are now on sale. He says that he's taken some capacitors out of the build in order to give a more neutral sound. Well this feels pretty neutral to me but powerful and full bodied. I took it into work today and the guys there couldn't believe that this was just a CMoy design. I'd like to whack 30v through it so I'm going to look for a clean supply. Plugging it in is worth it for the extra headroom. I wouldn't mind comparing it to the first version with this removal of the capacitors just to see how the sound is affected. I'm now also tempted by his bigger amps which I had a look at on the Ebay shop. If they're better sounding, then they're going to be really impressive. |
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funk1969
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Some things are so easily overlooked...
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Post by funk1969 on Feb 11, 2012 1:10:10 GMT
I knew about the quality of this little CMoy. Someone I know with experience in exotic amplifiers loves his Zigis. I am tempted...
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Post by Deleted on Feb 11, 2012 8:11:58 GMT
Funk, £30 is nothing for this kind of sound. It's way ahead of the Pocket Amp in terms of power and sound.
There are only two things I'd say would improve it -
a) a different enclosure.
b) a recharging circuit.
Neither are big criticisms but I guess the price would then be higher.
This sounds like a gutsy full sized amp and you really don't feel that it's just another CMoy.
He's done a really good job on it.
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Post by PinkFloyd on Feb 11, 2012 8:20:08 GMT
I'm looking for a portable for somebody, will give this a shot Ian... looks excellent for the price  |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 11, 2012 8:31:41 GMT
I'm looking for a portable for somebody, will give this a shot Ian... looks excellent for the price Its a no brain bargain at that price Mike, my mk1 was a lot dearer than that, and i am more than happy with mine. Its not so impressive as the Neco in the "eye candy" stakes, but certainly performs as well, if not better. Mick. |
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Post by JohnnyBlue on Feb 11, 2012 9:38:47 GMT
Mick
You're correct, it was pricier a while back, around £50 including P&P, IIRC. Last summer I noticed that the price in GBP was lower (either because there had been a price cut or because of a change in the exchange rate) and at about £36 (inc.) I could resist no longer.
Ian
If you'd like to compare my Mk.1 (no DC input and with caps in path, presumably) to yours, PM me your address and I'll post it over. Take as long as you like: I've still got a Mk. 1 Neco (single stereo op amp), a PA2V2 and a GS Voyager to play with!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 11, 2012 10:33:32 GMT
OK John. Thanks for that. I am quite curious about Zigisg (?) taking the capacitors out of the amp after he said that it makes it sound more neutral. It is very neutral to my ears. I really like it with the K601. With a 24v supply on it, the headroom increases and he's saying up to 30v is quite safe for it as well. He's done a great job on it. Mike, it's a good 'un. She'll love it!!  |
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Post by JohnnyBlue on Feb 12, 2012 10:54:57 GMT
From where do you get 18V or 24V linear, regulated supplies to power the Zigis through it's DC input?
I've been looking for such a PS for my Aune Mini USB DAC and getting an affordable device (I'm thinking circa £20) is not easy: most of the ones around are SMPS. (And I can't run to a Pinkie!)
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