Supreme Satisfaction
Written: Aug 01 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Best Available Sound in a portable headphone amplifier.
Cons: High Price- Limited Distribution
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| RMetzner's Full Review: HeadRoom Supreme |
The Supreme Headroom is the audio component of choice for those audiophiles who demand the best available mobile listening experience.
I say “audiophile” because unless you’ve raised your interest in headphones to a whole new level of obsession, the Headroom is probably not for you. At $449 it is not the sort of product you’re likely to consider if you’re interested in something to listen to while you mow the lawn. With that disclaimer in mind, the Supreme is one of the great bargains in the stereo world. Any sort of A/V hardware will probably benefit from a headphone amplifier. The cheap amps in most CD players, amplifiers, or receivers are likely to be little more than an afterthought. The performance of standard headphone outputs might be acceptable if you’re just using inexpensive earbuds or low-end headphones, but any headphone above the absolute bottom will improve with the addition of a headphone amplifier.
The Supreme, like most headphone amps, takes a line-level output from any audio source and amplifies that signal to the level necessary to drive headphones. Of course, level isn’t even half the story, since even the cheap amps in portable CD players will generally produce enough volume to bruise your eardrums. No, the Supreme adds the degree of control and quality of sound reproduction to earn it the badge of a true “Audiophile” product.
I’ve had my Supreme for just over two years. I’ve used it primarily as a portable amp, although it’s a very solid performer in a home system. The headphones I’ve used are the Sennheiser HD-600 and Koss Porta-Pro Jr’s. Both sets benefit from the Supreme, although as you might expect, the benefit is more pronounced with the Sennheisers. I’ve listened to a great variety of music, from classical string quartets to traditional jazz along with a wide selection of pop and rock.
Many of the popular terms in audio journalism are applicable to the Supreme. There is indeed, a tremendous sense of “air” imparted by the Supreme, widening the soundstage and giving a great sense of openness and space to the music. The level of resolution is sometimes unsettling, especially if you’re using the AC power adapter instead of battery power. You may find yourself hearing things in the music that you never heard before, even if you enjoy a fairly high-end system.
The Supreme is a sturdily-constructed piece of hardware, cased in machined aluminum. I’ve had no indication of any trouble where build quality or reliability were concerned. While the cost of the Supreme may seem high, the level of value is high as well.
To the best of my knowledge, the Supreme is sold only directly from Headroom. I purchased mine by telephone, and the staff at Supreme was very helpful, with a high level of enthusiasm and knowledge. The Headroom website at www.headphone.com is also a very useful resource, with a lot of good information about headphone products and accessories, but the site is not yet enabled for selling on-line.
If you’ve been bitten by the headphone bug in a big way and are looking for the ultimate listening experience in portable headphones, the Supreme is unbeatable. Even as a component in a home system, the Supreme deserves a look.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
RMetzner
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Member: Ralph Metzner
Location: Milwaukee WI
Reviews written: 29
Trusted by: 8 members
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