Thanks for the review. It makes me appreciate my MJ3 even more!
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I really like the MJ3 and glad you liked the review.
I hope it doesn’t come across as too negative. It’s a very good amp but it just doesn’t make sense for me with the space for speaker amps and already having a system I prefer. Been doing a lot of gaming with the HM1 though and that’s been great. Will need to get a small amp to fill in for the HM1 once I return it to its owner.
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Best amp I’ve heard as well, though that’s not saying much cause I haven’t heard a lot in the ~5k+ range. Made me appreciate D8k Pro and HD800S for the first time. ZMF stuff sounded “stuffy/muddy”, lacking extension compared to D8k Pro. Preferred the Servo setting on D8k Pro for more bass. Not gonna bother with TOTL HPs unless I can get a similar tier of amp.
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Yeah I liked 800S as well, one of the better solid state options for it I think. ZMFs have been ok and I’ve found them stuffy as well on this amp apart from Verite Closed.
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I’m thinking of giving up on my HM1 order which should be delivered in the next few weeks. If anyone’s interested in it send me a DM.
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We were really looking forward to the HM1 vs AIC vs Mass Kobo 465 showdown 
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465 is being built and should be here in December, AIC is still here, HM1 feels a little redundant but I haven’t decided yet really.
The market is so slow that I’m hesitating taking on selling two very expensive amps.
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HM1 is being shipped tomorrow and will probably be here a day after.
Still open to offers and not opening the box if anyone is really interested. It’ll probably be harder to do that once the box is actually in front of me.
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Not gonna try and compare it to others in-house? You’ve waited this long, just do it. Not like it won’t sell as open box.
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Oh I probably will once it arrives, would be too hard to resist unless I have a deal done before. If I do end up opening it, it’ll probably survive here until 465 arrives…
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Mixed feelings so far after first listening session. I’m missing a little bit of fullness that AIC brings to the music.
Still plenty testing to do obviously… switch DACs, the class a vs servo, Sus vs Utopia and using tone controls but yeah from yesterday thinking about it there’s a sense of weight in AIC that feels a little missing and HM1 doesn’t draw you in as much. It has plenty of detail and very good technicalities but it felt a little bit like a tool and not a hifi component that maximizes my enjoyment.
Don’t get me wrong though, It’s clearly very good, imaging and texture are the first things that stood out to me.
I fully appreciate what he tried to do with it - the size, features, sound signature - all makes sense for an engineer’s desktop tool.
I’m very happy I opened the box, and also happy I bought it at least to experience it on my own without any sense of urgency. It was so convenient to come to my desk this morning and just have it ready to go, no warm up or extra thinking involved.
I’ve asked in the head-fi thread about burn in as I don’t recall anyone mentioning anything about it.
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