Massdrop Cavalli Tube Hybrid Amp

Discussion in 'Headphone Amplifiers and Combo (DAC/Amp) Units' started by purr1n, Aug 11, 2017.

  1. zfisch

    zfisch New

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    Got the MCTH in the other day. Saw several comments regarding the tightness of the tube socket. If your unsure if its sitting correctly/fully (like I was) you can look in through the back ventilation holes while pointing the MCTH at a very bright light and then you can see if the pins are fully in the socket. For me the tube and socket was only visible by looking through the back left ventilation holes.
     
  2. Azimuth

    Azimuth FKA rtaylor76, Friend

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    I guess I have been putting in tubes so long, I could probably do it blindfolded.
     
  3. Azimuth

    Azimuth FKA rtaylor76, Friend

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    One other feature not mentioned on here I thought I would share.

    The MTCH will not turn on immediately, but there is a delay in the relay until the DC settles down. The light is red at first, and then when the relay kicks in, will turn the LED a very light blue color.

    It monitors the DC on the headhphone output as well as the input. So if you have hickups in your source, it might click the relay off. This happened to me a couple of times as I was switching between amps.

    Pretty cool though that it is DC coupled on the input as well, so no input filter capacitor. I am kind of wondering if this is part of the Cavelli magical sound.
     
  4. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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    Is having the pot at unity gain the sweet spot for all amps? Or for specific types of amps? I've been told that some preamps have a unity gain setting with minimal active stages or straight passthrough. But I guess this isn't the case with a headphone amp.
     
  5. Azimuth

    Azimuth FKA rtaylor76, Friend

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    Had an extra Russian 6DJ8 laying around from my Schiit Valhalla 2 and threw it into the MCTH.... Much warmer an thicker with some rolled off highs. Still very responsive and spacious, but not as airy or exciting. Not for me.

    Quickly went back to the EH tube and...ahhhhhhh...that's more like it.
     
    Last edited: Apr 5, 2018
  6. msommers

    msommers High on Epipens

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    I listened for awhile today and I still can’t believe how much I enjoy this thing. It makes me listen to music, not equipment. And the price, relatively cheap!
     
  7. captkirk

    captkirk Khan's BFF

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    MCTH arrived last night, and between then and this morning, with roughly four-ish hours of listening, it's safe to say that it's understandable how much positive reception the production version of this amp is getting.

    I'm currently running it through a variety of tracks that I'm familiar with, and I've got to say, this little guy has some SOUL. There's a familiar tonality and presentation akin to the EC amps that I have in my stable, though on a smaller scale.

    While I've only been running with my k-modded 650, the intent of picking this guy up was to square-off with my Jot to drive my Slants. It's immediately clear that the MCTH has the Jot beat for staging and depth, but it may suffer the Slants with less bass control; an aspect of the Slant I find intoxicating.

    More to come...

    Pics or it didn't happen.

    [​IMG]
     
  8. Azimuth

    Azimuth FKA rtaylor76, Friend

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    I liked @msommers comments because I am not sure if anyone has used the word "transparent" yet, but if there was one word, that would be it. Like a dang pane of glass.

    And @captkirk, also very much agreed. After trying another tube and just hearing a much syrupy thicker sound, I am starting to wonder to really get the textures of the bass, it needs a better power supply. I know on the insides it is pushing and tugging to steer and divide that 28V up to everything it needs. Bob's measurements should be enough to tell us all that an LPS really will make a difference in noise and THD.

    Soooooooo...time to start LPS shopping. Anyone have any suggestions?
     
  9. Junki

    Junki Facebook Friend

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    My impressions. My preferences and equipment history are up-to-date in my profile.

    I got the SDAC+MCTH for my office to replace the Dragonfly Red, a particularly musical little thing I've been fond of for several years, which drove my HD6XX to satisfaction for all the work things I have to listen to. At home, I listen with the Sundara, and I have a hole in my chain that has been temporarily filled by the integrated DAC and headphone amplifier in my Audioengine HD3 powered speakers.

    I burned in the unit for about as long as Alex recommends. I left MCTH playing overnight and through the next day's work hours.

    For my first night listening to the SDAC+MCTH, I used it at home with my Sundara. Long story short, I did not like the pairing of the Sundara with the SDAC+MCTH as much as (to my surprise) with the HD3, the sound of which I tried to describe here. After quite a bit of A/B testing between the SDAC>MCTH and the SDAC>HD3, I've come to two conclusions. The Sundara is a can that is inherently slightly airy and soft but just enough to not hurt resolution and clarity. In fact it is the most resolving cans I've heard, and it's this balance of musical clarity that I really like. Paired with the MCTH, overall sound became too soft and too airy, such that it felt a little hazy and resolution, separation, and layering seemed to suffer. It's as if the overall picture became a bit blurry. Soundstage was slightly more expansive, but it did not make up for the worse imaging. More obvious to me, the bass, especially the lower end of it, just did not sound as extended, loud, or controlled through the MCTH as through the HD3, and bass is one of the main reasons I listen to planars.

    I decided to take the SDAC+MCTH into my office and pair it with the HD6XX. Maybe I came into this second audition with lower expecations, but I'm very happy with this pairing. The extra airiness that I heard through the Sundara adds to HD6XX's sound stage, and it sounds like the presence and treble is slightly more liquid and smooth. As a consequence of the bigger headstage, sounds aren't as congested and separation seems to have improved. This is a really superb musical pairing and probably the best pairing with the HD6XX I've heard to date.

    Overall, I'd say the MCTH is not a particularly transparent amp. It softens and smooths, it's airy and expansive, but it's only ever slightly so. This is all completely subjective so YMMV.
     
    Last edited: Apr 6, 2018
  10. Jinxy245

    Jinxy245 Vegan Puss

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    I'll just say it will likely get better with burn in, and that's a phrase I never thought I'd ever use.

    I found the bass to tighten up significantly, but of course YMMV.
     
  11. Biodegraded

    Biodegraded Friend

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    My impression too; bass gained texture, but at the expense of some amplitude. Also, microdetail became more evident. From Modi Multibit into HD6XX, the overall tonality is now such that I'd wish for maybe a bit more bass, but the initial bit of boominess is now gone to the extent I'm not wanting to mod the 'phones (at least, not right away :rolleyes:).

    Am I correct that all your listening to MCTH was when fed by SDAC? ie have you tried it with another DAC?
     
  12. Junki

    Junki Facebook Friend

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    You are correct. No I did not listen to it with another DAC. In the ultra-low confidence endeavors of subjective listening, I try to hold as many variables constant as possible for my own sanity.
     
  13. captkirk

    captkirk Khan's BFF

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    Not sure on transparency. Jot certainly has better clarity, with dead silent background. The MCTH simply has a richness to the tone that isn’t holding back or veiling any detail, but not “crystal” to my ears. Running Gungnir Multibit there’s a slight hint of warmth and body, where my early Jot is lacking.
     
  14. msommers

    msommers High on Epipens

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    @captkirk as you get more time on the MCTH, a comparison with ZDS using your 650s would be incredibly appreciated - the ZDS is more or less the most sensible move up for me and I do wonder how much more and what characteristics I'd get with those dollars! But I really like the house-sound of this amp, so if that differs a lot from the ZDS (as I've never heard it), I'd certainly like to be made aware :)
     
  15. captkirk

    captkirk Khan's BFF

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    I certainly need more time with the amp, but right away I can say that the main difference lies in the ZDS's ability open up the 650's soundstage. There's more to it than that, but it’s very apparent the MCTH lacks this ability. Will report back.
     
    Last edited: Apr 6, 2018
  16. I_want_all_the_tacos

    I_want_all_the_tacos Friend

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    @captkirk Thanks for the impressions. I know you also gave a great review of the EC ZDT Jr a while back and mentioned the staging and immersion factor as being a big strength for Senns and ZMFs. I'm already in the ZDT Jr drop, but I have been interested in trying a hybrid tube amp if it brings something unique and interesting to the table, so curious if you feel the CTH has certain qualities that the ZDT Jr lacks?
     
  17. gaspasser

    gaspasser Flatulence Maestro

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    I would like to chime in a bit. This amp is getting better every listening session as the stock tube burns in. I am sort of comparing to Lyr 3 since they happen to both currently be in a new computer-based system with Bifrost Multibit Gen 5. As, Atomic Bob already noted in the System Synergy thread, the MCTH and the Focal Clear are a great combination! I like Clear on Lyr 3 with the stock tube, but the recessed (less intimate) soundstage on MCTH works synergistically with the more intimate presentation of Clear.

    If you have a pair of Clear, I can’t recommend MCTH highly enough.
    MCTH plays very well with HD800 SDR and HD650K, but the standout combo is with Clear.
     
    Last edited: Apr 6, 2018
  18. captkirk

    captkirk Khan's BFF

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    The ZDTjr doesn't play well with planars.

    Other than that, and that the ZDTjr is a level up from the MCTH, it's too early for me to tell.
     
  19. atomicbob

    atomicbob dScope Yoda

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    How the volume knob interacts with a given amplifier depends on the amplifier topology. One topology has the volume knob as an input attenuator to a fixed gain amplifier, possibly with a switch for two different fixed gains. Another utilizes the volume knob in a feedback loop to change the gain of the amplifier.

    Most of my testing is performed with a stimulus at 0 dBu and measuring with 0 dBu out from the amp, thus I tend to want unity gain through the amplifier. It is also convenient as then I can adjust levels using an input attenuator with fixed steps such as 0.5 or 1.0 dB. Given a database of headphone sensitivities and known DAC outputs for 0 dBFS I have direct information on sound levels produced at a given headphone without having to measure it every experiment or listening session.
     
  20. Junki

    Junki Facebook Friend

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    I think what you said there succinctly aligns with why I really like the MCTH with the HD650, whose soundstage is on the smaller, more congested side, whereas with the Sundara, which naturally already has a good staging, makes the sound spread too far and thin at times.
     

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