Neurochrome HP-1

Discussion in 'Headphone Amplifiers and Combo (DAC/Amp) Units' started by Cspirou, Oct 26, 2016.

  1. Grahad2

    Grahad2 Red eyes from too much anime

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    Depends on how much you're willing to pay I'd guess. :p
    Sort of like ARM, you get an architecture licence, or core licence. In this case you get either the Triad chip, or get their reference design to sell.
     
  2. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

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    Maybe they're trying to be to headphone amps what ICEpower is to class D power amps...
     
  3. tomchr

    tomchr MOT - Neurochrome

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    Maybe... :)

    As far as I understand it, you can get to license the error correction architecture that allows for the low THD. I.e. you get to use the architecture in your circuit. You can see how the error correction is done by looking up some of the patents listed for the Benchmark ABH-2.

    Tom
     
  4. Grahad2

    Grahad2 Red eyes from too much anime

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    I believe THX did the amp part of the AHB2 but that may have been to help market their consultant-ship.

     
  5. HitmanFluffy

    HitmanFluffy Hoping to see real genitals someday!

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    From what I've heard/read, they are looking to get people to license this to use it in their products, and there isn't any intention to sell modules/chips to DIY guys.
     
  6. Psalmanazar

    Psalmanazar Most improved member; A+

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    Benchmark has always been about marketing so THX branding is no surprise. Where's Dolby? Benchmark makes input-gimped half rack DACs based around meh ESS Sabre chips designed by a marketing department with a bunch of high res and objectivist memes as actually doing a comparison to other pro DACs not Mytek/Tascam would mean the Benchmark wouldn't get bought.

    Why the f**k are there three DAC2s and three 3s? Who the f**k thought of that? That is absolutely retarded. Why not just get rid of the idiotic multiple S/PDIF and optical inputs, the multiple RCA outs, and the multiple RCA inputs on a PRO DAC? Not even the Chinese Alibaba spec sheet DACs made from recycled electrical parts do this. Yeah the Benchmark DAC 2 isn't total crap like the 1 but it's not good by any means; the 3 supposedly has little improvement other than the new Sabre DAC chips with straight up fraudulent, lying spec sheets that still do not sound as good as the almost 15 year old AD1955. Dynamic as a well-implemented Wolfson chip my ass. /Benchmark rant.
     
  7. tomchr

    tomchr MOT - Neurochrome

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    That's my impression as well. I don't think THX has any chip manufacturing capability. They have solid technology but needs someone to use it.

    Tom
     
  8. earnmyturns

    earnmyturns Smartest friend

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    Mine arrived today from Canada, fully built (have no tools, time, or good workspace for electrical projects), after I listened to one that @strangecargo lent me. According to the more musical, better hearing member of the household, it tops the incumbent Jot in instrument separation and general orchestral feeling. Her (slightly misremembered) words, not mine. I know, I know, tube-land will look down on us, but some solid state brings us closer to our (fairly frequent) live music outings with close-to-the-stage seats. Had just a quick listen and was not disappointed, more to come.
     
  9. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

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    What's your source feeding into it?
     
  10. earnmyturns

    earnmyturns Smartest friend

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    microRendu+LPS-1>SU-1>Holo Spring KTE 3
     
  11. Jozurr

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    Met with @strangecargo last night and we tried a bunch of different stuff:

    Headphones: HE-6, Utopias, HD650, LFF Enigmas
    Amps: Cavalli Liquid Glass, ZDS, HP-1
    Power Amps: First Watt J2, Benchmark AHB2
    DAC: Yggdrasil, Dave
    Preamp: Freya, Dave

    We tried to mix and match every possible combination we could over a few hours, and one pairing that particularly stood out was the HP-1+HD650. I had never heard the HP-1 before and to be honest we just stumbled onto that combo while trying out various things.

    I have never heard the HD650 drivers with that kind of control on the drivers, specially in the bass department. There was sub bass rumble in tracks we couldn't replicate with any other combo, as good as this. The texture of bass was very real. The bass was fast and hit hard. The overall presentation was very clean, with no veil. The sound was fast, punchy and dynamic. Absolutely beautiful sounding combo. I preferred it to the HD650+ZDS which I was expecting to sound the best from what I had read. The HP-1 had better control of the drivers compared to the ZDS.

    The HE-6 sounded good with the HP-1, but it sounded better straight out of the Liquid Glass and best out of the Freya+J2. On Highest gain, I couldn't raise the volume too high without distortion, on medium gain I could go up to 1pm, but it sounded a bit off. On lowest gain, I was close to 4pm on the volume knob, where the sound was very clean but not as punchy as I'm used to.

    Lastly, the Enigmas also sounded pretty good with the HP-1 with a similar effect in bass as with the HD650.

    I've never really preferred solid state amps due to multiple reasons, but the HP-1 is a very good amp. Anyone trying the HP-1, I would suggest you try the HD650 with it.
     
    Last edited: Jun 8, 2017
  12. Armaegis

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    I too felt the HD650 was a particularly good pairing. So much so that it was literally the name of my review title over at headfi.
     
  13. zonto

    zonto Friend

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    @Jozurr, how did the HP-1 sound with the Utopia and was it your preferred pairing with those headphones as well?
     
  14. neogeosnk

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  15. Armaegis

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  16. Jozurr

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    Checked that review out. I agree with the other aspects. Didn't particularly like it with the HE-6 because I was comparing it against the Liquid Glass and the Freya+J2. From memory, I feel like the LC did a better job with the HE-6 as well. The HP-1 just seemed to be just ok overall and weak with the bass.

    I find the Utopias a little bit bright in the treble than I like. The Utopias sounded better with the HP-1 compared to directly out of the Dave. The HP-1 had more control of the drivers. With the Dave directly they sounded a bit thin. With the HP-1 the Utopias sounded more relaxed with the treble edginess taken off. The best pairing was with the Liquid Glass with Tung Sol Black Glass Round Plates. Probably the best I've ever heard the Utopias. The difference between the Dave and Yggdrasil on that pairing wasn't as significant enough for me to tell apart clearly.

    The HD650 were stock for me as well.
     
  17. strangecargo

    strangecargo Acquaintance

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    I think this combo was particularly good with the Yggdrasil as a source. Yggdrasil/HP-1 has always sounded kind of uneven top-to-bottom to me when driving the Utopia, but driving the HD650s, it was really the best I've ever heard the Yggdrasil sound.

    The HD650s were stock, with Kimber Axios cables. They were originally purchased 10+ years ago, but they did go in for service for a broken headband maybe ~6 years ago. The pair I received in return may have been a complete replacement, but as far as I could tell, they sounded identical to the original pair.

    I think I personally prefer the sound of the DAVE+HP-1 combo into the Utopias, but I do agree with @Jozurr that the DAVE into the Liquid Glass/Tung Sols sounded quite good. I've come to expect the level of detail that you can hear through HP-1+Utopia, which we didn't quite get through the Liquid Glass, but the Cavalli did have a bit of that tubey magic without any of the stereotypical bloat or syrup. The HP-1 has better transducer control over the Utopias than any other amp I've come across. I'm constantly amazed by details I hear through the DAVE/HP-1/Utopia combo that I wasn't previously aware of on recordings. I think it comes down to personal preference regarding "transparency" vs. "coloration", as well as the sort of music that you enjoy. I did like the Cavalli+Utopia enough that I may consider getting one eventually.
     
    Last edited: Jun 8, 2017
  18. tomchr

    tomchr MOT - Neurochrome

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    I've really enjoyed reading the reviews here. Thanks!

    Now the moment we've all been waiting for... The HP-1 has a new wardrobe in graphite grey. I must say it looks rather stunning. Then again, I can easily be accused of bias. :) The new chassis features a steel top plate to prevent it from flexing when you plug your phones in, which was a concern that was brought up here. The steel also adds some heft to the chassis and it's actually pretty dense now. The amp weighs in just shy of 1300 g. The colour was chosen from the survey I sent out here a while back. The vast majority of respondents preferred graphite and those who didn't accepted graphite if their favourite choice wasn't available.

    Enjoy.

    Tom

    [​IMG] [​IMG]
     
  19. Kattefjaes

    Kattefjaes Mostly Harmless

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    Stealthy AF. That looks really nice- tidy and understated. Definitely a good move.
     
  20. tomchr

    tomchr MOT - Neurochrome

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    Per request: Better pictures of the blue chassis option to better show the blue colour. Still not a glamour shot, but at least it shows the blue as blue rather than in-your-face blue. :)
    I just sold the last blue amp. I'll get more blue enclosures made if the demand is there. The next rev. of the blue chassis, assuming there is one, will use the same sans-serif font as the grey chassis.

    I'm having a little trouble keeping up with demand for the fully assembled amps and am out of stock again. I expect to have more HP-1s assembled within a week or so. I really need to get these assembled by an assembly house so I can serve you folks better. Feel free to place your backorder and I'll get your amp built ASAP.

    I have plenty of bare PCBs and graphite grey chassis in stock.


    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    Tom
     
    Last edited: Jul 2, 2017

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