Massdrop Cavalli Tube Hybrid Amp

No, sorry, by amp, I meant integrated amp - .... so what happens is that there is a passthrough / preamp out. I have a Schiit Audio DAC who's analog out goes into a Naim Integrated. Then coming out of the integrated into the Cavalli. Hope that makes more sense. I had the same set up coming out of the Naim into a Schiit 1st gen Lyr with no issues. Thanks!

 

Have you tried just the DAC into the MCTH? It should be silent with nothing playing.
If the amp is quiet on its own and noisy when combined then the most likely cause would be a ground loop. Try running them from different power points. The further apart the better.

 

Hi Sqveak. Yes. If I connect the MCTH directly to the Bifrost DAC, it's quiet. If I connect the MCTH directly to the Naim Integrated outputs, its got the hum/buzz. The noise becomes more and more apparent the more you adjust the volume up. With the volume all the way down, no noise, but at listening levels and higher, its noticeable. I have tried plugging the MCTH into the 3 other outlets in the room using an extension cable, but there was no difference. I've not had this issue with other components, including other headphone amps. If it is a ground loop, any suggestions for resolving it given all other outlets in the room give the same results? Thanks for your help!

 

The ADI-2 Pro/DAC stacks quite neatly on the MCTH (pardon the poor quality photo).



Can't give any real impressions yet as I just got it yesterday and am still burning it in, but so far I'm pleasantly surprised with how it does with the PMx2 (I got the amp to pair with a pair of HD650 KISS). There is some nice bass extension and slam compared to the amp of the ADI-2 Pro.

 

@vanjim

https://www.avshop.ca/sound-amp-pa-...MImNHO5KmP2gIVg2Z-Ch2gYgBbEAYYAiABEgK5WPD_BwE

 

Thanks msommers ! I'll check this out.

 

Welcome. It's what Schiit recommends for folks with a ground loop.

 

the first think I would try is to plug all the devices into the same power strip so they all share the same ground. I know, "share the same ground" sounds silly, but here's a good article from PS Audio
https://www.psaudio.com/ps_how/how-to-practice-best-grounding/
They also suggest that if you have cable TV, there might be issue there too.

 

Msommers - cheers. I have several Schiit bits of gear, so this is good to know.

AllanMarcus - thanks! This was originally how I had it before trying different outlets. No cable TV in the house - Cable internet though - which I guess is the same. I'll look into that further. Thanks for the info!

 

This brings back memories of old, it is not uncommon problem with Naim Gear - I have not heard of the issues for a while but very few people use Naim gear in the States . For the longest time, they refused to add RCA jacks to their gear and insisted on their DIN connectors. If the loop out is a pure loop out - no connection to the active circuitry then I would isolate with a simple switch box. If it is connected , you might try and simpler solution use an RCA splitter from the dac and run 2 cables directly to the 2 amps.

..dB

 

If it's just RCA = Schiit Sys, ya?

 

Not sure how sys deals with the respective grounds but you would not want them shared - so 3 way switch , sys also throws a volume pot in there which is not ideal.

 

Interesting suggestion, db. Cheers. I'll look into all of these great tips/suggestions when I get home from work tonight. Thanks.

 

So, I'm trying out the Meze 99 classics with the MCTH. This is a very quiet amp! There is no noticeable background noise over the Classics, as compared to my Schiit Vali, which sounded like there was a jet taking off a few km away, even with the volume at zero. There is just a slight bit of noticeable hiss starting at about 3 on the volume dial with the MCTH. For reference, I'm listening at 9 on the dial (the volume runs from between roughly 5:45 minimum to 4:15 maximum).

As for overall sound quality, initial impressions are a very spacious, detailed (but not bright) sound, with both the 99 Classics and the Alpha Primes. However, it seems to be a bit light in the bass. This actually compliments the Meze headphones, since I find them a bit too bassy and unbalanced with my Chord Mojo. This amp also highlights the superiority of the Alpha Primes over the 99 classics; when playing music with lots of reverb, the decays were noticeably more spacious and prolonged when listening to the Alpha Primes. This difference was much less apparent when playing the same songs through the S.M.S.L sAp II (another massdrop purchase which just arrived today) and the Schiit Vali. Overall, the MCTH is more resolved and spacious, and is great sounding amp for the price. I look forward to better things to come with further burn in and some tube rolling. I'm also looking forward to trying it out with the Chord Mojo, which in my opinion, betters the Dragonfly Red in most respects.

 

Mine arrived and it's hard not to be impressed. The build quality is very good and in my case no problems with the jacks or volume pot. The wall wart is not as big an issue as I had thought, I had figured it might be buzzy or hot. If they can do this for $250 then what might they do for $400 or $500.

Very nice mix of detail and realism with this amp. This is what I would have wished the Lyr 2 to have sounded like. The MCTH is clear, fluid, present and grain free. You don't have the same bass slam and edge extraction as say with the Jot, but there is a stronger feeling of correctness with the MCTH. In doing a direct comparison for value with other amps I would say it can stand over or alongside most of what I have that is under $1K, and that I would reach for this over my CMA 800R which is much more expensive.

One of the reasons I was drawn to this amp is that I have quite a few single 6922s left over out of pairs where one has died. In many cases unfortunately my best sets, so I was pretty eager to revisit them. This amp doesn't reflect tube rolling as much as some others, but there is still a lot of variation. I ended up with a Telefunken E88CC that I had bought from Tubemonger a few years back and as compared to the stock EH tube there is a greater detail and control across the sound spectrum and a much blacker noise floor. A definite level up. So tube rolling is a thing here.

So an amp at a great price that can be used in counterpoint to something like the Jot when the edge might get to be too much, or the music (say piano with its resonances) calls for it.

 

If you have tubes lying around to use, have at er', it's nice to hear there is some variability from different tubes, though saying "a lot" might be a stretch and a half.

But if you don't have tubes lying around, stop. Do not buy a tube as expensive as the amp.

Get a better amp. Don't be an idiot.

 

So, you're saying this was a bad idea?

(just kidding)

There are self described tube addicts on other sites that just amaze me. One person recently said they have over 50 pairs of tubes for their Lyr 2. That made my brain itch.

 

Yeah, that's nuts. I never found the extra tubes I had laying around to have much of an effect on the Lyr 2, including LISSTs, Bugle Boys, etc.

 

If one wanted to blow money on this amp the LPS might bring better value. Most of the variations I heard from my tubes were pretty subtle. Any decent tube with a low noise floor will do well in this amp.

 

@vanjim , FWIW: mine is hooked up to the pre-outs of my Rotel integrated, and no hum. As @dBel84 suspected, it might be a vagary of your Naim, so try his switch / splitter suggestions.