The All Purpose Advice Thread

Discussion in 'Advice Threads' started by purr1n, Sep 26, 2015.

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  1. squishware

    squishware Friend

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    To answer my own question:
    APPJ Mini2013
     
  2. wormcycle

    wormcycle Friend

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    I used this one with pretty good effect
    APPJ PA1501A mini tube amplifier
     
  3. dematted

    dematted Friend

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    Alright folks. I'm flush with a bit of Xmas cash, and I'm looking to spend $200-600 dollars on an amp for my Focal Elex. Some of you might know that I tried the Asgard 3 and was dissatisfied with it: I thought that it took too much of the attack of the Elex away and dulled the treble and bass impact too much. Here's my review of it, in case anyone wants a more detailed explanation of why I didn't like the way Asgard 3 paired with the Elex: https://www.superbestaudiofriends.o...ntinuity-output-stage.8228/page-9#post-283910

    I'm returning the Asgard to Schiit, and I'm on the hunt for something else. So far, the $100 dollar amp I've enjoyed the most has, by far, been the Magni 3. I feel like it provided lots of slam and even fixed a few of the timbre issues of the Elex. But I feel like I can do better than the Magni 3, and so I'm trying to upgrade. My main issue with the Magni 3 is the way it compresses the soundstage, and a lack of timbral richness to the mid-range. So I guess I'm looking for something of a "super-Magni 3".

    I'm looking for something, basically, that will keep the basic sonic signature of the Focal Elex while enhancing detail, mid-range timbre, vocals, microdynamics, and overall euphony without a loss of speed or impact. So far, I'm considering the following amps:

    -Cavalli Tube Hybrid
    -Lyr 3
    -Jotenheim

    For various reasons, I'm skeptical of each of these amps after reading through their respective threads on SBAF.

    Firstly, the CTH. I've heard even with burn-in, the CTH has a softness in the bass and lack of impact. I do know that one can fix this with a Linear Power Supply, but unfortunately I'm not much of a handyman, and don't know how to operate those. If someone was willing to walk me through the process, I might be willing to pay for one of these :). Overall though, my main worries with the Cavalli Tube Hybrid are that it will lack edge in transients and have a sound signature that is just a bit too lacking in impact and attack for my tastes.

    I have some of the same worries about Lyr 3, especially since it's supposedly similar to the Asgard 3. I didn't like what the Asgard 3 did to the Elex, since I felt like it had a somewhat muddy sonic presentation (though only with the Elex). Given this, I worry that since I didn't like the Asgard 3, I wouldn't like the Lyr 3, since the two are supposedly pretty similar.

    Lastly, the Jotenheim. The Jotenheim sounds like a fantastic amp, but it doesn't sound to me as if it has the euphony factor of tubes. Though it will add even more slam to my Elex, what I've read doesn't convince me that it's sonic signature will significantly improve either the soundstage of the Elex or the mid-range timbre.

    Thanks for anyone who read through this and is willing to help me out. Merry Christmas!
     
    Last edited: Dec 25, 2019
  4. RobS

    RobS RobS? More like RobDiarrhea.

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    I can't give you any recs on what amp to get with the Elex (never had that headphone), but your description of the CTH is spot on. I wouldn't bother with a LPS. Buy a better amp.
     
  5. dematted

    dematted Friend

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    Thanks :). That leaves the Lyr 3 and the Jotenheim. Not really sure of anything else. A couple people here and there have recommended the THX AAA 789, but after trying (and really not liking) the atom, which reportedly sounds very similar, I'm pretty skeptical of that amp.

    Does anyone know how relaxed or forward the Lyr 3's sound is? Specifically, is anyone able to compare its sound to the Magni 3? I -really- enjoyed the way the 3 presented the Focal Elex's sound, and if the Lyr isn't any more relaxed than the Magni 3, I will be very willing to bite on it.
     
  6. Elnrik

    Elnrik Super Friendly

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    A gently used Mjolnir 2 might blow your mind.
     
  7. RobS

    RobS RobS? More like RobDiarrhea.

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    Be prepared to roll tubes on the Mjolnir 2. Stock tubes it sounds etchy in the treble. Schiit amps in my experience tend to be brighter. Your MCH in comparison to Schiit amps is darker and warmer with some treble roll off. Looking at the measurements for Elex, does the treble sound metallic to you? Stock Mjolnir 2 with HD600 (which is a touch bright to me compared to HD650) can sound steely and cold, not euphonic (if by that you mean pleasing to the ear. HD600 ain't a euphonic headphone anyway). It'll definitely give you the impact and slam you are looking for though, probably not as fast as the Jotunheim.
     
    Last edited: Dec 25, 2019
  8. dematted

    dematted Friend

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    After looking at the used prices of the Mjolnir 2, I fear that it's a bit beyond my price-point. Seriously considering the Lyr 3 now, especially after seeing some have described it as a Super-Magni. It also seems like it will pair very nicely with my HD 600's as well, which is a bonus. Still have the lingering concern that I won't like it just because it's reportedly similar to the Asgard 3.
     
  9. RobS

    RobS RobS? More like RobDiarrhea.

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    Personally I'd only offer up to $500 for a used Mjolnir 2. Maybe a little less.
     
    Last edited: Dec 25, 2019
  10. crenca

    crenca Friend

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    Anyone have any experience with waterproof DAPs? I am a lap swimmer and my wife picked me up some wired waterproof earbuds for Christmas thinking that is all that is needed :rolleyes:. I now need to order one of those small waterproof DAP that hook to the back of swim goggles.

    Thought I would ask if anyone has any experience with them before I start ordering random cheap ones from Amazon.
     
  11. jexby

    jexby Posole Prince

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    Exit stage left....
    someone must have plugged some Focal headphones into the awesome SW51+ tube amp by now?

    SW51+ is tube amp that uses "cheap tubes" and sounds amazing for the price ($350?), without overdoing the "tube euphony" part in any way. ie. it's NOT a bloomy, soft n furry tube presentation.
     
  12. dematted

    dematted Friend

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    Oh wow. I just read the thread on the Shortest Way 51+. This sounds like -exactly- what I need. Thank you so much. Going to read a bit more into this thing, but this looks like it'll pair -really- well with the Elex.
     
  13. Pogo

    Pogo Friend

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    Tubes longevity question? Longer service life if its constantly powered or on/off as needed...note that incandescent bulbs which are switched on/off a lot will not have the service hours of a bulb which doesn't have repeated heating/cooling cycles.
     
  14. m17xr2b

    m17xr2b Friend

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    Your question is too simple and it's a complicated answer
    What kind of tubes? Input tubes are less sensitive to on/off cycling than rectifiers or outputs
    What kind of heater? Indirectly heated are again less prone to issues unlike directly heated ones which also exhibit the least life time, around 5000 hours.
    What kind of circuit? Soft start where the fillament is heated to temperature and B+ is applied slowly will have the best lifetime. If you can cool down slowly as well you'll guarantee the best longevity possible.
    If the voltages are applied at once in full force, it will stress out the tube and will fail.
    What tubes? NOS are much more reliable, new production seem to fail more often, even brands like EML seem to have tubes and rectifiers that last one a few hundred hours where a proper NOS rectifier would last many thousands.
    Keep rolling to a minimum.
    What operating point? Running tubes at 70% of dissipation will last much, much more than tubes ran at 100%.
     
  15. Pogo

    Pogo Friend

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    In this case it's the single EH6922 in a MCTH, which I'd left on overnight and today while at work....nervosa at play here. And curiosity.
    Thank you for a detailed answer.
     
  16. m17xr2b

    m17xr2b Friend

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    With small input tubes expect years and years of serivice even if used daily.
     
  17. daduy

    daduy Acquaintance

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    Hopefully not a (very) stupid question.

    Any decent sounding sound bar? Without going all the way to Sennheiser Ambeo.

    Or just forget it and buy some speakers instead?

    Thanks in advance.
     
  18. rlow

    rlow A happy woofer

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    ^^^
     
  19. elmoe

    elmoe Friend

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    Soundbars are fine for casual TV watching, like watching football or the news. Not recommended for movies, definitely not for music.

    I have a Yamaha YAS108 mounted on the wall below a TV in the living room (have another TV in the den with the stereo speakers for movies) and it works just fine for my needs.
     
  20. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

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    I'm just a lone datapoint, but I really liked the Vifa Stockholm. I didn't buy it, but I do own the smaller Copenhagen and Helsinki speakers they make.
     
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