@Kattefjaes@schiit If the world = USA, then sure. In the EU at least there are zero TOTL all tube headphone options that I am aware of. Importing heavy amps at £2-3.5k, which are subject to import duty, with servicing on the other side of the planet, puts you off ever even thinking about one.
Schiit would have that niche all to themselves. Though there’s the question of whether there’s enough demand, and I presume whether there are any presently manufactured tubes available in abundance that are up to the task.
I'd actually be curious about a Schiit-made OPT amp, since I'm wondering how disruptive they can price it!
I'm roughly in the same position as @BenjaminBore. I've been eyeing the Pro iCan as a possible upgrade (since my cans might prefer hybrids), but at $1967 retail it's... not an easy price to swallow. Schiit would do great work if they started exporting their... shit, to other places with basic markups :))
1) The quote is from someone who, uh, knows what he's talking about.
2) Schiit is effectively an import job in the UK, for all intents and purposes. The UK dealer has less stock than the headfi classifieds- e.g. the Lyr 3 is still not available here, so eh. It wouldn't change a thing, you'd still need to import most lines yourself.
I believe he does, and in the context of the USA I understand that perspective. If I recall correctly the reason for the Gjallarhorn’s demise was that appropriate NOS tubes are becoming harder to find and more expensive, and the price would come in similar to competing brands.
For me personally it isn’t a theory, it’s reality. The question is how many others are there that feel the same way. It could well
be that most people willing to pay that kind of money wouldn’t care about any of this.
Most electronics are physically “imported”. What matters is whether there’s local service and support. Schiit UK handle all that stuff and are very helpful, and if it needs returning to Schiit HQ they’ll be the ones doing so. Stock is erratic, but I’d personally rather be patient and deal wih them.
It's one of those things I keep thinking about, but never actually getting around to doing. I'm not convinced that we can add enough to the market to make it worthwhile to do a more expensive pure tube amp.
@Kattefjaes I understood your point, and considered it incorrect, at least from my perspective. But right or wrong being arrogant and rude, particularly over something so trivial, doesn’t really achieve anything other than to rub others the wrong way.
I don't know how well Schiit does in the EU but they'd indeed have quite the niche for a higher end OTL.
Sure there's Feliks Audio, Malvalve (too expensive) and Cayin (not my cup) but there's simply no contest when it comes to availability and competition as it is in the US. By far.
All the other American brands are a nogo simply due to shipping back and forth in the case of repairs/warranty. It's quite the hassle and involes a lot of money if you have bad luck.
It's why Schiit UK and EU are godsent given that they offer service/upgrades. Very smart move by Schiit.
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