Comments on Profile Post by caute

Just save up

Might be worth seeing what the prices of used Lyr 3s are at this point. They play nicely with Senns.

As you go up I feel DAC play bigger role as compared to amp unless you have specific need like driving Susvara etc. As per my experience a good DAC + SW51 may give better experience as compared to excellent amp on a mediocre DAC

@Ksaurav402 I literally do not have room for a Yggdrasil on my bedside table, where I do most of my listening, so I got the next best thing (to me), an A1 Gungnir MB, and would prefer the size of the SW51+ over big boy toobz that need space to breathe, have umbilical corded power supplies, etc. for the same reason

ZDT Jr? The Quicksilver amp some folks seem to rate?

HD650 ? I've got a lightly modded non speedball crack I absolutely love lately. Also have sw51+ and piety, had starlett loaner (favorite amp I've heard)
I like Aeolus a smidge more on sw51+ ? Not sure. Need to do a run with HD600 next on amps I guess.

Also had ZDTjr was a lovely little amp, I think my crack is better from memory though.

@HotRatSalad A black silk JAR600B, specifically

Oooo would love to hear more impressions of ZDT Jr vs BH Crack! Edit: I want something with BODY and MEAT, I'm lookin with dem zombie eyes

I have mostly stock 650s, as well as a SW51+, a Piety and Lyr 3. SW51+ definitely my favourite with the Senns of the 3 amps. I’m looking into the Quicksilver amp as a potential upgrade to that based on a number of very positive reviews here.

@caute from memory only but I knew ZDTjr well. Had sw51+ at same time it was a less technical meatier amp but I liked it more sometimes.
Crack is harder to explain, it has more body than sw51+ and has better highs than ZDTjr.

SW51 is a good choice. As much as I hate to admit this, I can't recommend spending that kind of money on a Starlett without hearing a DNA amp first. Those things are not cheap.

For more Body and Meat - the Stock Crack is probably the way to go, then ZDT Jr as your better choices. Especially the Crack with the right tubes, and not sure about how it would pair with your Gungnir Multibit, but definitely a good R2R dac would help bring it home - just got to be careful not to lose too much details on the top end though in the process.

We are obviously biased here but we have all enjoyed the JAR600 on the SW51.

However, in the same price range but with a very different sound, we can also wholeheartedly recommend a modified BH Crack as others have said.

Great question! Depends on which headphone and your preferences. I would recommend saving money for a Starlett and listen to Piety. If you don’t have a Piety and want meaty sound stay away from SW51. Build a BH Crack and continue to save.

SW51+HD600 (stock) is all you ever need.

What's your objective? Are you the kind who goes straight to the destination? Or are you the kind who enjoys the journey? What you listed (SW51, EC, DNA, Piety) are all good, and your answer is already there--you just need to choose how you wanna take that trip.

Something to hold you over while you decide, but also provide some different options would be the liquid platinum from monoprice. It’ a great pairing with the Jarmodded headphones. Next step up is the QS HPA (love them el84s) then starlet after that. Starlett was my favorite pairing for emotional engagement. The QS is more precise with lots of impact.

Second the Liquid Platinum recommendation. It's such a versatile amp. I have two setups...the SW51 strictly for the HD600 and the Liquid Platinum for pretty much whatever the hell I want. It gives me the flexibility to play with different headphones when the mood strikes.

Quicksilver Audio Headphone Amp

Sounds like for body, BH Crack and possibly QS? I already have a LAuX, so I don't think the Liquid Plat is necessarily what I'm after, nor (and I forgot I listened to it at the Schiit Audio Show with some HD650s) sadly, is the SW51+ if I want a meat-on-the-bones sorta sound.

I have a Piety now, thanks to @Slade01, so I am tided over until I can save up for any of these amps. Any other suggestions for a wet, dense full-bodied tonality? Is this even what DNA amps sound like? I wish I would have listened to the DNA amps they had at the Schiit show :/

The DNAs probably won't be lush enough for you, unless the Starlett (which I haven't heard) is *a lot* lusher than his other amps.

QS certainly has body...and dynamics. And more refined than Crack. It is wet for sure.

What are the essential, categorical differences between a DNA amp and an EC one? I've been reading that some EC amps are "dry" and if that same word applies to the Valhalla 2, it's the opposite of what I'm looking for

EC: Drier, more "grand," more drive.

DNA: Wetter, slightly more bloomy, stately and composed.

This is strictly relative to each other and not meant to be taken in absolutes.

So some EC amps like the Aficionado are a bit on the dry side, but not as much as Valhalla 2. This is also slightly tube dependent and whether or not the Af owner has put in Jupiter caps.

I've had the SW51, downsized to piety and now I am happy to save for a big boy tube amp. If I were in US I would probably try to get one of the older EC, but being in EU/UK I decided to go the full DIY route

Really is remarkable that @CEE TEE made an amp that is so compelling that there are votes to just stay with the $150 amp rather than go for a ~$1K one. Lmao, amazing.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=40WSbXkXTPc "I'll say." Don't sweat it; your tastes might change. And @YMO's right that that any rectangular box is no substitute for a nice girl with a real box.