Best amps for orthos

Discussion in 'Headphone Amplifiers and Combo (DAC/Amp) Units' started by rhythmdevils, Oct 20, 2021.

  1. wbass

    wbass Friend

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    Here's a left-field question: Anyone try the the DHA3F with Audeze? We know it's excellent with Focals and also seems solid with HD800, but I don't think I've seen much commentary on how the ECP does with orthos.
     
  2. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    Yes I borrowed one. Terrible. All my other amps were much much better.
     
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  3. wbass

    wbass Friend

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    Could you say more? What didn't you like?
     
  4. dasman66

    dasman66 Self proclaimed lazy ass - friend

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    I have a stock LCD-x (on the waiting list for RD DE mods) and a 3F... I like the LCD-x better out of every other amp I have... they just sound flat and boring out of the 3f... lifeless.

    The loaner RD LCD-x DE was ever so slightly better out of the 3f, but I still preferred the loaner out of every other amp I owned. If I was going to rank amp preference with the LCDx (both versions) and my Verum 1's:
    1: Monoprice LAuX
    small gap
    2: A&S Mogwai SE2+ (8 ohm tap)
    3: EC Studio B
    large chasm
    4: BH Crack w/ Speedball
    5: SW51+
    6: ECP 3F​

    Sigh... typing that list just reinforced that I need to cull the herd... too many amps...
     
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  5. ColtMrFire

    ColtMrFire Writes better fan fics than you

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    Heard the 3F with @rhythmdevils modded LCD-4 and it was one of the best pairings I've heard... granted I've not heard it with other amps but I loved the combo and could've listened all day.
     
  6. wbass

    wbass Friend

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    Ha, well, conflicting views, it seems.... Thanks for the impressions.
     
  7. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    It could be that the LCD-4 works better with the 3F as it is much higher impedance than the other Audeze's. Or maybe @ColtMrFire needs to hear the LCD-4 out of some other amps and they'd sound even better :cool::eek: I don't know. I definitely don't want to negate @ColtMrFire 's experience. And he had the LauX right there to compare to. With the same source. So maybe there's something to the LCD-4 and 3F combo.

    My experience was that the 3F was pretty flat, lifeless, lacking dynamics. It's not designed to deliver power, it's designed to be as transparent as possible for the easy to drive Focals so even just thinking about how it was designed, it doesn't seem like the ideal amp for orthos.
     
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  8. wbass

    wbass Friend

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    Right, that makes a degree of sense. Thanks for the background/context.
     
  9. dasman66

    dasman66 Self proclaimed lazy ass - friend

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    There's never accounting for unexpected synergies... the 3F does an amazing job driving my Auteur... but not great with the HD600's... all 300ohm and I believe similar efficiencies. I really need to find an OG clear to try with the 3f...
     
  10. ColtMrFire

    ColtMrFire Writes better fan fics than you

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    Meet conditions should also be taken into account, but not more than your own opinion, which means probably trying an Ortho with the 3F to come to your own conclusions.
     
  11. wbass

    wbass Friend

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    DHA3F for Utopias, Starlett for HD800, BHA-1 or Phonitor for Audeze... One's amp collection could get out of hand.

    I've liked the LGX well enough with the LCD-2, but I still prefer the Bryston. BHA-1 is, to me, just a fun amp. It's the most tube-like SS amp I've personally heard. I think there might be a little mid-bass bump effect in there somewhere. It's warm and wide and has got great PRAT (toe-tapping, what have you).

    There might be a little murk in the mid-band and up top, however, as the LGX is maybe *slightly* more resolving. As noted above, the LGX also seems to dig out the sub-bass better. (This is maybe a weakness of the BHA-1.) I hear the LGX as a touch cool and a touch un-involving, however. These are attributes that @rhythmdevils noted in his review--an appealing neutrality--and, as before, I don't disagree. But I just find the BHA-1 more engaging and "big" sounding. Go figure. That could translate into more fatiguing over time, but I never listen for much more than an hour at a time.

    Need to get ears on the SPL again. I remember it being very detailed with Focal. Clearly better in this regard than the BHA-1.

    Damn, I had high hopes for the LGX. The SPL is too damn pricy these days.

    And, yup, I'd love to get ears on the DHA3F, too. Maybe on my sojourn in England, somehow.
     
  12. JeremiahS

    JeremiahS Almost "Made"

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    @wbass If you like the Bryston BHA-1 then something like the AMB Labs Beta22 can potentially work very well. It has big staging and slight tube warmth to its tonality but I think it's more similar to Liquid Gold than the BHA-1... It's more neutral, laid back and detailed. If you set the Beta22 to high gain it can also drive any planar.

    Alternatively you can try the Burson GT. Technically it's not as good as the Beta22 but it's more aggressive, so in this factor it's more similar to the BHA-1. One thing I respect about the Burson GT is it's priced very reasonably, which is rare in 2022.

    To be honest I'm not a fan of the BHA-1 it's just muddy sounding compared to the better SS amps out there but its "fun" tuning can appeal to people who value more fun sound than technical performance.
     
  13. joch

    joch Friend

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    This is so true. A lot of what meshes is really serendipity and what speaks to you.

    I have an X and a 2C, and the 3F doesn’t work for me on these but is absolutely amazing on Focals. One can’t expect a “one ring to rule them all” without some minor issues.

    The upcoming Lyr+ looks interesting though to be able to roll tubes or go SS.
     
  14. wbass

    wbass Friend

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    AMB Labs Beta22 is DIY? Anyone out there building them for sale? I'll have to Google around.

    Thanks for the tip on the Burson. I like to get ears on before buying anything, typically.

    Re: the Bryston. I agree that there's some murk there. But what it does well--slam, width, power--really complements my LCD-2F, which is never going to be a super-resolving HP anyway. So the strengths seem to work together, and the weakness is no big deal. With the LCD-2F. That said, I also like my HD800 and Utopia with the BHA-1. It's certainly not the last word there--Starlett and Studio Jr. are better still--but the Bryston is at least a decent all-rounder.

    But I do think I'll want something more resolving at some point and am slightly annoyed with myself that I didn't get an SPL in here ahead of this move, just to audition. Oh, well. More experimenting to come, it seems.
     
  15. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    I have a B22 for sale built by a professional builder “Rockhopper Audio”. It would be a great amp for an LCD-2F.
     
  16. caute

    caute Lana Del Gayer than you

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    What do y'all think, which option would you pick if saving money was your top priority with sound quality in close second (and were starting a system for orthos from scratch)?

    1. Find a good DAC deal first (A1/A2 Gungnir, used Yggdrasil GS, something <$1600) and get a Magni 3+ as an amp stopgap. (Is the Magni 3+ a respectable temp option for Audezes?) Then, pick up a Liquid Gold X when on discount.

    2. Go for the LAuX first, even if not on sale and there are no listings for anything cheaper than the $1K MSRP on hifishark, and make do with the internal AKM DAC until you can regenerate enough money for an external DAC?

    Mods, my apologies, please move this post if it's more suited for the all-purpose advice thread. I am particularly asking here if experienced ortho-loving members could live with the Magni 3+ for a few months while waiting to buy a better amp.
     
  17. roshambo123

    roshambo123 Friend

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    I think the general advice has always been the order of importance is:

    1. Transducers
    2. Amp
    3. DAC

    Also pointing out that Magni 3+ is SE and if you bought Gungnir or Yggdrasil GS/OG you'd be using a slightly gimped output from those DACs, which are better balanced. LIM and Bifrost 2 I think not as much an issue.
     
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  18. dasman66

    dasman66 Self proclaimed lazy ass - friend

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    I'd pick up the amp over the dac. LauX seems to go on on sale (can be had ~$650) pretty often. I think @rhythmdevils recently posted a sale code for it somewhere on SBAF... Pair that with a cheap dac, then upgrade the dac when you're able.
     
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  19. Pancakes

    Pancakes Friend

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    Already onboard :)
     
  20. Tchoupitoulas

    Tchoupitoulas Friend

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    What headphones do you have your eye on @caute? Your choice of ortho might influence which amp to get.

    I wasn't keen on the Magni 3 with my LCD-2 Classic. The Jot 2 was far superior, as is the Mjolnir 1. The LCD-2 Classic loves plenty of juice, but YMMV, of course, with more efficient Audezes (or other orthos). The LAuX is also great with it.
     

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