Loaner: Loxjie P20 and Project Sunrise headamps

Discussion in 'Closed Loaners' started by ChaChaRealSmooth, May 6, 2019.

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  1. Case

    Case Anxious Head (Formerly Wilson)

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    @LetMeBeFrank , PM me your address and I'll send Sunrise and Loxjie your way. I can add the Carbon if you can dig up an ac adapter.
     
  2. LetMeBeFrank

    LetMeBeFrank Won't tell anyone my name is actually Francis

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    Loaner received. Will listen, give some impressions and send it off to the next person.
     
  3. LetMeBeFrank

    LetMeBeFrank Won't tell anyone my name is actually Francis

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    Loxjie and Project Sunrise were left on for a few hours to warm up before I did any listening.

    Not the type to do super in-depth Impressions, but here is what I noticed from listening to them for the last 2 days.

    Listening was done using Fulla 2 as DAC and HD650 W/ Dakoni fenestrated sheepskin pads, stock cable terminated with Neutrik XLR, with XLR to 1/4 adapter for Fulla 2 and Project Sunrise.

    Loxjie VS Fulla 2

    Loxjie is slightly strained sounding compared to Fulla 2. The Loxjie sounds very thin compared to Fulla 2. The beginning of Silver Thunderbird by Marc Cohn has almost no bass presence on Loxjie, and his voice sounds strained and fatiguing.

    Overall, not very impressed with the sound of the loxjie, however the build quality and aesthetics are nice (minus the blue lights under the tubes, would have to remove somehow if I owned this).

    Project Sunrise VS Fulla 2

    Right off the bat, the Project Sunrise sounds great. Very smooth sound with good detail and resolution. Has a sense of ease to it that both the Fulla 2 and Loxjie are lacking. Bass is still less than Fulla 2, but mids are a bit better and treble is clean without being bright. Very impressed with this amp. The aesthetics are also great, minus the orange LED on the tube.

    Thanks to @Wilson for getting these to me safely, thanks to @purr1n & @atomicbob for the loaner, and thanks to @ChaChaRealSmooth for organizing it.
     
    Last edited: Jul 19, 2019
  4. Luckbad

    Luckbad Traded in a unicorn for a Corolla

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    FYI: On the Project Sunrise you can disable the LED with a jumper (or change the color to any color you want).
     
  5. Case

    Case Anxious Head (Formerly Wilson)

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    @Luckbad , thanks for the tip on the on/off rocker, it worked.
     
  6. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    See! This is what I was saying all along. (I don't think I shipped Fulla 2 with this).

    The Loxjie has this strained and thin sound while at the same time also having a warmer tonal response. I shudder at the vintage 2C51 / 5670 tubes that people are rolling into this thing. Just makes these fine vintage tubes even rarer and used up. Yes, the nice vintage tubes have less of that dry, brittle high-end, but who are we kidding if a Fulla 2 which includes a DAC, already kicks the Loxjie's butt. If anything, I'm hoping the wasted SBAF funds on the Loxjie at least staves off the accelerated decline of vintage 2C51 / 5670 stock. There aren't that many good type vintage tubes anymore.
     
  7. bilboda

    bilboda Florida boomer

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    lol, I know where there is a pair. I also have GE 5670's and will throw balanced in's and out into the mix but I'm really interested in the sunrise. May do a full shoot out with the Crack and LNBM. I think I know where the Loxjie stands already. maybe I'll get a head start with the one I have.
     
  8. atomicbob

    atomicbob dScope Yoda

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    Wait ... did you buy a Loxjie after I sent you one with along with a NoiseNuke(TM)? What happened to those? I thought they were to be sent out on tour.

    I agree the vintage 2C51 etc. tubes shouldn't be wasted on this amp, though I don't feel it is as terrible as made out here. There are a number of amps that sound worse ... such as Bravo.
     
  9. bilboda

    bilboda Florida boomer

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    I also have a NoiseNuke(TM). I'll switch it in with both amps. for subjective testing.
     
  10. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    That unit is out on the loaner, so being put to good use. I just realized we never needed to buy one.
     
  11. Case

    Case Anxious Head (Formerly Wilson)

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    @atomicbob , just confirming your noise nuke is on this loaner.
     
  12. LetMeBeFrank

    LetMeBeFrank Won't tell anyone my name is actually Francis

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    You are correct, this was comparing to my personal V1.2 Fulla 2, which sounds much better than the V1.0 I had before the mainboard was replaced by Schiit.
     
  13. Case

    Case Anxious Head (Formerly Wilson)

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    I wanted to write a bit about the Loxjie without reading anyone else's impressions but I ended up reading @LetMeBeFrank and @purr1n 's posts above, and they line up with my thoughts.

    I was willing to upgrade from 'anemic' to 'polite,' but that's about it. I used a FiioX5iii as a source and TH-X00 PH, terminated to XLR, as the cans. I did not use the noise nuke. Bass lacked impact, mids were somewhat muted, and the highs lacked sparkle and clarity. It looks nice though.

    I do not have another $100 amp to compare it to and unfortunately, I could not listen to the Carbon, which would have made an interesting exercise in what you get (or don't) as you spend more money. Was the the Sunrise worth the extra $150? Absolutely.
     
  14. bilboda

    bilboda Florida boomer

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    Amps in the house. Warming up the Sunrise with Noise Nuke and HD650.
     
  15. bilboda

    bilboda Florida boomer

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    Part 1
    Source
    Roon-HQPlayer/DSD512-USB-XSabre SPDIF 2 IIS/HDMI- XSabre Pro - RCA Loxjie P20/ Project Sunrise, no nukes – HD650K+

    Allman Brothers - Stormy Monday - remastered Fillmore concert

    P20 Spacious, bass guitar is there but subdued. lack of timbre, flat notes, no decay, no harmonics. Vocal very clear, no sibilance, a bit edgy for that smooth rumbling voice, will get fatiguing. Maybe the tubes need more time??

    Sunrise More pleasant from the start, less air but spaciousness is there, blacker background, no bass home run but better rounded, distinct, P20 was oddly flat in the bass notes, no decay. Vocals - not sibilant, clear, not edgy, less fatiguing, better timbre, cymbals very present but less splashy, guitar chords and notes more organic, better timber, harmonica more harmonic.

    I am ready to call it here for the Sunrise with no further listening. I want to give the P20 a chance, so I swapped in mine with GE 5670 tubes and balanced in and out.
    P20 - all balanced - this is much better from the start. This may be too close to call..

    Solomon Sang by Cassandra Wilson.

    P20 - Sometimes the vocals get indistinct and lost from her low soulful voice. P20 does not have this problem, low solemn vocals are clear and articulate...sshhh....acoustic and electric guitars in the background are clear and sound excellent. I don't think anything is missing from their subtle playing, percussion and acoustic bass are light, forming a good platform.

    On to the Sunrise, more sshhh, vocal timbre seems a tiny bit off, more of the air in vocals, less of the soulful low, less powerful., very good performance. Still prefer the P20 based on the handling of vocals. Her voice is somewhere between a bass and cello and the P20 seems to get all of it while the Sunrise emphasizes the upper tones thus obscuring the lower ones somewhat.

    Moving onto classical-Violin Concerto - Hillary Hahn, St Paul Chamber Orchestra, Edgar Meyer -Movement I and II

    P20, strings everywhere, opposing or together, horns are front and mid right, Hahn just right of center front, violin section surrounding in the center, percussion further back, wood winds center a bit back and a bit left.

    How does it sound? I have come to appreciate this more and more since finding it at a thrift store. Subtle and dynamic, never rude or strident, multiple elements blend elegantly. Hahn carries it flawlessly throughout. I have floated away with this many times. Scales well with Verite and other amps. One of my favorites. Depending on gear, it may not impress and end up in a thrift store
    The P20 renders it just fine. We'll get to the Sunrise when I am good and ready. No rush.

    Sunrise renders the music quite nicely, nice space, nothing cluttered, may be better able to pick out different instruments on P20, maybe not. Woodwinds sound off at times.
     
  16. bilboda

    bilboda Florida boomer

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    Part 2
    Joe Walsh - Falling Down

    Sunrise nice tone on guitars, good bass centered in the mix, percussion centered, clear, nothing muddled, background vocals wide and clear, outside edges of the stage,band vocals more centered

    P20 very similar, drums have more impact, again the Sunrise seems to go a bit lighter in the lower notes, this seems to affect everything, all instrument and vocals seem fuller on the P20

    Kendra Shank - Photograph

    Sunrise - Smooth vocals little to no resonance, chimes high right, well rendered. acoustic bass a bit simple resonant, undistinguished on the left, cymbals well rendered , good decay, piano panning good, l to r. good timbre

    P20 also smooth vocals, again fuller so a bit more dynamic. chimes well rendered, cymbals as well with good decay. The bass is again simple, almost like percussion. I like both of these amps and don't have a preference on these last 2 songs.

    Time for the phonitor e. Working backwards.

    Photograph - vocal vibrato heard that I didn't detect before, bass has better timbre, still simple, just keeping time for the piano I think which is a bit more expansive, chimes are rendered well , cymbals sound good.. Differences hear are mild but this amp does resolve better than the 2 in this review.

    Falling Down, better space and separation, wider stage, better bass sustain. Simply resolves better. This is why my P20 doesn't get much use any more.

    Hilary Hahn and orchestra. Sweeter from the first note. Wider again, better separation, better dynamics, detail. I hear more and so want to listen more cause it's all good.

    I did not try P20 with WE 396a. From memory there were times the 5670 tubes just seemed better.
     
  17. bilboda

    bilboda Florida boomer

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  18. Vtory

    Vtory Audiophile™

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    Received. Will open the box soon.
     
  19. bilboda

    bilboda Florida boomer

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    The Sunrise is always on so don't be surprised when it starts up as soon as the power cable is hooked up. The power switch does not have any effect. Better than always off, I suppose.
     
  20. Luckbad

    Luckbad Traded in a unicorn for a Corolla

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    Someone must've blown the switch with the Noise Nuke. You have to leave the switch on and kill the power to the SMPS or that will eventually happen.
     
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