Neurochrome HP-1

I want to build the Guts amp. Cuz I'm edgy like that.

 

Is the Guts amp another project, or is that a reference to the panda?

 

You don't know Gattsu? I just want to know what amp to build so it rates that high. Most likely KG Dynahi or the elusive CFA3.

P.S. Do tell more about the three amps. So far it looks like I'm not getting any improvement over the QRV08 if I build the HP-1.

 

I remain woefully ignorant and somewhat belligerent of anime

After a bit more time with both amps, I'm giving the slight edge to the HP-1 as it brings out all the fiddly bits better. Both are quite clean, neither seems to add any character and if anything veer into the dry side of things. The Swede leans ever so slightly to the night, the Canuck leans ever so slightly to the day. Not quite modern age Batman vs Superman... maybe silver age. The HP-1 also seems to be more compact, and maybe not as difficult of a build.

QRV08 - taupe, lacking sparkle up top, good solid kick
HP-1 - mauve, super clarity, surgical

 

Don't forget the KSA-5! It needs love too

 

Well if someone wants to send me one?

 

I am a little surprised by the issue with mains power. I would think that the SMPS would solve problems with inconsistent voltage since they can accept power between 90v - 250v and it's regulated.

 

I'm fairly convinced there are gremlins at work in my household power grid, as the problem is pervasive and persistent throughout all sorts of other gear. I can literally hear when other devices in the house are turned on, such as led or halogen light fixtures, dimmer switches, even the stovetop (induction). It's always faint, but it humms along in the background if I turn the music off. For the most part it is imperceptible with music playing with regular headphones. Super sensitive iems is a tossup. In one of the nuttiest cases, I could actually hear this pulse in the noisefloor with IEMs, and it took me a while to realize it was in sync with the blinking LED on my laptop as it was charging.

I highly suspect much of the grunge is actually on the ground line. Not much a filter/conditioner can do when the bloody reference point is the one that's dirty.

That all said, I do owe Tom an apology regarding an earlier statement with noise, because I stupidly had the amp too close to the transformers of other gear which increased the noise. I did try relocating the amp, except the second location was likewise next to another transformer as I was stacking components

 

Ok, so I'm not typically one to shower glitter and unicorn bukkake so I'll keep it simple. I got the Modi Multibit a couple days ago, let it warmup yadda yadda. I couldn't tell the difference with the QRV08, but I could with the HP-1. That is all.

 

What DACs are you using along with the Modi MB?

 

NuPrime uDSD
LH Labs GOv2
internal Bryston dac card

The HP-1 resolves much better in the top end where the QRV08 feels a bit flat to me. A bit akin to taking a layer of thin damping paper away from the front of a driver. One very specific example: Royals by Lorde. There are constant snaps throughout the song, making it easier to pinpoint. In the background of each snap you can hear it echo. Delve a little deeper and you'll hear it resonating with a metallic tint. With the Modi Multibit and HP-1 it's like I could start to hear the shape of the resonator.

 

Interesting times ahead... I've been telling Tom that since he's got all this super fancy testing equipment that he really needs to do some comparative measurements with other DIY type amps. So I'll be sending a Sjostrom QRV08 amp (built by our own Fishski) over to Tom, and he has also acquired the fabled O2. I look forward to how this turns out.

Once Tom finishes up with that, we will get the tour started.

 

@Armaegis That's good. Otherwise these independent spec sheets are apples and tangelos.

 

Personally I'd love to see a teardown of the O2, but I think Tom is too nice for that.

 

Yay for measurements!

Personally I find most of the recent diy headamp too sane and practical. Dethrone the mad king Dynahi!