UltraSonic Studios Oblivion Review

Discussion in 'Headphone Amplifiers and Combo (DAC/Amp) Units' started by purr1n, Feb 6, 2020.

  1. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    THDN vs dBu (input) into 30-ohms and 330-ohms.
    To arrive at output dBu, add +13.22 gain.
    upload_2020-2-7_19-39-58.png

    We get to around -4dBu input before we hit the knee were clipping starts to occur. That would be 9.22 dBu at the output, which is about 2.2Vrms. I'll let you guys to the power numbers yourselves. Everyone on SBAF should be able to do this.

    Note that the typical use range between -25dBu to -15dBu at the input (about -12 to -2 dBu at the output) is in the ideal sweet spot of the amp in terms of THD+N which is a just a bit better than 60db. While I would have liked to see more margin against 60db some SINAD, the measurements shouldn't really present an issue, unless one listens to bassy headphones or bassy material.
     
  2. Roget

    Roget Acquaintance

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    [​IMG]

    Purrin, you say from your listening test "Bass quality isn't bad, but I don't it's the clearest and it doesn't quite keep up with the highs."

    Is your opinion the measurement above supports your listening?
     
  3. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

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    Eager to hear about Oblivion on speakers.
     
  4. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Got those impressions in a bit. But before that, some speaker relevant measurements.

    Oblivion into 8-ohm load. 0, -10, -20dBu (red, green, and blue respectively).
    upload_2020-2-9_11-35-53.png
     
  5. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    This time into 4-ohms. Not much different from the 8-ohms results. A bit higher, but same distortion shape.

    Oblivion into 8-ohm load. 0, -10, -20dBu (red, green, and blue respectively).
    upload_2020-2-9_11-49-12.png
     
    Last edited: Feb 9, 2020
  6. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Oblivion THDN vs input (dBu) into 8 and 4-ohm loads.
    To derive output amplitude, add +13.22 dBu (e.g., -13.22 on the X-axis is 0dBu or 0.775Vrms)
    upload_2020-2-9_12-5-35.png
     
  7. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    It's actually pretty good. Compared other amps, the EC Aficionado cannot drive these big JBLs because the woofers are 4-ohms. The Aficionado OPTs are designed for 8-ohm impedances. I don't like the Studio Jr. without feedback either (too soft and rolled, especially with the 300Bs). The Studio Jr. with feedback is another story.

    IMG_20200209_122555.jpg
    I actually posted the measurements first (not impressive in many ways) because I wanted to demonstrate how measurements need be properly interpreted depending upon use case. With the big JBLs, I get well above 80db SPL at the listening position with 0.2Vrms on the outputs. 0.2Vrms is -12dBu. -12dBu output would be about -25dBu on the x-axis in the THDN + frequency axis above which on the green line (4-ohm) would be 50db SINAD for the 4-ohm woofer and 60db SINAD for the 8-ohms mids and highs.

    Now before something accuses me of double-standards or opposing goalposts, I've already been on record on what constitutes a good measurement here: https://www.superbestaudiofriends.o...ically-incorrect-audio-blog.7261/#post-249242

    60db SINAD I have no problems with. And it would also appear that most members who tried on various listening tests with their own headphone gear can't distinguish better than 35db of THD. Yes, 50db THD is not what I could call good, but in reality only driver past 15" are going to have lower bass distortion than 50db THD.

    I would say however that I as turn up the volume from 80db+, the Oblivion doesn't quite have enough juice. The bass is tight, the transients sharp, but the volume and heft of the bass is less and less as we get louder.
     
  8. Roget

    Roget Acquaintance

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    The distortion from the amp adds to the distortion from the woofer. Garbage in garbage out.
     
  9. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    In the case of the big JBLs, you are right. This is consistent with what I am hearing at higher levels, and again, you would need to prove to yourself through controlled tests that you can hear 50db THD.

    However, I would argue that few people run clean 18" woofers, not even 12". A typical home HiFi speaker will probably have -40db THD woofer. Say the amp is 52db SINAD, it resultant distortion still isn't much higher. The reasons for this is that db is a relative logarithmic scale. It's not like 50db SINAD + 40db SINAD becomes 10db SINAD. You need to convert to voltages, add, then back to db.

    So for the hypothetical example of -40db THD woofer and -52db THD amp. The output at the woofer in theory would be only -38db! It's actually way more complex than that since you would need to sum the amp and speaker FFTs in voltage levels before doing an THD calculation on it.

    I would suggest that you try a controlled listening test to see if you can hear the difference between -38db THD and -40db THD for any signal.
     
    Last edited: Feb 9, 2020
  10. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Anyway, to follow up, what I heard with the Verite held up with the JBLs at low to moderate volume levels. Good clarity and crispy transients (despite measurements). Wide soundstage, although it was flat. The sound is less like the EC DHTs, Pass XA25, Aegir, M22, etc. and more like the Crown CDi1000, but without the CDi1000s heft, separation, and incredibly layered soundstage. Maybe a bit crispier up high and softer in the lows (even moreso as we crank it up).

    I'll get back to trying out some other headphones with it and report back.
     
  11. nishan99

    nishan99 Friend

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    That's about 1-1.26% THD and anyone can check this out in the video below.

    And apparently we are way less sensitive for bass distortion, I myself only noticed it when it's about 8% and that's with a test tone and not actual music.

     
    Last edited: Feb 29, 2020
  12. Maxx134

    Maxx134 Dunning–Kruger effect poster boy

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    Looking for an amp to cover up a headphone's weaknesses is a bandaid response to accepting the actuality of the problem.

    Sure it does.
    This is a measurement thread. Mine was a review.

    That is an illogical statement.
    My review was an actual "comparative" review, against other amps, not a purely subjective bullshit review.

    It makes sense if an amp doesn't cover up a headphone's weaknesses.
    I can find many an amp that will cover up anything you want.

    This is an illogical focus on low end distortion measurements.

    Maybe your looking in wrong place.
    Comparison to shitty Mid-level amps doesn't help.
    Transformer upgrades of other amps mentioned are not a solution to better an amp.

    This is a statement I can agree on, but who is going to use some shitty old speakers? Everyone today has nice monitors.

    Who ever said amp distortion is garbage?
    The woo wa33 has a nice bass bump of distortion which I would not call garbage.
    Same of the Cayin HA-300
    Again, this focus on amp bass distortion is what I call bullshit.

    Look at this Cary300sei that I am comparing my Oblivion amp against.
    IMG_20200312_213222.jpg
    It has holy grail tubes of Sylvania and Western Electric 300b tubes.
    It weighs almost 60pounds.
    It probably beats out anything most users have ever heard.
    Tell me that the bass distortion matters now .

    Yes, it is a highly resolving amp.
    More so than you are alluding to.
     
    Last edited: Apr 6, 2020
  13. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    The dislike was because it taken you two months to reply back to various people about the amp. Also, your attitude sucks here. It is not what you said, it is how you said.
     
    Last edited: Apr 6, 2020
  14. Phantaminum

    Phantaminum Friend

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    I never made the statement that I was trying to cover up any weaknesses for the Verite. That's an assumption on your end. The Verite is one of the most dynamic headphones I've heard. The pairing with the Oblivion and Verite, personally, sounds like ass. It feels like there's no personality behind the Verite, it plods along as if it has no purpose to life. Sure it's clear but at the same time feels flat. When I pair it up with the Shortest Way 51+, a $350 headphone amp, it comes alive. Sound stage may be much smaller but I find myself tapping my toes.

    The other side to it is that I find I don't enjoy Auteur with the Shortest Way 51+ as much (well I like it more with the Mullard tubes) but love it with the Oblivion. Same with the Verite One, love that headphone out of the Oblivion.

    If say, someone said I should purchase an EC Studio for the HD650 or Feliks Euforia because it cuts through the veil then sure. I'd trust some of the more senior and more versed people in this forum in their opinion. The amp was a blind purchase. I don't know what type of music you like or your sound preferences. Hard to triangulate what the amp sounds like when only a handful of people have owned it. Personally, I'm happy with the purchase and how it plays with *certain* headphones. You know, synergy. Not every headphone will sound great out of the amp.
     
    Last edited: Apr 6, 2020
  15. scojoe

    scojoe New

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    Not every headphone will sound great out of every amp.
     
  16. Maxx134

    Maxx134 Dunning–Kruger effect poster boy

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    I agree with your post, 100%..
    You are also correct my assumption is that the Verite sounds like ass.
    This is a pink elephant in the room.
    The Verite is a polarizing headphone because it is not neutral and sounds like ass.
    Dont blame the amp.
     
  17. ChaChaRealSmooth

    ChaChaRealSmooth SBAF's Mr. Bean

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    Yeah, it sounded like so much ass we collectively voted to give it a Golden Schlong.
     
  18. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    On Verite, it wasn't a matter of the amp covering up for its weaknesses. Like all gear, the Verite has certain strengths and weaknesses. The Oblivion did not play to those strengths, in particular, the Verite's microdynamic capabilities / ability to reproduce fine gradations in volume level.

    As far as measurements, I am not looking in the wrong place. Your comment on comparison to shitty mid-level amps is strange because this amp actually measures worse than "shitty mid-level" amps such as the ECP T4 and the Night Blues Mini.

    As far as my "shitty" speakers, I felt a test on these was warranted because the manufacturer indicated that the Oblivion would be able to power 4-ohm high-efficiency speakers such as these. It does so fine as long as one does not turn up the volume too loud. I would not say that everyone has nice monitors, and regardless that is besides the point. There are a few folks on here SBAF with high-efficiency speakers and flea powered amps (solid-state or otherwise). I review and test to the members' use cases. Finally, the Oblivion would not power passive monitors anyway. And volume controllers would be much better suited for active monitors.

    I think you need to step back a little bit because it seems that you are taking things way too personally. All that was suggested that the pairing was not optimal. Your assertion of don't blame the amp is actually counter to the point you want to make because there are plenty of amps where the Verite sounds fantastic (that is for people who like certain traits of the ZMF headphones).
     
    Last edited: Apr 6, 2020
  19. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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  20. nishan99

    nishan99 Friend

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    I am super confused at why the Verite is not a good synergy, can you elaborate more @purr1n @Phantaminum ? maybe if you were more specific this whole drama would be avoided (although unlikely with maxx on the other side lol) .

    Is it tonality thing or technical performance thing?
     

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