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Warm, musical impactful amps?

Discussion in 'Headphone Amplifiers and Combo (DAC/Amp) Units' started by Ryanr1987, Jun 9, 2016.

  1. Ryanr1987

    Ryanr1987 Facebook Friend

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    Been given some birthday money so thinking of adding an amp to my Mojo chain. It's been the first time in a while without a high Z headphone. I have the current LCD-2 and I'm looking for an amp that is impactful, warm, not harsh and a >>>>>LOT OF FUN <<<< Haha While I appreciate amps like the Valhalla 2 for it;s resolution, I felt when I used it with my 650's it was lean, rough and a little dry. I love liquid, big body and musicality over hyper detail. It must be better than the Mojo's amp section otherwise there would be no point I guess.

    Budget is around £400 max so In the US that would be around $600 max, less would be ideal!
     
    Last edited: Jun 9, 2016
    Ryanr1987, Jun 9, 2016
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  2. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    If only for high impedance headphones, maybe consider a modded Crack + speedball.

    If only for low-Z, planars, or a mix of that and high impedance, try the Lyr 2. Seriously. It's not as spacious, fast, neutral, or detailed as the Valhalla 2 based on a quick listen, but it did feel fairly warm, cozy, and had more of a dynamic, impactful sound to it. Not as dry, not as lean.

    Alternatively, you could look for a transformer coupled (output) tube amp. Surely there are cheap, international offerings out there.
     
    Hands, Jun 9, 2016
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  3. Ryanr1987

    Ryanr1987 Facebook Friend

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    Yeah I was thinking of the Lyr2 it seems the obvious choice for the Planars. I'd rather grab something that's easily attainable in the UK and the Lyr2 is pretty easy to grab here.

    What about the Asgard 2? I heard the first Asgard and thought it was meh!
     
    Ryanr1987, Jun 9, 2016
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  4. bixby

    bixby Friend

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    Polaris pwnd the Asgard 2 I used to have.
     
    bixby, Jun 9, 2016
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  5. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Lyr 2. Warmth and slam, takes a small step back in resolution compared to Valhalla 2.
     
    purr1n, Jun 9, 2016
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  6. Rthomas

    Rthomas Friend

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    I’m in the UK as well and I’ve been looking at the Lyr 2 for my ZMF Blackwood.


    My one concern is that the Lyr 2 would add more warmth and bass which are what the headphone is known for already(like the Audezes. Could be too much of a good thing?


    This is one reason I hesitate and think I may stretch to the Mjolnir 2.


    I can’t think of any non Schiit amps in the £400 to £750 price range which are considered great with Low Z planars....
     
    Rthomas, Jun 9, 2016
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  7. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Lyr 2 has an inherent warmth, but this can be lessened with leaner tube or brighter tubes. Genalex Gold Lion and semi-vintage Sovtek come to mind.
     
    purr1n, Jun 9, 2016
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  8. Rthomas

    Rthomas Friend

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    Thanks Marv.

    Is there any amp you can think of better than the Mojo 2 in its price range for Low Z insensitive planars?
     
    Rthomas, Jun 9, 2016
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  9. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    Funny thing about the Lyr 2 is that it made my modded PM-2 sound incredibly bassy! No other amp has done that, and the other headphones I tested with the Lyr 2 didn't exhibit that quality either (well, at least, not beyond the normal warm and powerful characteristics).

    Since the amp was mentioned, Mjolnir 2 sounded more like a super Valhalla 2 based on a quick listen. More powerful and dynamic sounding, less lean, seemed a bit cleaner and less dry too. And this was only single ended.
     
    Hands, Jun 9, 2016
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  10. jexby

    jexby Posole Prince

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    Exit stage left....
    since the OP has a Vali2, and now Mjolnir 2 mentioned-
    with HE-500 I have been doing a lot of A/B comparisons between Gungnir Multibit SE feeding Vali2 high gain (Ediswan CV2492)
    vs. Gungnir Multibit XLR feeding Mjolnir2 High gain (Telefunken matched pair).

    much of what Hands says is true, but it's not light years jumps ahead IMO IF IF IF you have a real good NOS tube in Vali2.
    (roll yer eyes here. i know i know, do not advocate massive tube rolling.)
    Mjolnir2 does deliver better spacing and room for instruments to be picked out, less overlap. more open and full sound,
    compared to Vali2 which is more intimate and up close.
    there's better bass definition, slam and lower detail from Mjo2 also.

    but there are a lot of similarities in treble detailing, and balance across the spectrum.
    Vali2 perhaps puts the vocals a bit closer.

    all of the above is easier to discern with well recorded 24/96 or 24/192 materials, lossy files make it harder to glean deltas.

    some might state HE500 aren't the most resolving cans to identify deltas between these amps super accurately, I wouldn't disagree.
    also not advocating anyone focus on buying a $100+ tube in Vali2, I just happened to have em lying around from Lyr2 past and now Mjolnir2.
    but my ears do hear some very close similarities between the Vali2 and Mjolnir2.

    so, to the OP:
    if you have a great tube in Vali2, and are wanting "massive gobs" of improvement from your next amp
    considering Mjolnir2 your chain may need improving also:
    a) good to great tubes in Mjo2
    b) a really good DAC (perhaps even balanced)
    c) balanced headphone cable
    to realize your goal.
     
    jexby, Jun 9, 2016
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  11. ButtUglyJeff

    ButtUglyJeff Stunningly beautiful IRL

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    I wasn't going to mention this for fear of getting laughed out of the room. But I really enjoyed the LCD-2 with the original Mjolnir (haven't heard the 2). I really thought it brought the bass of the Audeze under control, which made the bass more punchy/impacting/slammier... And this was based on multiple auditions, but granted in meet conditions. So less then perfect. I also liked my HD650 with it for similar reasons. And I'm quite sure both times the Mjolnir was being fed through RCAs. I bet some might consider the combo just a tad "dry", but not to me...

    I honestly don't know why I don't currently own this combo (well actually I do, I made too many stupid purchases before finding Chang/SBAF)

    And currently I think Schiit has them on clearance for $499, but I don't know if they ship direct to the UK or not.

    Take this for what its worth, I'm far from a golden ears with a huge inventory of gear to work with...
     
    ButtUglyJeff, Jun 9, 2016
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  12. Ryanr1987

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    The Vali 2 is excellent but they have that typical Schiit sound that I hear in the Magni's, Valhalla2 and original Asgard - that reoslving but dry, quite boring nature if I'm honest. I loved the original Vali because it had a lush, thick musical sound while still having decent resolution, good spatial sound for a warm amp. It had a rough treble reminiscent of the Magni have suffered in a minor way due to it's warm sound.

    I'm close to choosing the Lyr2. Changing the Mojo would be out of the question because a lot of my listening is done in other rooms and it's easy to take around. While Headfi overrates it, it's actually surprisingly good.
     
    Ryanr1987, Jun 9, 2016
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  13. TwoEars

    TwoEars Friend

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    The original Burson HA-160 second hand. Very warm, lots of slam. And I mean a boatload of slam.

    Falls apart when paired with the HD800 but good for Audeze if you like warm sound.

    Also a good pairing with HD650 which I see you own.
     
    TwoEars, Jun 9, 2016
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  14. bixby

    bixby Friend

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    Isn't that the amp Mr. Speakers used to use at RMAF? If so, it did no favors to his cans :p
     
    bixby, Jun 9, 2016
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