Black Widow [Update] - Second round official, 100 amps total, single chassis

Discussion in 'Headphone Amplifiers and Combo (DAC/Amp) Units' started by purr1n, Oct 5, 2015.

  1. Ice-man

    Ice-man Friend

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    @Marvey PM me please. Conversations are not working for me.
     
  2. Gravity

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    Same, I think.
     
  3. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    There is one person who placed an order because he begged Craig to be put on a waiting list despite Craig saying that we are not taking orders. I have the order stashed somewhere. To prevent 67 other people from placing orders for round two, I will promise that any additional orders at this time, before we even know how many amps we will make, will be prompty forgotten or trashed.
     
  4. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Don't leave topic field blank. Otherwise you will get an error.
     
  5. Gravity

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    Right, thanks for explaining. I'll keep an open eye out for when you open for orders.

    Gotcha!
     
  6. Psalmanazar

    Psalmanazar Most improved member; A+

    Pyrate Slaytanic Cliff Clavin
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    Great amp. I heard Smitty's at the DC meet Sunday. Surprisingly, it wasn't too warm; it was fast and full with great un-recessed treble (ah those black metal cymbals...), and had great, almost tube like staging. By not too warm I mean:

    Theta laserdisc transport overkill -> Yggdrasil via AES -> Black WIdow -> silver driver HD 650 was not nearly as warm as
    any Bifrost -> Magni 2U/Asgard 2 -> HD 650 (eww gross)
    AGD/Matrix Chifi combos -> HD 650 (sometimes good but lower mids sometimes masked)
    or even Modi 2U 4490 (the 4490 chip is warmer than the previous AK 4396) -> Magni 2U -> HD 650 (still a bit warmer than I prefer but not bad at all. Very good sound).

    If you use some audiofool warmed over DAC, then yeah it will probably be too warm just like the HD 650s will be too warm. I may be just more sensitive to warmed-over DACs than slightly warmish amps and transducers though.

    Anyway, the Black Widow is excellent and my new favorite headphone amp. I guess the top three I've heard would be 1. EC BW 2. Asgard 2 3. idk maybe the HDVA 600 or AGD Master 9 but they were both too warm. I'm not very impressed by headphones and headphone gear in general, hate all the OTL amps I've heard, hate the Bifrosts despite the Bifrost Multibit's staging, disliked the Rag's harshness, and want to murder the GS-X mk2 which was Sabre dongle/FireWire prosumer audio interface harsh. GS-X mk2 might as well be an O2 with soundstage and less clipping. The Eddie Current Black Widow is a great amp though and gives me upgraditis.
     
  7. jexby

    jexby Posole Prince

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    yo, it's kewl that you dem listeners all B digging the BW2 these a days here.
    bit ya knows- my biggest cans got de Black Widow 1 on da street long ago. respekt!
    B solid when some brutha (not fake rapper @Marvey) compare-a-lizes the BW2 to BW1 to name da King SS fo shure.

    [​IMG]
    :drunk:
     
  8. Bourne Perfect

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    M-I-K-H-A-I-L
     
  9. AppleheadMay

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    @Marvey

    Any chance EC will be represented at CJ London Marv? Wouldn't mind hearing a BA, Studio or Studio JR. to compare with my Zana and BW.
     
  10. SeaBupter

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    My Black Widow (#17) has arrived! Going from the Vali 1 to this reminds me of the time I traded in my Volvo sedan for a Porsche Boxster. Speed, power and control, and it's mine, all mine! Bwahahahahaha....

    My setup is
    MacBook Air -> Wyrd -> GO450 -> Black Widow -> Senn HD800 (no mods, Norne Draug V2 cable).

    I mostly listen to EDM, and for that, the BW kicks ass like there's no tomorrow!

    I'll do a bunch more listening before I post more detailed impressions.

    Thanks, Craig and Marv; you guys have done a fantastic job on this amp!
     
  11. bazelio

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    Sounds beastly. I'm jealous, even though I don't have funds, space, or need for a Black Widow at the moment. LOL!

    Enjoy!
     
  12. Artasia

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    That's a pretty big f'ing leap. Not knocking the Vali 1 but just saying...
     
  13. jexby

    jexby Posole Prince

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    yah now he needs to do the same with the DAC to maximize BW2.
    ;)
     
  14. SeaBupter

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    That's next on the agenda, after my bank account is released from the ICU.
     
  15. Pyruvate

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    Well Marv and Anax once mentioned that the Vali should've been a $1200 amp, but nah, Jason just wouldn't listen :p
     
  16. philipmorgan

    philipmorgan Member of the month

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    Congrats on doing your upgrade right (rather than pissing away $$$s on sidegrades) :)
     
  17. zonto

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    Stock or modded HD650 at the meet?
     
  18. Psalmanazar

    Psalmanazar Most improved member; A+

    Pyrate Slaytanic Cliff Clavin
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    Stock. Too lazy to mod. The HD 650 sounds good enough for a headphone.
     
  19. Gravity

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  20. JoshMorr

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    Really liked KG's listening impressions of all the EC amps. He probably looks at the grooves of a record to tell if the music is any good. I guess he could also look at the strings of 1's and 0's if he is a digital guy.
     
    Last edited: Jul 8, 2016

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