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

From what I've been reading on here, it seems like the Asgard 2 is the amp to which the "mini BW" descriptor might best be applied. At least I hope that's the case, as I just ordered one.

 

Oh, I wasn't suggesting that they performed anywhere near the same level! That'd be ridiculous, especially coming from someone who's heard neither. I just meant that a few people seem to have indicated that they to share a roughly similar sonic character. Psalmanazar springs to mind...

Based on your recollection, would you say that the A2 is a major step down? Certainly wouldn't be surprised if that was the case.

 

I have owned the Asgard 2 and now have the Polaris. I run Senn 650s unmodded at the moment. With Jexby's Gungnir Multibit feeding both the Polaris and the BW the nod was easily in favor for the Polaris with my 650s. The BW sounded much more recessed in the mids and not as open up top. That being said, the BW sounded really good with Jexby's modded HiFi Man 500s. As I told Jexby, I would not consider the BW a synergistic match with the Senn 650s. Modded 650s may be another story, however.

I would not consider the Asgard 2 to be on the same level as the Polaris. Close but rather undynamic and rather lifeless. That is not to say the Polaris does not have its limitations. It does, primarily the midrange has a bit of tubey veil, yes, weird for a ss amp but you have to know the nature of the transistors used. It took me listening to the Molj2 to really hear how colored it is. Still I would take it over the BW, unless you like chocolate with Caramel with your 650s..

The big surprise was the Vali2 ($100 tube and $35 tube auditioned) with the 650s. Clean, open vocals, with just a little leanness, decent bass and treble but the Polaris did dig a bit better at tonal accuracy and resolution, aside from the flaws in the mids. Both the Vali 2 and Polaris are good sounding amps with limitations. You need to pick your flavor as neither is perfect.

And with the right cans, EDIT- maybe most cans, I think the BW is a few notches above the Asgard2.

 

Yeah, the Black Widow is just better with bigger staging and more voltage swing. The Asgard 2 is the closest mass-produced product to it, both being relatively uncolored, nimble as hell, class a, no overal feedback solid state amplifiers that don't try to copy colored Krell or Chi-fi sound. Both sounded great with metal and jazz with the HD 650. Metal doesn't sound right on cheap tubey crap.

Asgard 2 is dynamic if the recording is dynamic. If your recording has warmed over metallic percussion and is is compressed to hell, it sounds warmed over and compressed to hell. I've been blasting the Rust in Peace original CD -> Modi 2U -> Asgard 2 -> HD 650 on it for a week or so and it really brings out the volume dynamics and emphasis in the guitar playing and is a big upgrade from the Magni 2U and other amps of that ilk. Asgard 2 -> Black Widow is smaller but still there.

It also depends what you feed them; the Black WIdow, Asgard 2, and even the Magni 2U powering the HD 650 are revealing of sources and what goes in comes out. If you feed them shit (bloomy AK4490, soft crap like Bifrost Multibit, some Sabre dongle, grainy NOS, dead Oppos, or the ODAC) they will shit out shit. Feed them tonally neutralish sources like AK4936 Modi 2U, Emotiva DC-1, or Yggdrasil and it sounds good.

 

Whew, I'm glad that I didn't misstate/misunderstand your position on this. Cuz if I had, I'm fairly confident that you would've f'ing wrecked me.

 

@Psalmanazar

Fanboi much? did someone try to kick your cat

 

Ya! Black Widow one of the few direct upgrade "endgame" headphone amps I have heard while other stuff just see-saws about.

 

I found this comparison useful when I was deciding which to get (though it's with a v1 Ember): http://diyah.boards.net/thread/1073/comparison-polaris-ember

Ultimately went for the Polaris and I'm real happy with its performance with the HD6X0

 

By articulated, do you mean just bass tightness? The actual bass quantity & slam would be on par or even better than the Ragnarok/GS-X mkII from your memory?

 

To go against what bixby said above, BW is best match I've heard for HD650. Fast, detailed, punchy, good extended bass like a great SS amp, but none of the dry or boring qualities I usually associate with SS. I think BW takes HD650's strengths (open wide stage, great mids, detail) and pushes them just a bit further. Miles ahead of Vali 2, which did have decent resolution and soundstage, but really lacked a strong low end, tight mids, or just sounding real. Vali always sounded artificial. BW and Gungnir Multibit doesn't sound like digital.

Also, BW seems like a better match with 650 than Raggy. Raggy seems to be better for planars and orthos, but is a bit behind on my dynamic headphones (HD800, HD650, HD580). Its possible some may prefer raggy, its an awesome amp, its just a bit more of a well rounded amp.

 

@JoshMorr Just curious, are your 650s modded?

Agree with your general consensus that BW is a better amp than Vali 2, but my midrange criticism of the BW stands as I heard it via the chain described earlier. And agree with your criticism of Vali2 bass. Perhaps a fair amount of the positive could be the contribution of the Gungnir Multibit and tubes used.

EDIT: As for best matches for the 650s. I would add Elekit, Super 7, EC studio to the nominee list.

 

You've heard much, much better amps than me. My best ever is BW, raggy, diy EHHA, Taurus. Can't argue with your comments either, just didn't want people to think this wasn't good match with Hd650.

Yes modded 650's, was unaware people listened to them stock, .

 

I figured as much. Modded 650 is significantly more open in the mids.

@Hands, I need your help, oh Hands! Maybe the Polaris would not have that bit of tube veil, oh wait is it the 650, no, no veil exists, haha

 

eeew

 

What solid state amplifiers would you nominate?

 

@Gravity
Lots of ss amplifiers discussed for the 650 in this thread:

http://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/sennheiser-hd650.43/