Massdrop Cavalli Tube Hybrid Amp

Discussion in 'Headphone Amplifiers and Combo (DAC/Amp) Units' started by purr1n, Aug 11, 2017.

  1. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    MCTH is not particularly warm and not definitely not gooey or soft. Kick is decent, but not slamming with a lot of body like Lyr. Works really well with HD650 because of its clarity.

    You want to have it all, but you can't at $250 or $450 for that matter.

    This sounds nothing like CTH of yore. CTH of yore was more like a slightly more tubey Vali 2.

    Again, I'd like to emphasize that a warm or no-treble-fuckery DAC be used. MCTH will not gloss things over. Pretty sure @Hands didn't use a Sabre for evaluation.
     
    Last edited: Aug 14, 2017
  2. brencho

    brencho Friend

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    interesting marvino. do you know the changes that were made to the MCTH vs. the old CTH?
     
  3. DigMe

    DigMe Friend

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    I don't believe they have any particular history of getting things out 2 months before the anticipated ship date.
     
  4. dmckean44

    dmckean44 In a Sherwood S6040CP relationship

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    I've ordered quite a few things off Massdrop now (audio stuff, random gadgets, socks, knives) and sometimes they'll delivier a couple weeks early, but most of the time it's pretty close to the estimated date.
     
  5. Bill-P

    Bill-P Level 42 Mad Wizard

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    So... is this "hope" or "nope"?

    I kinda like Liquid Au with Abyss, but it's pretty... "okay" with the other headphones, not as impressive. I think Liquid Au needs a super dynamic headphone.

    When I heard Crimson, I heard it as one of the most dynamic amps in Cavalli's line-up (or actually, it was the most dynamic amp, period, barring Luis' Glass). So... my ultimate question to you, good sir, is this:

    Is the MCTH able to achieve like, say... more "dynamicism" than Liquid Au and approaching Liquid Crimson in that sense? (meaning bass hits harder, midrange more in my face, treble sharper, etc...)
     
  6. mscott58

    mscott58 Friend

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    Concur. And also given Alex's detail orientation, it's unlikely that they'll be ahead of schedule. The LC for instance was delayed quite a while due to quality issues he was having with the chassis supplier not meeting his quality spec. Even with all of that focus, there were still some issues with some of the early volume pots. So I wouldn't bet on getting an (ahead of schedule) Xmas present this year from MD/CA.
     
  7. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    It's not a Crimson. This is $250.
     
  8. Garns

    Garns Friend

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    I do not DIY. This seems reasonable.
    www.ebay.com/itm/131989302885
    I emailed the guy and he can run one up at 28V. I think the circuit is some version of a sigma11/22.
    I have one for an HTPC and it works well. Don't know how it would do in a more power-supply critical application.
    In any case it is a possibility. It seems to be on the top of end of (or maybe slightly above) what is acceptable in terms of price. Maybe there are better options in the US for cheaper (bearing in mind shipping) but for over here in Australia it is probably as good as I could get. Didn't find any SOLAHD/Tamura LPS at 28v.
     
  9. brencho

    brencho Friend

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    This. But, if it's a less rolled / more extended clearer Vali 2 for an extra hundred bucks, and/or a less bright Jot then i'm intrigued and would like to hear it someday. Off topic but what i'd really like is a shrunken down and cheaper headphone-only ragnarok to move away from jotunheim's brightness for my code-x but i digress.
     
  10. Luckbad

    Luckbad Traded in a unicorn for a Corolla

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    If you want to spend more than the amp by about 50% on an LPSU for it, there's a dude who makes linear power supplies to order on Computer Audiophile.

    Here was his reply to me:
    PM me if you want contact info.
     
  11. PacoTaco

    PacoTaco Friend

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    I'm going to be completely honest, the ship date is completely turning me off to this amp. I might end up selling my Lyr 2 and pick one up in the inevitable goober-sales in March and April. By then, my daughter will be a bit more than a few months old and I'll be out of the "my wife hates me spending money" phase.
     
  12. msommers

    msommers High on Epipens

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  13. Elnrik

    Elnrik Super Friendly

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    I think you're being very optimistic about the "my wife hates me spending money" phase timeline. :p

    The last time I made a 5+ month commitment on audio gear was with the Atticus and Eikon, and I'll be damned if I do that again.

    One thing I'd be curious about - @CEE TEE - is there the possibility of a DIY version of this? I know it is internally different from the original as it's been reworked and updated. The opportunity to get it without waiting 5 months, saving $30 bucks (or something), and the fun of DIY would definitely sway me into buying one. Might be easier to push more than 1000 units out the door that way too.
     
  14. jowls

    jowls Never shitposts (please) - Friend

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    The path out of mid-fi is littered with temptation...
     
  15. ButtUglyJeff

    ButtUglyJeff Stunningly beautiful IRL

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    Can this be SBAF's motto?
     
  16. Luckbad

    Luckbad Traded in a unicorn for a Corolla

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    I nuked my Massdrop for this so I could buy a Torpedo III.

    "The path out of mid-fi is littered with temptation..."
    - Someone like two posts ago
     
    Last edited: Aug 14, 2017
  17. DigMe

    DigMe Friend

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    It would be a good tag line below SBAF logo.
     
  18. mscott58

    mscott58 Friend

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    Agree. Love it.
     
  19. guisess93

    guisess93 New

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    thanks a lot. I'm about to get the Custom Art Harmony 8.2. I've been using IEMs all my life thus there has been no need for DAC/Amp. Then I see this CTH and thought that this might be a good chance to jump in :p
    It's so sad to see @Huxleigh got banned for some reason :(
     
  20. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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    Not sure what the BOM cost is for all the parts (guess it needs a chassis too). I'd be willing to spend around $50 on a LPS for the CTH. Don't know if the σ11 is suitable, but something DIY with easy-to-follow instructions for the brainless would be great. Perhaps if enough people are interested, a group buy on parts can be organized. I'd offer to do it, but since most of you guys are in the CONUS it doesn't really make sense logistically.

    We'd all have 6 months to build it ... ;)
     

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