EC Aficionado (was: The Studio Jr.)

Discussion in 'Headphone Amplifiers and Combo (DAC/Amp) Units' started by AppleheadMay, Nov 10, 2015.

  1. jexby

    jexby Posole Prince

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    go back and read older posts in this thread, ZDS is mentioned at times.
    find post #148 and #153.
     
  2. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

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    Yeah, I completely agree and have said it before, Utopia sounds better out of a warmer SS amp like Black Widow but even then it doesn't have the bass weight of Auteur. I actually stumbled across a DSHA-1 I'm trying from a friend and it has an output impedance of ~20 Ohm on low gain setting. It gives Utopia just that little bit extra punch and adds a boost around 50Hz which is great!

    [​IMG]

    Auteur definitely sounds closed and a little slow compared to Utopia but it has excellent tone and staging is preferable to me.
     
  3. jexby

    jexby Posole Prince

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    1. had an Af and BW2 side by side with Utopia for a week, and often was preferring the BW2+Utopia if not a draw.

    2. almost any/every headphone sounds slow compared to Utopia, yet if Auteur also sounds "closed" it may not the perfect sound presentation I prefer either. hmpf.
    unless your preferred "staging" means Auteur has better width and depth (how much than Utopia?),
    without an exaggerated width to the point of diffusion.
     
    Last edited: Feb 24, 2018
  4. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

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    I feel Auteur gets the most right out of any headphone especially since it's relatively system independent. it's dynamics are still quite excellent, like I said, it just sounds a little closed considering it's labeled as an "open back". If tone and timbre are your top priorities then give Auteur a shot.

    Yeah, width is a little less than Utopia but depth is so much better it's like listening to speakers in front of you in comparison to Utopia.
     
  5. MrButchi

    MrButchi Gear Master Europe

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    I have a very strong and different opinion on that.
    To my ears, AF shatters BW2 with Utp, even with stock drover and Shugangs.
    Now I’ve changed the driver (to a Raytheon) and the 2a3s to Krons, and it feels like audio Nirvana.
    Is BW2 a great SS amp at its price point? Sure. But stage wise and everything else wise, to my ears, Utp benefits crazingly good from the AF compared to BW2.
     
  6. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

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    I think it's more about personal preference and what traits you want to emphasis than one being better or worse than the other.

    I think Utopia's head stage is pretty shit as it's all in your head but does have excellent depth. My problem with Utopia/AF pairing is that it simply doesn't have the grip and control like a really good SS amp. I'm not saying BW is the best SS amp either, just that it feels like it put racing slicks on Utopia's drivers where AF is like a comfy luxurious ride that is less fatiguing but also less exciting.

    I'm sure this also depends on DAC being used. Yggdrasil would probably tighten things up enough for me to enjoy Utopia on AF.
     
  7. MrButchi

    MrButchi Gear Master Europe

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    @cskippy that is an interesting comment - what DAC are you pairing it with?
    I have been Yggying for about a year and a half now, and thankfully so - Gungnir Multibit and BW2 was way too warm and made the HD800 SDR sound gooey to my ears.
    I’m asking because going from Yggdrasil+BW2 to Yggdrasil+AF (properly tubed) took my Utp to exactly where I wanted it: a much more coherent SS (ofc still not huge, but depth and width are now comparable, no more tube-like effect as with BW2).
    Yet, I didn’t perceive any loss of speed, only moar details and micro details. As in, I had them side by side for a month, but entirely stopped using the BW2 after 10 days.
    But then, I guess YMMV...
    Probably my Euro ears being less warmth friendly than Murican ears...
     
  8. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

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    Originally it was Gungnir Multibit, which was the best fit. I sold Gungnir Multibit to fund Yggdrasil and bought RME ADI-2 DAC as an interim DAC. Sound was less bright but also less dynamic. Trying a friends Pavane and it's pretty good with Utopia but a little mid forward. Excelent sound stage and very holographic though.

    Also my BW is a v1 if that makes any difference.
     
  9. JK47

    JK47 Guest

    I would like to offer up the pair of Jantzen 0.22uf caps I installed earlier in this thread to someone with friend status. Just cover shipping or pick them up in Huntington Beach.

    A fellow SBAF member has graciously passed along a set of Jupiter copper foil caps, and good god, they are cray, cray, crazy good... NO, AWESOME !!! Hopefully when he's ready, he'll post his adventures modding this amp, he's got oodles of great stuff to share. Thanks again buddy !!!

    Like Marv previously stated, similar tone to the Jantz, but much deadlier technically. Actually i would urge you to go straight out and bypass the free Jantzen's, man up and buy the Jupiter's if you like a lean, more detailed sound, with a solid punchy bottom end. These are good, really good, did I say that already...

    Tested with Fostex speakers/tweeters and HD600 headphones
     
  10. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

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    Yggdrasil 2 in the house...for a bit.
    [​IMG]
     
  11. jowls

    jowls Never shitposts (please) - Friend

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    Oh damn, nice. S H O O O O O O T O U T. Is that an upgraded Pavane?

    The 'image enhance' button doesn't seem to be working. What amp is that next to Af? DSHA1?
     
  12. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

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    Yup, shootout will commence in a year when Yggdrasil A2 is fully warmed up.

    Correct, DSHA-1.
     
  13. drgumbybrain

    drgumbybrain Science Nut

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    This picture is like a dream! would be very helpful if you @cskippy could chime in some comparison between Yggdrasil A2 vs pavane in the Yggdrasil analog 2 thread! :sail:
     
  14. Taverius

    Taverius Smells like sausages

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    Anyone have a link to a good 396a socket saver?
     
  15. drgumbybrain

    drgumbybrain Science Nut

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    please take a look in tube monger US site. very good socket savers
     
  16. allegro

    allegro Friend

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    I believe the 396a/5670 uses a non standard pin out you would have to make one don't see any on the usual sites.

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Mar 18, 2018
  17. Ray

    Ray Friend

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    31727764-A366-4114-AC9F-1ED2833EA913.jpeg CFCB7654-AC23-4D74-84DA-15FD256AC410.jpeg You can find these on eBay. Can’t remember what I paid. Worked fine in my AF
     
  18. Don Miller

    Don Miller Banned from FS; never sell me anything

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  19. Garns

    Garns Friend

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    Socket savers just connect the pins straight through so will work with any tube so long as the pins fit in the holes.
     
  20. Jozurr

    Jozurr Facebook Friend

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    Anyone know where to get a good WE 396A tube for those of you who have bought one for their AF?
     

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