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. E_Schaaf

    E_Schaaf MOT: E.T.A Headphones

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    Anybody try the BW with the HE-6?
     
  2. jexby

    jexby Posole Prince

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    Exit stage left....
    paging @zerodeefex - seems you do need to loan me the BW2 after all. my LFF HE-6 await. ;)

    except in reality, probably already know the answer: too soft sounding and not enough power to grip HE-6.
    BW2 was not designed to drive inefficient planars.
     
  3. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

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    I used BW 1 with HE-6 for a while, it had amazing bass and a forward upper mid presence with a sweet tube like quality to the sound. It was not a Vidar however.

    AF>Vidar crushes BW, as it should.
     
  4. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

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    One day when my LFF HE6 arrives, I'll run a tweaked Freya > dual Vidar > LFF HE6.
     
    Last edited: Jun 27, 2018
  5. Torq

    Torq MOT: Headphone.com

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    Disaster Area Loudness.png

    The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy will need this entry updated then ...
     
  6. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

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    The big issue here is the gain on Freya. I suspect I'll have to find another pre here.
     
  7. Vtory

    Vtory Audiophile™

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    [​IMG]

    Finally BW2 in the house. Looks so lovely.
     
  8. Jerry

    Jerry Friend

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    Congrats on the BW2. Pse let us know your impressions later.
     
  9. Vtory

    Vtory Audiophile™

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    Damn, I stayed up all night. Could not stop listening to my favorite tracks..
    All the EC and BW hype was real.

    Some thoughts and observations up to now:
    • BW2 reminded me of Luxman's SS head amps. But with more competent technicalities.
    • Healthy dose of lushness, meatiness, and warmth. Not as much as Leptoni though.
    • ^ This generates quite convincing synergy with Elex. Also works greatly with 800.
    • Everything (images, distance, stage width, depth, height, ...) sounds bigger/larger and more life-like, particularly with Elex.
    • Bypass line outs were pleasing bonus for my needs.
    It's very ironic that my SS amp (bw2) sounds like a good tube while my tube (lyr3) performs like a good SS.
     
  10. Vtory

    Vtory Audiophile™

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    Having enjoyed BW2 for nearly two weeks, I feel myself being transformed to a EC (and surely BW) shill. While I made a lot of satisfying audio decisions this year, PMing @captkirk to take his amp might be the best decision among them - because this marvelous amp is almost unobtainable now.

    BW2 per se is a great amp. However, what impressed me rather came from total synergy with RME ADI2-DAC (along with HD800). Simply speaking, BW2 pulls what RME is truly capable of with addressing its major weaknesses such as flatter, drier and a smidgen inorganic presentations (note: these are not easily identifiable unless directly compared to superior competitors [1]). Combination of BW2 and ADI2-DAC did eliminate my dac upgrade desire a lot, because with this combination , my dac pretends to have good traits of higher-tier products.

    Synergy also happens in the other direction. ADI2 adds brighter (in a good sense), snappier, crispier, and more detailed-ish nuances to BW2 which I do not think strengths for BW2 [2]. Not a night-and-day difference, but significantly increased listening pleasure. Conditioned by brighter transducers and dacs, I can confidently take BW2 over any other similarly or cheaply priced amps any day. IMO this is my end-game SS amp.

    All I mentioned comes without any Tube nervosa [3]. Damn.. it must be some kind of black magic!

    [1] I mean, better competitors (e.g., Schiit Gungnir Multibit, Chord Qutest) or superior products (e.g., Chord Dave)
    [2] Moreover, there recently comes many great SS offerings (Jotenheim, Gilmore lite2, THX ...) in the sub-1k region. Dumping 1k+ on a SS amp is still justifiable but makes less sense than when BW2 was released.
    [3] Much weaker dependence of warm ups, no need to be harassed by tube upgrades, free from between-tubes or within-tubes fuckeries, ...
     
  11. EagleWings

    EagleWings Friend

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    It pains to know this amp was a limited run. While I do feel exclusive/privileged to own a limited edition gear, I wish this amp was a regular production model, so more people out there could benefit from it. That should be enough hint that I am very impressed with this amp.

    BW2.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jul 25, 2018
  12. Jerry

    Jerry Friend

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    Gungnir Multibit+BW have always been my hidden desire. One SS to rule 'em all. Done and done.
     
  13. EagleWings

    EagleWings Friend

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    Hi guys, I would like your help on something. I am taking my 120V BW2 back to India (230V) next month and Craig said, all I need to do is, reconfigure the molex connectors inside the amp and replace the fuse. Let me know if you have a 230V BW2 version or if you know someone who does, as all I need is a picture of internal of the amp.
     
  14. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    A better Luxman... Good way to put it. I had forgotten about them. Yes, a more resolving Luxman, for better or worse. I don't recommend it for all applications and some may find the rich organic lows not to their taste. Tuned for HD800, HD600, and by extension Elex. Most similar to ZDSE (ZDS is more neutral) in terms of sound. Dimensions of chassis were sized for use with Gungnir Multibit. The Gungnir Multibit is even a better pairing.

    This was a huge money loser for EC. Craig would have to charge $1500 or more to make it profitable.
     
  15. Ringingears

    Ringingears Honorary BFF

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    Even if I decided to purchase an Aficionado, I would still keep my BW1. The synergy between the Gungnir Multibit, BW and HD800/600 is just too good. Not sure if I have Gungnir Multibit. I upgraded on the cusp so to speak. Not even sure if the B would have been added. Not worrying about it. They sound great together and really that’s all that matters.

    Edit: the upgrade was D/S to multi-bit and Gen 5.
     
  16. Elnrik

    Elnrik Super Friendly

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    I think he should charge $1750 on another run. People would pay it. Worth it. Love my BW2 + Gungnir Multibit.

    Hell, I'd love to see a balanced BW model. Xlr inputs to go with the Gungnir Multibit. Dual BW topography inside for real balanced layout. I'd buy it. I know it would have to be well over $2000+, but the sound plus what I would not be spending in tubes would make it totally worth it.
     
  17. dmckean44

    dmckean44 In a Sherwood S6040CP relationship

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    With the cost of good tubes skyrocketing, I think you're right.
     
  18. Ringingears

    Ringingears Honorary BFF

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    I would love to see it happen. But Craig has told me more than once that the transistors are a bitch to install. He wants to focus on the Aficionado, at least as of July last year.

    Edit: sorry nobody asked me for my half-assed opinion.
     
  19. Elnrik

    Elnrik Super Friendly

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    I did. I deleted that post as it seemed unnecessary.

    Maybe next year? Gives me time to save. :)
     
  20. Ringingears

    Ringingears Honorary BFF

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    Not unnecessary at all. Oh jeez, they are playing that damn commercial about have a curve down below. Sorry off topic.

    The BW is a straight arrow of an amp! :punk:
     

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