Liquid Gold X Balanced Headphone Amplifier from Monoprice by Alex Cavalli

Discussion in 'Headphone Amplifiers and Combo (DAC/Amp) Units' started by jexby, Sep 10, 2019.

  1. Inoculator

    Inoculator Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2018
    Likes Received:
    3,521
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Tacoma, WA
    Kind of bummed this amp never really became a "thing", maybe just too similar to the Liquid Platinum, priced poorly, maybe kind of meh, or some combo of all of the above.

    Any folks end up with one of these and have long-term impressions/thoughts on using it as an all-in-one solution, or just thoughts on the amp at least? I miss my liquid platinum sometimes, and wonder if the built-in DAC in this is serviceable enough to hookup a Pi2AES for Roon and use this as a little bedroom rig. Obviously would not snag at full price, but seems monoprice may be closing these out as they have them for a steep discount/bulk pricing on ebay https://www.ebay.com/itm/393422018507

    I don't have high hopes for the AKM4493 in it, but seems it could be ok if implemented well. Too bad the dedicated Liquid Platinum DAC is probably never going to see the light of day due to the AKM fire issues. What could of been, maybe would have been a fun stack to try out.
     
  2. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2020
    Likes Received:
    12,238
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Bay Area, CA
    Home Page:
    Well I just ordered one since they are returnable. I'm looking or a reference amp. I'm guessing this won't do the trick but I kind of just wanted to try it out. What can I say.
     
  3. Inoculator

    Inoculator Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2018
    Likes Received:
    3,521
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Tacoma, WA
    That was the last push I needed, I am in also. I am just crossing my fingers QC is solid on these unit. Late model Liquid Platinum started to have some problems.
     
  4. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2020
    Likes Received:
    12,238
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Bay Area, CA
    Home Page:
    Awesome! It will be really fun to compare impressions. And now SBAF will have a better idea of what this amp sounds like. Atomicbob's measurements were outstanding.
     
  5. Azimuth

    Azimuth FKA rtaylor76, Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Nov 9, 2015
    Likes Received:
    6,835
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Nashville, TN
    Home Page:
    The Liquid Spark at least is better than it should be, kind of like Magni in that regard. I am sure for LG as well. I like @Inoculator am not excited about a DAC module included, but that is easily bypassable.
     
  6. MLegend

    MLegend Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2015
    Likes Received:
    320
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    Northwest Florida
    @rhythmdevils I'm curious to see how the MP LAu compares to your Mjolnir 1.

    @Inoculator A lot of the impressions I've read comparing the LP to the MP LAu state they sound more similar than different, so it will be interesting to read your impressions on the Gold.
     
  7. Jerry

    Jerry Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Apr 8, 2017
    Likes Received:
    1,042
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Asia
    I'm putting my money on Mjolnir 1.

    The LP at least brings a different flavor than SS amps, especially in the mids. I doubt the LP sounds similar to MP LAu too.
     
  8. Merrick

    Merrick A lidless ear

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2016
    Likes Received:
    12,568
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Portland, OR
    I suspect the LAu will sound more like the LP than it will the Mjolnir. Would be interesting to see which one is more resolving however.
     
  9. Rob the Comic

    Rob the Comic banned from ASR

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jul 29, 2020
    Likes Received:
    8,249
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Sydney, Australia
    Still happy with mine. Compliments the Phonitor as it has a different signature. Pairs well Yggdrasil. I look forward to more impressions from above as I am hopeless at equipment reviews and am keen to hear what others think of this amp when paired with good kit.
     
  10. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2020
    Likes Received:
    12,238
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Bay Area, CA
    Home Page:
    Monoprice Liquid Gold X Review

    Gear
    Pi2AES with NoiseNuke -> AES -> Yggdrasil LIM -> XLR out -> Liquid Gold X -> modded LCD-X

    [​IMG]

    Measurements of the LGX amp by Atomicbob

    Note:
    Balanced input or SE input is the same with this amp, both are converted to a balanced signal. Same with the LP.

    Disclaimer:
    Monoprice made Cavalli add a DAC to this amp in an idiotic misreading of the market. TOTL amps don’t have built in DAC’s. AIO’s are the realm of mid-fi. Cavalli hired an experienced DAC engineer to design the balanced DAC, but I have not listened to it. I think the presence of a DAC in this amp is why it hasn’t taken off. To people like us, it just makes it feel like a cheap amp. When in fact it’s an incredible amp with a stupid marketing decision. I really wish Monoprice didn’t force a DAC into the amp. Cavalli talked about making the original Liquid Gold smaller to fit this form factor so I can’t help but wonder what he would have done with the extra space if there was no DAC. But not to worry, because the amp sounds fantastic. Just pretend the DAC is not there. Really, just never use it.

    Build
    The amp feels and looks much better in person. They made an unfortunate color choice for the front and back panels the makes it look cheap. But it’s all solid metal. I wish the whole amp was black and they used a screw on volume knob instead of a custom molded one. Because the design is actually quite beautiful and brilliant. There are vents on the sides, and one in the middle on the bottom, so that air flows all the way up through the amp to cool it. It’s actually a brilliant design.

    The volume pot on mine has no channel imbalance. But it’s obviously not a great pot. I am using low gain mode for the LCD-X and from all the way down to about 9:30 o’clock it increases volume very slowly, then it jumps up really fast and I have to make tiny changes as if I’m using iems. That’s really my only complaint about the amp. But it’s really not a big deal. Just unfortunate.

    The LED’s are the most tasteful of any gear I’ve ever seen. Not only are they tiny and not bright, they are recessed so you can’t see them from an angle. The only gripe I have is that when not using this as an AIO, and you have no digital inputs plugged in, the Digital input indicator light blinks. Very bad design. I just covered all three digital source lights up with a rectangular black light dim sticker and I can’t see it anymore. Problem solved.

    Sound In Brief
    First of all this amp has nothing in common with the LP except the chassis design. Very different amps sonically. I did not like the LP. I love this amp.

    This is probably the most difficult review I’ve ever tried to write. Not because the sound qualities of the LGX are hard to describe, but because it really doesn’t sound like anything. I’ve heard a lot of amps, and I can’t remember ever hearing an amp with so little sound of it’s own. It sounds transparent, natural, cohesive, dynamic, resolving, good soundstage. But nothing is overdone and nothing is lacking. Comparing to other SS amps, t’s not dry with a huge soundstage like the BHA-1, it has natural tone with a more realistic soundstage. It’s not cold/sterile/flat like Gilmore amps. It has natural warmth, but isn’t a warm amp. It doesn’t have the artificial sounding dynamics and sense of power and space of the Mjolnnir 1, it is natural and effortless. It has liquidity, but is not a liquid sounding amp like Eddie Current amps. It hits hard, in the bass and dynamics with tons of control over the drivers, but never screams "wow, look at me, I’m making a statement!". Treble is extended, clean and refined. Bass reaches deep and is full of texture and layered dynamics. But nothing draws attention to itself.

    Some History
    It’s funny/sad looking back at when Cavalli was making commercial amps of his own. Kevin Gilmore’s amps were always praised as "wire with gain". But they definitely have a sound. A sterile, flat, cold sound I very much dislike. But Gilmore used his clout from his DIY contributions to convince everyone on Head-Case at the time that his amps were the only ones acceptable. Wire with Gain. He talked shit about almost every other amp developer, especially picking on Cavalli, often times making up information and lying about the design of the amps (verified by people close to Cavalli who knew the designs). This caused a lot of distrust for Cavalli’s amps and I think is what led to him becoming disillusioned and not making amps anymore. The sad/ironic/funny thing is that The Liquid Gold is actually the closest amp I’ve heard to actually being "wire with gain". I know, everything has a sound. But I have a hard time hearing a sound with this amp. After all of Gilmore’s shit talking, Cavalli beat him at his own game. Not only that, he did it with an amp sold through Monoprice that sells for under 700$ on Monoprice’s Ebay store right now. f**k Gilmore. Cavalli is the real master.

    Bass
    Natural in every way, totally neutral. Dynamic impact when called for, but never when not. Reaches all the way down with tons of grip. But it is never exaggerated or in your face or trying to be something the music is not. It’s also not basslite at all.

    Midrange
    Very neutral, transparent, airy when called for, rich when called for. It sounds very natural and lifelike. I don’t know what else to say. It’s like trying to describe the absence of something.

    Treble
    Neutral, natural, extended and airy. No grain, no exaggeration, no rolloff. Smooth and extended.

    Final Thoughts
    I have not heard the ECP DSHA-3F (I will get to compare them soon, in home) or the Phonitor amps, but I’ve heard every other highly regarded SS amp on SBAF. This beats them all for my preferences. It doesn’t draw attention to itself while powering your headphones really well, Some TOTL tube amps are going to be more resolving and spacious sounding, but I doubt any of them have this kind of invisible sound to them. It’s just so transparent. It has all the good qualities that we all want, while not overdoing or under-doing any of them. Everything is in balance. This is the Cavalli magic. He has some golden ears and is truly a brilliant amp designer. The measurements taken by AtomicBob back up everything I’m hearing in this amp.

    This amp is not for everyone though, that is for sure. It is not am amp that "wows" you with certain things (this is a good thing in many ways). Other SS amps do certain things better, but for me the ones I have heard all have deal breaking problems that this amp doesn't have.

    Please see this thread for my quest for a reference amp to tune orthos with so you have an idea of my preferences and why I like this amp. I took a chance on this amp and it is exactly what I was looking for.

    It is truly a reference amp. I would liken it to the Joe Grado HP1000 of headphone amps. These days everyone thinks the HP1000 is the bees knees because it's unotainium so it's attained "God status" and people are more educated about FR and resonance so appreciate it technically, but back before Marv was taking CSD measurement, and the HP1000 was available for 800 on the used market, and everything was just subjective opinions, the opinions of the HP1000 were much more mixed. A lot of people found them boring and preferred the RS-1. That will be the same for the LGX. I think a group of people would find it boring because it has no singular standout sound qualities like huge soundstage or bombastic dynamics, or a specific tone coloration to mimic tubes.. It's in that territory with the HP1000 where sins of commission and omission have been minimized to the point where it's really in middle ground transparent territory. I feel like I'm listening to my DAC and headphones more than anything else. And that is not for everyone. it's not even for me all the time. I'd like to have a good tube amp here as well to do what they do better than SS amps can (resolution, spaciosouness, depth, realism, etc). But I wanted a reference amp and I took a gamble on this, and it is exactly what I wanted.

    So this amp is not for everyone, but for the right person, it will be a truly magical amp. It won't correct problems with your headphones. It won't change the sound of your headphones and make them perform really well in one or two specific areas while changing it's tonality and having weaknesses in other areas.

    I would say if you priotritize tonality first before things like dynamics and soundstage size, this is likely to be a great choice for you. Not that the LGX lacks dynamics or soundstage, they are just very natural and normal sounding, and not as great as other options.

    There will be a loaner Liquid Gold X for SBAF soon. Either Monoprice will loan us one, or SBAF will buy one. But I highly recommend anyone looking or a good SS amp and thinks this sounds good to jump on the shop.com deal for 600$ right now. https://www.shop.com/Monolith+Liqui...+Ended+Headphone+Outputs+-1869330080-p+.xhtml

    Remember, don’t use the DAC or buy it for the DAC, just pretend it does not exist.
     
    • Like Like x 17
    • Epic Epic x 16
    • List
    Last edited: Sep 24, 2021
  11. Merrick

    Merrick A lidless ear

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2016
    Likes Received:
    12,568
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Portland, OR
    I know an AIO is not necessary in a TOTL amp, but I do recall Alex commenting on HF that the built in DAC might pleasantly surprise people. RD I know you have an Yggdrasil but out of curiosity it would be worth trying the built in DAC one of these days.
     
  12. M3NTAL

    M3NTAL Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,697
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Arizona
    I clicked on the E Bai link and it was $999 discounted from $1,999.00 - but on MonoPee it's $799.00 down from $999.00 - Maybe I'm missing something or maybe not - here is the monoprice link https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=38967
     
  13. dasman66

    dasman66 Self proclaimed lazy ass - friend

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2018
    Likes Received:
    2,461
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    NW Pennsylvania
    You post a great review, and the amp is now $1k on their ebay store. At under $700 I was considering a blind purchase... but not at $1k

    ---------edit---------
    @M3NTAL beat me to it...
     
  14. Merrick

    Merrick A lidless ear

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2016
    Likes Received:
    12,568
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Portland, OR
    The curse of Monoprice…pricing.
     
  15. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2020
    Likes Received:
    12,238
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Bay Area, CA
    Home Page:
  16. Merrick

    Merrick A lidless ear

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2016
    Likes Received:
    12,568
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Portland, OR
  17. jaker782

    jaker782 Friend

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    May 6, 2019
    Likes Received:
    399
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    Maryland
  18. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2020
    Likes Received:
    12,238
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Bay Area, CA
    Home Page:
    huh I can still buy it for 570$. They must be keeping the previous price I paid. If anyone wants me to buy them one and you pay me back just let me know.

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Sep 23, 2021
  19. dasman66

    dasman66 Self proclaimed lazy ass - friend

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2018
    Likes Received:
    2,461
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    NW Pennsylvania
    mathing must not be ebay's strong point. 49% off 1999 isn't 571.89.

    pm me if you can really get it for 571.89. thanks!
     
  20. Merrick

    Merrick A lidless ear

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2016
    Likes Received:
    12,568
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Portland, OR
    I wonder if this is a discount for previous buyers using cookies to identify who is eligible. If you put it in your cart does it show in the cart at the $579 price? It could be an old version of the page in your cache loading.
     
    Last edited: Sep 23, 2021

Share This Page