Class A SS: Journey for a budget champion for LCD-X

I had a similar revelation in upgrading from Lyr 3, that had been in continual use for many years, to a Mjolnir 3. Specifically with my OG LCD-X that was underwhelming with Lyr 3 and so collected dust, it was a glorious rediscovery with MJ3 (nice to have balanced output). The combo proves to be a nice alternative to my ZMF cans.

I have no experience with diy audio, but it would be fantastic if your ACP+ build more or less sonically competes with the $1,200 MJ3 (for which I don't mind paying for the ready-made and fully supported Schiit quality & convenience).

I incidentally also have a Gilmore Lite MK2, paired with an OG Bifrost 2, but that computer setup hasn't gotten much use the past few years because working while listening to music just didn't work out for me.

 

Turning back to the Lyr 3, I'm reminded why I loved it to begin with. It really is a very nice amp - it's just missing a couple key factors that leave the experience a tad underwhelming. The right music, the right mood, Lyr 3 is wonderful. But when you are looking for some giddy up and greater resolution, it's just not quite there.

Me either! I've tried not to think about that too much, but it definitely was a logical consideration in my head...what if? That said, I'm on the Mjolnir 3 tour list for sometime early 2024, so I will eventually get to hear and have an idea.

 

I'm following this closely as well, as like you and @rott, I briefly tried a Lyr 3, but ended up with the Lyr+. I almost agree though that its mainly a side grade, although with the right tubes, could be considered a 1-step upgrade. My personal impression of it was that if the Jot 2 and Lyr 3 had a kid, its the Lyr+. But Lyr+ kind of tries to do both amp qualities in a half-way sort of way, in which it amounts to again be underwhelmed at times based on the circumstances. Nothing bad at all, but just leaves you wanting more.

Also similarly, I am on the waiting list for the ACP+ kit. Even though I've never heard it, I am curious about it. I've heard the Whammy (liked it very much), and almost pulled the trigger on that, but also heard many even prefer the ACP+ over that. So it is an intriguing kit for sure.

 

I'd love to see them smoosh together and expand these two designs. Give us the bipolar supply and no output caps from the Whammy, together with a complementary JFET input built up from the ACP+.

Essentially, it would be a modern interpretation of the CKKIII, a Pass interpretation of the Dynalo, a headphone version of just about any of the Pass speaker amps, or a little baby HPA-1.

 

That's helpful to know that Lyr+ is a marginal improvement. I did listen to a BF2/64 with Lyr+ at the meet I attended in September, but as usual, meet conditions with open-back headphones didn't offer the most informative experience. That said, it sounded like the Lyr 3 to me. So while I'm sure there are some improvements, it might not be enough to push it over that next level. And to that end, I was also fairly put off by the delay between selector button use. I much prefer the simple switches on the Lyr 3.

Exactly what I've read and heard as well - many prefer the ACP+ to the Whammy from a sound standpoint, even though the Whammy is more flexible with different impedance headphones.

 

Do you mind elaborating on your experience with the Whammy? Did you try lower impedance headphones with it? And what would you say it compared to?

 

If you can hang on to the ACP for a bit longer, you could try one to directly compare - here are 3 up for offer:

Whammy with Staccato opamp
Whammy in Hammond case
Whammy in kit case

 

I did not try the Whammy that long, and only tried it with an HD650 w/my comparing it to a Jotunheim 2. That said, my quick impression was that it was a neutral amp leaning towards a touch of warmth. Unexpectedly felt the soundstage was fairly wide, and the treble on the brighter side, but very detailed - it resolved a bit better than the Jot 2. The Jot 2 still was also detailed, but it was a bit smoother. By the same token, I found it a step leaner in note heft/weight vs over the Jot 2. It had nice bass control and still had slam, but not to the effect of the Jot 2 in my opinion. That being said, I don't remember what opamp was in that particular Whammy. So for me, my opinion was that they trade off between the two between details/staging and punch/slam/weight. The whammy leaned more solid state-ish, the Jot 2 more on the tube-ish side. But just my take and the usual YMMV applies as always.

 

I built a Whammy and the sound changed depending on what op-amp was installed. I think I tried 3 or 4 different ones, then gave it to a friend getting into audio along with a Verum V1.

 

@Slade01 could've written my impressions of the Whammy vs Jot 2. I also agree with @JK47 , the opamp used in the Whammy makes a big difference. I was hoping to try twin OPA627s in it, but - see profile post.

 

Yikes. How'd do you that, stick 'em in backwards?

Anyway, I personally see no need for 627's. The new 827 is far cheaper and most people can't tell the different, and the ADA4627 purportedly has very similar sonic characteristics.

 

That’s why I was wishing I remembered what opamp was in there. It was my primary interest in the Whammy to be able to opamp roll, but a few people unequivocally have exclaimed that the ACP+ built for just the high impedance cans range was moar fantastic for the 650. So I’m aiming to give that a shot down the road.

 

I can only guess heat. The pin 1 marks on the chips went to the dots on the board, and the square pin on the board went to pin 1 on the amp socket (checked many times!). Should've practiced on cheaper ones first

 

Huh. Is the *socket* in the right way in the board? Because if youre looking at marks on a socket that is installed wrong, then you're still lining up wrong.

Other than that, perhaps a short.

 

Yep, the socket's the right way - it works fine with other opamps with pin 1 plugged into the same hole.

 

I'm probably being a grump, and in building the stuff, could have been my mistakes, but I've built 2 whammy amps, (also 2 X amp camp amps, 1 x F5) and rolled various opamps into the whammys including 2 X 627s, LM833 (apparently Wayne the designer's favourite), OPA2134, OPA 2604, and a mixed bag of others, and still prefer my Jot and Lyr 3 over the whammys by a big margin. Although the DIY was heaps of fun, because of this I have sworn off building things for now. I mentioned that I was not happy with the sound of the whammy in the diyaudio forum for the amp and it didn't go well.

 

I built an ACA before, and while fun, it’s not a giant killer some people claim it to be. People are biased for stuff they built, so best not to crap where you (they) eat as the saying goes.

 

Never actually heard the commercial Pass stuff but suspects there is overlap with themes. I have built a hoard of the DIY firstwatt stable (Aleph/Aleph J/F4/F5, some variants M2X, M2OPS, Zens Deficit, alpha and and F3 variant that uses microwave transformers as a current source) there is general commonality to the sound but there are differences. This likely comes down to my own experimentation with power supplies and various output devices as much as the design itself. Why have a built more amps than any single person could possibly have use for? Curiosity and that building stuff is my personal therapy / escape.

With the sensitivity and intimacy of headphones, you are likely to be more aware of these differences. I accepted a long time ago that I am not excited by the "wire with gain" concept. It is a personal thing and life is too short to accommodate your own likes to suite that of others. I drive a supercharged V6 and people rag me that I should have a V8 while my Tesla pals espouse the virtues of EVs.

Getting way off topic here, what I had wanted to say was simply that it is worth exploring various design implementations and when you find a sound you find enjoyable, stick with it till you don't anymore (we are all a fickle bunch).

There is a fun diamond buffer headphone amp implementation on DIYA which looks appealing.

.. dB

 

I loved building my whammy and had fun rolling opamps, but I ended up enjoying a Vali 2 more and sold the whammy. In general, DIY stopped being a way to save money years ago. I didn't try telling this to a group of Passcolytes, though .