ampsandsound (aka Amps & Sound)

Discussion in 'Headphone Amplifiers and Combo (DAC/Amp) Units' started by Luckbad, Mar 20, 2016.

  1. Speedious

    Speedious New

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    I read a mention about the attack of the amps.
    Do these amps have solid state sharpness of attack or just very sharp compared to tube amps?
     
  2. BillOhio

    BillOhio Friend

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    I was picturing Giant Amplifiers from Space destroying downtown.
     
  3. ampsandsound

    ampsandsound MOT - Ampsandsound

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    Id say very fast for tube amp.
    Depending on model... SS rectification or tube might also complicate the answer as well as amount of sag on the tube rectifier. Though not slow, I would not list attack as the predominate feature. I tend to think sustain and weight are leading descriptors.
    Id also argue that fast for SS amps, ICs and or DSPs are involved.
     
  4. Speedious

    Speedious New

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    I heard a Mogwai SE at CanJam at the ZMF booth. Fed by a Yggdrasil to Eikon and Atticus. Went to the show to pick new cans (ordered Eikons).

    Weeks later that experience lingers with me and tugs at my wallet. Very impressive amp.
     
  5. allegro

    allegro Friend

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    I have been using a 1963 Telefunken ECC801S input with RCA 1626's in my Kenzie (both pairs of my Tung Sol 1626's went bad.) Quite pleased with the SQ I consider the Kenzie with outboard input transformers and Telefunken an end game tube amp. However if I was in the market now I would go for a loaded Encore. Nice of Justin to have the input transformers available on the new website for Kenzie owners.

    Tried the 12B4A (two different brands of matched) power tubes and they were inferior to the 1626 with my DAC and phones. Very forward midrange with complete loss of sound stage depth. Others have liked them but in my rig they are not listenable. At a loss to explain why the 12B4A does not work in my rig. @ampsandsound can you comment? I doubt I got two separate matched pairs of 12B4A's that were defective.

    Edit: Found the problem. For some reason the Telefunken ECC801S does not match well with the 12B4A's. I put the 12B4A's back in along with an RCA grey glass 12SL7GT input tube and most of the problems I was hearing were corrected. There was now some sound stage depth, but midrange was still forward with a slight hard edge to vocals and noticeable lack of air compared to the Telefunken. I did put the ECC801S and 1626 back in.
     
    Last edited: May 15, 2018
  6. Merc

    Merc New

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    I have the Mogwai SE with Bendix 6889 , 1940 RCA rectifier and stock jj 6sl7 , Love it ....
     
  7. Zesty

    Zesty New

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    I plan to buy a Kenzie Encore in the future. I decided I'd rather have the input transformers in their own box to use with other things rather than integrated into the amp. So I put in an order for their input transformers. A few days later the order showed up at my front door.

    Impressions are from Gungnir Multibit > Ampsandsound input transformers > Valhalla 2. Everything sounds slightly cleaner to me. The treble seems a bit smoother. I can hear a little more detail in the low end. I'm picking up subtle sounds in songs here and there that I wasn't before. I think they are a nice addition to my system. Looking forward to owning their Kenzie someday.
     
  8. jsr

    jsr New

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    I wonder if folks have any feedback on ohm choices for the kenzie encore. I plan on pairing it with a pair of ZMF Eikons and a pair of Mr Speakers Ether C. For the Eikons, i've heard great reviews using the 600 ohm tap. I wonder tho if the 300ohm tap is a better fit for the Eikons. Similar questions to the MrSpeakers.. do folks have impressions of the 16 vs 32 ohm taps on those? Any feedback appreciated.
     
  9. Mithrandir41

    Mithrandir41 Friend

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    32 ohms is pretty much perfect for a 300ohm headphone. You may get more Bass with higher output impedance, but you'll get better control with a lower impedance.
     
  10. ampsandsound

    ampsandsound MOT - Ampsandsound

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    If you haven't ordered one yet, you might consider 8/300 as an option.
    The 8ohm provides benefits for planers. I like the 300ohm for the ZMFs and Sen.... Could also go 8/32.... we went a bit crazy with impedance choices as of late.
     
  11. Jerry

    Jerry Friend

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    Does output impedance affect planars as well? I had the impression that only dynamics react to output impedance.
     
  12. bobboxbody

    bobboxbody Friend

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    Wouldn't Ohm's law still apply?

    I(amps)=V(olts)/R(esistance)

    Assume voltage stays the same, so lower impedance means more current. Inefficient planar drivers then benefit from increased power.
     
  13. Jerry

    Jerry Friend

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    Wouldnt that depend on the headphone's input impedance?

    Amp's output impedance affect the damping factor of a headphone. Planars with ruler flat impedance should not be affected.
     
    Last edited: Jun 30, 2018
  14. ampsandsound

    ampsandsound MOT - Ampsandsound

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    I was just suggesting most of our testers have perfered pairing their planars with as low a sec impedance as we are willing to make. I can’t say that matches my personal tastes but have had enough users try ethers, aeons, LCDs to offer there generalized feedback.
     
    Last edited: Jun 29, 2018
  15. allegro

    allegro Friend

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    Kenzie seems to break the rules at least for my ears. I have been listening to a 32/300 Kenzie with HD800S for over six months. I did add a Loki to boost 20 Hz but leave the other three knobs centered most of the time. I also have the outboard input transformers.

    I do my listening using the 300 Ohm jack. When switching to 32 Ohm vocals are too forward and I lose soundstage depth and air around voices and instruments.
     
  16. rrwwss52

    rrwwss52 New

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    @allegro

    I have a Kenzie Encore 32/300 and standard HD800. The outboard input transformers are something I’ve been eyeing. Once adding them, is it a Big difference, or a subtle one. Thank you.
     
  17. Mithrandir41

    Mithrandir41 Friend

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    I owned an original Kenzie and Kenzie encore, and I recommend the input transformers. It makes the amp more dynamic and it slams a little harder. It's not a night and day difference, but it is noticeable
     
  18. rrwwss52

    rrwwss52 New

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    Thanks for the input. I picked up the black box input transformer and it was certainly an improvement in definition. Again, thank you kindly.
     
  19. FL Guy

    FL Guy New

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    I know this is an old post/question, but in case anyone is still interested, I just got a pair of Susvara (waited for a substantial discount ;-). So, new toy syndrome and all so take the following with a grain or three ...

    In my experience so far the Mogwai has absolutely no problem driving the Susvara (imho) - PLENTY of volume, dynamics, speed, impact, detail, etc. etc. on offer. Listening pretty loud (for me) at 10-11 on the volume pot, driven either from the speaker taps of the Mogwai SE with the Hifiman speaker to XLR converters, or the 32 Ohm SE output. No sense of lacking power or speed.

    I'm sure that others here can compare and describe the quality, and qualities, of this amp better than I can. First impression of the combination is good - really good.
     
    Last edited: May 2, 2019
  20. FL Guy

    FL Guy New

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    ))
    If I may, I believe that Justin is being a bit conservative (as usual :)).

    I'm not sure which of the A&S amps the OP was meant to refer to... with the Mogwai SE at least, while I agree that sustain and weight are strong characteristics, don't be misled by the above - with capable headphones (imho) speed (as well as attack, power and PRAT etc.) are very good. Just my $.02 of course.
     

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