Ampsandsound Mogwai

Discussion in 'Headphone Amplifiers and Combo (DAC/Amp) Units' started by gbeast, Feb 15, 2017.

  1. gbeast

    gbeast Mighty Moral Power Ranger

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    What's up,

    I have the ampsandsound loaner here. This loaner is from HF and while I will write a review there according to the tour rules, I prefer sharing impressions etc here especially since dialogue about it is more likely to be with people I am familiar with. Before opening up this thread I was hoping to find more impressions specific to the Mogwai before I made a dedicated thread but couldn't find any.



    AMPSANDSOUND MOGWAI
    [​IMG]


    First impressions:
    First impressions of this amplifier are promising. I can't call it truly neutral but its deviations from what I consider neutral are still within the bounds of what I think is a good tuning. So far the sound is direct and to the point. There is a forwardness to the sound I am hearing so far that captures the energy of the music very well. Also the soundstage seems pretty good. It's not super spacious but has the images very well separated in the soundscape. Bass is tight and controlled. Not only is it doing well controlling the HD650 but my modded t50sounds tight and snappy. The lower midrange and midbass is not all thick, slow, and syrupy but it has a good speed to it all while keeping good body. The bass on some songs sounds a little reserved on first impressions but warm up, further comparisons, and getting my bearings more lined up again can say different. I'll nail it all down in a full review later on. Lot's of good textures for sure and good resolution.
     
    Last edited: Feb 15, 2017
  2. brencho

    brencho Friend

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    It's also a nice looking amp. I believe @velvetx had one for a while, maybe still does!
     
  3. gbeast

    gbeast Mighty Moral Power Ranger

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    ^nice it'd be very nice to hear impressions from owners of the amp.

    Anyone?
     
    Last edited: Feb 16, 2017
  4. TheIceman93

    TheIceman93 El pato-zorro

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  5. Kattefjaes

    Kattefjaes Mostly Harmless

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    That looks like yet another "post positive 'reviews' of everything to keep the review units flowing" sites, which tell you exactly nothing useful about a product's real flaws or performance. I believe that this is a fairly reputable brand of amp, but I'd never try and form a judgement like that by reading that sort of site..
     
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  6. TheIceman93

    TheIceman93 El pato-zorro

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    Well he asked for impressions so there ya go. I have no idea if these sites gloss over flaws to keep the review samples coming but the good thing is that they review a lot of gear that is more obscure. I start threads for some of these products in the hopes that someone without any fear of losing advertising dollars will do a proper review.
     
  7. Vtory

    Vtory Audiophileâ„¢

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    Well, the headphone.guru reviewer is not likely to be the owner of the amp. At least it reads so.

    Pro-reviews are like unsanctioned and non-standardized measurements imo. I strongly assume there exist lies as well as truths in all such reviews.
    Reviewers might be really impressed, might pretend to be so (for $$$), or might be forced to do so. Even when they decide to express negative impressions, they write it too politely. So, it might be very tricky to get valuable information, like @Kattefjaes pointed out.

    http://headphone.guru/author/gary-barker/

    Reading his other reviews may helpful. Purposed lie, different taste, and insufficient experience may be hard (or impossible) to distinguish tho.

    Anyway I always prefer non-sponsored amateur reviews, which are typically shown in personal blogs or forum threads.
     
  8. gbeast

    gbeast Mighty Moral Power Ranger

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    No offense but please don't quote that site. I literally take nothing from there seriously.
     
    Last edited: Feb 16, 2017
  9. fishski13

    fishski13 Friend

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    The photograpgical guts porn is nice though.
     
  10. TheIceman93

    TheIceman93 El pato-zorro

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    Everyone needs to chill about review links. If anything, its harder to trust Headfi thread review randos. At least the published reviewers have a backlog of gear reviews. You can go back and see if the published reviewer liked something you think is garbage. If he or she did, then you know not trust their opinion on the new item being reviewed.
     
  11. TheIceman93

    TheIceman93 El pato-zorro

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    Call me a sucker but I would like to believe that these reviewers aren't just shilling for garbage components. I've spoken to a number of them on Headfi and they genuinely seem passionate about the hobby. I've asked about conflicts of interest and they straight up say if they think something is shit, they just won't publish a review for it. The negative side effect of course is that they seem to like everything.
     
  12. gbeast

    gbeast Mighty Moral Power Ranger

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    Not debating this. That site contributes to the destruction of value in this hobby. I can't think of a worse review site. Please consider that noise, your defense of them noise, my response to your response...... noise.

    My post was an indirect call for members HERE who have heard the amplifier to post them so that under our culture of accountability and honesty, the impressions hold weight. Sure opinions differ here like anywhere else but I take them more seriously.

    I saw @Luckbad s post of it but I got the impression that this amp was highly effected by the tubes used. Unfortunately I will not be swapping tubes so my comments and assessments have to be taken losely if he is right.

    What's cool is how it reacts to planars. Better control than the SPL units and faster snappier transients, but the SPL had better tonality compared to what I am hearing. I'm gonna just be quiet for now though. Or try to atleast and hope @velvetx or luckbad chimes in.
     
  13. Ice-man

    Ice-man Friend

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    I heard both the Mogwai and Kenzie amp at the Atlanta show a while back. The Kenzie was the amp that I had real interest in. The Mogwai was a modestly decent headphone amp but nothing special. In fairness it may have been very good with speakers but I did not have the opportunity so I can't say.

    I tested the Kenzie with the hd800 and ETHER headphones and enjoyed the pairing with both. I was hearing many of the things on my wish list when I listen to a good tube amp...rich organic tone without glossing over all the detail, good staging with some impact on the bottom end.

    Sorry but I just didn't think much of the Mogwai. I thought that it was too rich and syrupy for my taste. It did no favors to either of the headphones that I mentioned above.
     
    Last edited: Feb 16, 2017
  14. TheIceman93

    TheIceman93 El pato-zorro

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    I'm not defending that site specifically, I don't know anything about them and I can't possibly know which opinion sources are on the banned list around here. I just don't want this to turn into an echo chamber where we can't post impressions from outside the walls of SBAF. I won't say anything more about this ... I promise. Carry on.
     
  15. TheIceman93

    TheIceman93 El pato-zorro

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    I've heard the Kenzie ... very nice amp. Warm obviously but with good detail retrieval. Sound stage had good width and depth. It doesn't have the slam of something like the MJ2 (which I heard the same day) but dynamics were very good. It was a fun, but more relaxed experience. The guy behind the company is super friendly and passionate about tube amps. Their pricing is actually quite reasonable when you look at the amount of hand finishing involved. I haven't heard the Mogwai but my positive experience with the Kenzie leads me to believe that this is probably a very solid amp as well.
     
  16. gbeast

    gbeast Mighty Moral Power Ranger

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    Last edited: Feb 21, 2017
  17. TheIceman93

    TheIceman93 El pato-zorro

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    Really digging the new site.
     
  18. gbeast

    gbeast Mighty Moral Power Ranger

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    Just an update...

    I put some Tungsol KT150s in and can't say that any of the negatives in my review hold validity any more. This thing sounds wide open without any extra thickness and good treble extension. It is what you feed it.
     
  19. murphythecat

    murphythecat GRU-powered uniformed trumpkin

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    gbeast, I understand you finally bought the mogwai! congrats!

    ive been following your awesome headamp reviews! I see you just began reviewing tube amps and already bought one! will you review more tube amps in the future?

    My choice is between EC ZDS, Mogwai and DNA Stratus. just curious why you went with a relatively unknown brand over DNA or ZDS?
     
    Last edited: Apr 13, 2017
  20. brencho

    brencho Friend

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    Let's see what gbeast says but he likes planars and dynamics and the zds can't do planars. Stratus is super nice but significantly more expensive and has a very unique sound, from memory it's warm, intimate and not super punchy (though I suspect tubes could change things)
     

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