Best amps for orthos

I wouldn't. Heatsinks are in the middle of the chassis. If you put something on top there's no way to get rid of heat.

 

Agreed. How about stacking them side-by-side on their opposing sides (ends) like books with their bottoms (feet) facing one another and their tops (heat sinks) both facing outwards? If there is enough clearance on either side of the top heat sink vents (to the left and to the right) that should work fine without issue.

 

Why not single Aegir?

 

Mostly for footprint.
I do have 2 Aegirs in my 2ch/TV setup, but it’s too cumbersome to move and fit on the side part of my L-shaped desk (which extends next to my bed so my headphone amp need to fit there).

I just got a Vinnie Rossi LIO with AVC/Tube preamp and driving the Susvara with the MOSFET amp: holy balls! I don’t think I’ve ever been dancing this much laying down in bed listening to Graceland! At this rate I’ll lose 10 lbs when the album is over!

I don’t even care to listen to all the fine details (which is kind of the point of Susvara), I just want to MOVE. It’s probably all there, mind you, but it takes a back seat and the music just takes over.
Maybe I’ve been doing the audiophile shit wrong this whole time

 

I would start with one for headphones, but no reason not to get two I guess. DCA impedance runs closer to speaker norms than the Susvara at 60 ohms! Bass response with the DCA is wowza.

Gjallarhorn is not supposed to be stacked, but it's not super hot.

One can drive the slightly difficult Buchardt s400 as loud as you like.

 

Got any thoughts on how it's internal dac fares against the usual suspects around here? Do you have the headphone module as well?

 

My unit doesn't have a DAC. I'm using it with my Rockna Wavedream (XLR Edition).

I do have the headphone module and have been listening to it all afternoon with the JAR660S. I'm just as sucked in the music as with Suvara on MOSFET amp. The ECP T4 is there, looking at me with a "WTF?!" look. I'll plug it back in and start comparing... when I stop dancing on my chair while trying to get some work done

I'm hoping I won't get tired of the sound in a couple weeks

 

LCD-X owner, and using a Schiit Lyr 3 to drive them. The one area of the Lyr 3 that is just not scratching the itch is in bass grip, speed, and maybe some texture/time domain. Since upgrading to the BF2/64, I'm getting more information down there, but what remains the same is a softness to the bass, especially in bass drum kicks. I primarily listen to prog metal, so this area is really one of the top priorities for getting it "right", in my mind. I'm just missing the grip and rip that I recall from something like the Chord Mojo 2 (but I hated its treble response - always tradeoffs, I guess).

If I were looking to pursue options out there that will properly drive the LCD-X, but give me some more guttural, grippy, and snappy bass, but not lose too much in the midrange and treble smooth and tonally rich qualities, where do I look?

Is something like the Flux Lab Acoustics FA12S, or Burson Soloist, good options? I'll hate to part with the Lyr 3 simply because I adore the aesthetics and the overall sound of it, but damn if I'm not missing that key area of my favorite genre with it.

 

I'm a broken record on this subject in other threads, so here I go: when you need more gutteral, grippy, and snappy bass, go Violectric. It's the one-stop-shopping brand for elevated SS sound (slightly warm, spacious, great soundstaging, and SOTA bass, both in depth & dynamics).

There are 3 currently available & (relatively) affordable Violectric options at the moment:

V202: If you don't have balanced cables, this single-ended but powerful & compact amp should do the trick. Like it's sibling, the V222, this recently launched model is considered a sonic throwback to the much praised sonic virtues of the TOTL amp/preamp, the V281;

https://power-holdings-inc.com/Violectric-HPA-V202-Headphone-Amp-p505449071

V222: This is a balanced amp that sounds its absolute best with balanced headphones. It's said to sound much like the V281 (a very good thing):

https://power-holdings-inc.com/Violectric-HPA-V222-Headphone-Amp-p505414428

V281 Reissue: This reissue is a dream come true for V281 lovers. It's sonically identical to the top original V281 model with all options (128-stepped volume pot + remote), but with several key operational improvements. I already own an OG V281, but I ordered one of these anyway. This offering won't last forever, so if you can afford @2,700 for the best amp/preamp out there, act quickly.

https://power-holdings-inc.com/Violectric-HPA-V281-Reissue-Headphone-Amp-p585718067

Note: I've used my V281 as a system preamp in my main system (w/passive monitors + a powered sub). I've used half a dozen other headphone amps/preamps in that role; the V281 is far and away the best.

PS: There are threads on "the other headphone website" for all 3 of the amps named above

PS-2: I never heard the LCD-X, but I currently have 3 planars (ZMF Ori; ZMF Caldera; Final D8000) and owned a half dozen others over the years. All of them absolutely lit up on the V281. Considering that the V202, V222, and V281 all share core amplifier boards, it's a pretty good bet that the V202 and V222 would sound great on any planar out there...

 

Have been meaning to sell this SPL Phonitor SE I haven't been using much lately, but pulled it out the other day and ran a few HPs out of it. Verité Closed sounds okay, big clear bass, but a bit sharp up top. Surprisingly, however, the LCD-4 really shines (or at least it did tonight). Phonitor is maybe ever so slightly grainy, but everything else really clicked for me this eve. Bass quality, quantity, and texture--great. Midrange clarity--very good. Soundstage wider than I've heard outside a Wells Milo. And the Phonitor really reminded me how well the LCD-4 can layer.

In short, this relatively modest, somewhat out of fashion amp impressed with the Audeze. More so, at least recently, than the Ferrum stack and the Enleum Amp 23-R. A friend is lending me a Chord Hugo TT2, and I'm curious to try its 1/4" out and rear balanced outs.

I believe the Voltair circuit is unusual in that it puts out more power at higher impedances:

Output power (1 kHz, 1% THD, 250 Ω)
2 x 5 W
Output power (1 kHz, 1% THD, 32 Ω)
2 x 1 W

I believe my LCD-4 have the 200 ohm drivers, so this might explain the seeming synergy. I could've just been in a mood to crank the volume this evening, but, then again, I seem to know what to listen for with the Audeze these days.

Someone commented on another thread that synergy can be an unpredictable thing, and I'm coming around to that idea.