Desktop IEM amp

I was wondering what SBAF considers a good desktop unit for IEMs, everything that i've tried has either too much hiss or too much gain. Is the leckerton unit still considered the best?.

I was considering a woo audio WA7 since that would fill my needs for a UERM amp and full-size headphone amp but i know that it isn't the best value.

 

Liquid Carbon?

 

Magni 2(u) is pretty good with the UERMs and so is the Leckerton UHA-6s mkii. But with the gain lowered, like Nne411 said.

The GO 450 and GOv2 aren't exactly desktop amps but they're certainly a lot better than other amps you can get, and the dac sections are very good as well.

 

I'm using an o2/odac at the moment but the volume pot

Using an o2/odac at the moment but it has like a millimeter of gain, was thinking about either getting the gain lowered or getting a leckerton/Geek out v2.

I mostly listen to multi Ba IEMs, UERM, Ei.xx, Campfire orion at the moment.

 

Why desktop? Why not a portable component with more suitable gain like a Chord Mojo, for example?

 

I mean desktop purely in the sense that it has a nice interface for desktop use, a "portable" solution would be fine but i would not use it out and about, strictly as a "desktop" unit. I just generalized that "desktop" means nice interface, output/input, performance etc but with the restriction that it has to be connected to mains power.

 

For IEMs you really just need a buffer. Frankly you don't even need that, but a buffer is a good option. I made one of these a while back for someone having the same problem.

 

Is that a buffer? Or just volume control?

 

Ergonomics are not to be underestimated. That is why I rearranged the inputs and outputs on the O2 when I built one a couple years ago. Also why I really, really wish LHLabs had been able to deliver on the original concept of the Pulse. I love the GOV2, but I hate how poorly it fits in with the ergonomics (and aesthetics) of what I'd like from my setup.

 

A little OT, but:

How come the LH Pulse never really reached the status that the GOs did? Why weren't they the desktop versions of the GOs that everyone wanted? I never had the chance to try the pulse units myself.

 

Originally, it was supposed to be a GO for the desktop with better ergonomics and power supply. That's it. Super early backer was only like $199 or $249. Budget with a good sound, RCAs in back, real volume control, etc. etc. Simple, compact design. Was super excited. Then they started the upgrade perk hell that went on for what, another 2 years? Now at least the Xfi and above (with decent power supply), actually ended up being a pretty good DAC (head amp was merely good), with the Infinity getting some positive feedback here. But their reputation was so wrecked by the time they started delivering (and there were QC issues), I don't think the Pulses ever had a chance to really grab a strong recommendation. That, and taken as a combo like the portables, there was a mismatch between the DAC and the amp, where if you were relying on the built in amp, it just wasn't good enough overall to justify the extra money, especially after the GOV2 was released. My Xfi and the GOV2 didn't overlap in time, but I got close enough out of the GOV2 to not miss the sound of the Xfi. Now the ergonomics is a completely different issue as I said above.

That said, if you can get an Xfi or Infinity around $600 and $900, they are actually pretty good values for an all in one desktop. I liked my Xfi better than one of the larger Audio-gd Saber combos that was at a local meet last year.

 

Saw this locally a few weeks ago. There are definitely still fans.

 

ZD - did you get the VI DAC Infinity?

 

It is basically the same buffer as in the Black Diamond with some Jung Superregs.

 

^^ WANT! ^^