LSA "Discovery Warp One" Class D Power Amp Impressions

Discussion in 'Power Amps' started by rhythmdevils, Sep 24, 2021.

  1. xrk971

    xrk971 MOT: Lead Audio Designer for LSA Audio

    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2021
    Likes Received:
    96
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    Metro Wash. D.C.
    Home Page:
    Thank you, Gerard G and dBel84 for your thoughtful review and listening impressions of the Warp-1.

    @Gerard Guarneri - that is quite the list of amps you have had the privilege of listening to or owning! So glad that it is working out for you. And Class D as you found out, when well implemented, is no longer just for subwoofers.

    @dBel84 - the red light flicker at power on is normal and shows that the systems are working and the light is working. The buzz you hear is only momentary? It might be startup in rush and it settles down. If your Magnepans sound forward in the mids, it might be that your usual amps, interact with the impedance differently. What is the impedance of the speakers in the mid range?

    I am super happy that all reports of the bass authority being superb. Some of the reasons for this include an oversized 600w capable PSU, the PSU feeds the amp through four 18ga high strand count silicone insulation RC race car motor/battery wires for maximum current flow. Dual Nichicon 4700uF rail caps hold reserve charge located only mm away from the TPA3255 power rail pins for minimum impedance. The amp itself has CoilCraft SER flat copper wire inductors capable of 27A current flow. From the amp to the speaker binding posts are double 18ga silicone RC race car wires again. The binding posts are 8mm dia solid oxygen free copper binding posts made by Viborg. Each of these is a small part, but collectively, they add up a system that provides the lowest impedance high current path from PSU to amp to speaker possible. It is small details like this that allow the Warp-1 to have such a grip on the bass.
     
    Last edited: Dec 9, 2021
  2. dBel84

    dBel84 Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,230
    Trophy Points:
    113
    it is always there - does not impact music but when it is quiet , it is audible when you are anywhere near the speakers.
     
  3. xrk971

    xrk971 MOT: Lead Audio Designer for LSA Audio

    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2021
    Likes Received:
    96
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    Metro Wash. D.C.
    Home Page:
    Hi dBel84. That’s not right. This amp should be silent as in, “you can’t tell it’s even turned on” with ear pressed to the speaker cone.
    It sounds like you might have a ground loop? Are you using RCA or Balanced input?

    This amp buzzes if no audio input is connected and speakers are connected and amps is turned on. But that’s not a standard mode of operation, to not have an input and amp turned on.

    Can you describe the connections and maybe a block diagram?
     
  4. dBel84

    dBel84 Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,230
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Hi X .

    Chain is fairly simple - digital source ( NAS or CD player) - DAC (Lavry DA11) - RCA - Preamp ( Cavalli Liquid Glass ) - RCA - Amp

    so digital: AES // analogue: single ended RCA

    no other amps I have used create the same noise , the noise is not low 60Hz ground loop stuff - it was also odd as I did not have this noise on my monitors, so it seemed to be something with the maggies. Not sure if there are other Maggie users on the tour.
     
  5. spwath

    spwath Hijinks master cum laudle

    Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Dec 13, 2015
    Likes Received:
    7,894
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Madison, WI
    Meaning to post my impressions for a bit.

    Setup
    20211210_181417.jpg

    Like others have said, binding posts feel really nice, but the orientation and closeness makes it hard for bare wire or spades.
    20211211_120915.jpg

    Fine with banana plugs though
    20211211_121000.jpg


    Overall solid build quality. Not really a fan of the looks. Looks like electronic equipment, less like living room hifi. Also the black doesn't really match my general light color scheme.
    Small and light compared to my other amps
    20211205_134449.jpg

    Sound though: I like it. My Bel Canto Evo.4 is broken so I couldn't directly compare, but I think it's pretty similar to it. No big differences I noticed. I also compared it to the Aegir. Man the Aegir sounds somewhat limp and lifeless compared to the LSA. The LSA really delivers bass with authority.
    Honestly can't say that much more. Sounds great to me, haven't really used too many amps.
    I just could not have it in my system due to looks, but that's a personal preference thing
     
  6. xrk971

    xrk971 MOT: Lead Audio Designer for LSA Audio

    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2021
    Likes Received:
    96
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    Metro Wash. D.C.
    Home Page:
    Hi Spwath,
    Thanks for your impressions and for taking the time to listen to it. You are the first to not like the looks but as you say, that’s a personal thing.

    A new review by Thomas and Stereo just came out today and it had the same conclusion about the bass of this amp.

     
  7. xrk971

    xrk971 MOT: Lead Audio Designer for LSA Audio

    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2021
    Likes Received:
    96
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    Metro Wash. D.C.
    Home Page:
    A recent review by a DIYA member from Netherlands on his Warp-1 amp here:

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
  8. scblock

    scblock Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Nov 11, 2019
    Likes Received:
    1,419
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Denver
    Thanks for the opportunity to try out this amplifier. Besides portable systems I haven't given any Class D amps a serious listen since the first baby sized T-amp I bought in the mid-2000s. My overall impression is this is a good amp, musical, slightly on the neutral to cool side, and isn't quite what I'm looking for in my own system.

    I had this set up in my listening room for about a week, with primary comparison to the Schiit Vidar. This corresponded with the loaner for the Vera-Fi Audio Vanguard bookshelf speakers, and speakers I tried with this amp were Vandersteen 2c, Vera-Fi Vanguard, and Klipsch R-51M (borrowed from my office setup). Rest of the chain was Roon->Pi2AES->Bifrost Multibit->Schiit Saga (OG).

    Overall the Warp One was easy to set up and run. Connections are easy to make, the power switch isn't blocked by cables, and the speaker terminals seemed nice. I used cables set up with banana plugs. The Vandersteens were bi-wired (but not bi-amped), while the bookshelf speakers used standard 16-ga copper.

    The main power switch is on the back, but there is a front panel power/idle toggle which is nice. Honestly I wish Vidar had that feature. I left the mains switch on the whole time but used the front toggle to turn the amp on during listening sessions. I'm not a fan of blue LEDs though. I could wish for something a little more subtle.

    In listening, the Warp One amp has plenty of power regardless of speakers. No trouble at all driving any of the speakers I tried to very high volume. I would describe the sound as clean and relatively uncolored for the most part.

    At low to moderate volume everything played without strain and the sound (primarily through the Vandersteens), was fairly neutral. I would describe the Warp One as cooler in tone than Vidar.

    At higher volume (95+ dBA) I felt like the sound was a little bit harsh in the higher frequencies. Not overly so, but I found it a little bit fatiguing and turned it down for listening comfort. I don't typically listen all that loud anyways, but this stood out because every now and then I go overboard on volume for a few tracks (apartment life, so I have to limit it), and with this amp the perceived harshness compared to Vidar (and from memory a Parasound HCA-750A) distracted me a bit from the music.

    I wouldn't call this a major flaw, and probably is somewhat a product of system synergy. May just not be the amp for me.

    I noticed one other thing which I unfortunately only tested with the Vanguard speakers. The sound was vastly different with the Saga on passive mode vs. active mode. I'm used to the sound being quietly, subtly different. I don't know specifically whether it was the amp or the speakers, but some kind of interaction with the amplifier seems most likely. Active mode sounded normal, passive sounded a little odd.
     
  9. xrk971

    xrk971 MOT: Lead Audio Designer for LSA Audio

    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2021
    Likes Received:
    96
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    Metro Wash. D.C.
    Home Page:

Share This Page