Isabellina HPA - Owner's Thread and Impressions

[KingStyles]

Congrats, Im sure you will enjoy it.

[pinkpanther]

Hi all,

Very helpful thread. Anyone have any experience with pairing the Isabellina HPA with the D7000? I currently am using an Apogee Duet + WooAudio WA6 coming out of a Mac Pro, and I'm considering a switch the Isabellina. Have any of you guys done a similar transition? Will I notice a huge improvement? I'd love to hear what you guys think.

Thanks!

[mrarroyo]

pinkpanther I have used both a D2000 and D5000 w/ the Isabellina HPA w/ great success. If you do a search you will find my comments.

[KingStyles]

Ive used the d7000 also with it and have found it to be a great pairing. Typically ss amps do better than tubes for low impedance phones. I like the d7000's better on my isabellina hpa better than the PS Audio Digital Link III/wa6 combo that I heard at our last meet. That is just my opinion though. Take it for what it is worth.

[verjuno]

great pairing

[KingStyles]

<a href="http://s818.photobucket.com/albums/zz101/verjuno/?action=view&current=IMG_4479.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i818.photobucket.com/albums/zz101/verjuno/IMG_4479.jpg" border="0" alt="REDWINEAUDIO"></a>

?

[silverlight]

Listening to the HPA right now with the LA7000's (Mark Lawton's modified Denon 7000s). They sound great out of the box (just got them today), but will burn them in for a good 100+ hours and report back. Very different sound than the HD800 which I've been listening to for the past month. Will hold off on specific comments as I'd like to let them burn-in first (although I will say it feels like someone added a subwoofer that goes oh so low )

[cardude]

Has anyone tried the JH-13s with the HPA? Thanks.

[mrarroyo]

silverlight as I recall the D2000 and D5000 took 450 hours to fully settle.

[Vinnie R.]

Originally Posted by cardude

Has anyone tried the JH-13s with the HPA? Thanks.

Hi cardude,

I have a customer who is using JH-13s with his Isabellina HPA. I'm not sure he is a headfi member, but I emailed him asking for his feedback. If he does not post on headfi, I will ask his permission to paste his feedback from his email.

Hi Combat Audio,

Regarding the PS1000s + Isabellina HPA, see:
http://www.head-fi.org/forums/6016997-post103.html

Thanks to Vinnie and Ken for their hard work, great customer service and dedication to bringing great products to the (audiophile) masses! I can't wait to settle into some great listening sessions!

Your Isabellina HPA shipped last Friday, so you should receive it this week. Thanks for your post, and keeping us posted!


Hi Verjuno,

Nice picture! I've been using my iPhone > Wadia powered by the Isabellina HPA -- I am always blown away by how good it sounds! Powering the Wadia on 12V SLA battery makes it sound a LOT better than the stock wadia switching power supply, and having the iPod, Wadia, Isabellina dac and headphone stage (The Isabellina HPA) all off-the-grid together and neatly stacked makes for once really fantastic sounding, and "transportable" system

I'll be showing it off at the NY Headfi meet on Nov. 14th

Thanks for all your posts!

Vinnie

[Vinnie R.]

Has anyone tried the JH-13s with the HPA? Thanks.

Hi Cardude,

Here is the reply from my customer who owns the Isabellina HPA, JH-13 Pros, as well as PS1000s:

Originally Posted by Afterimage

The Isabellina HPA takes an already great sounding IEM and takes it to another level. With the JH13, it seems like every single instrument has it own driver. The amp/DAC with the JH13 there is nothing missed. Very transparent, yet musical at the same time and it is presented with plenty of warmth. The whole spectrum is perfectly balanced. IMO, one can't go wrong with the combo. It does not have the soundstage the of PS1000s but that should not be expected out an IEM. Something to note though, and it really is not a big deal. I can hear a very faint low level hiss when there isn't any music playing. Once you turn the music on, even at low volumes the hiss or static is not audible in any way. I'm listening to the Beatles remasters of Abbey Road right now, sensational!

Hope this helps,

Vinnie

[HeadphoneAddict]

Originally Posted by Vinnie R.

Hi Cardude,

Here is the reply from my customer who owns the Isabellina HPA, JH-13 Pros, as well as PS1000s:

Hope this helps,

Vinnie

Hah! He took that idea from me when I posted about JH13Pro vs Westone 3 universal IEM on my Amphora a couple of months ago.

Still having a hard time seeing my initials "HPA" being used with your amp. Everytime a do a search for posts about me, I come up with your amp...

[Vinnie R.]

Originally Posted by HeadphoneAddict

Still having a hard time seeing my initials "HPA" being used with your amp. Everytime a do a search for posts about me, I come up with your amp...

Hi HeadphoneAddict,

Maybe it is time for you to own an HPA, too! The "HPA" is meant to be with you - it is destiny

Email me...

Best regards,

Vinnie

[cardude]

Originally Posted by Vinnie R.

Hi Cardude,

Here is the reply from my customer who owns the Isabellina HPA, JH-13 Pros, as well as PS1000s:



Hope this helps,

Vinnie

Thanks Vinnie!

[NewMexiCat]

Originally Posted by Vinnie R.

Hi HeadphoneAddict,

Maybe it is time for you to own an HPA, too! The "HPA" is meant to be with you - it is destiny

Email me...

Best regards,

Vinnie

I thought "HPA" indicated that this product was officially endorsed by Larry!
Maybe some royalties are in order!