I use a Core Technology USBe Perfect. I use the Soul's USB and my USBe Perfect into my Roon NUC and then from the Soul into the NUC. The Soul's USB is better than the Roon NUC's USB. The sound is tremendous.

I absolutely love my Corda Soul MK2. The sound is effortless and full musicality and every aspect of the design and sound are thought of. I have yet to find a headphone that doesn't pair well with either XLR output and as an AIO I have yet to hear a better sounding unit. Even the Bartok Apex...

You are welcome for the tubes... It is my pleasure. As for power filtering and conditioning, I use a PS Audio Dectet going into my wall socket and then all pieces into my Dectet. For my Roon NUC I use a Sbooster LPS for that, and then an Ifi Power X LPS for my Ethernet Switch. All aimed at...

I heard biggest flavor changes with the driver tube as well. The EH 12AX7 that comes with amp is crap. The power tube change is way more subtle from my recollection. David Shaw would be smiling right now and would say told ya so. He used to tell me that the amp wasn’t built for rolling tubes. He...

I know. I actually gave money to the ALSPCA for about 2 years. I got roped in by one of their commercials about all the dogs that were dying. It was so sad. So, I donated $20 a month for 2 yrs to their cause. I felt I had done my part and it was now someone else's turn. They still send me...

He also happens to be one of the most generous people on head-fi. He shares what his extensive knowledge and is very crafty and strategic about the tubes he buys. It would be easy to be jealous of his tube collection, but it is years in the making so kind of hard to fault the sharing of such an...

I have been struggling with how the V281 presents bass with my Code X. Here is the first song where the V281 keeps up with the pace of the band on my Code X. This might not be for many of you, but the bass just moves in a such a great way creating a fast and lucid pocket and the songs timing...

How could they not? You are talking about perhaps the greatest and one of the rarest of tubes Western Electric made, one they only made for about 8 yrs. The fact PSvane has decided to make the tube is wonderful, but I can only imagine how good those NOS 205Ds sound. I imagine them to be...

Would you say that the Icon is an extremely flexible amp in that you are able to use many different combos to great effect? I love the Mullard/Amperex GZ-34 in my ECAF, whereas I found perfect 5R4GY's, even wartime versions to not be suitable to my tastes as it felt like there was a slight lag...

Looks amazing...

To those still remotely interested in what I have to say about the V281, after all, I keep writing and writing; I have decided that the best comparison for the V281 is my ECAF. The PB MK2, CFA3 and Corda Soul MK2 are all so different I don't think comparing them will do the V281 justice. They...

Definitely a touch warm. Tastefully so. Less so with higher impedance headphones in my short experience where they benefit from all that power. Planars I find to have a bit more bloom, but I am listening to my Code X2 right now and it sounds awesome. So different from my normal amps. Nice...

Looks amazing. Congrats!

Another thing I forgot to mention is that I moved the V281 from -6db gain to 0db gain which mirrors the Pure BiPolar. That way I am getting an accurate test. To give an idea of how much power the PB has, at the same exact volume on my Code X2, volume is at 12 1/2 on the V281 whereas the same...

One last thing. I just didn't listen to Bruce on the keys. That was just the last song while I wrote for 45 minutes or so. I listened to Beck's Morning Phase as well as a live performance of Goose from the Capital Theatre on 4/8/2024, along with Xavier Rudd and The Greyboy Allstars and what I...

The big comparison starts today. I am a/b testing my Mjolnir Pure BiPolar MK2 (the only one ever made) against the V281 using my Hifiman LFF Code X2. My favorite headphone and a headphone that loves current. Its impedance is 50 which outputs 4.2 watts with the V281. More than enough power to...

You're welcome

Good evening all... I feel like I have to write about the V281 tonight. Not much new to say. Still comparing with my ECAF. Granted, I have a Holy Grail Rectifier, a WE396a, and a pair of 1932 RCA Single Plate 2A3s in my ECAF, so I have the best tubes I can find in this thing. The 2A3s are...

There shouldn't be any issue. Just a matter of preference. Most amps achieve unity around 12-1. Which can lead to better dynamics, but I have never found an amp to not give great sound at 9. In fact, I used to own the Cembalo Spring 1 and that amp was meant to achieve its best sound quality...

The buzzing is smarter than me

I keep the amp at -6db gain on the switches on the back. I was using 0db, but found that my D8k Pro was below 10 on the volume pot. So, at -6db I have all headphones between 11 and 1, which works perfectly for me. I mostly use XLR output, but am now trying SE so I know the difference. The...

Is your goal to keep the volume pot between 9 and 12 with all headphones?

You have tried a lot. I wish I were an engineer and could give you something else to try. Can you hear the buzzing with music playing? I don't see that on hear. What gain do you keep the amp on for normal listening?