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Best sub100$ amp Xenos 0HA-REP? (with option of opamp rolling?) - Page 3

post #31 of 144
9/1/06 at 7:57am
Quote:
Originally Posted by kaushama
It seems, GO-VIBE's limiting factor as a portable amp is, its minimum operative voltage being given with 9v batteries. The optimal voltage for the amp seems to be 24V regulated, as Andrea experienced with it. Even the site says to have TD 9.4 V batteries for better performance.
True.

The Xenos instead, stock or modified (particularly stock), performs very close to the 'optimum' with 9V.
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post #32 of 144
9/1/06 at 8:03am
Quote:
Originally Posted by kaushama
The GO-VIBE 5 (GV5) seems to have more advanced topology out of the two though. Its 3 channel topology with rail splitted virtual ground scheme. It supposed to give less distortion in ground channel. When given optimal voltage at least in theory it is supposed give more detail and resolution.
The Xenos has a discrete power supply with virtual reference. It is based on pre-power 2 channel topology from the looks of the technical details. Isn't that so Andrea?
If it is so your modded amp being more rich in SQ gives us another example of multiplication of channels does not sometimes give incremental results. Of course if you are not biased of your own MOD!!!
Exact! The Xenos is more traditional, but a solid design that is implemented very professionally, with great care for the details and without sparing components

Just a little clarification - my mod doesn't give a more rich sound merely (actually it seems to be the stock LMH6642 chips, from the datasheet to the actual listening, that "cool down" a little the OPA2134's own desirably rich and musical signature). It also gives more power, more detail/texture resolution, & thus more ambient detail, too; thanks to the higher performance (and much more expensive on the whole) chips.
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post #33 of 144
9/1/06 at 8:53am
Thread Starter 
Andrea I can find THS4051CD here. And AD8620ARZ too. LT1363 only available in DIPs. What do you think Leaving OPA2134 and replacing rail to rail drivers with THS4051? What is the signature of AD8620 compared to OPA2134?
I am going to ask Alberto whether he can provide me a version with DIP sockets or whether later I can only get the top PCB with DIP sockets!
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post #34 of 144
9/1/06 at 9:59am
The problem would be that adding DIP sockets in such a small pcb & entire amp should be a problem

Though the THS4051 undoubtedly is more suited for desktop 12V use than for battery use, powered with just +/- 5V these chips can output +/- 3.5V RMS on a 150 ohm load. So output swing isn't a problem. It's that being specified for +/- 5V or more, with an almost empty battery I don't know how they'd sound...


The AD8620 has both more texture and more resolution throughout (including bass) than the OPA2134, even more so at the lower supply voltages. In change the OPA2134 could be a bit thicker sounding & possibly more forward in the midrange. IMO the OPA2134 sounds just fine even with 9V - but the AD8620 is just better
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post #35 of 144
9/1/06 at 2:49pm
Thread Starter 
Although it has three channels, GO-VIBE has only one buffer stage contrast to XENOS' PRE and POWER buffer stages. This along with more refined and discrete power supply may be catching up for the channel 3 layout!
I wonder, how Dr. XIN achieved discrete channels for PRE-left\right, POWER-left\right and ground channels separately! (Channel IV) Its advantage over PRE-POWER 2 channel topology, though appealing in theory, has to be tested in practice to see the benefits. Sometimes PCB layout, collection of parts and guarding against other interferences seems to be doing the trick.

It is well seen in these two amps (GV5 and Xenos REP). Xenos seems to be performing at least on par with GV5 which has more advanced but barebone topology. In any case the weak link of the GV5 seems to be the power supply. Otherwise it would have created the status of wonder amp in sub100$ range without any competition.
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post #36 of 144
9/1/06 at 2:54pm
Thread Starter 
Anymore opinions? Love to hear from those who have the both amps.
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post #37 of 144
9/1/06 at 3:52pm
Nice summary, although, when push comes to shove, the Go-Vibe as well doesn't seem to be lacking anywhere -- it looks like a pretty well 'balanced' design overall.

I wouldn't value the 2 vs. 3 channel thing excessively. When you have a very stable virtual ground, the two channel topology performs very close if not equal. Under these circumstances, what makes the difference, for me, is the sonic signature of the chips... For instance the sound signature of the LM6172 in the Go-Vibe is peculiar and recognizable.



P.S. Nice discussion, eh?
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post #38 of 144
9/1/06 at 3:55pm

wat abt for dt880?

My apologies for hijacking this thread..but i like to ask which is a better amp, at this price range, for my dt880 (2006)? Xenos, Go-vibe or some other amps?

i'm a newbie with regards to amps (and many other things audio) n i'm not really sure how to choose.
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post #39 of 144
9/2/06 at 5:07am
Hard to know... (I've never listened to that headphone)

Both amps should pair very well. With the Go-Vibe you'd need a 24V power supply (Elpac or something). With the Xenos, you have the option of buying it with an included power supply (and rechargeable battery).

As regards the sonics, if you think your DT880 needs something more mellow, I would choose the Xenos; if something even more resolving, just a little dryish, the Go-Vibe (@ 24V).
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post #40 of 144
9/2/06 at 7:44am
Thread Starter 
For high impedance, power hungry can like DT880, I think XENOS is better with its more balanced PS and dual buffer layout. The PS is driving the amp in its effective or optimal range. GV5 with 24V PS will do the same but then the portable convenience is gone.
The dual buffer design will allow OPA2134 to do voltage amplifying Task without the burden of having to drive the mechanics of the can.
DT880 is one of the hardest cans to drive.
Though it is a theoretical speculation. You have to AB listen to come to a conclusion. That's why we need more first hand experiences of these two very fine amps, which are affordable to everybody.I have Auditioned DT880 (Pre2005) once. It has very balanced sound with flat but very deep accurate bass response. It has slightly exaggerated trebles without being harsh and VERY detailed. As it is very unforgiving for poor recordings as it gives very detailed and analytical sound. Depending on your source and quality of a music you have to decide between these two amps.
Out of two I think GV5 is more analytical. Isn't it so Andrea?
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post #41 of 144
9/2/06 at 7:48am
Yup, the Go-Vibe sounds more analytical, the Xenos more 'relaxed'. Then probably the 0HA-REP would mate better with those headphones.
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post #42 of 144
9/2/06 at 8:06am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
I wouldn't value the 2 vs. 3 channel thing excessively.
From the impressions of new SMIV owners, it seems to have achieved new heights of sound-stage separation and detail. Isolating channels seems to have effect on details of the sound than its sonic signature. It is again evident here with these two amps GV being more analytical with its 3 channel topology. Sonic characteristics, Timbre, attack and so on.... seems to be more influenced by active and passive components. In another words we do like to get the music coloured ever so slightly to match our personal preferences. Don't we?
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post #43 of 144
9/2/06 at 8:20am
Hmmm. "dry and analytical" is a coloration, exactly like all others IMO.


And I'd remind you that the SR71 is a 2 channel amp that doesn't even have a virtual ground as stable as the one in the Xenos... Whereas the Hornet (2 channels, again) has a fully equivalent virtual ground circuit to the Xenos's.

Also, all Headroom and Meier amps are 2 channel.
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post #44 of 144
9/2/06 at 11:48am
Andrea n kaushama, thanks alot for the advice!

To be absolutely honest, coming from a non-engineering background, i've no idea wat you 2 r talking abt half the time (ok, maybe more like 75%). But at least i know better the pros n cons of these 2 amps. Hope i can find a shop tt lets me test these 2 amps then i'll try to post my own impressions of them (very much in layman's terms i'm afraid).

thanks again!
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post #45 of 144
9/2/06 at 3:31pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by billytobago
Andrea n kaushama, thanks alot for the advice!

To be absolutely honest, coming from a non-engineering background, i've no idea wat you 2 r talking abt half the time (ok, maybe more like 75%). But at least i know better the pros n cons of these 2 amps. Hope i can find a shop tt lets me test these 2 amps then i'll try to post my own impressions of them (very much in layman's terms i'm afraid).

thanks again!
Don't worry, also my background is far from engineering & anything alike.

Have fun
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Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Headphone Amps (full-size) › Best sub100$ amp Xenos 0HA-REP? (with option of opamp rolling?)