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Opera – A first review - Page 9

post #121 of 424
1/15/07 at 9:57pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by vcoheda View Post
If possible, could you expand upon this comment. The Opera is much more expensive than the Aria. Are the improvements minor (like going from a cmoy to a Total BitHead) or pretty significant (like going from a $300 tube amp to a Raptor or SP SLAM). I am thinking about selling my Aria to fund one of these, and just want to know what I will be getting for my money.

Thanks.
Well...

What's hard to say is the delta in DACs, since I cannot audition them separately. The Opera is a signficant step up from the Aria as a Headphone amp, and Amp/dac combo, for sure. It has a combination of warmth and detail that is so rare in an audio componant.
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post #122 of 424
1/16/07 at 11:59am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Skylab View Post
It just doesn't mate quite as well with some headphones (like the Darth Beyers) as the HA-2 MkII/SE.
Skylab, what makes you have such comment? According your comment in the sound characteristic of Opera, seems it can be synergy with the nature of Beyer cans. Can you explain more details?
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post #123 of 424
1/16/07 at 4:38pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ManAtWork View Post
Skylab, what makes you have such comment? According your comment in the sound characteristic of Opera, seems it can be synergy with the nature of Beyer cans. Can you explain more details?
The Opera has a warmer sonic signature than the HA-2 II/SE, which, to me, seems to be more strictly neutral. So in the base of the already warm Darth Beyers, the HA-2 II/SE is the better choice. For standard Beyer headphones, like the 05/06 DT990 and 880, I preferred the Opera.

I can't help but feel that the Opera, as good as it is, isn't universally "better" than the HA-2 II/SE. There are some things about it's presentation that I prefer versus the Opera, some of the time. They do not sound the same. But the Opera is a very seductive sounding amp, with it's combination of warmth and detail. With the DT990's, it's pure heaven.
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post #124 of 424
1/16/07 at 6:19pm
My Opera's new home:

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post #125 of 424
1/16/07 at 6:44pm
Was that a special anniversary edition for it to be red? Or did you paint it yourself?
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post #126 of 424
1/16/07 at 7:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by laxx View Post
Was that a special anniversary edition for it to be red? Or did you paint it yourself?
http://www.beyerdynamic.de/cms/MANUF...ur.0.html?&L=1
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post #127 of 424
1/16/07 at 7:48pm
Oh, I never knew that. The link brings you to Beyer's home page, but I found it eventually. =T
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post #128 of 424
1/16/07 at 8:43pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by laxx View Post
Oh, I never knew that. The link brings you to Beyer's home page, but I found it eventually. =T
Does it? It works for me (brings me to beyerdynamic MANUFACTURE intro)
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post #129 of 424
1/16/07 at 9:30pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Skylab View Post
My Opera's new home:
skylab, you're such a beyer slut!
so which do you prefer so far, the ha-2 mkIIse/darth combo or the opera/990 combo? how many hours have you logged listening to (the) opera?
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post #130 of 424
1/16/07 at 10:20pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by daveDerek View Post
skylab, you're such a beyer slut!
so which do you prefer so far, the ha-2 mkIIse/darth combo or the opera/990 combo? how many hours have you logged listening to (the) opera?
It's true. How did I get to be such a Beyer Fanboy? I had never ever HEARD of Beyer when I signed up for this site a little less than 2 years ago...

So far I have spent about 10 hours listening to the Opera (it's been playing continuously, however). I think that I actually prefer the DB/HA-2 II/SE combo to the DT990/Opera combo, but both have their relative strengths. And both setups are so phenomenally good I could live happily with either.

Truth is, I am a VERY lucky person. I also love my Singlepower PPX3>JVC HP-DX1000 rig. All three are just awesome combos. So much of what makes a great system is source-amp-headphone synergy.
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post #131 of 424
1/16/07 at 10:57pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Skylab View Post
Truth is, I am a VERY lucky person. I also love my Singlepower PPX3>JVC HP-DX1000 rig. All three are just awesome combos. So much of what makes a great system is source-amp-headphone synergy.
nice going! can't wait to hear your impressions once you get your hands on a single powere extreme.
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post #132 of 424
1/17/07 at 1:08am
http://www.beyerdynamic.de/mf/popup....n&modelid=hifi

=]

Skylab has one of the most impressive arsenals here on head-fi. If only he lived in NY and invited me over, lol. Like, everyday.
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post #133 of 424
1/17/07 at 4:58am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Skylab View Post
The Opera has a warmer sonic signature than the HA-2 II/SE
It also true compared to the PreHead II SE. See my first comment in this thread.
With wooden Grado's the Opera sounds very good, actually better than any other amp I own . Till I had the Opera I preferred the Graham Slee Solo for the RSI/GS1000.
For SENN's I prefer the Prehead, but still am not crazy about that combo, but I'm no Senn-fan (anymore - a matter of taste that can change over the years).
I think the Opera's darker but detailed soul suits HP's with a "clear" nature (some may call it bright) and maybe also low impedance.
Might be as well suited for SONY's, but I can't try it since I have no SONY's.
Anyone ?
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post #134 of 424
1/17/07 at 6:22am
My Opera has finally arrived!

First impressions, after two hours of warm-up: This is again a big step up from the Aria prototype. Clearly the best headphone amp I've heard in my system. The dominating characteristics are transparency and neutrality. Silky-smooth, detailed, spacious, organic, unobtrusive -- unspectacular, but not boring at all. It gives the K 701 fullness and wakes up the HD 650 at the same time (the latter point not least thanks to two 0-ohm outputs). Crossfeed sounds very good -- maybe I'll use it on a regular basis. The DAC section sounds even better than the prototype of it, about (or at least almost) on par with the UDP-1. -- I'm happy.
.
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post #135 of 424
1/17/07 at 8:01am
I wish Dr. Meier had an electrostatic amplifier!. I would get it in a heartbeat!. With dynamics, I am pretty happy with my HA2SE.
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