andrzejpw
May one day invent Bose-cancelling headphones.
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- Jun 25, 2001
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Disclaimer: The views below are purely my own and subjective. They are my opinions and should be taken as such.
Homebuilt META42 review
One of the hottest amplifiers currently being built by Head-Fi’s Do-It-Yourselfers is known as the META42. The META42 originated from ppl’s 2001 space oddity (named after the Elantec 2001 buffer) and Apheared’s CMOY variant #42. See the original URL.
Consequently, the META42 is actually the name of the circuit board that was based on ppl’s/apheared’s amplifiers. The M stands for Morsel, the E for Eric343, the T for Tangent, and the A42 for apheared’s variant 42.
The META42 offers the user a wide range of options, tweaks and upgrades. The amplifier’s ability to be configured as a simple portable amplifier, all the way up to an all-out home model is a very attractive opportunity, and is the reason that the META seems to the amp du jour.
A special thanks goes to Tangent. By being such a strong proponent of the design, and by taking it upon himself to take the risk and order large quantities of the boards, he has firmly established himself as a major part of the DIY community. His website, http://www.tangentsoft.net/audio , is invaluable in helping the DIYer learn about the design, and decide for himself how to configure his/her META. On the other hand, if he/she decides that building a META for themselves is too much of a challenge, Tangent offers to take orders for customized METAs built to the customer’s specifications. One cannot, of course, forget the other numerous Do-It-Yourself-For-Someone-Else (DIYFSE) builders, such as the infamous JMT, eric343, and erix, who would be more than happy to build a META42 made specifically for you. At the time of this writing(12/9/2002), I believe that only JMT and erix are taking orders, as the other builders have simply been swamped with orders. Don’t worry though: they should also begin accepting order shortly.
I have configured my own META42 in the following manner:
Analog Devices AD8610 (x2)
Alps Blue-Velvet Potentiometer
EL2001 buffers (1 deep), EL2001 as vground
Wima MKS-2 6.8uF/50V as C4 and Nichicon 330 uF as C2/C3
Vishay Dale resistors (hand matched) (Set to Gain of 8)
Jung Multiloop Topology
Biased into Class-A
Pactec LH57 enclosure
Neutrik ¼” locking Jack output
Gold-Plated RCA input
2x 9V batteries
Headphones Used
Sennheiser HD580s, with aftermarket Clou Blues
Koss KSC-35s
Opamp selection
The biggest question when one is choosing parts for the META42 is deciding on which operation amplifier to use. Luckily, I had the opportunity to choose between two of the high end competitors, The Burr-Brown OPA627 and the Analog Devices AD8610. The OPA627 happens to be used in Headroom’s (www.headphone.com ) premium module, and, unsurprisingly, the META42 takes on a good deal of qualities that belong to Headroom’s amplifiers. The detailed and punchy bass is present. Unfortunately, the weaknesses of the OPA627 become apparent in the higher registers. The high’s are not as smooth and airy to my ears as the AD8610. In comparison, the Analog Devices AD8610 strikes me as extremely smooth and airy. The bass, although not as punchy as the OPA627, is still quite formidable and detailed. Personally, I preferred the smoothness of the AD8610, and I kept it in my META42. Unfortunately, I did not have the chance to compare the AD823 to the above. The AD823 is quite popular in more portable META42s, and requires quite a bit less power to boot.
Sound
To put it quite simply, the META42 stunned me when I first plugged it in. Contrary to my first CMOY, where it took me a little while to recognize the character of the amplifier, the META42 grabbed me with its amazing impact. Dare I say that the Sennheiser HD580s sound a bit more forward? Perhaps a bit more like Grados, but without the punishing and painful brightness? The proverbial veil seemed to be discarded and left behind in the dust. My attention was instantly brought to the music, and experience that I was quite honestly not prepared for. The most glorious aspect of the META42 is the high-end and upper mid range. By no means am I saying that the amplifier is bright. On the contrary, I find the design to be quite neutral. Detail was brought out that I never heard before. The amplifier peels away the layers of the music. I found myself revisiting recordings I’ve heard many times before, just to listen for something new. One of my reference recordings is an HDCD jazz recording, Dave Brubeck’s glorious Time Out. For the first time, I was able to clearly distinguish the simmer of the cymbals, and I heard them decay into oblivion. On the other end of the sound spectrum, the bass really has a certain impact to it. It is not overdone, but it seems quite detailed and balanced. Some have said that the META42 comes close the Headroom Max/Blockhead in this regard. I have to respectfully disagree. The Max quite easily beats the META in the blackness of the bass, and the META is still not as fast as the thousand-dollar Headroom amps. But for an amplifier that costs around $200 in parts, it simply can not be beat. Another aspect that struck me was the enormous soundstage that this particular META42 offered. It was simply stunning to be able to hear music coming all around you. Admittedly, I actually turned around in my chair while listening to the music at times, fearing that someone was creeping up on me. Similarly, the smoothness that the AD8610 offers in the META42 design is startling. The music has a certain flow to it: everything seems in place. If I had to criticize anything, it would be that the highs seem to be a tiny step above the rest of the music(though this may also be a characteristic of the Clou Blue aftermarket cables), but for a $200 amp, criticisms like this are minor.
To be quite honest, one has to seriously consider if the META42 is not enough. The point of diminishing returns starts here. Most buyers will be satisfied by the META42 for years to come. Personally, the META42 will remain in my system at least for the next year and a half, until I go to college. The budget solid-state bar has been raised.
System: Denon DCM-370 (headphone mod) -> Outlaw PCA -> META42 -> Clou Blue -> Sennheiser HD580
NOTE: A special thanks goes out to Tangent and JMT, who both helped me immeasurably with the parts selection and construction of my META42 amplifier. We truly have two of the nicest and most generous gentlemen here on Head-Fi, and I thank you both.
NOTE2: Although I listed the Koss KSC-35s, I did not use them for this review. Macdef just recently let me know that the META42 and the Koss KSC-35s make a lovely combination. From my first impressions, I have to agree, although I am not comfortable posting impressions just yet.
Homebuilt META42 review
One of the hottest amplifiers currently being built by Head-Fi’s Do-It-Yourselfers is known as the META42. The META42 originated from ppl’s 2001 space oddity (named after the Elantec 2001 buffer) and Apheared’s CMOY variant #42. See the original URL.
Consequently, the META42 is actually the name of the circuit board that was based on ppl’s/apheared’s amplifiers. The M stands for Morsel, the E for Eric343, the T for Tangent, and the A42 for apheared’s variant 42.
The META42 offers the user a wide range of options, tweaks and upgrades. The amplifier’s ability to be configured as a simple portable amplifier, all the way up to an all-out home model is a very attractive opportunity, and is the reason that the META seems to the amp du jour.
A special thanks goes to Tangent. By being such a strong proponent of the design, and by taking it upon himself to take the risk and order large quantities of the boards, he has firmly established himself as a major part of the DIY community. His website, http://www.tangentsoft.net/audio , is invaluable in helping the DIYer learn about the design, and decide for himself how to configure his/her META. On the other hand, if he/she decides that building a META for themselves is too much of a challenge, Tangent offers to take orders for customized METAs built to the customer’s specifications. One cannot, of course, forget the other numerous Do-It-Yourself-For-Someone-Else (DIYFSE) builders, such as the infamous JMT, eric343, and erix, who would be more than happy to build a META42 made specifically for you. At the time of this writing(12/9/2002), I believe that only JMT and erix are taking orders, as the other builders have simply been swamped with orders. Don’t worry though: they should also begin accepting order shortly.
I have configured my own META42 in the following manner:
Analog Devices AD8610 (x2)
Alps Blue-Velvet Potentiometer
EL2001 buffers (1 deep), EL2001 as vground
Wima MKS-2 6.8uF/50V as C4 and Nichicon 330 uF as C2/C3
Vishay Dale resistors (hand matched) (Set to Gain of 8)
Jung Multiloop Topology
Biased into Class-A
Pactec LH57 enclosure
Neutrik ¼” locking Jack output
Gold-Plated RCA input
2x 9V batteries
Headphones Used
Sennheiser HD580s, with aftermarket Clou Blues
Koss KSC-35s
Opamp selection
The biggest question when one is choosing parts for the META42 is deciding on which operation amplifier to use. Luckily, I had the opportunity to choose between two of the high end competitors, The Burr-Brown OPA627 and the Analog Devices AD8610. The OPA627 happens to be used in Headroom’s (www.headphone.com ) premium module, and, unsurprisingly, the META42 takes on a good deal of qualities that belong to Headroom’s amplifiers. The detailed and punchy bass is present. Unfortunately, the weaknesses of the OPA627 become apparent in the higher registers. The high’s are not as smooth and airy to my ears as the AD8610. In comparison, the Analog Devices AD8610 strikes me as extremely smooth and airy. The bass, although not as punchy as the OPA627, is still quite formidable and detailed. Personally, I preferred the smoothness of the AD8610, and I kept it in my META42. Unfortunately, I did not have the chance to compare the AD823 to the above. The AD823 is quite popular in more portable META42s, and requires quite a bit less power to boot.
Sound
To put it quite simply, the META42 stunned me when I first plugged it in. Contrary to my first CMOY, where it took me a little while to recognize the character of the amplifier, the META42 grabbed me with its amazing impact. Dare I say that the Sennheiser HD580s sound a bit more forward? Perhaps a bit more like Grados, but without the punishing and painful brightness? The proverbial veil seemed to be discarded and left behind in the dust. My attention was instantly brought to the music, and experience that I was quite honestly not prepared for. The most glorious aspect of the META42 is the high-end and upper mid range. By no means am I saying that the amplifier is bright. On the contrary, I find the design to be quite neutral. Detail was brought out that I never heard before. The amplifier peels away the layers of the music. I found myself revisiting recordings I’ve heard many times before, just to listen for something new. One of my reference recordings is an HDCD jazz recording, Dave Brubeck’s glorious Time Out. For the first time, I was able to clearly distinguish the simmer of the cymbals, and I heard them decay into oblivion. On the other end of the sound spectrum, the bass really has a certain impact to it. It is not overdone, but it seems quite detailed and balanced. Some have said that the META42 comes close the Headroom Max/Blockhead in this regard. I have to respectfully disagree. The Max quite easily beats the META in the blackness of the bass, and the META is still not as fast as the thousand-dollar Headroom amps. But for an amplifier that costs around $200 in parts, it simply can not be beat. Another aspect that struck me was the enormous soundstage that this particular META42 offered. It was simply stunning to be able to hear music coming all around you. Admittedly, I actually turned around in my chair while listening to the music at times, fearing that someone was creeping up on me. Similarly, the smoothness that the AD8610 offers in the META42 design is startling. The music has a certain flow to it: everything seems in place. If I had to criticize anything, it would be that the highs seem to be a tiny step above the rest of the music(though this may also be a characteristic of the Clou Blue aftermarket cables), but for a $200 amp, criticisms like this are minor.
To be quite honest, one has to seriously consider if the META42 is not enough. The point of diminishing returns starts here. Most buyers will be satisfied by the META42 for years to come. Personally, the META42 will remain in my system at least for the next year and a half, until I go to college. The budget solid-state bar has been raised.
System: Denon DCM-370 (headphone mod) -> Outlaw PCA -> META42 -> Clou Blue -> Sennheiser HD580
NOTE: A special thanks goes out to Tangent and JMT, who both helped me immeasurably with the parts selection and construction of my META42 amplifier. We truly have two of the nicest and most generous gentlemen here on Head-Fi, and I thank you both.
NOTE2: Although I listed the Koss KSC-35s, I did not use them for this review. Macdef just recently let me know that the META42 and the Koss KSC-35s make a lovely combination. From my first impressions, I have to agree, although I am not comfortable posting impressions just yet.
