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X-Can V3 VS. Darkvoice 332: which to get?

post #1 of 11
9/12/07 at 8:34pm
Thread Starter 
Im looking at buying either an X-Can V3 with pink floyd mods or a Darkvoice 332 and wanted to see which Head-Fi thought was a better amp. From what ive read, these have good synergy with Senns and Grados, and are almost the same price. Any thoughts?
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post #2 of 11
9/12/07 at 9:55pm

One More Time...

My DV 332 seems better to me than my PinkFloyd XCAN v3 with HD600/650's, and AD2000's.

The XCAN v3 seems better with my RS-1's, and also does well with my Senns and AD2000's - If you want an amp that sounds great with both Grados and Senns... then I'd opt for the XCAN v3.

But... with the right phones the DV 332 is exceptional.
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post #3 of 11
9/12/07 at 10:47pm
I need to listen to the DV332!

The V3 is a very nice amp, I would add a pair of Russian tubes, like the 6H23-EB.
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post #4 of 11
2/16/08 at 7:46am
Lets add the bada ph-12 to the mix here
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post #5 of 11
2/16/08 at 10:40am
Depends on the headphones: with the HD580s/600s/650s the 332 is most definately the amp to go for; with GRADOs etc you'd be better going for the X-CAN V3 with the Pinky mods.
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post #6 of 11
2/16/08 at 11:12am

Tempted... But...

Quote:
Originally Posted by donunus View Post
Lets add the bada ph-12 to the mix here
I've been tempted by the PH-12 on several occassions... BUT... I've always been "scared off" by the reports of its high heat, and mosfet failures... as well as its reportedly poor SQ with Grados and low impedence phones.

There's a lot of information in the PH-12 thread... if you have the patience to dig through it all.

My first choice would be the DV332... possibly, with the exception of Grados... although its not bad with them either.

But... I'd be very happy with my old PinkFloyd modified XCAN v3... if I had the Little Pinkie PSU, or the XPSU v3, and the X10 v3 Tube Buffer... and... maybe a tube DAC - all of which warms it up and makes it sound a lot more like a tube amp (instead of a hybrid, which it is). With all those "mods" and "accessories" it does sound great - but, at a price.
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post #7 of 11
2/16/08 at 12:07pm
Ok so if the darkvoice is not that great with grados against the xcanv3 then how about the ad2000 since it is also low impedance. Would that sound better on the xcanv3 too? And how much better by the way is the pinkfloyd mod vs stock v3 anyway.
Gradofan2, I know you've already told me that the 332 is the way to go but if we were to talk just for low impedance cans, stock xcanv3 vs 332. I want something that has a liquid tone that adds a little weight to the ad2ks sound without messing with its fast and precise sound.
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post #8 of 11
2/16/08 at 1:35pm

You May Want To Try...

Quote:
Originally Posted by donunus View Post
Ok so if the darkvoice is not that great with grados against the xcanv3 then how about the ad2000 since it is also low impedance. Would that sound better on the xcanv3 too? And how much better by the way is the pinkfloyd mod vs stock v3 anyway.
Gradofan2, I know you've already told me that the 332 is the way to go but if we were to talk just for low impedance cans, stock xcanv3 vs 332. I want something that has a liquid tone that adds a little weight to the ad2ks sound without messing with its fast and precise sound.
I find the AD2000s sound about equal out of either amp. The DV332 may provide a bit more powerful and tubey sound with the AD2000s, Grados, or Senns. And... you can taylor the sound a bit with the tube selection - moreso, than with the XCAN v3.

The AD2000s, will sound a bit less liquid than the Senns with either amp - but, fairly weighty. If you want a more tubey sound... yet... still with a fair amount of speed, detail and clarity... you may want to try the defoamed HD580/600s out of the DV332. They sound a lot like the RS-1s, or AD2000s with the DV332. But... I think you'd like the AD2000s with it also.
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post #9 of 11
2/16/08 at 5:39pm
I've got a stock X-can v3 and while I've never heard a DV amp, I do have a Woo WA3+ that I did somd side by side comparing with. The X-can is definitely a hybrid amp. It has a less tubey sound, but you do get better bass control, especially on low imedence cans like the AKG 701. Not necessarliy more bass, just better bass control.

I've never heard the Pink Floyd mods but I know they are very highly spoken of. So, if you really want a tubey sounding amp with all that entails (both good and bad) the X-can is probably not for you. But, if you are willing to trade some of the tube goodness (ie not as lush in the midrange) for some of the solid state goodness (better base control) than the X-can is a great amp.
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post #10 of 11
2/16/08 at 8:08pm
dv332 sounds like the one i need to get then. Now that my friend is getting one next month, it is time to see if it is a huge enough upgrade to the headfive for my ad2ks or too small that a dac should be my next audio purchase
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post #11 of 11
2/16/08 at 8:49pm
For what it's worth, I enjoy the heck out of my DV332 and RS-1's, using Mullard M8100's. Also have WE403B's, but I think the Mullards provide a clearer window to the music.
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Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Headphone Amps (full-size) › X-Can V3 VS. Darkvoice 332: which to get?