Impressions: Prototype Triad Audio HeadCode

I took delivery of my long awaited (since December) HeadCode about a week and a half ago, and have put in substantial listening time since then with both my HD-650's and my AH-D5000's.

Because I have no basis to make a critical comparison (except for a Total Bithead, which would be a useless juxtaposition), I can't comment on the amp's performance with reference to anything else. Still, it seems obvious to me that this the best amp I've ever had the pleasure of using, to the point that I'm confident I have reached my natural limit in terms of being able to discern between this amp and something technically superior.

I feel that I might be doing a disservice to Phill LaRocco, because I really don't have much to say. The new HeadCode simply amplifies your music and does nothing else; it drives whatever headphones I plug into it to their - I believe - fullest extent. Here are a few observations I've made over the past several days:

• The amp never runs hot, and just by touching it you might not have known it was on, except for the two faint blue LEDs in the front panel. The power switch is the back next to the AC input, suggesting it wasn't meant to be flipped at each listening session. I asked Phill about this, and recommended I just leave it on all the time.
• The amp is deadly quiet, substantially more quiet than the old HeadCode. The AH-5000's, at 25 Ohms, are normally finicky about amps that even have the slightest amount of noise. With the new HeadCode, everything just emerges from utter blackness.
• Everything that I listen to has a real visceral and almost 'etched out' sound to it. You feel the depth and fullness of every guitar string plucked and every piano key struck.
• Exhibits a level of bass control and dynamic impact that is just mind boggling. The effect is ultra-pronounced on the HD-650's, a set of headphones which I've always believed needed serious solid-state power to sound their best.
• The attack and speed are incredible.

I think any attempt to describe the amp would ultimately come out as a description of whatever headphones you happen to be listening to. Bearing that in mind, the foreseeable future will be dedicated to building my headphone and music collection. I like to think that I have very good hearing; I studied classical piano for a decade and I have absolute pitch, I can discern between a lot of things, but at this point I have to admit that I'm more a limiting factor than my HeadCode will ever be.

I'd say go buy one, but I have no idea when it will be for sale, or how much it will cost. I'll leave that to Phill LaRocco and Brad Taylor at Triad Audio.

In the next few weeks I plan to get a hold of one or two more amps for the sake of comparison. Then I'll be able to offer more constructive comments.

LAX to JFK $369, bring your Opera .

Each of them serves some diagnostic purpose (don't ask me what).

I'm up for anything... actually I feel like I'm the only Head-fier in this school so it would be good to get away from the 'common folk'. I'm actually here year-round... except for maybe a few deviations to Canada, Europe and Asia.