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Audio-gd Phoenix balanced headphone amp.

post #1 of 3338
3/31/09 at 8:53pm
Thread Starter 
A few people, myself included, asked Kingwa, the owner of Audio-gd, if any of his amps would work with balanced headphones. A few months ago, when I first asked this, his reply was that he could put two C2C amps in a large box. However, his next mention of this was that he'd finished designing a balanced amp, based on the circuit of one of his pre amps, the C3. That was quick!

Since he's been emailing people asking for opinions and the discussion is now starting to show up in other threads, I figured I'd start a new thread on it.

This is certainly one unusual amp. Here's the info page, with not much on it at the moment except these pictures. The dimentions are roughly that of a longer Compass/C2C x2.




In case anyone is thinking that Audio-gd needs its own forum on here for all these threads popping up, yes, I've already suggested that.
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post #2 of 3338
3/31/09 at 9:58pm
I'm rather speechless at the pace they are inventing new audio equipment... is their company in some kind of time bubble where 1 year passes for every 1 month in the outside? I'd definitely like to see a audio-gd forum, I'm predicting an atomic explosion of audio-gd fanatics on head-fi any moment now.

Curra, remember Ultrasone's CEO in that NAMM Ultrasone video going wild over how good the balanced Pro 900's sounded with their new balanced amp H-101? I think he might get a heart atk if he ever gets a chance to hear the Phoenix :[ (still <3 Ultrasone headphones tho just <3 audio-gd more).
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post #3 of 3338
3/31/09 at 10:10pm
I can't think of any company of any kind that reacts to consumer wants like Kingwa does. Completely refreshing. It just seems how things should be done, doesn't it? Build it and they will come, sourt of.........
I have ordered, sight unseen and unheard, his S1 intergrated, C2C amp and DAC-19SEMK3 based on everyones experiences here on Head-Fi and gut feeling (it's only money). He tried to talk me out of such a large order (not so large IMO) without trying some of it first. I was so impressed by this reaction that I just told him to send it as ordered.
We'll see but I have no reservations.
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post #4 of 3338
3/31/09 at 10:27pm
I am thinking of a balanced set up down the road. I think I will follow =D
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post #5 of 3338
3/31/09 at 10:28pm
What exactly is "data-in"? Looks like a serial port.
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post #6 of 3338
3/31/09 at 10:33pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by tim3320070 View Post
I can't think of any company of any kind that reacts to consumer wants like Kingwa does. Completely refreshing. It just seems how things should be done, doesn't it
I agree completely. I got turned on to Audio-gd after reading through the entire Compass thread. I ended up ordering a Reference 1, and Kingwa was a joy to work with. He didn't try to push me to buying the more expensive choice (even though thats just what I ended up doing ) but instead tried to find out my needs. He was also very accommodating for customization.
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post #7 of 3338
3/31/09 at 11:12pm
wow! balanced SS amp. now that would give competition to a B22!
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post #8 of 3338
4/1/09 at 12:01am
Quote:
Originally Posted by glitch39 View Post
wow! balanced SS amp. now that would give competition to a B22!
Or Headamp GS-X
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post #9 of 3338
4/1/09 at 12:12am
I see my upgrade path is becoming clearer
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post #10 of 3338
4/1/09 at 12:26am
Without knowing much about it, I don't see how it'd be competition for anything. Am curious though as to what the design will be like.

looks like those might be rca inputs on the bottom. might be hard for some rca cables to have a split that wide
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post #11 of 3338
4/1/09 at 12:28am
Quote:
Originally Posted by haloxt View Post
I'd definitely like to see a audio-gd forum, I'm predicting an atomic explosion of audio-gd fanatics on head-fi any moment now.
As far as I know, I think he is planning to be one of the Head-Fi premier sponsors from May, and have his own (Audio GD) forum out here, it will be nice as he can directly communicate with us on his forum about his gears..
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post #12 of 3338
4/1/09 at 12:59am
Has anyone told Kingwa that it would be great to have an Audio-GD SS amp with pro and normal bias outputs for stax stats?
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post #13 of 3338
4/1/09 at 1:14am
Is it odd that one of the features that really would seal this for me is the remote control? Headphone amp as a pre-amp without one just doesn't feel right.

The splitting of the RCA/XLR cables is a pretty big deal. I don't know many cables that could use RCA-4 without literally ripping them apart.

Also, I really hope the remote would be of a nice quality. It would be a shame to have an incredibly well built amp and sharp looking aesthetics, cheapened with a remote control made of the cheapest always-feels-oily plastics you get with most low-end gear. But I'd prefer this to the alternative (none).
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post #14 of 3338
4/1/09 at 1:16am
Audio-GD is really blowing up. I'm really impressed by Kingwa's blistering responses to community requests. This amp will very likely be on my to buy list.
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post #15 of 3338
4/1/09 at 1:22am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chu View Post
Also, I really hope the remote would be of a nice quality. It would be a shame to have an incredibly well built amp and sharp looking aesthetics, cheapened with a remote control made of the cheapest always-feels-oily plastics you get with most low-end gear. But I'd prefer this to the alternative (none).
I have one of his amp, that comes with a remote.. it depends on ones taste, but to me its a classic, its crafted out of Aluminum, looks like a little chassis itself.. so you can be sure its not going to be one of those cheap plastic types, and since Phoenix is going to be top end HP amp model, I expect something even better than the remote control I have ( although I doubt anything can be better) ..

Something like his CD7 remote (Aluminum again, but it would be re-designed)



This one is the type I have - pics don't do justice at all..

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