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REVIEW: ALO Audio Amphora SS headphone amp - Page 5

post #61 of 237
5/8/09 at 9:38am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by LaidBack View Post
I would also suggest upgrading it to provide the ability to drive both low and high impedance cans. IMO, A $1,000 audiophile SS amp should be able to handle the task. I'm in the market now for a quality SS amp in this price class, and that's a deal breaker for me. It's not a tube vs. SS issue. The recently reviewed SS C-2C performed well: http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f5/rev...ml#post5581106
The issue with the 600 ohm Beyers and the Amphora is not one of sound quality, but gain. The sound quality is excellent, but the available gain into this load was limited to slightly-louder-than-normal levels, and lower-voltage sources can be an issue. FWIW, this was the same with the Meier Opera.

But if you look at the landscape of headphones, 600 ohm cans are a rare bird. I'm pretty certain that 300 ohm headphones, being half the impedance of 600's, would get plenty loud, although I have no 300 ohm headphones to try.

And many have complained that the C2C has TOO much gain, resulting in many headphones being able to use only the beginning range of the volume pot, which is prone to channel imbalances. So as usual, there are trade-offs, and there is no one amp that will be perfect for every known headphone, in my experience.

EDIT: I asked Vinnie, and the Amphora CAN in fact be ordered with a higher gain factor to accommodate 600 ohm headphones, so this is a non-issue.
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post #62 of 237
5/8/09 at 10:20am
Skylab: Audio-gd lowered the gain of the C2-C a couple of days ago, just fyi.
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post #63 of 237
5/8/09 at 10:32am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Currawong View Post
Skylab: Audio-gd lowered the gain of the C2-C a couple of days ago, just fyi.
That's a smart move A good change in what is an excellent amplifier.

So you can get a lower gain C2C and a higher-gain Amphora. Makes sense. It will be tough to find a SS amp that will work well with both 25 ohm headphones and 600 ohm headphones without some kind of gain adjustment.
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post #64 of 237
5/8/09 at 12:20pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Skylab View Post
The issue with the 600 ohm Beyers and the Amphora is not one of sound quality, but gain. The sound quality is excellent, but the available gain into this load was limited to slightly-louder-than-normal levels, and lower-voltage sources can be an issue. FWIW, this was the same with the Meier Opera.

But if you look at the landscape of headphones, 600 ohm cans are a rare bird. I'm pretty certain that 300 ohm headphones, being half the impedance of 600's, would get plenty loud, although I have no 300 ohm headphones to try.

And many have complained that the C2C has TOO much gain, resulting in many headphones being able to use only the beginning range of the volume pot, which is prone to channel imbalances. So as usual, there are trade-offs, and there is no one amp that will be perfect for every known headphone, in my experience.

EDIT: I asked Vinnie, and the Amphora CAN in fact be ordered with a higher gain factor to accommodate 600 ohm headphones, so this is a non-issue.
Right, I thought your review made it clear that you were referring to gain(not SQ) issues. I've recently decided to upgrade from the Beyer 250 ohm models to 600 ohm. I won't be surprised to see other current and prospective Beyer owners move to the 600 ohm models now that they are becoming more available/affordable...

According to the Audio-gd website, the gain on the C-2C has been reduced as of 4/26: н¨ÍøÒ³ 1
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post #65 of 237
5/8/09 at 12:58pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Currawong View Post
Les, most, if not all, the RWA gear runs off batteries, to avoid pollution from the power supply, and the Signature 30.2 has been compared favourably to amps worth $30k. Don't forget that your main DAC is over 80% power conditioning circuitry and very little actual DAC.
All their products are battery powered.
...and it don't surprise me if that'ss one of there reasons I simply adore the Signature 30.2 and Isabellina.

If only the Amphora had a built in DAC.
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post #66 of 237
5/8/09 at 1:18pm
I believe that Vinnie is thinking of the Isabellina with a built-in amp if there are enough people interested in it.
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post #67 of 237
5/8/09 at 2:39pm
It has no problem driving Sennheiser HD650 ?
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post #68 of 237
5/8/09 at 4:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Audio-Omega View Post
It has no problem driving Sennheiser HD650 ?
My Amphora has no problem driving my HD600, and in brief comparisons my single ended Amphora sounds about as good as my balanced my Single Power Square Wave XL with the HD600. If the Square Wave wasn't better at driving my K1000 I'd be selling it sooner than later. Probably will sell the Sq Wave once my EC ZDT arrives...

The Amphora is also the BEST amp I have EVER heard driving the Ultrasone Edition 9. The combination was perfect, and took away a good bit of the boomy dark closed feeling you might get with the Ed 9 on the wrong amp. If I hadn't already committed to selling the Edition 9 to pay for my HD800 and ZDT before hearing them on the Amphora, I would maybe have kept them and sold something else (like the Sq Wave).
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post #69 of 237
5/8/09 at 4:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by HeadphoneAddict View Post
The Amphora is also the BEST amp I have EVER heard driving the Ultrasone Edition 9. The combination was perfect, and took away a good bit of the boomy dark closed feeling you might get with the Ed 9 on the wrong amp.).
Good to hear that. I'm wondering how the Edition 8 will sound with the Amphora.
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post #70 of 237
5/8/09 at 4:30pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by pfillion View Post
Good to hear that. I'm wondering how the Edition 8 will sound with the Amphora.
I am not sure I will be getting the Edition 8 or PS-1000 yet, but HD800 are for sure.
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post #71 of 237
5/8/09 at 4:33pm
I just received the Amphora for my dad - absolutely stunning. It's a claro walnut version and it's purr-dee As a plus, working with Ken through the process was a dream. Good guy.
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post #72 of 237
5/8/09 at 5:44pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by indydieselnut View Post
I just received the Amphora for my dad - absolutely stunning. It's a claro walnut version and it's purr-dee As a plus, working with Ken through the process was a dream. Good guy.
So this is basically a Post about how you Love Walnut!!!

Gotcha!

.
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post #73 of 237
5/8/09 at 5:48pm
Thread Starter 
Dude lighten up on the axe you're grinding. He JUST GOT IT! Might take some time to get some listening done...
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post #74 of 237
5/8/09 at 6:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by indydieselnut View Post
I just received the Amphora for my dad - absolutely stunning. It's a claro walnut version and it's purr-dee As a plus, working with Ken through the process was a dream. Good guy.
Your dad is one lucky fellow!
Make sure you burn it in and pair it with a nice pair of headphones. I am sure he will be pleased.
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post #75 of 237
5/8/09 at 6:11pm
Les, you're absolutely incorrect. If you read my post carefully you would have seen that I love walnut AND working with Ken...not JUST that I love walnut. Geez...pay attention man

If you'd read my earlier post you would have also noted that I don't even plan to comment on the sound of the amp because I'm going to have a total of about five hours listening to it before I pass it to my dad. And YES, I chose this amp for my dad based not only on the fact that initial reviews of its SQ were postive but also because it's pretty. Yes, because it's pretty. My dad doesn't have the best hearing but he's been a music lover for over sixty years. I know he will enjoy listening to his music with the Amphora but he will also just enjoy "interacting" with it because it is a nicely made, beautiful piece of audio art. There's nothing wrong with that in my book.

Your comments would make it sound like there IS something wrong with that in your book so let's just agree to disagree. I can completely understand the validity of the point you've been repeatedly making from your perspective. However, my perspective is different. A day doesn't go by that I don't thank the good Lord for making us all different. The world would be an incredibly boring place otherwise. Cheers!
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