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REVIEW: Head-direct.com HiFiMan EF2 tube Hybrid Amp with USB DAC - Page 86

post #1276 of 1310
7/5/12 at 7:33am
Quote:
Originally Posted by liamstrain View Post

Best bang for the buck for the HD-600/650 is the Bottlehead Crack, in my opinion. Even without the Speedball upgrade, it just destroys everything else anywhere near the price. 

But I still keep my EF2A for my other office. smily_headphones1.gif
Do you have any experience with the asgard? Because i'm thinking of selling my ef2a with vintige tubes and buying the asgard because of it's verry low/high impedance.. Or is the bottlehead a adgard killer? And is it hard to assemble?
Edited by William007 - 7/5/12 at 7:42am
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post #1277 of 1310
7/5/12 at 7:43am

It is not difficult to assemble, but does require soldering. The instructions are very complete. 

 

Bottlehead Crack and Asgard should not really be compared - they are two different types of amps. The bottlehead is an OTL amp, so it really is best suited to headphones with higher output impedances. The Asgard is a SS amp, and will be a better pairing with orthos and dynamic headphones with low impedances - it is fine with higher impedances, but not where it really shines IMO. 

 

I did borrow an asgard for a month. It was nice, but not so nice that I felt like I needed to own it in addition to the others. And for my high impedance cans, I do feel like the Crack is a much better performer. 

 

Ultimately - if you have both, listen for yourself and decide before selling one or the other. I don't think you can make a wrong choice with them. I personally do not think that you will hear any significant improvement over the EF2a though - certainly, I did not.

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post #1278 of 1310
7/5/12 at 7:58am
Quote:
Originally Posted by liamstrain View Post

It is not difficult to assemble, but does require soldering. The instructions are very complete. 

Bottlehead Crack and Asgard should not really be compared - they are two different types of amps. The bottlehead is an OTL amp, so it really is best suited to headphones with higher output impedances. The Asgard is a SS amp, and will be a better pairing with orthos and dynamic headphones with low impedances - it is fine with higher impedances, but not where it really shines IMO. 

I did borrow an asgard for a month. It was nice, but not so nice that I felt like I needed to own it in addition to the others. And for my high impedance cans, I do feel like the Crack is a much better performer. 

Ultimately - if you have both, listen for yourself and decide before selling one or the other. I don't think you can make a wrong choice with them. I personally do not think that you will hear any significant improvement over the EF2a though - certainly, I did not.
How much does the bottlehead crack cost? And if i buy the asgard would it be good with the 600? I'm thinking of buying the asgard and not selling the ef2a i had it for to long smily_headphones1.gif
EDIT: what's your setup? Your primary setup?
Edited by William007 - 7/5/12 at 8:01am
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post #1279 of 1310
7/5/12 at 8:09am
Quote:
Originally Posted by William007 View Post


How much does the bottlehead crack cost?
http://www.bottlehead.com/store.php?crn=44&rn=442&action=show_detail = $280ish
And if i buy the asgard would it be good with the 600? I'm thinking of buying the asgard and not selling the ef2a i had it for to long smily_headphones1.gif
The asgard would be fine the 600. There is certainly nothing wrong with the pairing, I just preferred others. 
EDIT: what's your setup? Your primary setup?
Macbook Pro > Fidelia + AHP and Redline Monitor Crossfeed > Yulong D100 DAC > Bottlehead Crack > Senn HD600 and Beyer 880/600 - I'm also going to be adding a Dynalo to the mix, for low impedance cans and ortho's.

Edited by liamstrain - 7/5/12 at 8:13am
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post #1280 of 1310
7/5/12 at 8:20am
Quote:
Originally Posted by liamstrain View Post

What would it be with the speedball upgrade? And could you help me if i get stuck making it? I'm thinking of buyin tha asgard and the bottlehead and thinking of buying the WooAudio WA6 later smily_headphones1.gif
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post #1281 of 1310
7/5/12 at 8:26am
Quote:
Originally Posted by William007 View Post


What would it be with the speedball upgrade? And could you help me if i get stuck making it? I'm thinking of buyin tha asgard and the bottlehead and thinking of buying the WooAudio WA6 later smily_headphones1.gif

 

Not sure off hand - the prices are on the website. *shrug* You can always add the Speedball later, as well. 

 

There is an active thread here on the Crack that I do participate in, and would be happy to answer questions - you can always PM me as well. Bottlehead also has a very good forum and the amp designer participates from time to time both there and here to help. 

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post #1282 of 1310
7/5/12 at 8:30am
Quote:
Originally Posted by liamstrain View Post

Not sure off hand - the prices are on the website. *shrug* You can always add the Speedball later, as well. 

There is an active thread here on the Crack that I do participate in, and would be happy to answer questions - you can always PM me as well. Bottlehead also has a very good forum and the amp designer participates from time to time both there and here to help. 
Could you link me to that page?
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post #1283 of 1310
7/5/12 at 8:33am

http://www.bottlehead.com/store.php?crn=224

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post #1284 of 1310
7/5/12 at 8:36am
Quote:
Originally Posted by liamstrain View Post

http://www.bottlehead.com/store.php?crn=224
Does the kit come with everything?
And could you link me to the thread from the crack
Edited by William007 - 7/5/12 at 8:43am
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post #1285 of 1310
7/5/12 at 8:50am

Everything except a multimeter and a soldering iron + solder. Plus a 30+ page PDF manual on CD with photographs detailing the construction. 

 

Here is the big thread on the Crack - there are many others that the sites search function will help you with. 

http://www.head-fi.org/t/476650/crack-bottlehead-otl

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post #1286 of 1310
7/5/12 at 9:00am
Quote:
Originally Posted by liamstrain View Post

Everything except a multimeter and a soldering iron + solder. Plus a 30+ page PDF manual on CD with photographs detailing the construction. 

Here is the big thread on the Crack - there are many others that the sites search function will help you with. 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/476650/crack-bottlehead-otl
Does it matter what kind of solder you use? And i read something about a 'higher end' power cord for it but does it make a diference using an higher end power cord, is the crack 130 v only? Because i live in belgium and we use 230v here..
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post #1287 of 1310
7/5/12 at 9:04am

1. You need to do a bit of reading yourself. On the bottlehead page, it clearly states:

The stock kit is designed for 120VAC mains. You can order the kit with a 240VAC power transformer instead.

 

2. I do not think power cords make a big difference. Certainly there is very little evidence to support they can or do. I ordered a different one, because I wanted a right hand angle plug - no other reason. 

 

3. No, regular 60/40 solder is just fine. 

Anything further on this topic, should probably be continued in teh Crack discussion I linked you to, so as to get this one back on track with the EF2A discussion.


Edited by liamstrain - 7/5/12 at 9:05am
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post #1288 of 1310
7/5/12 at 9:08am
Quote:
Originally Posted by liamstrain View Post

1. You need to do a bit of reading yourself. On the bottlehead page, it clearly states:
The stock kit is designed for 120VAC mains. You can order the kit with a 240VAC power transformer instead.

2. I do not think power cords make a big difference. Certainly there is very little evidence to support they can or do. I ordered a different one, because I wanted a right hand angle plug - no other reason. 

3. No, regular 60/40 solder is just fine. 
Anything further on this topic, should probably be continued in teh Crack discussion I linked you to, so as to get this one back on track with the EF2A discussion.
Okay thanks!
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post #1289 of 1310
7/5/12 at 6:32pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by William007 View Post

Should i get the Schiit Asgard to drive these or just stick with my trusty ef 2A please reply quickly because i'm buying the Schiit Asgard the Sennheiser HD 600, does the EF2A drive the HD600/650 to it's best performance?

 

I really like the HD600 with the EF2 in this price range of amps, where it did a better job than my Qinpu A-3 and Travagans Red (about the same price).  I thought the EF2 was pretty close to the Cavalli CTH or a budget Millett Hybrid.  My Dark Voice 336i was maybe a little better than the EF2 with HD600, but the cost was twice as much.

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post #1290 of 1310
7/6/12 at 12:54am
Quote:
Originally Posted by HeadphoneAddict View Post

I really like the HD600 with the EF2 in this price range of amps, where it did a better job than my Qinpu A-3 and Travagans Red (about the same price).  I thought the EF2 was pretty close to the Cavalli CTH or a budget Millett Hybrid.  My Dark Voice 336i was maybe a little better than the EF2 with HD600, but the cost was twice as much.
Ordered the Asgard today tongue.gif i won't sell my ef2a but i bought the schiit because ( i think) that i can drive Orthodynamic headphones out of it. But what headphone would you buy, the neutral HD600 or the warmer,darker HD650?!
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