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REVIEW: Audio-GD Phoenix Balanced Solid-State Headphone Amplifier - Page 3

post #31 of 156
9/17/09 at 6:13pm
Very nice review, Skylab. By any chance you have heard the WA22 and would be able to compare the two amps?
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post #32 of 156
9/17/09 at 6:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Toad View Post
Very nice review, Skylab. By any chance you have heard the WA22 and would be able to compare the two amps?
Based on what I read, more warmth and bass impact with WA22 with little sacrifice on the transparency.
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post #33 of 156
9/17/09 at 6:32pm
Very nice write-up, Skylab. I've had my Phoenix for about 6 weeks and last night finally had a chance to listen to Balanced vs. unbalanced. My only balanced phone now is the AT 5000, granted I use an adapter which makes it not a pure comparison. That said, I echo the notion that the balanced configuration is really a major step above the single ended configuration. The soundstage is bigger and micro details and nuances are more easily heard.
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post #34 of 156
9/17/09 at 6:36pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Toad View Post
Very nice review, Skylab. By any chance you have heard the WA22 and would be able to compare the two amps?
Thanks! Unfortunately, I have never heard a WA22.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mogos View Post
And what about the volume clicking. Have you heard something like that? Are there any other things you may complain about.
I did mention the volume clicking in the review, but other than that and the heat, no, nothing to complain about.
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post #35 of 156
9/17/09 at 9:21pm
I guess the big question hanging out there is that with your bevy of equipment, is this a keeper for you as a HP amp or are you moving on?
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post #36 of 156
9/17/09 at 10:52pm
Thread Starter 
I am going to keep it - it's excellent, and I could use a high-end SS reference amp.

So I'm sorry, I won't be selling you the balanced DT880's
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post #37 of 156
9/17/09 at 11:33pm
Nice write up. Not much said about the Phoenix's features and ergonomics.

Mainly that it's not just a headphone amp, it's also a full featured remote controlled preamp that performs far above its weight class.

2 XLR inputs
2 RCA Inputs
1 ACSS (CAST) input (for use with Audio-gd's DAC's that have ASCC output)

RCA and XLR preamp outputs

I think that it's an exceptional headphone amp, but I actually think that it's a better preamp than headphone amplifier.
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post #38 of 156
9/18/09 at 1:00am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Skylab View Post
I am going to keep it - it's excellent, and I could use a high-end SS reference amp.

So I'm sorry, I won't be selling you the balanced DT880's
That is very surprising considering that the Phoenix is a SS amp! Welcome back to solid state club...
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post #39 of 156
9/18/09 at 1:03am
Seems that AudioGD is now "stocking" these, seems like they could get it to your door in well under a week if you wanted one. Yay for the big factory if the "in stock" label is indeed true.
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post #40 of 156
9/18/09 at 1:09am
Hi Skylab, if you're keeping the amp. Why not request kingwa for a REF1 for review too?
I am still thinking if should go for REF1 or wait kingwa come out another product with CAST output/USB input.

by the way, welcome back to the full size SS amp world!
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post #41 of 156
9/18/09 at 2:11am
Quote:
Originally Posted by scootermafia View Post
Seems that AudioGD is now "stocking" these, seems like they could get it to your door in well under a week if you wanted one. Yay for the big factory if the "in stock" label is indeed true.
Don't trust the "in stock" label too much. When I ordered the DAC-19MK3 it had said in stock for a couple weeks, but it took them about a week and a half to build, test/burn-in, and ship it since they had shipped all of their previous stock just before I ordered but never updated the site. Realistically, you're looking at about 1-3 weeks to get it.
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post #42 of 156
9/18/09 at 2:30am
Quote:
Originally Posted by tosehee View Post
From what I read, CAST allows the end users to use less than 'exotic' cables. Comparing with top exotic XLR cables, the differences are very subtle or nil.
I don't think that's quite right. While CAST does help reduce differences between cables, whether you believe those exist or not, it's theoretically supposed to be somewhat beneficial regardless. Keeping the signal in the current domain (eliminating I/V conversions) should make the multiple units function like a single circuitboard. I believe users have reported that CAST is better than high-end XLR.
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post #43 of 156
9/18/09 at 3:22am
Thank you Skylab, wonderfully positive review - the Phoenix sure kicks some serious butt.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Skylab View Post
I don’t have any of the other high-end SS amps I have reviewed around for reference any more, unfortunately, but I have reviewed or owned the B22, RSA Apache, Blue Circle SBH, ALO/RWA Amphora, Meier Opera – all some nice SS amps. And at least from memory, I would take the Phoenix’s midrange performance over all of these.
In reference and defense of the Beta22 you reviewed, I believe this was not a balanced unit - and from memory it was not reviewed with the HD600 nor the HD800’s.

Edit: Which BTW respond very well to the Beta and especially a balanced one. IMHO.
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post #44 of 156
9/18/09 at 4:43am
Thanks for the enjoyable write-up, Rob.

Now I wonder how well it mates with the Reference One. Those guys in the Phoenix thread like that combo so much!
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post #45 of 156
9/18/09 at 5:21am
Quote:
Originally Posted by AtomikPi View Post
I don't think that's quite right. While CAST does help reduce differences between cables, whether you believe those exist or not, it's theoretically supposed to be somewhat beneficial regardless. Keeping the signal in the current domain (eliminating I/V conversions) should make the multiple units function like a single circuitboard. I believe users have reported that CAST is better than high-end XLR.
I can confirm there is a difference in cables. More noticeable than RCA or XLR, but less so than power cords with my system.
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