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

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.

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.

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?

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.

That is very surprising considering that the Phoenix is a SS amp! Welcome back to solid state club...

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.

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!

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.

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.

Thank you Skylab, wonderfully positive review - the Phoenix sure kicks some serious butt.

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.

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!

I can confirm there is a difference in cables. More noticeable than RCA or XLR, but less so than power cords with my system.