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REVIEW: Audio-GD Phoenix Balanced Solid-State Headphone Amplifier - Page 4

post #46 of 156
9/18/09 at 5:54am
I am looking,well more than looking,I want this amp but have reservation's about how hot it gets.
Heat and electronic component's do not pair to well,I want an amp that is going to live for a fair few years.

So how hot does it get and is it a concern.
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post #47 of 156
9/18/09 at 6:06am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ford2 View Post
I am looking,well more than looking,I want this amp but have reservation's about how hot it gets.
Heat and electronic component's do not pair to well,I want an amp that is going to live for a fair few years.

So how hot does it get and is it a concern.
I don't know if it's a concern since he designs his gear to run hot, but heat is known to shorten the life of gear.

Mine gets extremely hot, easily 20 or 25 degrees more than the Ref1. It was a little cooler when I had air blowing 2 feet away from it, but now that it's in a rack it's a scorcher. The other night it felt hotter than ever before. It had been on for about 6 hours. I couldn't keep my hands on the top for literally more than 2 seconds. Forget about touching the bottom, 1 second at most. That's on the power supply chassis. The amp chassis doesn't get hot, just warm.

It really needs to be around circulating air. At the L.A. meet it never got real hot because there was an A/C vent on the ceiling right above the table. I think I'm going to have Kingwa send me the top panel for the Roc because it has ventilation holes.

That being said, I'd rather have a great sounding, hot amp than a mediocre or poor sounding, cool one.
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post #48 of 156
9/18/09 at 7:10am
Thanks for the reply,will give it a miss for awhile,there is no way that a properly designed amp should run that hot.
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post #49 of 156
9/18/09 at 7:52am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ford2 View Post
Thanks for the reply,will give it a miss for awhile,there is no way that a properly designed amp should run that hot.
I believe the real heat issue come from the chassis design and not from the amp design, i think this thing need some holes and heat-sink to make it cooler, don't forget that thing is a beast, also, do the people that complains about the heat put the amp on the top of the power supply ?

I don't recommend this because of the heat and crosstalk, despite they both have use full metal case.

The placement and the room temperature also play a big role, but it can be a good thing in winter.
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post #50 of 156
9/18/09 at 8:58am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Omega17TheTrue View Post
I believe the real heat issue come from the chassis design and not from the amp design, i think this thing need some holes and heat-sink to make it cooler, don't forget that thing is a beast, also, do the people that complains about the heat put the amp on the top of the power supply ?

I don't recommend this because of the heat and crosstalk, despite they both have use full metal case.

The placement and the room temperature also play a big role, but it can be a good thing in winter.
Sorry was just using the term amp as general.

I will reword it.There is no way a properly designed power supply should be running that hot.
Anyone know if this unit has thermal overloads.

Like you said this unit needs some proper heatsinks,external ones,maybe they should use bigger enclosures.
These new units sure look good,but maybe to much is being placed on looks and size.

It's a real pity because it sure has everything else going for it.
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post #51 of 156
9/18/09 at 9:15am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by moonboy403 View Post
That is very surprising considering that the Phoenix is a SS amp! Welcome back to solid state club...
Quote:
Originally Posted by ztsen View Post

by the way, welcome back to the full size SS amp world!
LOL - don't get too excited guys - I will still be using mostly tube amps on a day-to-day basis But the Phoenix will be great to use as a reference, and I do still want to try it as a preamp (and will try to review it with the Audio-GD DAC as well).
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post #52 of 156
9/18/09 at 9:21am
ford2: This has already been discussed at length, including with Kingwa. He stated he has never had any of his designs fail due to heat. As well, a few of us owners have left the Reference 1, which also runs very hot, switched on for weeks at a time with no ill effects. The internal fuses, built into the transformers are also thermal fuses, since you were wondering.

Skylab: Interesting review. I would describe the Audio-gd sound signature as "dark", though this is very much in respect to a lot of newer audio gear that is bright-sounding. Your comments about the bass match up with what other people have wrote about it comparing it to the Beta 22.

I'm comparing my Phoenix (single-ended) to a borrowed Luxman P-1 at the moment, which has been interesting too.
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post #53 of 156
9/18/09 at 9:28am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by johnwmclean View Post
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! And yes, you're right on both counts - the B22 I reviewed was not balanced and I did not try any Senn's with it.,
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post #54 of 156
9/18/09 at 1:09pm
I still wish that I was able to keep my Phoenix but since the Phoenix just didn't drive the K1000 as beautifully as a tube amp does.
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post #55 of 156
9/18/09 at 4:08pm
Moonboy,

ive read that to get the most out of a Phoenix you need to connect using CAST.

Maybe the K1000 needs that config to drive your K1000 correctly ?

Ive read so much about the Phoenix's reserve power that im surprised that you had trouble with the K1000

Cheers
Xavier
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post #56 of 156
9/18/09 at 4:18pm
н¨ÍøÒ³ 1

Is this all that is needed to add cast to say a B22? Im curious how this can make such a difference in SQ and not just electrical accuracy pov
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post #57 of 156
9/18/09 at 6:34pm
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
Well, I'll have to save some more $ I guess.
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post #58 of 156
9/18/09 at 9:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by badwisdom View Post
Moonboy,

ive read that to get the most out of a Phoenix you need to connect using CAST.

Maybe the K1000 needs that config to drive your K1000 correctly ?

Ive read so much about the Phoenix's reserve power that im surprised that you had trouble with the K1000

Cheers
Xavier
Compared to using Audio-gd's cheap interconnect cables via RCA or XLR, it's a huge improvement. However, compared to a serious pair of ICs, in my case, Van Den Hul The Orchid or Nordost Heimdall, there's nothing in it, except slight tonal differences depending on cables used. The principle benefit you get is that cheap ICs using ACSS (CAST) work just as well as expensive XLR or RCA cables. The other benefit is that both components stay in the current domain -- you bypass an I/V and V/I stage in the DAC and amp respectively.
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post #59 of 156
9/18/09 at 9:23pm
Thread Starter 
I should have mentioned that, actually - the balanced cables I used between my DAC and the Phoenix were Transparent Audio Premium Plus balanced IC's - pretty decent IC's.
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post #60 of 156
9/18/09 at 9:31pm
Definitely a decent set of cables Sky.

I love how the unit looks...as you mentioned it's a sexy beastie that is for sure...

When do you plan on giving it a go as a preamp ? I can almost see the grin form here (when you cue up your fav track and let her rip)

Peete.
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