REVIEW: Einar Sound VC-01i Balanced SS Headphone Amp - Page 3

I wonder how it would compare to the Audio-gd Roc.

Nice option for a balanced amp under $1000. Good luck to you, Einar!

The series was initially released in the Chinese market with the lower cost and lower model name VC-01. Our partner in China marketed their own company name with the amplifier. Later on we come to an agreement on using our company name Einar Sound world wide, and this will be the unique brand name for our current and further products. The model VC-01 will still be selling in China with both of the previous and current brand names Hevicy Audio (until the stock with such name has been sold out) and Einar Sound. The model VC-01i will be thrown in the Chinese market soon. They both share the same topology. The VC-01 is a compromise of the design of VC-01i, and is for the Chinese market only. There are two colors for VC-01 (Black and Silver), and two for VC-01i (coffee and Silver White). Please visit our website for more information on our products. Einar Sound, cheers, Einar Sound

The series was initially released in the Chinese market with the lower cost and lower model name VC-01. Our partner in China marketed their own company name with the amplifier. Later on we come to an agreement on using our company name Einar Sound world wide, and this will be the unique brand name for our current and further products. The model VC-01 will still be selling in China with both of the previous and current brand names Hevicy Audio (until the stock with such name has been sold out) and Einar Sound. The model VC-01i will be thrown in the Chinese market soon. They both share the same topology. The VC-01 is a compromise of the design of VC-01i, and is for the Chinese market only. There are two colors for VC-01 (Black and Silver), and two for VC-01i (coffee and Silver White). Please visit our website for more information on our products. Einar Sound, cheers, Einar Sound

Hi, may I answer the question for Rob? The unit is ok in terms of technical and sonical features with HD650 either balanced or unbalanced. We tune the amp mainly with Sennheiser headphones (HD580, HD600, HD650 and HD800) which are our favorite too.

I like the feature of having switched balanced and unbalanced inputs.

Any chance of putting up a non-Flash version of your website? And why do you have "tube headphone amplifier" in your meta tags?

Sure jumps in price a fair bit just for a name change.

so the only difference is the name, color and price?

We have a few design of tube headphone amp already. We will try to come up with a prototype before christmas time. A commercial unit should be available in 2010.

Hi again, you will see both models (VC-01i and VC-01) in the Chinese market. The price and color will be different for each models. Customer in China will be able to compare both units side by side.

Not to put words in your mouth but didn't you also say that the VC-01 is a compromised version of the VC-01i? To me, that means that you have taken some measure to reduce the price of the VC-01 with some loss of performance, or did I misundertand what you wrote?

Yes, it is. They will target different market segments in China.

Thanks!

This makes me want you to review the GP amp even more. Arn has already added another heat sink and is working on another upgrade to the PCB board plus somthing else. It sells for 550. If this amp is better SE, I'd be very suprised. Knees can vouch for the GP's greatness at the 550 price point.. Plus, you have a designer who is constantly making it better. Living 15 miles away, sending my unit in for the upgrades is a breeze, but Arn is usually racing a mile a minute, always planning ahead. I don't want to keep sending my amp in for upgrades. So, off topic. I just think the GP is a super great value that gets little respect and little attention with only 4-5 owners on the board.

This also makes me want to buy it since I have a balanced dac and DT48.. So, it never ends. 600 seems like a steal.