REVIEW: Einar Sound VC-01i Balanced SS Headphone Amp - Page 4

$400 for LD MK V11 with better specs is an even better steal.

One thing is nice about the MK VII is that it is truly balanced with a dual mono power source.

Is the Einar Sound the same? Or is it a single power source? I don't know much about balanced but read for a truly balanced setup, you need a separate power source for each channel.

So if Einar isn't a dual mono setup through and through, then the MK VII looks to be the king for it's price still. Especially since for the total price of an Einar you can get yourself a DAC and Amp balanced setup from Little Dot. Hmm, will have to keep reading this thread.

Is the DOT 4 pin balanced? nd sold on Ebay? 400 sounds really good. My 8ohm DT48 is 4 pin, and would love to hear how they sound balanced.

TY. And dual mono PS seals the deal for me. My modded BC DAC2 is balanced as well.

You will not regret it,its one of the buys of the century,with a sound to match.
I use mine with balanced CD3000's and SA5000's,the clarity/detail is bliss.

There are a couple threads on them and the LD dac.

Here is one.
http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f5/lit...ssions-447094/

x2. I too have a GP and it's a great amp. It would be interesting to see how you like it and where you'd put it between all the other amps you have reviewed.

This is an interesting amp and I'm very interested. If I can't find the x-can v8p I might end up getting this amp for my D5000.

So was it explained what's the difference between the VC-01 and VC-01i with regards to the VC-01 being the compromised version? It would be nice to see some internal pics as well.

I saw some measurements of the VC-01 from a chinese website and it looks the same as the VC-01i measurements from the first page
Hevicy-Audio VC-01 VC01ȫƽºâ¶ú·Å ÅäºÏHD650 PKµôÀ³Âü-ÌÔ±¦Íø
Makes me want to think that the only difference is the label and color.

Also, what's being made in Canada according to your site?
"All units sold under the company name Einar Sound Technology are made in Canada and China (PRC), in respect of Canadian and Chinese regulations."

I have just placed an order for the Einar VC-01, which is the little brother of the "i" version. They claim it sounds very close, as they simply learned how to produce it cheaper, while keeping the sound very close to the same. I hope it does sound close, because your review brought me to buy this amp.

I had actually ordered the LD MKVII+ on Friday night. Well, I got an email back within the hour that they received the payment, but wouldn't be able to make it before the Chinese New Year's break, which is 2 weeks for LD. From what I understood, then I would be on the list to get one. Well, I have been debating between the LD and the Einar since I read your review.

That was all it took. They kindly offered me a refund, which says volumes about their customer service, and I took them up on it.

I then contacted Einar about shipping to WI. It was only $18! So, I ordered the amp on the spot. It was only a $7 difference between the two amps delivered to my doorstep.

Of course, I will give my initial impressions, as well as a review once it hits 100 & 150 or so hours. I will do my best, but I am not experienced at reviewing, and have never owned a high end amp before. I currently have a Millet Max hybrid w/ an LD DAC_1. I sold my Keces 131 MKII after hearing the LD DAC_1. I am enjoying the combo very much. But, since I learned there was such a thing as "balanced" phones, I have wanted to go that direction. I hope I didn't make a mistake going with this one over the LD MKVII. However, I am sure I will enjoy it very much if it sounds anything like it's big brother is described in this review.

I look forward to getting the amp and hearing it for the first time. I believe that I will be the first one to own one of these on headfi.org?

First impressions are lasting impressions, and they have impressed me so far. Their communication has been very quick, and after 5 pm on Friday evening (CST)! They informed me that they have them in stock, and they insist on a final QC check before sending them to their customers. They told me it should ship around mid week.

I will keep you all updated,
Matt

I should have a full review up in a day or two. The VC-01i is excellent - truly excellent.

Late in, but this amp just arrived in Australia. I gave it a listen and it sounds very good through my DT250.

It's got enough power for harder to drive phones too. As I'm fortunate enough to have audition access to this and others, like the Burson, I'll do just that, as amps are tough upgrade justifications - if you already have one.

I see some of the posts thrown about regarding the LD MkVII, but such generalised value for money assumptions (particularly if you haven't heard it at all) is moot.

This amp has balanced output (and input, so I could use this with my DACmagic) and a regular output too. The LD doesn't as far as I can see from pics, but they're not clear. Given a headphone re-cable (at ~$300+ for the cable alone) is necessary to use the LD, then $400 or so, is not its true price.

Even so, balanced wouldn't affect any purchase decision of mine, as I will have no way of doing a balanced audition without a recable of one of my phones, and the purchase of another for the DACmagic, to know if its even worth it. And from a purely monetary POV Vs outright 'extra' performance, I seriously doubt it.

But we justify such costs by other criteria at the expensive end of things. Pity it'll cost too much for me to find out.

The little dot does have balanced inputs. It also have dual transformers which this one does not. I'm not a fanboy of either one just stating the facts. I'm actually looking forward to hearing the Einar Sound. I should be getting it in a few weeks for an evaluation.

Actually, just for the record, the LD MkVII (both the original and the newer plus version has a single-ended output as well, and can accept single-ended and balanced input sources (although balanced output requires balanced input).

Still, if you're loving this amp, and happy with the value you received, that's good to hear.