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Looking for "Crystal Clear" AMP - Page 3

post #31 of 40
11/23/09 at 4:37pm
Thread Starter 

Phoenix it is

Finally I put my bet on Phoenix and it just arrived. I must say it is quite a sight to put them on my desktop. The good thing is that the temperature is not as hot as I imagine by reading the posts here. It has been on for about three hours and both boxes are just warm to touch.

The choice of Phoenix is mainly because its balanced implantation. Before the decision, I happened to try balanced IC between PSA DLIII & GCHA. And the improvement is significant enough already to intrigue my interest in balanced route. So I got Phoenix with balanced DT880/600 on its way...

At this moment, I just had SE DT880/600. After some brief comparison with GCHA, I was impressed. I though GCHA is very good on its clarity and focusing. Phoenix is doing as good as what GCHA is and even more. The music came out just so "easy". DT880/600 seems to be connected to a limitless energy reservoir. The texture of each sound sources (especially vocal) is further revealed but the sound is never edgy or too bright (those issue have never shown up after GCHA). The layers of sound and images are clearer and soundstage is further expanded (I cannot imagine that is even possible after I heard GCHA). The "3D effect" is even more apparent now.

So even with such preliminary listening I am already very satisfied with this decision.

Many thanks for your inputs!!
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post #32 of 40
11/24/09 at 12:37am
Sweet! Do post pics.
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post #33 of 40
11/24/09 at 1:00am
Thread Starter 
When I said "quite a sight", I meant they were just so humongous that my desktop was totally occupied by them. One box is about the same size of GCHA. Not to mention I have to put them side by side.

After 20-min quick cut and stack. I made a simple wood stack to save some of my desktop space. It is not pretty, but I'll try to switch to better wood and maybe stain them after all.

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post #34 of 40
11/24/09 at 1:23am
Congratulations djuka!
I pulled the trigger on the GS-1 but i cant get a hold of justin yet, been over a week but no response yet

Have fun with the phoenix! Any initial impressions on the sound?
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post #35 of 40
11/24/09 at 1:47am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stitch View Post
I pulled the trigger on the GS-1 but i cant get a hold of justin yet, been over a week but no response yet

Have fun with the phoenix! Any initial impressions on the sound?
Good luck on getting one soon. Waiting is the part that killing us, but hopefully it will get paid off soon.

As time goes on, the power box does get quite hot especially the bottom part. This makes a lot of sense because it shows that the heat is mostly generated by direct (and intended) contact since the case is designed as heat sink. If the heat is the result of poor circulation (or closed box), then the top will be hottest spot but it is not. Therefore, opening box or cutting slots will not help as some have observed. And Phoenix supposed to be hot since it is reborn by fire.

And I think the wood stack will really help the bottom of power box to get proper heat dump into the environment. I will have no need of space heater when winter comes.

And I have to say when it heats up the sound becomes even more incredible. I love Classical music in the past, but not much of my past gear have been able to let me enjoy the feeling of true music concert. Phoenix shows me how close I can get to the same feeling again. The music is not "compressed" anymore but fully extended to fill the air.

My GCHA is also very neutral, clear, and detailed. But Phoenix seems to be (I need more comparison to tell by how much it gains) able just let the music flow out and fill the whole wide soundstage without any effort. Very well focused and holographic-like image. Lots of layers in the sound field. I'll say it should gain another level of improvement when the balanced DT800/600 arrived.
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post #36 of 40
11/24/09 at 1:57am
Thread Starter 
Another unique characteristic of Phoenix is that it always sounds wonderful no matter what volume I was on.

In the past with other amps I usually found out the sound became flat and dull at lower volume, which often prompted me to raise the volume (still my listening level is at 60~70dB most of time).

GCHA using Gain Cell is supposed to address this issue. But I found Phoenix does it even better. It should be due to its ACSS approach. I can set the volume from 10~17 and the clarity has not diminished much.
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post #37 of 40
11/24/09 at 3:43am
Good to here you like the sound fo the phoenix.

Quote:
Originally Posted by dukja View Post
Good luck on getting one soon. Waiting is the part that killing us, but hopefully it will get paid off soon.
This explains why there seem to be so few GS-1's on head-fi.....
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post #38 of 40
11/24/09 at 7:02am
Quote:
Originally Posted by dukja View Post
My GCHA is also very neutral, clear, and detailed. But Phoenix seems to be (I need more comparison to tell by how much it gains) able just let the music flow out and fill the whole wide soundstage without any effort. Very well focused and holographic-like image. Lots of layers in the sound field. I'll say it should gain another level of improvement when the balanced DT800/600 arrived.
If you think the soundstage is wide now, wait until you re-cable your headphones balanced.
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post #39 of 40
11/25/09 at 4:56pm
Thread Starter 
Balanced DT880/600 just arrived. The change from stock SE to recabled balanced phone is much larger than I thought. But I'll say the cable is the major factor. Even the economic cable sound with XLR -> 1/4 converting cable (so it is SE) sounds louder, finer mid/high, fuller/compact bass with good impact, and better image than the stock SE cable. This make me think about recabling all my headphones.

Balanced connection brings out even more power so I have to turn down the volume. But quick comparison between SE and balanced connection (with same cable using XLR->1/4") shows that balanced connection results even more 3D imaging of the soundstage. The width and may not change much but the depth is extended.

Now with this new balanced DT880 and Phoenix, my ears are greatly indulged. Suddenly, I have hard time listen to my other gears.

So I guess the lesson to learn is: every component matters. The bad news is now you are thinking about your power cord, power conditioner,...
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post #40 of 40
11/26/09 at 3:24am
I'm throwing in for the Beta 22.
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