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I will preamble this review by saying the full review including pics, RMAA scores, and other evaluations is located here:
Review Einar Sound VC-01i Balanced headphone amplifier in Review – balancing and unbalancing the equation
Bit of Background
My first headphone amp was a Meier Corda bought in 2003. It was one of those big black chunky boxes and it existed for one reason and one reason only: to make my DT880 shine.
Well nearly 7 years later, the Einar Sound VC-01i is doing the same thing, but with a few added options, namely, to drive my DT880 600Ω from either TRS or XLR, both of which it does very well.
Build and Aesthetics
But before we get into sound, I'd like to discuss aesthetics and build. Firstly, the VC-01i looks like a solid brick, and it mostly is, but there is some give in the rear panel and the top where the case flexes. That means taking in/out cables from the back causes some flex, and the top shouldn't hold heavy stuff (not like anyone would anyway). You see, the top also houses the vent, so if anything blocks it, the amp could get too hot. That said, the VC-01i doesn't get that warm.
The final piece I'd like to point out is the front plate which sticks up, over, and under the rest of the amp. There is very little clearance between whatever the amp rests on and the front plate because the rubber feet are so small. Watch our for nicks and scratches.
Pluses
Those issues aside, I'll tell you why I like this amp: it really is two amps in one and apart from that, very ergonomic. Getting at the various connections and headphone jacks is easy, as is turning it on/off and switching sources. You can run two headphones at a time: one from the TRS jacks (only one at a time though), and one from the XLR terminals.
Audio performance
Naturally, the XLR terminals are much louder than the TRS, no matter if the amp is sucking signal from RCA or XLR input. Yes, you can use RCA input and enjoy slightly better imaging and loads more power from the XLR terminals, but plugging in XLR in the back and utilising its feed opens everything up a notch or two.
Going down the line, XLR input/output affords headphones better stereo separation, lower noise, better left/right balance, and slightly better imaging. Depending on the headphones you use, but it is an audible difference.
But the VC-01i's wonderful, neutral signature doesn't change going form unbalanced to balanced. In many ways, it is a model SS amp: high performance in every measurable area, but it is also extremely smooth, and in some ways, mellow. Wire with gain? Maybe.
Low Ω headphones such as Ultrasone DJ1Pro and AKG K701 benefit from a pretty thick bass which the VC-01i pumps out into >80Ω headphones. And there is no noise at all with any headphone of any sensitivity. Earphones suffer a little, but less even than some portable sources. And there is no ON/OFF thump which is a glory hallelujah moment for an people with sensitive headphones.
Einar currently make two amps: the VC-01i at 599$ and the VC-01 at 399$. I've been told that the audio performance between the two is very similar and I assume it is so, especially with higher Ω headphones. At 599$, the VC-01i is a very good product which could only be bettered by a safer case and to combat silly questions, the removal of the second TRS jack which does nothing.
Again, for the full review, images and Right Mark Audio Analyzer (RMAA) scores, follow the original review.
Review Einar Sound VC-01i Balanced headphone amplifier in Review – balancing and unbalancing the equation
Review Einar Sound VC-01i Balanced headphone amplifier in Review – balancing and unbalancing the equation
Bit of Background
My first headphone amp was a Meier Corda bought in 2003. It was one of those big black chunky boxes and it existed for one reason and one reason only: to make my DT880 shine.
Well nearly 7 years later, the Einar Sound VC-01i is doing the same thing, but with a few added options, namely, to drive my DT880 600Ω from either TRS or XLR, both of which it does very well.
Build and Aesthetics
But before we get into sound, I'd like to discuss aesthetics and build. Firstly, the VC-01i looks like a solid brick, and it mostly is, but there is some give in the rear panel and the top where the case flexes. That means taking in/out cables from the back causes some flex, and the top shouldn't hold heavy stuff (not like anyone would anyway). You see, the top also houses the vent, so if anything blocks it, the amp could get too hot. That said, the VC-01i doesn't get that warm.
The final piece I'd like to point out is the front plate which sticks up, over, and under the rest of the amp. There is very little clearance between whatever the amp rests on and the front plate because the rubber feet are so small. Watch our for nicks and scratches.
Pluses
Those issues aside, I'll tell you why I like this amp: it really is two amps in one and apart from that, very ergonomic. Getting at the various connections and headphone jacks is easy, as is turning it on/off and switching sources. You can run two headphones at a time: one from the TRS jacks (only one at a time though), and one from the XLR terminals.
Audio performance
Naturally, the XLR terminals are much louder than the TRS, no matter if the amp is sucking signal from RCA or XLR input. Yes, you can use RCA input and enjoy slightly better imaging and loads more power from the XLR terminals, but plugging in XLR in the back and utilising its feed opens everything up a notch or two.
Going down the line, XLR input/output affords headphones better stereo separation, lower noise, better left/right balance, and slightly better imaging. Depending on the headphones you use, but it is an audible difference.
But the VC-01i's wonderful, neutral signature doesn't change going form unbalanced to balanced. In many ways, it is a model SS amp: high performance in every measurable area, but it is also extremely smooth, and in some ways, mellow. Wire with gain? Maybe.
Low Ω headphones such as Ultrasone DJ1Pro and AKG K701 benefit from a pretty thick bass which the VC-01i pumps out into >80Ω headphones. And there is no noise at all with any headphone of any sensitivity. Earphones suffer a little, but less even than some portable sources. And there is no ON/OFF thump which is a glory hallelujah moment for an people with sensitive headphones.
Einar currently make two amps: the VC-01i at 599$ and the VC-01 at 399$. I've been told that the audio performance between the two is very similar and I assume it is so, especially with higher Ω headphones. At 599$, the VC-01i is a very good product which could only be bettered by a safer case and to combat silly questions, the removal of the second TRS jack which does nothing.
Again, for the full review, images and Right Mark Audio Analyzer (RMAA) scores, follow the original review.
Review Einar Sound VC-01i Balanced headphone amplifier in Review – balancing and unbalancing the equation
