I recently obtained an HD800 with a quality 4-pin balance cable, and stock cable, from Raif in Sacramento. I have been using the phones with the stock cable, SE, with my Corda Opera. It sounds great and is now my favorite headphone! (Slightly ahead of the Senn T1, which is also a great headphone, but that is a subject for another string.) I would like to use the 800s in a balanced setup. The Phoenix was at the top of my list due to the transparent sound, 4 pin balanced output, remote control, power, and multiple inputs and outputs.

After reading this string, I am completely confused. I do not read a consensus that the Phoenix and HD800 mate well. Is the problem the XLR connector? Were some reviews done before the amp was burned in? Is the combination too transparent? Were the concern related to the source rather than the amp? One report that the base decreased concerns me. I thought balance generally increased base. Does anyone with this pairing think it is a great combination? It all sounds so iffy.

Any updated opinion would be appreciated.
Thanks

XLR1: A total lack of colouration is not to everyone's taste. If it's lacking anything, maybe it's that last little bit of punch. Otherwise, it's a tad more bland single-ended than the Luxman P-1, but exceeds it with balanced headphones (and the Ref 1 as a source in both cases). The current P-1u is about $3k from TTVJ and still only uses the cheap Alps volume pot, compared to the custom relay volume control in the Phoenix. I'll let you do the math. Pricklely Peete, who upgraded the caps in the power supply, reckons the mod, which costs about $80 in parts, gives the Phoenix the extra bit of performance it needs. If I were ordering one now, I'd shell out the extra for the better caps. I can't help wondering what one would be like if all the caps were upgraded, not just the half-dozen big ones in the PSU. All this is IMO, of course.

Might be worth a shot asking Kingwa to custom make one with bigger caps too, either at a bigger fee or you ship the caps to him. Btw I'm quite fine with the bass (excessive actually), but I have headphones with several dB higher bass than other headphones .

Right, so i finally obtained my goal after paying customs and doing war on the airport, but it was worth it - behold... phoenix is in daddy's handies. Yep... finally got it, and I am somewhat impressed how it behaves with my HD800, but it didn't blew me away. I gave it another 200hrs of burn in, but i was expecting that it might sound only "nice", because my main DAC is Audiotrak Dr.Dac2. And yes, I know that it is the weakest link in my system right now. Dr.Dac2 has switchable opamps, but I haven't tried that yet. Maybe it will improve some aspects of the sound, maybe not. I know, that Phoenix has BIG potential and I can feel it everytime I'm listening to it, but next two months will be tough, because I'm aiming @ Audio-Gd Ref Dac 1 and M2Tech hiFace. Money won't gather without me iMod is way different story. When I'm using it as my source, every aspect of music is better, but i guess, that maybe investing in some good dock instead of DYI LOD in the future might be reasonable option.

What I like now about Phoenix? Everything Seriously, I saw couple really expensive amps, but Phoenix is very well made, and this device is my personal No#1 when it comes to judging design. Display, selector, digital volume knob, very stylish and minimalistic look... what can I say, I enjoy just looking at it.

What I now like about the sound (yes, with Dr.Dac2 )? Transparency, punchness and very wide soundstage.

What I dislike about my new amp? There are no such things ATM.

What i dislike about the sound? It's way too flat ATM. I know, that this amp is very neutral sounding one, and it does amaze me, when it comes down to details or transparency, but ATM it all sounds just way too flat.

What now? I'm willing to take a chance, and give additional credit of trust to Mr.Kingwa, and buy Dac Ref1.

Kingwa is such a nice man, it's a pleasure to deal with him.

I will try to buy dac ref1, but if I'm short on money, is there another dac in Audio-Gd offer, that's worth my while? Any hints mates?

I am using a Dr.DAC2 with my Zana and HD800s and think it is a fine DAC. I struggled to notice any significant differences between it and the Buffalo DAC I had sitting next to it for a while.

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Now that I have the FBI-500 rebuild up and running, Phase 2 of the Phoenix "Max" mod (replace all of the stock caps in the amp chassis, add some bypass caps) will answer that question Curra or at least I hope it will.

I replaced 18 caps (12 x 1500uf 63V NoVer for 12 x 2200uf 25V Nichicon FG and 6 x 3300uf 63V NoVer for 6 x 6800uf 35V Nichicon KG Type II snap in) in the PSU mod and added 6 PIO (.047uf 160V) bypass caps to the large Nichicon KG's to be exact. I actually wanted to do more (replace all four of the 1.0uf MKP film caps) but decided against it.


I'll get crackin' on that (Phase 2) next week sometime....

Peete.