Wa2 or DNA Sonnet - Page 3

The 6N6P is not a direct substitute for the 6H30P. The electrical parameters are sufficiently different and would not bias properly.

While I work with a specialist in hand wiring, I wouldn't consider the Sonett to be a subcontracted product. I personally design/select, buy, and deliver every component used in the Sonett in addition doing all the final assembly, testing, packing, and shipping.

Hello dear Head-fiers. This is my first post here.
A few days ago I saw an image of the DNA Sonett for the first time. It fell in love with it instantly. I love that Kadinsky blue. But as I wrote to Donald, love on first sight can be deceiving, so I started to read a bit, first on Donald's website. That made it even more intriguing, because I listen to music with the HD800 exclusively. I thought this might be to good to be true. So I read the very informative review by Rdr. Seraphim here on Head-Fi, thank you, so from there on I knew, this is exactly the amp I am looking for.

Now I am happy to be on Donalds waiting list. I have yet to hear my HD800's balanced, do you recommend the balanced version? From what I understood that should give a further improvement over driving my cans single-ended. Do you think it will make a good combination with a MHDT Havana DAC which is on its way to me? Well I will find out, but have good expectations already. BTW. I am very curious to find out how the DNA Sonett will compare to my Yamamoto HA-02.

Thank you all people contributing on this forum, I have learned so much from it.

I've just noticed that the DNA website does not state if the Sonett can swing the slightly higher voltages necessary for a 300 Ohm headphone. I presume it can, but it's probably worth asking.

I get the feeling that any advantage of going 'balanced' is from actually from splitting the grounds (effectively into dual mono grounds, from shared ground) rather than from any 'balancing'.

Hope it goes well for you.

I really do too. Philistine or not, I hafta say I'm clueless regarding the Kandinsky reference though. The car Sonett came in that shade. Out on a ledge, I think it's called french blue, in the automotive industry if not elsewhere. Anyway, I'm pretty sure I want shoes and a suit in that color, or at least a coffee cup or amp.

Welcome Rudivanb!

I hope you enjoy the Sonett. I'm very happy with its performance with pretty much any high-end headphone that I have had the opportunity to beg, borrow, or steal (hyperbole). The Senn 650 and 800's (next stop T1's) sound marvelous with it, as do the Westone ES3X. The NOS upgrades while expensive, are well worth the price and move it up several notches.

And don't forget about system synergy. The front end is key to any system--spinning vinyl and silver, or streaming bits and bytes. Some folks feed their Sonett a diet of PS Audio PWT/PWD. Everything I've fed it makes a difference. So, feed it well! (I'm looking at the new W4S DAC-1.)

Just FYI, Kyle at RAM has my Sonett right now, performing some upgrades on the inputs via WBT NextGen RCAs, Audio Consultant solid Ag wiring, and audio grade caps by Jensen. I'm leaving the power supply pretty much alone, 'cause I love the fluidity of the Mullard 5AR4. Again, these are pretty straight forward upgrades for a quite reasonable cost. All I'm really doing is upgrading with some well known, quantified, quality, audio-grade parts. Not that the JJ parts are bad, they're not. It's just that the design is so well implemented, conservative and restrained, mods such as these are easily qualified. And, I have some highly trusted advice (and ears) from from another Head-fi'er that these updates provide refinement to Donald's already excellent design and sound.

We'll be interested to hear your comparisons with your fine Yamamoto HA-02. Should be an interesting read.

So am I. Welcome to Head-Fi!

Thank you for the warm welcome. I love it how everybody makes their own connection with colors and how inspiring colors can be, like the Saab Sonett did to Donald. My reference to this kind of blue blue comes from a painting by Kadinsky called 'Structure Angulaire'
Wassily Kandinsky Gallery (1866-1944 ) | Art Browser
which has the same kind of blue. This hangs above my audio table, well a reproduction though Oh yes Spahn_ranch, a suit or shoes in that color would be nice too.

I found that Partsconnexion has the Reflektor 6H30-DP (DR), would that be the right one? Although I have to wait till the end of may before I can enjoy the Sonett, I am eager to press the "Add to cart" button already, your lirycal description Rdr. Seraphim of what the tube upgrades will do make me very interested, I will try to hold back, how difficult it is. And what to think about the Mullard 5AR4: Is € 195 a good deal for a matched pair new Mullard 5AR4/GZ34 "Made in Holland. DD-getter and original boxes. Production code: f31/X8L"? If yes, somebody wants to share the purchase, as I only will need one?

Fluidity in music imho is like how analog or live acoustic music is sounding, which I almost get with the Yamamoto YDA-01, HA-02 and the Senns HD800. But since my YDA-01 is solid state I hope that the Havana MHDT DAC will bring me even further. Even though the HA-02 is also based on a triode tube I still expect them to sound different, maybe even very different, since the headphone output of the Yammie is 50 Ohm and has different tubes. Was somebody able to compare the DNA Sonett and the Yammie? I will write of course my findings, I owe you.

By the way: Kadinsky felt there was a clear intuitive relation between sound and form. He was part of a group of artist calling themselves "Der Blaue Reiter" The Blue Rider. If you get a change you might like to see the delightful exhibition at The Hague: Kandinsky and Der Blaue Reiter

My suggestion, based on your preferences, get a refurbished/repaired Single Power MPX3 Slam SE. Buy it as is and have it fixed or buy one with the fixes. This amp mainly had transformer and diode problems. Several people have been repairing them - Bolder Cables being the most widely known.

That's the understatement of the century and there's also a lot of stuff about how to make an amp "truly balanced" this is not only wrong, but the resulting fixes don't add much sonically.

I disagree with that. The sound of a "truly balanced" amp (input to output, with cross coupled stages) is different from a SE amp. Depending what differences you consider better it could represent a huge improvement.

Although that's not to say in any way that a well designed and built SE amp cant sound very good, indeed they quite frequently do. Its also totally possible to build a reallly bad balanced amp. Its all about the design really. Good designs sound good regardless of whether they are balanced or not.