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Review: Violectric HPA V200 amp
May 15, 2011 at 4:17 PM Post #61 of 3,069


Quote:
dallan said:
I have heard others that it worked for but when i bought cords i noticed way worse SQ.  I couldn't believe it because i had heard it was better.  I could have described the problem at the time but can't remember now, it was almost a year ago.  I returned the cords after extensive testing.  I know another headfier who runs balanced in and rca out as well and he swears by it.  Maybe dac issue or cord issue, although i got high end XLR's to be sure.  So back on rca's in bliss.
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So you are saying you came out of your DAC Balanced outs and into the V200 Balanced in and noticed the sound quality was worse?   Worse out of the headphone jack or worse out of the RCA outs to an amp or both?
 
May 15, 2011 at 9:13 PM Post #63 of 3,069


Quote:
dallan said:
I have heard others that it worked for but when i bought cords i noticed way worse SQ.  I couldn't believe it because i had heard it was better.  I could have described the problem at the time but can't remember now, it was almost a year ago.  I returned the cords after extensive testing.  I know another headfier who runs balanced in and rca out as well and he swears by it.  Maybe dac issue or cord issue, although i got high end XLR's to be sure.  So back on rca's in bliss.
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did you switch out a different DAC?
 
 
May 16, 2011 at 10:52 AM Post #65 of 3,069
Maybe the output impedance from your DAC from the XLR is significantly higher than the RCA. What are the output impedances from these two outputs?

My experience is that a high ratio between the input impedance on the amplifier vs. the output impedance from the source / DAC is important for the dynamics in the sound.
 
May 16, 2011 at 1:56 PM Post #66 of 3,069


Quote:
duckman said:
I'm really loving the V200/Anedio D1 combo with my LCD2.
 
Added a Squeezebox Touch last night. Not sure if that made much difference, maybe just a bit; however the sum of the parts is superb.
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Hello Duckman,
  Can you please give me an idea how much and what improvement you find using the V200 to drive the LCD-2 vs. using Anedio's D1 internal headphone amp? The reason I am asking is that after buying the Anedio D1, I have gradually come to prefer its internal amp to the Graham Slee Solo Green (first version) headphone amp  that I no longer use the GS amp (though the lower clarity of the GS helps make some material more tolerable). I see several people are happy using Violectric headphone amps with the LCD-2 and I am wondering whether their variable gain and discrete architecture will provide an improvement over the D1 internal amp particularly that with the LCD-2 and the D1, I usually have the volume between 41 and 47, which corresponds to 17db to 20db of digital attenuation.
 
 
 
May 16, 2011 at 11:55 PM Post #68 of 3,069
Project86,  I read the two reviews again. Even better the second time.    I'm torn now between how good the V200 is or if I should just save for a few more months and go for the Apex Peak/Volcano.   Damn.  
 
Anyway I found this info about one of the groups you mentioned.  I guess Seven Seal was issued on CD in 1993.
 
Matumbi - Seven Seals

Label: Toshiba-EMI
Catalog#: VDBD-3
Format: CD
Country: Japan
Original Released: 1978 (Harvest, SHSP 4090, UK)
CD Released: 1993


Personnel:

Euton Fergus Jones - Congas, Percussion
Jah Bunny Donaldson - Drums
Eaton Jah Blake - Bass Guitar
Webster Scratch Johnson - Keyboards
Bevin Bagga Fagan - Lead Vocals
Dennis Blackbeard Bovell - Lead Guitar
Glaister Venn - Lead Vocals

Produced by Matumbi
 
thumbnailda.jpg

 
May 17, 2011 at 2:14 AM Post #69 of 3,069
Unfortunately I am LCD2-less for at least another week, and haven't done enough detailed comparison to give you a good answer.
 
However, IMO the V200 certainly solidifies the LCD2 bass, giving more oomph and depth. I always felt confident that I was getting slightly better sound by using the more powerful amplifier.
 
However, the D1 amp is certainly not far off, and if you're happy with it, will save you $1000! A friend of mine actually preferred the D1 amp with his LCD2.

 
Hello Duckman,
  Can you please give me an idea how much and what improvement you find using the V200 to drive the LCD-2 vs. using Anedio's D1 internal headphone amp? The reason I am asking is that after buying the Anedio D1, I have gradually come to prefer its internal amp to the Graham Slee Solo Green (first version) headphone amp  that I no longer use the GS amp (though the lower clarity of the GS helps make some material more tolerable). I see several people are happy using Violectric headphone amps with the LCD-2 and I am wondering whether their variable gain and discrete architecture will provide an improvement over the D1 internal amp particularly that with the LCD-2 and the D1, I usually have the volume between 41 and 47, which corresponds to 17db to 20db of digital attenuation.
 
 
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May 17, 2011 at 3:03 AM Post #71 of 3,069


Quote:
duckman said:
WarriorAnt,
 
You probably know already of the TTVJ 30-day return policy on the P/V? Might be incentive to give it a go.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
I did not know that.  It's the extra money.  Has to be collected that is in the way. Getting my first pair of headphones was the easy part and so was the DAC-2.   Deciding on an amp, that has been the hardest part.   I'm not a lover of headphones and will rarely use them except late at night so I might stop at the V200 rather than go for twice the expense of something that is not a passion, however I'm fighting the other side of this coin of logic which is that I went this far to assemble a rig that's going to last for some time, probably at least a decade without a change. will I be short changing myself if I don't go the extra extra distance.   It's a tough choice.  everyone loves their V200 and yet the P/V is a step further in all directions.  Is it enough of a step or will the V200 be enough?    No one seems to find anything that does not give them the magic with the V200 whereas the P/V seems to be dependent on one, maybe two specific brand of tubes.    So I oscillate back and forth between the decision which has become more difficult since I now have the coin the get the V200.  And to make matters worse the Burson HA 160 keeps getting suggested to me by someone in the forum whom I believe may be the devil himself.     
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May 17, 2011 at 8:57 AM Post #72 of 3,069
duckman said:
Unfortunately I am LCD2-less for at least another week, and haven't done enough detailed comparison to give you a good answer.
 
However, IMO the V200 certainly solidifies the LCD2 bass, giving more oomph and depth. I always felt confident that I was getting slightly better sound by using the more powerful amplifier.
 
However, the D1 amp is certainly not far off, and if you're happy with it, will save you $1000! A friend of mine actually preferred the D1 amp with his LCD2.

 


 
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Hmm, I really haven't properly A/B'ed it yet but I don't feel the headphone out on the D1 is quite up to the task of driving the LCD-2s. Will do so later.
 
May 17, 2011 at 1:40 PM Post #73 of 3,069
I´m progressing. Switched from using the 160D as standalone one-box-solution on the LCD-2s, and hooked the Burson to the V200 as a DAC. Will revert in a couple of days, when initial impressions are "verified". :)

 
Quote:
warriorant said:
Loevhagen how is the comparison coming along?   
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May 19, 2011 at 1:46 PM Post #74 of 3,069
Done. I´ll be brief. The differences are not miles apart, but I ended up using the 160D as a DAC and the V200 as headamp. Why? The V200 portrays the music in a bit more authoritative way. So, for now; that´s how the setup is. 
 
I love the Burson for it´s aesthetics, all-in-one-box-package and the sound. It´s just that the V200, in my ears, is marginally better at the latter parameter. 
 
May 19, 2011 at 1:53 PM Post #75 of 3,069


Quote:
loevhagen said:
Done. I´ll be brief. The differences are not miles apart, but I ended up using the 160D as a DAC and the V200 as headamp. Why? The V200 portrays the music in a bit more authoritative way. So, for now; that´s how the setup is.
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I know these questions are hard to answer but...
 
which one has the best soundstage.  which one is more dimensional.  Which one had more inner detail.  And perhaps the hardest of all, which one is the most engaging amp?
 
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