REVIEW: Lead Audio LA-200 DAC/headphone amp/speaker amp (a HeadFi Exclusive!) - Page 2

Quote:

Originally Posted by shleepy 

Thanks for getting back to me about the W1000's! I think I'll give the LA-200 a go. Most likely, the DAC + headphone amp part of it is not going to be any worse than the DR.DAC2 (and probably better). As you mention in the review, there really aren't a lot of direct competitors to the LA-200, and a relatively compact USB DAC + headphone/speaker amp is exactly what I'm looking for.

No problem. Without having heard the DR. DAC2 myself, I suspect that you are correct - the LA-200 headphone section should at least be in the same league if not better. There really is a lot of though/engineering put into the headphone output. 

And I remain very impressed with the unit powering speakers as well. It absolutely puts my beloved vintage McIntosh MAC1700 integrated to shame, even though the power rating is less than half. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by cky8 

@shleepyI had the same thoughts like you. I am not sure if the W1000X is easy to pair with any other tube amp. So far so good having my W1000X paired with D1. project86 has much praise for the W1000 paired with Svetlana 2 (and possibly other ATH W-series). I'm actually waiting till project86 gets a chance to audition the W1000X with Svetlana 2. Aha! The wait is killing me.

 

Sorry! It is on my list of things to try, maybe before years end, but I'm just so busy with other stuff.

I'm thinking of selling off a bunch of my open headphones and picking up some more closed headphones though, so the W1000X is high on the list. 
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by shleepy 

I received my LA-200 over the weekend and hooked it up to my W1000X's and my new B&W 685 speakers. All good so far.
I'm surprised that I have to turn up the volume as much as I do for the headphones, since they're so low impedance, but it doesn't hurt anything.

Cool, another owner! 

I was a bit surprised at the volume at first too. It just seems wrong to turn the knob so much, and I always thought I'd run out of volume. But I usually don't, except with Orthos. If anything, running near the top of the volume range would minimize any potential loss of resolution caused by the digital volume control.

Looking forward to hearing your impressions. 

That wiring is the first thing that caught my eye when I opened up the chassis. Probably overkill, but then again it is indicative of the quality and thought that Lead Audio put into this little device. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by jisu 

Hi guys,

I just had a chat with Simon Kang from Lead Audio regarding the LA-300 and here's what he told me:
 

 

Anyone got spare €30k? :p

That makes sense - although the designer has experience with building room correction devices at Copland, it is still a very ambitious project to take on. Much more complex than building an amp or DAC. 

I'm more interested in their updated LA-100. I was using the LA-200 the other day with the new Sennheiser HD-700, and it did a very impressive job. I don't know if it is their lack or marketing or what keeping them from being more popular, but the hardware certainly is good. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by jisu 

I wonder how the LA-200 fares against the DACmini PX.

Good question. I'll compare them if I ever get my hands on the PX.