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JDSLabs C421 Preorder is live...

post #1 of 355
10/12/11 at 12:48pm
Thread Starter 

Two opamp choices available - one for higher impedance cans, one for lower (JDS states the one suited for higher impedance cans emphasizes bass over transparancy).  It doesn't look like they can be rolled.

 

http://blog.jdslabs.com/?p=179

 

 

According to the blog entry, only 95 amps will be available (at most) for preorder.  Who's taking the dive?

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post #2 of 355
10/12/11 at 6:19pm

looks like an arrow 4g killer.. :)

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post #3 of 355
10/12/11 at 7:12pm

Nice, the spec looks very promising and it even has my favorite opamp for portable amp, AD8620.

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post #4 of 355
10/13/11 at 12:49am

I ordered my C421 yesterday, based upon positive impressions of my JDS cMOY V2.03. I'm really excited about the C421 - great price ($169), great spec and hopefully a good upgrade on his terrific cMOY.

Judging by his cMOY John appears to share my personal sonic preferences. I think the C421 could be a real winner.


Edited by Hi-fi Wigwammer - 10/13/11 at 1:00am
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post #5 of 355
10/13/11 at 1:49am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Anathallo View Post

(JDS states the one suited for higher impedance cans emphasizes bass over transparancy).  It doesn't look like they can be rolled.


and i wonder why is that? usually higher impedance cans are more source revealing, they should emphasizes transparency more over bass IMO

 

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post #6 of 355
10/13/11 at 2:11am

I've ordered mine just after the rss-feed shouted at me :)

 

I'm looking forward to listen to it after loving the CMOY.

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post #7 of 355
10/13/11 at 2:32am

Indeed, I think the JDS cMOY is very underrated - a smoother, cleaner listen than the FiiO E11 to my ears.

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post #8 of 355
10/13/11 at 4:48am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ClieOS View Post

Nice, the spec looks very promising and it even has my favorite opamp for portable amp, AD8620.


Btw, was thinking, have you heard the other opamp option they offer?

 

 

 

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post #9 of 355
10/13/11 at 7:14am

anyone know how this compares to the GoVibe Magnum 

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post #10 of 355
10/13/11 at 7:28am

I doubt anyone can answer that question. It hasn't been released yet. John Seaber has taken a pre-production prototype to the Rocky Mountain Audio show today. Maybe an attending Headfier will get to listen to it?

Regardless it looks like a very promising amp for $169.

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post #11 of 355
10/13/11 at 7:33am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hi-fi Wigwammer View Post

I doubt anyone can answer that question. It hasn't been released yet. John Seaber has taken a pre-production prototype to the Rocky Mountain Audio show today. Maybe an attending Headfier will get to listen to it?

Regardless it looks like a very promising amp for $169.


 

true true, quite a damn steal for 169 (plus looks great)  for what is listed :) my magnum was 300~ tho I do love it

I wonder if the high impedence version will drive AKG K702 fine, looking into buying a pair soon (tm)

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post #12 of 355
10/13/11 at 9:54am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jonasklam View Post

Btw, was thinking, have you heard the other opamp option they offer?

 

You mean AD8066? I have both in my cmoyBB. AD8066 sounds pretty good as well, but generally I'll go for AD8620 if given the choice as AD8620 sounds more refined. I think the reason for John to recommend AD8066 for high impedance headphone is because AD8066 can do rail-to-rail, which means it will give a higher output voltage over AD8620 and that is more important for high impedance headphone (to achieve higher output volume).
 

 

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post #13 of 355
10/13/11 at 10:22am
Thread Starter 

I could be 100% wrong, but I think it's because the higher impedance cans require more push in the lower end of the spectrum to even things out, so the amp has to emphasize the bass to normalize the tonal balance.

 

Check out the Impedance vs. Frequency graph of the HD650.

 

http://www.innerfidelity.com/images/SennheiserHD650.pdf

 

It'd be interesting to hear from someone who actually knows something about sound science, though.
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by i_djoel2000 View Post

and i wonder why is that? usually higher impedance cans are more source revealing, they should emphasizes transparency more over bass IMO

 

 

 

EDIT: and as I wrote that, ClieOS gives a much better response!
 

 


Edited by Anathallo - 10/13/11 at 10:23am
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post #14 of 355
10/13/11 at 11:24am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ClieOS View Post

You mean AD8066? I have both in my cmoyBB. AD8066 sounds pretty good as well, but generally I'll go for AD8620 if given the choice as AD8620 sounds more refined. I think the reason for John to recommend AD8066 for high impedance headphone is because AD8066 can do rail-to-rail, which means it will give a higher output voltage over AD8620 and that is more important for high impedance headphone (to achieve higher output volume). 

 

 

Yep, i meant the AD8066.

Great man! Exactly what i wanted to hear actually .) - and thanks for clearing things up, you just explained the differences pretty much as precise as possible - so that even a noob like me understand it :D

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post #15 of 355
10/13/11 at 1:25pm

Tempting ....  But will be interested to see how it compares to the E11 and UHA-4 and of course there cheaper Amp.

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