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Balancing Act vs Liquid Fire vs EAR HP4?

post #1 of 7
11/7/11 at 5:33pm
Thread Starter 

Which of them is the best for the LCD3?

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post #2 of 7
11/9/11 at 2:05am

I am seriously thinking of switching from a big speaker system to the best headphone amp system I can afford. That brings in the EAR Yoshino HP4 integrated valve amp. Designed by Tim Paravicini, one of the best valve amp designers in the world, and costing around £3700 it ought to be good. What makes it unique (I think) among headphone amps is that it has the ability to switch from headphone amp to power amp and thus drive a pair of speakers as well. Also has balanced and SE connections

 

Does anyone have any experience of this amp? And has anyone heard it with the new Audeze LCD3 headphones?

 

Tony

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post #3 of 7
11/9/11 at 1:00pm

With all respect, HP4 is an pre and headphone amp only.

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tony Yates View Post

I am seriously thinking of switching from a big speaker system to the best headphone amp system I can afford. That brings in the EAR Yoshino HP4 integrated valve amp. Designed by Tim Paravicini, one of the best valve amp designers in the world, and costing around £3700 it ought to be good. What makes it unique (I think) among headphone amps is that it has the ability to switch from headphone amp to power amp and thus drive a pair of speakers as well. Also has balanced and SE connections

 

Does anyone have any experience of this amp? And has anyone heard it with the new Audeze LCD3 headphones?

 

Tony



 

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post #4 of 7
11/10/11 at 9:01am

And with even more respect, there are many pre- and headphone amps.  I love the Zana Deux with my LCD-2s, also the Sudgen Headmaster.  With all planar-magnetics in general, so the LCD-3 will sound great with them.

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post #5 of 7
11/10/11 at 2:22pm

If you are going to spend that kind of money, why not go for the Stax 009 and the Blue Hawaii?

I haven't heard either setup, BTW.

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post #6 of 7
11/10/11 at 3:52pm
Thread Starter 

I already have the SR009 and intend to use LCD3 in the office...

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post #7 of 7
11/13/11 at 4:23pm

For about 8 years I had the home audio system bug something fierce.  I had systems worth more than I am willing to admit, and I rotated through dozens of cables, amps (including massive mono blocks) both tube and solid state, cd players, dac's, speakers, etc.

 

I can say without doubt, the most amazing amp I had in my system was the EAR 834 integrated tube amp.  The specs belie its magic as it was by far the lowest powered amp of everything I owned. 

 

I have since sold all my stuff and am getting into headphones, but there are only three items I miss of everything I have ever owned.  The EAR is at the top of that list.  It was absolute magic.  Let me say it again - it was goose-bump delivery capable.

 

If you have the ability to try the EAR HP4 before buying to see if it also has this magic, do it.

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