[Review] JDS Labs Objective2 Amp - Page 2

Ok, that looks about like what I want.  Sadly I don't really have the know-how to build it like that.  Especially with those nice front/rear panels.  Who did that one?  Do they sell them?

Nice review. 

The O2 is an incredible amp.  It must be owned to be believed.  It powers my 650s, 701s, 880s and T-1s easily.

What I've found is that the better the DAC you use the better the O2 sounds.  It is so transparent that I can hear the difference between a HiFace transport and a Blue Circle Thingee transport.

Has anyone used O2 to drive K501? Will it have enough power? I am trying to find a budget amp for K501.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mafaldich 

Has anyone used O2 to drive K501? Will it have enough power? I am trying to find a budget amp for K501.

I think somebody used it with K501.  People definitely have for K601, K701/K702/Q701, and the requirements should be mostly similar for these.  Into roughly 80 ohms or more, it can do about 7V rms (19.8V peak-to-peak) cleanly.  Into 32 ohms or 16 ohms it's current limited, so only 4.5V and 2.25V respectively.  Most lower-impedance headphones won't need that much power anyway, unless maybe it's some particularly insensitive planar magnetic model.

FiiO E9 can drive a similar range of headphones and is a little cheaper, except it's not as good for lower-impedance ones, particularly IEMs.

This is true. You can use the B3-080 enclosure for the extra height for 1/4" jack and RCA inputs.

      Can we order the B3-080 enclosure from JDSLabs too?

Quote:

Originally Posted by kiertijai 

This is true. You can use the B3-080 enclosure for the extra height for 1/4" jack and RCA inputs.

     

      Can we order the B3-080 enclosure from JDSLabs too?

I would guess not, considering that this would require different front and back panels, different jacks, a little more effort, and so on.  It's probably not something they have on hand, or something they can do as easily as the standard build.  JDSLabs communication is very responsive, so you could probably just ask them about it though.

Whenever the actual desktop version is available--rather than just the current version in a different box--JDSLabs will be assembling and selling those, according to them.

Just got this amp from JDS and its absolutley "Stunning"...very clean, clear and articulate....for the price its a wonder indeed...

Its small and unobtrusive..and it sounds so 'neutral...it drives my Audeze LCD2's very well and my lower end Grado 325's with aplumb!

I wanted to see what all the hype was an wanted an amp that was simple and flat and with a low impedance....this is it.

My Lyr sounds muddy to me now...OMG...

All the best, now for the O2 DAC at the end of the month!

Alex

Thanks, spent 3 hrs yesterday with Grados 325i's...and even they sound more clear than before...the LCD's 2's are stellar....the music is so clear...its amazing even to crawl thru the older less quality cd/flacs from the 50's and 70's you seem to be able to hear more of the background and details, very low level stuff etc...keep hearing things that the ole cliche "I never heard before"....think the phone is ringing downstairs or someone is knocking on the door syndrom...lol...

For $144 this amp is a killer.

For someone just starting out, $144 for this amp, and $88 for the ODAC.....and a pair of $300 cans .....OMG world class sound from a PC!!

Now what to do with my LYR!!

Alex

the neat thing here is this amp to me after several other amps has allowed me to" hear" my HRT Music Streamer ii + dac...for the first time....nice benefit..

I ordered the ODAC from JDS today and will now be able to compare it with the HRT. The HRT is really good and its an asychronous DAC...the ODAC is not asynchronous so we shall see...I asked John at JDS and basically he says you dont hear it.....imagine that...so we can now go back to listening to the cans and or the music!!

Amazing the bass with this amp compared to my 6 watt Lyr...its really, really noticeable....

Going to swap our the tubes in the Lyr with some others and see if it gets any closer to the Objective Amp...

Life is Good!

Alex

Quote:

Originally Posted by adydula 

 

Amazing the bass with this amp compared to my 6 watt Lyr...its really, really noticeable....

 

Going to swap our the tubes in the Lyr with some others and see if it gets any closer to the Objective Amp...

 

Life is Good!

Alex

I'm interested in the difference in bass quality & quantity between the Lyr and O2.  Would you be willing to describe in a bit more detail the differences you noticed?  I'm needing to replace my CTH which sadly died on me recently, and have been looking at both of these amps. 

dmcs414...absoutley.....the bass on the O2 is very tight and well defined and articulated, its to die for...the drums in many of the cds/flacs are just out of this world unbeliebably good...with the Lyr the bass is muddy...not as tight or crisp....there is that proverbial veil with the Lyr...I was shocked....and i like the lyr....6 watts etc..

again i will change the tubes out and AB again , but this O2 amp to me is a reference amp....the design goals seem to have been met and it just plays good...it doesnt get in the way at all....

I have to mention besides the bass, this amp drives my LCD2's to painful levels and the Grados which didnt sound that great with the LYR now have become a very nice sounding set of cans.....with real honest solid bass as well...

Its not often that we see really good sounding stuff (or rather the absence of coloration, filtering etc...) with low cost items...this is one of them.

If I knew what I know now after going thru several amps I would buy the O2 and be very very content and listen to the music.

I wish ths guy would design a 50 watt amp for normal loudspeakers..I would buy one in an instant...

If you get this amp, $144 or so...what have u got to loose...sell it and buy a Lyr for $449. The Lyr is very well made, looks great etc...the O2 next to it looks anemic for sure...but its the sound that counts!!

All the best

Alex

There are many amps that are perfectly flat when driving no load. Add load to the signal and you get wild fluctuations. Some, however, don't at all. The iBasso T3/D is one, another is the cricri from Hippo audio. Same with Martini+. They may not hold up quite as well as the o2, they may hold up just as well. But hiss is one area where the o2 really really shines. It's true- getting flat FR is very very easy in that price range. I'd say it's harder to get a tilted frequency response.

Quote:

Originally Posted by keanex 

 

I've not personally seen an amp, especially under $200, that has a frequency response as flat as the O2. The E9 is relatively flat, but it dips on both ends a bit.