Cary Audio release Nighthawk Headphone Amp May 21st - 1200 USD

http://www.avguide.com/article/audio-electronics-cary-audio-announces-nighthawk-solid-state-headphone-amplifier

Tried search - didnt get any hits - anyway, the amp is being released under the somewhat convoluted brand 'Audio Electronics by Cary Audio' - all new to me - and it looks about as basic as a 1200 dollar headphone amp can be, at least IMO.

Not sure how Ray feels about an amp with the same name as one of his phono stages - I guess that's the big guys moving in and doing whatever the hell they damned will like. Press Release is dated May 15th - apologies if Drew or someone else has already posted on this.

Dont get me started - I had an entire thread on this recently and was told that 1K was 'entry-level high end' for a headhone amp. If you want to turn this into a debate on the merits of ranking gear by price, bring it on. Save the war stories about your dCS rig for another thread. 

Guys, I agree on the aesthetics and the fact that some will pay simply for the name, but given that NONE OF US HAS HEARD THE %##$%! THING, can we please delay any further criticism until we get some actual listening impressions ?  

Thank you.

http://www.dcsltd.co.uk/

It was an attempt at humor - dCS gear is in that category where if you have to ask the price, you cant afford it - there are shops like that in Singapore and I just stand outside wondering how great it must be to be allowed in the front door. 

Am I the only one who thinks this amp looks a lot like the Apex Butte ?

You have a point, Steve, but wouldnt you expect them to put a bit more time and effort into the casework ? The Nighthawk's sticker price is almost 2.5 times that of the Butte. Even the Muse in your photos is a more attractive looking amp for mine - I know its about whats inside the case, but for 1200 bucks I can understand the lukewarm reception this amp has received at the beginning of this thread. If its a cynical attempt by Cary to cash in on emerging market in difficult economic times, then I shall apologise to my fellow Head-Fiers accordingly. If not, I expect complimentary rooms and meals in a Vegas bordello.  

Quid pro quo or muchos nachos - I'm easy. 

Thanks for that Steve - it just drives home how ill-informed Audio-Omega was in questioning whether this amp is 'high-end'.  Man, will some people never learn ?  

I guess you could say you've handed a real Butte-kicking to anyone who doubts the credentials of this new amp. For all that, we still haven't heard the blessed thing, have we ?