burson new soloist headphone amp - Page 18

EF-6 runs very far into class A - it is amlost too hot to touch even with the baffled chassis heatsinks, I don't think there is much more chance of it dropping out of class-A than any monster speaker amp.  Mjolnir apparently runs around 1 Watt into 50 Ohms in class-A.  I'm not sure how much biasing current AudioGD use in the Master5/6/8 but it is probably around that ballpark as well from what I hear.

 

To be honest though I don't think biasing current is a good way to evaluate the performance of amplifiers - for one thing Mjolnir and Master 5/6/8 are both balanced, probably use different transistors with different linearity curves etc.  Class A bias has only theoretical advantages with all things being equal.

Looks like the EF-6 can be added to the list on power alone.  Its bias is 300mA.  But it sounds like mud :p

 

Interesting that is only a little more than what I heard the Mjolnir runs (250 MA).  I hope to hear a Mjolnir a the next local meet.

Mjolnir is 200mA, B22 is 160mA.

I would put Darkstar anytime than B22 (and Soloist).

 

Not a technician guy here, so I just believe what my ears tell me :)

I suppose if you think this is worth the $3500.  I like to consider value when giving suggestions.  In other news, the RSA B52 is a great HD800 amp but at $5300... um no.

Pardon the rookie question. How does one calculate the bias of an amplifier? Thanks.

 

Do you mind disclosing what you're suggesting for a not-so-techy one?

 

The only difference is a couple of resistors, a capacitance and an IC?

Thinking too much.  Take away the case and the vast open spaces on the PCB and that is what the DarkStar is :O

 

But we are way off topic so... moving on.

Let me try. The Darkstar is a op-amp based amp. Most of the material costs at the fancy cases. Chips are generally cheap. I'm not saying the Darkstar is crap. I've not heard it.

On a side note, can an op-amp based amp sound good? I say yes. Pricing is important though...

A big question i have for you guys is which amp should i get for my akg q701's?  the ha-160 for $549 or the soloist for $700.  Right now i have a schiit asgard and it sounds terrible.  Thanks!

You can get a soloist for 700? I say just get it. It's a step above the HA-160 and a great amp. I have not heard the Q701 but I think the soloist is one of the best amps available. if you had to choose between those two amps at those prices, get the soloist.

 

Now, if you could only get the soloist for MSRP of 1000, then it's a different matter as the difference between amps might not be worth 450 dollars to you.

No contest, the Soloist.

No comparison of the soloist vs Mjolnir yet? 

Nope.  Told Jason I'd order when the photos went up ;)  Hate to break my word :p