cooperpwc said:

   
One-up the Quickstep for SQ? We will see about that. Nonetheless the size, features and DAC could make the UHA760 very attractive.

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lee730 said:

   
So the UHA6 MKII didn't already do that? .

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cooperpwc said:

   
YMMV.

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geod said:

My UHA760 arrived in the mail today.  I listened to my UHA-6S.mkII extensively over the past 2 months at work on a daily basis.  The headphones I use to listen are a pair of Brainwavz B2 IEMs.  I listen almost exclusively to streaming music on soundcloud, di.fm and youtube, which was what attracted me to the UHA760.

Before you read any of this please note that my UHA-6S.mkII has the default AD8610ARZ op-amp, where I chose the OPA209AID op-amp for the UHA760.  I won't know what is the cause of the differences I'm hearing but I'd still like to share some initial impressions.

The genre of music I listen to the most is electronic music, all genres, but I really focused on some melodic dubstep, vocal trance, progressive psy and drum and bass to produce my experiences I'll do my best to describe.

Not to start off on a bad note, but the upon plugging in the UHA760, the first thing that irked me is when the volume is all the way down, it still plays music at low volume.  My UHA-6S.mkII didn't do that, it was dead silent with 0 volume.  My next comment is also volume related, I didn't realize how big of a difference a +18 db gain made compared to a +12 db gain.  On the UHA-6S.mkII I would steadily listen to music in high gain mode and have the volume knob around 8 o'clock.  With the UHA760, on high gain I'm between 10 o'clock and 12 o'clock for a similar engagement.

To me the xfeed feature is pointless, I cannot ever see using it as it just narrows the soundstage.  I prefer the soundstage as wide as possible and welcome mind spinning sweeps in the music.  This will permanently remain in the off position on my unit.

So is there anything good to say about the UHA760?  Yes, thankfully!  After my ears settled down from the obvious volume differences, I just let the music play in the background at low volume as I would at work.  The best way I can describe the differences is the music felt more alive, more engaging.  Instrument separation was more apparent, random noises I would have to listen closely for had it's moment without trying.  The sound stage does seem wider with xfeed on the off position.  As a general statement, the overall presentation of the music sounds more accurate and how the recording was meant to be heard.  I'm assuming this has something to do with the USB upconversion to 192 kHz.
Edit: Another thing I'm noticing is that vocals sound clearer, crisper and more separate and spacious from the music.

Bass response may seem more accurate, tighter and less sloppy, but I'm having a tough time determining if that's from the improvements in the DAC or the different op-amp.  I miss having a little extra boom but I'm not disappointed by any means.  I remember I noticed a little additional warmth after my UHA-6S.mkII had some time to break in, so I'll monitor that as time goes on.
Edit: After listening some more, I think what I'm experiencing in addition to tighter more controlled bass, is that the mids and highs I wasn't hearing as much before is what was causing the bass sound slightly more recessed, but in a good way!

While I'm sure I'll be able to provide more info on this over time, the UHA760 did seem less fatiguing.  My ears are pretty sensitive and I noticed one song on the UHA-6S.mkII got to me and it didn't on the UHA760.

I know overall I'll be very pleased with the upgrade to the UHA760 and it'll make my work experience that much more enjoyable.

For anyone interested, the music I used to compare the two units were:
https://soundcloud.com/housemusic/electric-glow-by-tritonal-ft
https://soundcloud.com/seven-lions/royksopp-running-sevenlions-remix
https://soundcloud.com/tritonalmusic/tritonal-now-or-never-pierce
https://soundcloud.com/xthemout/holly-drummond-out-of-my-mind-cto-remix
https://soundcloud.com/adventureclub/lullabies-yuna-adventure-club-remix
https://soundcloud.com/scullious/scullious-meant-to-be-ft-jdr-tiff-lacey
https://soundcloud.com/shogunaudio/optiv-btk-understand-vip
https://soundcloud.com/minnesota/relax-astral-projection-ep
https://soundcloud.com/omnia/bones

Edit: I should have avoided an initial review after only an hour listening, it's becoming more and more apparent as time goes the benefits of the UHA760.  I'm in shock how beneficial the upconversion is for streaming music.  Nearly every track I've listened to sounds like an upgraded recording.  I'm also finding myself moving to the music more, tapping my foot, drumming a beat, etc.

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musicheaven said:

.

Thank you so much for this review, exactly what I was waiting for what makes it even better is your choice of music, exactly as mine. What I like about EDM is the amazing frequency range being used. The ultimate music for gauging electronics from the warm subsonic of dubstep to the high pitch of cymbals, warm pads and synthesizers. I am so amazed about how far electronic based music has gone and the enchanting female vocals on those are pure bliss. By the way your selection will be added to my already vast collection of edm music including some of the authors I already own. Please do come back and give us a second round once you have burned in your amp. This amp is definitively on my buyer's list.

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geod said:

Hi Jon, thanks for the reply.  I'll be happy to post some updates after I get a few weeks burn in and listening done.  Overall, I'm impressed and to me it is worth the extra $100 in cost.  I think this version may struggle with hard to drive headphones, but I'm very pleased with the performance on IEMs.  I'd love to hear what kind of EDM music you're into and use to test your equipment, I always love discovering new artists.  Shoot me a PM with some of your favorites and I will do the same.

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geod said:

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

 
 
My UHA760 arrived in the mail today.  I listened to my UHA-6S.mkII extensively over the past 2 months at work on a daily basis.  The headphones I use to listen are a pair of Brainwavz B2 IEMs.  I listen almost exclusively to streaming music on soundcloud, di.fm and youtube, which was what attracted me to the UHA760.
 
Before you read any of this please note that my UHA-6S.mkII has the default AD8610ARZ op-amp, where I chose the OPA209AID op-amp for the UHA760.  I won't know what is the cause of the differences I'm hearing but I'd still like to share some initial impressions.
 
The genre of music I listen to the most is electronic music, all genres, but I really focused on some melodic dubstep, vocal trance, progressive psy and drum and bass to produce my experiences I'll do my best to describe.
 
Not to start off on a bad note, but the upon plugging in the UHA760, the first thing that irked me is when the volume is all the way down, it still plays music at low volume.  My UHA-6S.mkII didn't do that, it was dead silent with 0 volume.  My next comment is also volume related, I didn't realize how big of a difference a +18 db gain made compared to a +12 db gain.  On the UHA-6S.mkII I would steadily listen to music in high gain mode and have the volume knob around 8 o'clock.  With the UHA760, on high gain I'm between 10 o'clock and 12 o'clock for a similar engagement.
 
To me the xfeed feature is pointless, I cannot ever see using it as it just narrows the soundstage.  I prefer the soundstage as wide as possible and welcome mind spinning sweeps in the music.  This will permanently remain in the off position on my unit.
 
So is there anything good to say about the UHA760?  Yes, thankfully!

 After my ears settled down from the obvious volume differences, I just let the music play in the background at low volume as I would at work.  The best way I can describe the differences is the music felt more alive, more engaging.  Instrument separation was more apparent, random noises I would have to listen closely for had it's moment without trying.  The sound stage does seem wider with xfeed on the off position.  As a general statement, the overall presentation of the music sounds more accurate and how the recording was meant to be heard.  I'm assuming this has something to do with the USB upconversion to 192 kHz.
Edit: Another thing I'm noticing is that vocals sound clearer, crisper and more separate and spacious from the music.
 
Bass response may seem more accurate, tighter and less sloppy, but I'm having a tough time determining if that's from the improvements in the DAC or the different op-amp.  I miss having a little extra boom but I'm not disappointed by any means.  I remember I noticed a little additional warmth after my UHA-6S.mkII had some time to break in, so I'll monitor that as time goes on.
Edit: After listening some more, I think what I'm experiencing in addition to tighter more controlled bass, is that the mids and highs I wasn't hearing as much before is what was causing the bass sound slightly more recessed, but in a good way!
 
While I'm sure I'll be able to provide more info on this over time, the UHA760 did seem less fatiguing.  My ears are pretty sensitive and I noticed one song on the UHA-6S.mkII got to me and it didn't on the UHA760.
 
I know overall I'll be very pleased with the upgrade to the UHA760 and it'll make my work experience that much more enjoyable.
 
For anyone interested, the music I used to compare the two units were:
https://soundcloud.com/housemusic/electric-glow-by-tritonal-ft
https://soundcloud.com/seven-lions/royksopp-running-sevenlions-remix
https://soundcloud.com/tritonalmusic/tritonal-now-or-never-pierce
https://soundcloud.com/xthemout/holly-drummond-out-of-my-mind-cto-remix
https://soundcloud.com/adventureclub/lullabies-yuna-adventure-club-remix
https://soundcloud.com/scullious/scullious-meant-to-be-ft-jdr-tiff-lacey
https://soundcloud.com/shogunaudio/optiv-btk-understand-vip
https://soundcloud.com/minnesota/relax-astral-projection-ep
https://soundcloud.com/omnia/bones
http://youtu.be/IGHxe_QOHgc  - Psy Trance Mix
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NH56w5N4SeQ - Live Set
 
Edit: I should have avoided an initial review after only an hour listening, it's becoming more and more apparent as time goes the benefits of the UHA760.  I'm in shock how beneficial the upconversion is for streaming music.  Nearly every track I've listened to sounds like an upgraded recording.  I'm also finding myself moving to the music more, tapping my foot, drumming a beat, etc.

 

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 The gain switch on the UHA760 does not change the output impedance. The output impedance is less than 1 ohm for all three gain settings. My approach is to try and keep the output impedance as low as possible to avoid altering the frequency response of IEMs. Using output impedance to create different sounds is an interesting idea, though. I may consider that type of feature for my future designs. Regards, Nick

castleofargh said:

  crossfeed is not an easy thing to get right for a number of reasons, so it might be nice for you, or not. that's why I was interested in this amp in the first place.
 
can't advise you much for an IEM, they're all so different. I only heard one 1964 it was the quad I believe (not even sure about that). and there was a lot of bass ^_^.  but going custom in those prices is a great thing. when it's well done comfort is really superior.
 
 
 
about gain: usually using the lowest gain that still gives you enough volume is the way to get the best out of an amp.
with high gain and low value on the volume knob, you boost the voltage a lot more than you need for your IEM, then reduce all that excess volume with the knob (knob volume maxed out= no reduction of the amplified signal). it might just bring troubles like noise, distortion, or clipping, but it will not bring more power. gain plays with voltage(how loud it is) not power.

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castleofargh said:

   
thank you for the feedback.
if your ears are sensitive to fatigue, I have some little suggestions.
-use the crossfeed! if it's well done it will ease the work of you brain trying to understand why some sounds only get into one ear when it's loud and should in natural environment enter the other one too. it's less work for the brain to have some extent of crossfeed. 
but yes it reduces the wideness of the stage, on the other hand it will add some depth so you don't really lose space (but I get it that some people love super wide sound, a matter of tastes).
- get rid of the B2 ^_^.  the 10khz spike were killing me for as long as I owned them.
 
now about the gain, why but holy grail full of guacamole why would you want high gain on the B2?
I'm done trying to say the with matched volume lower gain is almost always better, nobody would trust the nobody I am when it is so easy to get done in by the "louder is better" effect when switching gains. but here is what Nick (some other dude except he's the one making the amp ^_^) had to say on gain when I spammed him with irrelevant questions a few months back.
 

Code:

 The gain switch on the UHA760 does not change the output impedance.The output impedance is less than 1 ohm for all three gain settings.My approach is to try and keep the output impedance as low as possibleto avoid altering the frequency response of IEMs. Using outputimpedance to create different sounds is an interesting idea, though. Imay consider that type of feature for my future designs.Regards,Nick

 
 
 
anyway if the dac part is good, it's all I was hoping for as it is what needed improvement over last version, the amp section was already good enough for me.
is the volume knob really harder to turn by mistake on the 760? I always feared big knobs in a pocket.

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shotgunshane said:

Some very brief Herus and UHA760 thoughts (the 760 is brand new and I've only got a couple of hours with it) using an iPhone 5>CCK>USB>DAC/amp:

The Herus sounds more dynamic and bigger in size than the 760, with a little bit better deep bass.
The 760 sounds more laid back and smoother to me; doesn't quite have the sparkle of the Herus.
The 760 has a slightly blacker background.
Both are closer to each other than either one to the Meier Quickstep, which sounds overall warmer, darker and bassier.

While the Herus wins in form factor and minimalist approach, the 760's digital volume pot and 3 setting gain stage are just simply awesome with IEMs and is worth the price of admission for those reasons alone.

With most of my IEM collection, I really enjoy the Herus dynamics, power and soundstage but the 760 seems the better match with the JH13- I enjoy the smoother treble from it. I think I'll keep both and call it a day with portable amps.

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shotgunshane said:

I thought I'd post this here from the Herus thread:

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shotgunshane said:

  Some very brief Herus and UHA760 thoughts (the 760 is brand new and I've only got a couple of hours with it) using an iPhone 5>CCK>USB>DAC/amp:

The Herus sounds more dynamic and bigger in size than the 760, with a little bit better deep bass.
The 760 sounds more laid back and smoother to me; doesn't quite have the sparkle of the Herus.
The 760 has a slightly blacker background.
Both are closer to each other than either one to the Meier Quickstep, which sounds overall warmer, darker and bassier.

While the Herus wins in form factor and minimalist approach, the 760's digital volume pot and 3 setting gain stage are just simply awesome with IEMs and is worth the price of admission for those reasons alone.

With most of my IEM collection, I really enjoy the Herus dynamics, power and soundstage but the 760 seems the better match with the JH13- I enjoy the smoother treble from it. I think I'll keep both and call it a day with portable amps.
 

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***760 with ad 4627brz opamp

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