flamesofarctica said:

@kfarndog, that was a really good read, enjoyed seeing your comparisons. I was surprised the Monk+ didn't come in higher, but we all experience/appreciate stuff differently.

As an aside, when I get time I'll do a comparison with all my over-ear models, all budget-ish Chinese models (Superlux, ISK, Takstar and Somic) to see which I find of these has the best synergy with the Walnut. No idea if anyone will find it of interest or even agree with my findings, but I'll do it anyway :-D

It'll not be the next few days though, I'm too enthralled listening to my new earbud arrivals (TY650 - so much awesome; TY320 - surprising me so far, exceeding expectations) and hopefully a further arrival in a few days (my Zen 2 has landed in the UK)

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hakuzen said:

  Walnut V2
 
DAP/Amp.
 
DAP, unloaded, and loaded with Pai Audio MR3: (note different scale to fit response to MR3):                 DAP, loaded with other kind of phones:
 
     
 
DAP, amplified by Topping NX1a:
 

 
 
Amp mode, unloaded and loaded:
iBasso D14 LO + Walnut + Pai Audio MR3                                                  Zishan (DAC mode) LO + Walnut + **** UEs (1DD+1BA, 16Ω, 110dB, officially)
 
   
 
(I've repeated these tests some times, because I got puzzled when got that graph from Zishan DAC + Walnut as amp: the bass roll-off when unloaded has gone! While when used with iBasso D14, the bass roll-off became even more exaggerated than in mode DAP Walnut).
 
They are unusable for sensitive multi-BA phones.
 
Unloaded curve is far from being flat. Some people say they remind you 80's players; it must be due to the premature roll-off at both sides, lows and highs, together with a slight mid centric bump. Energetic, but I guess congested as well.
 
My (inaccurate) measures (@ 1KHz), using DMM (Zishan as source for amplifier mode, 1.874Vrms in-signal):
Output impedance: phones out, 100Ω!!!; line out: >3KΩ.
Max. output unloaded: phones out, 3.328Vrms; line out: 0.333Vrms; amplifier mode, 6.43Vrms.
But measured 4.2Vrms max., before it starts clipping.
 
Hiss with MR3 is awful; it's like loud metallic machines; it's no hiss, it's pure high noise.
 
Strange excessive high out impedances, low line out power, and high amplifier power (for the price) up to 4.2Vrms.
 
But the amplifier, while powerful, is almost unusable. First, the bass roll-off is enormous [Edit: .. in the case of D14; no bass roll-off unloaded, when amplifying Zishan].
Second, the steps in volume potentiometer; usable volumes are located in a 6th (60º) of the wheel. Start at1.30h, 0.18 at 2h, 0.4 at 2.30h; 3 at 3h, 5 at 4h, 5.8 at 5h, and 6.1 to 6.4 from 6h to 10h (Vrms); so suitable volumes are from 2h to 4h; impossible for volume fine adjusting.
 
My unit could be defective, after seeing the strange values I got from the measurements; but it sounds like 80's players, I must agree.
 

Edit: added hiss info
Edit2: added more info about amplifier mode
 

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kookaburrra said:

  Output impedance: phones out, 100Ω

It's a joke ?? 

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vapman said:

gear comparisons is the reason this site was made bro.

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t.r.a.n.c.e. said:

SEE DEEZ BARE NAKED NUTZ

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cingcut said:

wait for ultimate mod! wait for it! wait for it!

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music4mhell said:

Thanks for reply..
i will report back after 2/3 days then after full burnin

if it goes away, i will order 2 more walnuts ..

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t.r.a.n.c.e. said:

Walnut sounds great with 8Ω IT03, 60Ω Portapro and 250Ω DT880. I don't care what the output impedance is if it sounds good!

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jpciii said:

  First post - new to the site. I've been into Hi-Fi and vintage audio for a long time... refurbishing vintage speakers, etc. I'm starting to get into headphones a little bit. I mostly plug into 2 channel receivers/amps listening to CD and Vinyl. I'm kinda picky about sound quality, so I've never really got into the mp3/portable scene. Lately, I'm listening to internet radio at work, and I'm looking for something better-sounding. I like the idea of .wav files played through this little oddball DAP/Amp. This will be my first portable player of any kind.
 
I ordered one through ebay on Dec 19. The first tracking number update showed up on Dec 27: "Processed Through Facility, SHENZHEN EMS, CHINA". Guess it took that long before it was manufactured ?::shrugs::? No other entries for my tracking# yet. When it arrives, I'll post some impressions. Maybe by the time it arrives, I'll be able to post pics? Sorry, it's unclear to me how the permissions for photo posting works here...

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vapman said:

Yup, it's high, you can run it into another (less powerful of course) amp if the output resistance is important to you. However this only applies to BA & more imporantly hybrid BA IEM users, and even though I'm not much a fan of IEMs I find BA to be unsuitable. But that is  the only situation you have where an output resistance high as the Walnut's could have a measurable negative impact on sound. This lil guy can make the most power hungry headphones shake nice n' good.

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