Hello Everyone, I'm a Headfi newbie, Audiogon oldtimer with an amp question for you all. I'm trying to decide on an amp. On the phones, I listen to classic rock and female vocals mostly. Looking for a high quality keeper, not interim, tube amp to drive Senn. 650s w/ Cardas cable. Source is Meridian 508.20.

Amp must be well balanced to to bottom, must have good dynamic bass and smooth reasonably extended highs. Mids must be rich and full with some bloom. I would be using NOS tubes in the HP4 & Supra. Those of you intimately familiar with the Supra: How far would you take the upgrades, or which of the numerous possible upgrades are the most important in achieving the above goals?? I know that the HP4 is quite a bit more expensive than the Supra, but I just want a heads up comparison of the two units.

Thanks, in advance, for your input.

Check out Hirsch's Singlepower Audio Supra Review in the amplifier full featured review section. He owned both and I believe he did some comparisons in the review. Or maybe just PM him. Good luck.

BTW the cost of a used HP-4 is around the cost of Supra without upgrades.

I've owned both amps as well and do agree that the HP-4 is a bit less detailed than the other amp. These differences are certainly important but are most subjective. The real and factual differences are in overall build quality. The HP-4 is built by professionals and is meant to last. Anyone looking at the other amps could never honestly claim that it is built to any professional standards. EAR amps have been sold and resold and maintain a reputation for excellence. The only place you'll likely ever hear that the other amp is a quality-built product is right here where it's biggest fans populate the boards. The HP-4 is a quality product,that other amp is nice sounding product that is very poorly designed and assembled.


Before you drop your hard earned cash on either product,I suggest you attempt to audition both and take a look under the cover and see what they are really about.

Most of the cost of the HP-4 has (or at least should) have gone on the output transformers,most of the rest of the internals are fairly standard relatively low cost, but decent stuff (jamicons,wima etc).It also has balanced connections which the Supra does not (as standard).The HP-4 is less detailed than the Singlepower amps I've heard (MPX3,PPX3-6SN7,PPX3 and SDS-T).

I have never heard any singlepower amps, but I have owned the HP-4 for a while now. The build quality is excellent. I am using 1944 Sylvania tubes, and the sound with the PS-1's is excellent. Because I cant compare with the singlepower amps, I cant speak for the level of detail. However, when paired with a detailed phone you certainly wont be disappointed.

I also own the 650s with an equinox cable, and while the sound with the HP-4 is good, I prefer the 650s with the stepped Headroom Max. If you are deadset on the 650s then perhaps the HP-4 isnt the best amp for you. If you like the sound of the 650s perhaps you should consider the stepped max or even the blockhead which is in the same price range as the HP-4 and also has excellent build quality.

Still, for what its worth, i prefer the PS-1/HP-4 to the 650/Max.

I had the EAR HP4, I listened the Supra... I know very well all the Rudistor amps, why you do not consider even a RP6?

Best!
Nicola

Quote:



What tuberoller hinted at but didn't quite come out and say: The Supra has better detail and resolution than the HP-4. The HP-4 has more of the classic tube traits while the Supra is tighter all around while maintaining the tube liquidity. Part of the sonic difference comes from the use of output transformers in the HP-4, which inherently color the sound.

I have received most excellent service from Singlepower. Singlepower stands behind their products 100%. If you ever have any problems with your amp the designer/builder is always a phone call away.

The story begins again

Again??? Please leave this battle (and later some people complain of thread crapping, even some mods, and even ban other members for that)
We do not need this argument all the time....this is probably one of the reasons I will never choose any of the two wagons, the SP nor the RS, to avoid this continuous bashing all the time, the CD3000 was enough for me....Instead I'm considering a Rudistor amp for a change, and Nik was right, those amps really rocks, or maybe any other....
People is getting sick of that, and honestly, are considering other options, both manufacturers are loosing customers, why not stopping for God's sake...!!! Every single thread in which one of the two manufactures are mentioned, it ends in a flame war.....