[MacedonianHero]

My vote for the Headphone.Guru Writers' Choice award was for the very excellent AMP-23R by Enleum...just a wonderful experience regardless of the headphones you have on hand: https://headphone.guru/headphone-guru-2022-product-of-the-year-awards/ .

 

[iFi audio]

why the clicking

That's just the nature of volume control based on relays. They click because they have to, just as thubes get hot when they glow

... but of course not everyone has to like that relay sound.

 

[alekc]

@cangle thank you for posting it. I've watched it and while I'm still about to do a demo of 23r I think this is very refreshing review - setting a side subject and considering that all this is so subjective - since finally there is a truly critical point of view instead of singing paeans just to get another freebie item. Obviously since I haven't heard the amp I can not comment on the amp itself but after spending time with Envy and 23r price increase I think I really found my end-game and I can stay with HEADA in solid state area for a long while instead of investing into 23r.

The part that was interesting for me in the review was about TT2 since this is one of dacs I have and I would consider building a chain with. I'd love to hear more feedback from Rockna dacs owners. Still the Envy is the way to go for now for me. While tube rolling can be expansive it is also a very satisfying sport in a long run I just wish those tube amps had 23r size. This is one of the featers of 23r hard to beat by any competitors I guess.

 

[Zielarz]

since finally there is a truly critical point of view instead of singing paeans just to get another freebie item.

I think you can find in this topic some criticism of 23R. Also I think there aren't still many reviews, they selected to who they want to send this. Also for me it was interesting that many people who had the Enelum sold it quite quickly. Maybe I'm wrong but I think that if you buy a great gear (and this is what reviewers tell you) you don't want to sell it.

Still I think it comes to what you like in the music. If you love midrage and you like more warmer sound then Enleum probably won't be for you. As I wrote a few times - it makes music lifeless for me on my setup at least. You have Envy so it's closer to my Cayin HA-300 - I love this amp and I think overal it's a better (and not this expensive) device then 23R. Enleum is a bit more resolving and has more punch in the mid bass (at least with stock tubes at Cayin) but I think it needs a specific DAC to try to fix it. But if you have Abyss 1266 TC then this can be better then Envy - for me Enleum and 1266 match better also for my colleague who at least tested 23R and Envy. Also probably Susvara will be great form the Enleum.

Also I think it's important if you are a headphone user only or you are also using speakers. If so then Enleum has here some advantages but I'm not sure if the better option isn't buying separate headphone and speaker amps in the price of 23R.

I really think that 23R is overpriced and has too much marketing in it (those mythical legs without a rubber at bottom...). It's good, looks great, now has a fantastic remote but it also has a problematic (at least for some) midrange and it's pot can cause an issues (like when you try to decrease sound volume it sometimes go up first and after like one second it goes down).

I would've sold mine after more then two months but I bought it for my work so selling it isn't so easy because of taxes.

 

[Mike Hughes]

It is always good to get different perspectives but it’s interesting to note that he claims goldensound found the same V shaped sound. Rereading their article that’s not what I’m reading. Equally it’s interesting to note that he’s now claimed he’s not talking about the normal relay noise but is instead talking explicitly about crackled through headphones. It sounds to me like he had a faulty piece of kit but decided to review it anyway.

I also have a TT2 so his view also interested me but a comment that it sounded “nice“ could not be less helpful really.

 

[Zielarz]

Well, there are clicks from relay and also single clicks/cracks in headphones after relay stops. I don't think it's faulty piece. If it is not by design then it's the third one that has this.

 

[carboncopy]

The midrange can be fixed with a preamp. It was really sublime with the Trafomatic Head 2 as a preamp.

Without the preamp it was - for me - as in the review.

 

[iFi audio]

Well, there are clicks from relay and also single clicks/cracks in headphones after relay stops. I don't think it's faulty piece

It depends. If there's a crackling noise between two specific relay steps but nowhere else, then one relay may be at fault.

I really think that 23R is overpriced and has too much marketing in it

That depends on how you use it. On this forum it's judged as a headphone amp only and expensive at that, but its core utility is being a headphone and integrated amp for sensitive speakers, so people who intend to use the Enelum as such will see its value way differently. It's all realtive

 

[TheMiddleSky]

My long time wishlist finally achieved. To compare Bakoon Japan Pre7610 MK3 (that has the best sound quality among all MK3 types) to Enleum 23R.

Tried with DCS Bartok, Abyss Diana TC, ZMF Verite Open and DCA Expanse.

As expected, both amp have well balance character, and organic character. Warm natural feeling, full body sound, with nice touch of sweetness.

Enleum produce a little more clarity, transparency, slight more texture, while Bakoon Jp punch harder, more solid, with slight fuller vocal as well. What surprise me the most is how clean sounding PRE7610 MK3, definitely on par with Enleum in this regard (PRE7610 MK3 was made 9 years ago!)

Enleum has a little advantage with wider soundstage image, but both on par for depth and height. Overall Enleum a little closer to reference, and Bakoon Jp is a little more energetic.

 

[eskamobob1]

My long time wishlist finally achieved. To compare Bakoon Japan Pre7610 MK3 (that has the best sound quality among all MK3 types) to Enleum 23R.



Tried with DCS Bartok, Abyss Diana TC, ZMF Verite Open and DCA Expanse.

As expected, both amp have well balance character, and organic character. Warm natural feeling, full body sound, with nice touch of sweetness.

Enleum produce a little more clarity, transparency, slight more texture, while Bakoon Jp punch harder, more solid, with slight fuller vocal as well. What surprise me the most is how clean sounding PRE7610 MK3, definitely on par with Enleum in this regard (PRE7610 MK3 was made 9 years ago!)

Enleum has a little advantage with wider soundstage image, but both on par for depth and height. Overall Enleum a little closer to reference, and Bakoon Jp is a little more energetic.

Is tbe 7610 current drive or voltage drive?

 

[iFi audio]

Is tbe 7610 current drive or voltage drive?

It's a current-mode amp IIRC

 

[TheMiddleSky]

Is tbe 7610 current drive or voltage drive?

Current mode for satri link, voltage input for RCA, with Voltage Headphone Output

 

[iFi audio]

Current mode for satri link, voltage input for RCA, with Voltage Headphone Output

I stand corrected then, thanks

 

[Mike Hughes]

I’ve engaged with him in the comments and putting aside that he thought me quite rude I am now clearer that the crackles he heard when changing the attenuator weren’t the normal relay clicks but were actual crackling. He says that Enlsum state this is normal. It strikes me that one of those statements must surely be incorrect.

 

[iFi audio]

It strikes me that one of those statements must surely be incorrect.

That would be my guess to. Relays click, but they shouldn't pop or crack. If that's heard, I'd ask the manufacturer to inspect the product, just to make sure. Hope this helps, thanks!