The Utopia is indeed my only headphone, but I don't see why I should get a DSHA-3FN over the 433, unless it actually performs better with the Utopia than the 433. And if the 433 is a better overall amp, that seems unlikely. P.S. The 394II seems discontinued, and the 465 is of course in a...

How would this amp compare to a Mass Kobo 433? My only headphones are in fact Focal Utopias, and I do understand that the Nitsch was designed for Focals. But, I don't want to read too much into the "with Focal in mind" slogan, to the point of not considering alternative amps just because I use...

I did! I bought the LTA Ultralinear+ (UL+) integrated amp when it was discounted 15%. I cannot compare it to any of the other amps mentioned, since I never heard them, but I can say the UL+ is very good.

The curve is definitely different. On hi-res I listen at 120/199, so 60%, but on the standard control the same volume is around 35/100, so only about 35%. Leading up to the 120/199 on the hi-res setting, say when I am at 50/199, I get this "ghostlike" sound profile, where there is no bass at...

I probably should, yes. Was just wondering if anyone has experienced something similar.

Has anyone found the 200-step "Hi-Res" volume control to behave differently from the standard 100-step volume control? With the high-res, the increase in volume as I turn the dial up seems more uneven, and at lower volumes the sound seems tonally disbalanced. Even at a fixed normal listening...

In the opposite situation: I have a SE integrated tube amp that accepts balanced input via XLR, which it then converts to SE in the preamplification stage, claiming to do so in a "tube-coupled" way that is "without voltage loss". Since balanced->SE conversion usually comes with voltage loss, I...

What are some opinions on how the Ray 12AU7 compares to the Gold Lion ECC82 (12AU7)? I hear that the Rays, Gold Lions, and Psvane Art tubes are the best new production 12AU7s (some even claim the Rays are just selected and rebranded Psvane tubes).

Thanks. I just received my walnut stand. I picked walnut hoping it would match my desk (seemed the closest match, matching by eye from the website), but I may have received the sapwood variant because it's much darker than my desk. I suggest having the option to send tiny bits of wood samples...

Not working for me.

While I have a UL+ and not a Z40+, mine can't be used as a preamp only...

For those receiving the Bokeh now/recently, what color is the wood? I know the Bokeh page now says "Black Limba", but it was something else when I ordered it. Not sure if Black Limba is what is shipping, or something from earlier. Trying to figure out which wood on the Salire headphone stand...

I think it's just copper, actually. Though they do say "Utilizes conductive silver mylar as well as patented conductive carbonized external sleeving to assist in maintaining clean signals as well as providing interference & RF filtering.", whatever that means. I actually considered the same...

Incidentally I also recently upgraded my power cable, but to a Triode Wire Labs Obsession cable. Your comments on better instrument localization and timbre I think are true with this power cable as well. The sound-stage seems deeper and more realistic as well.

Yes, I've done batch processing, though I wouldn't call it convenient. qobuz-dl works for Qobuz. There's something similar for Tidal.