So your tube had developed a harmonic, in this case at a high frequency. Did you try removing the tube and re-seating it ? A bit of oxidation on one or more of the pins or dust accumulation on the tube socket can cause tube noise. I new a gentleman here in Santa Barbara who was a very...

That's easy. HPA4, absolutely clean, no color and unlimited dynamics. The others you mention, none of those qualities apply.

Roger was an amazing designer and a very generous guy. Fortunately he turned to the company over to people who continue to support his ethics and fine products. My RM-9 is a first generation amp that he updated to what he called a MK II+ and he did it for a very fair price. It's running his RAM...

Yes I have an RM-9 that was completely built by Roger when he was still in Santa Barbara. It's amazing. I also have an RM-10, a couple of Pathos amps, a couple of Quicksilvers, a Threshold Stasis, a vintage....... Well I'll just stop there. I suffer from MAD. Multiple Amp Disorder. It's a...

Sure, it's got the same susceptibility as any tube amp but I haven't had a problem with noise at all. I've got a crazy number of cables all over the place and a lot of components on the same circuit too. At the moment I have the Benchmark DAC3-B running the HPA4 and a pair of ABH2 amps in mono...

As I said on the first page of this thread. I think the amp offers all the good characteristics of tube sound, definitely holographic, but at the same time doesn't sound obviously 'tube'. It's as good as it gets IMHO.

I have listened to the Vérité but not with the Quicksilver amp. However when I was listening to the Vérité I was comparing them to my Utopias and HD800s using the Pathos and Benchmark HP amps. I think the Vérité would sound outstanding with the Quicksilver. It has plenty of power, more than...

My Quicksilver HP amp has remained dead quiet as it reaches it's first birthday. The RM-9 in that photo is an original Mk-1 that Roger went through and upgraded to 'better than a MK-2' in his words. He personally went through many RAM KT-88s to pick the set that's in it. He said when he...

It is odd to me to worry about things you can't change but that is the state of the world isn't it. I have 4 pairs of Focal HPs, 2 are Uptopias bought over 3 years ago. They're all used in a Pro environment, meaning they're pushed hard every day, and they've never skipped a beat. No need for...

I have the Clear, the Utopia and HD800s, amongst others. The HD800 and HD800s are the soundstage kings, none of the Focal HPs offer that kind of soundstage. I listen to the HD800s with the Quicksilver Audio tube amp, for what I would call the concert hall sound, and the Utopia with the Pathos...

So you heard the Benchmark doing exactly what it's designed to do, provide an unaffected sound. I would highly recommend the Quicksilver Audio headphone amp. Another SS amp to consider is the Little Labs Monotor. Both are extremely dynamic, quiet and will easily power any HP irregardless of...

:thinking:

I drive an old, dependable Honda about 6 miles to work every day. I spend at least 6 hours a day listening to music. So yes, I have my priorities straight :~)

"Benchmark's LA4 is the widest-bandwidth, widest-dynamic-range, lowest-noise, lowest-distortion preamplifier I have encountered." He's absolutely right, IMHO. I'm listening to my speakers with the Benchmark stack right now. Plenty of time for HPs a little later tonight :~)

George has designed tube circuitry his entire life, was a recording engineer and listens to customer feedback as well. He has the ideal experience and skill set to build audio components.

I use a pink noise sweep > spectral analysis, not just my ears and the RME can be EQ'd to be warm but it's as neutral as the DAC3, though not as resolving. I own both and use them with with Utopias, HD800s and studio monitors far more revealing than any HP.

I've used my Utopia since 2018 without issue. I own several other pairs of FOCAL HPs, never an issue. I have worked in several large commercial recording studios that use both their HPs and studio monitors that haven't had issues. FWIW.

I've worked in many of the best studios in L.A., Nashville, Berlin and Paris over the last 2+ decades and I've never seen a balanced HP in any of them. There's a good reason for that, explained here. With the Crane Song, LL Monotor, Pathos Aurium and Quicksilver, amps there is no lack of power...

I'm in. I'll match your screen shot and raise you one quote from the Focal web site. "If you did not find the required dealer information, please contact the local distributor to get the complete Focal dealer list in real time."

Indeed they are an authorized dealer ;~)

So they did have distribution as some point. Coming from AA would explain his location.I remember when they started and my local brick and mortar dealer had their gear. I bought a lot of it. They were innovators in addressing the issue of jitter. So CIA is not a boutique company by intention...

I wonder how many boutique builders there are like this guy who we never hear of ? I look at the Channel Islands every day from my home in Santa Barbara but I've never heard of Channel Islands Audio. I guess the real question is how did you become aware of this company from Rhode Island when...

I agree. I use my Elegia with the stock cable at my desk almost daily. Never an issue :~)

Interesting. I wonder if your experience isn't just listening fatigue ? A good OTL is very dynamic but may tend to roll off on the high and low end making it easy to listen at a higher volume than you realize. Still I think they're one of the best type of amps for the HD800 / HD800s. As...