Reviews by Lickumms
Sent my Kennerton Gjallarhorn JM Editions into @John Massaria, the guy who designed the original JM for Kennerton, to give them the full upgrade to the JM Edition MK2. Here is his website: https://www.jmaudioeditions.com/
The mod really just awakens these headphones. Basically it takes everything about the headphones and turns it up to 11, bass gets turned to 11.5-12. Everything is just a little bigger and bolder with more snap and punch behind it. The Headphones are still a little
The mod takes the already stellar sound stage of the JM and makes it even big with out adding any hollowness/airiness to the sound. I would say the MK2 might even be getting into the HD800/Rognir sound stage range, especially if you are using the fuzzy pads John sells. The sound stage is at its most impressive during live recordings. It is almost like you are sitting in the audience and the band in playing in front of you and you pick out where each instrument is one the stage. I can not over state how incredible the sound stage is on these headphones. Not just for a closed back but even for the $1700(for the stabilized wood version $1500 for non stabilized wood version) John is selling them for ($175 for the mod if you already own the Gjallerhorn GH50/JM.)
I have yet to find a sound that these headphones couldn't handle. Never once I have I noticed any details missing or any song feeling crowded or congested like what can happen with some closed back headphones. Every detail is exactly where it should be nothing is missing from any song.
The highs are super clean and pleasant. Cymbals and percussion really have a fantastic and snap followed by a great ring/sizzle that is not fatiguing or lacking in any way. I can't imagine anyone would find the highs lacking or under developed.
Bass is one of the main things that is changed on the mod. The bass is just as tight and controlled as the stock JM but it adds more impact and power behind it. With out adding so much that it becomes over bearing or bloated. There is no bleed into the mids and It also slightly increases the bass speed and its accuracy with in the sound stage. I could see that some people might find the bass to be a little to powerful especially if you are comping from a headphone like the HD800s or any highs focused headphones. Just give your ears some time to adjust and you will find that the bass is the perfect mix of power and control.
The mids are lush and silky giving the headphones a warm and comforting sound that is hard to beat when it comes to long listening sessions.
Plugging the bass ports really brings the bass power down from a 12 to more like 10.5.
With the bass ports unplugged the bass in really front and center and the star of the show. It is just so impressive and fun that you tend to lose track of everything else because you are too busy jamming out to music.
With the ports plugged everything else gets a chance to shine. It lets the highs and sound stage get more of the attention while the bass play backup in a very pleasant non intrusive way.
Adding the ports almost makes the MK2 a 2-for-1 headphone with how drastically it changes the primary focus of the sound.
The only real complaint I have is that adding the bass port does slightly remove some of the isolation on the headphones allowing a little more outside noise to get in than over the stock JM.
Looking from the out side you can see that he changed a couple of things over the stock JM Editions. He removed the black felt covering the driver and replaced the Driver guard with a 3D printed mesh diffusion grid. So you do have to be careful not to get any dust or dirt into the drivers if you are using the stock pads. He added a Bass port on the back that can be plugged to reduce the bass. Looking into the bass port you can see that he added the same 3D mess to the back of the driver and changed the the dampening to his own custom material.
You can really tell that the MK2 is what the JM Edition is meant to be.
The mod really just awakens these headphones. Basically it takes everything about the headphones and turns it up to 11, bass gets turned to 11.5-12. Everything is just a little bigger and bolder with more snap and punch behind it. The Headphones are still a little
The mod takes the already stellar sound stage of the JM and makes it even big with out adding any hollowness/airiness to the sound. I would say the MK2 might even be getting into the HD800/Rognir sound stage range, especially if you are using the fuzzy pads John sells. The sound stage is at its most impressive during live recordings. It is almost like you are sitting in the audience and the band in playing in front of you and you pick out where each instrument is one the stage. I can not over state how incredible the sound stage is on these headphones. Not just for a closed back but even for the $1700(for the stabilized wood version $1500 for non stabilized wood version) John is selling them for ($175 for the mod if you already own the Gjallerhorn GH50/JM.)
I have yet to find a sound that these headphones couldn't handle. Never once I have I noticed any details missing or any song feeling crowded or congested like what can happen with some closed back headphones. Every detail is exactly where it should be nothing is missing from any song.
The highs are super clean and pleasant. Cymbals and percussion really have a fantastic and snap followed by a great ring/sizzle that is not fatiguing or lacking in any way. I can't imagine anyone would find the highs lacking or under developed.
Bass is one of the main things that is changed on the mod. The bass is just as tight and controlled as the stock JM but it adds more impact and power behind it. With out adding so much that it becomes over bearing or bloated. There is no bleed into the mids and It also slightly increases the bass speed and its accuracy with in the sound stage. I could see that some people might find the bass to be a little to powerful especially if you are comping from a headphone like the HD800s or any highs focused headphones. Just give your ears some time to adjust and you will find that the bass is the perfect mix of power and control.
The mids are lush and silky giving the headphones a warm and comforting sound that is hard to beat when it comes to long listening sessions.
Plugging the bass ports really brings the bass power down from a 12 to more like 10.5.
With the bass ports unplugged the bass in really front and center and the star of the show. It is just so impressive and fun that you tend to lose track of everything else because you are too busy jamming out to music.
With the ports plugged everything else gets a chance to shine. It lets the highs and sound stage get more of the attention while the bass play backup in a very pleasant non intrusive way.
Adding the ports almost makes the MK2 a 2-for-1 headphone with how drastically it changes the primary focus of the sound.
The only real complaint I have is that adding the bass port does slightly remove some of the isolation on the headphones allowing a little more outside noise to get in than over the stock JM.
Looking from the out side you can see that he changed a couple of things over the stock JM Editions. He removed the black felt covering the driver and replaced the Driver guard with a 3D printed mesh diffusion grid. So you do have to be careful not to get any dust or dirt into the drivers if you are using the stock pads. He added a Bass port on the back that can be plugged to reduce the bass. Looking into the bass port you can see that he added the same 3D mess to the back of the driver and changed the the dampening to his own custom material.
You can really tell that the MK2 is what the JM Edition is meant to be.
A quick disclaimer:
I received a review sample of the Burson Audio Supreme Sound Opamp V5i in exchange for my opinion on it. No other compensation was offered or implied. This is also my first review so hopefully I am able to properly articulate my thoughts for the V5i.
At the time of this review the 1x V5i Dual is selling for $39 + shipping. https://www.bursonaudio.com/products/supreme-sound-opamp-v5i/
Big thanks to Burson for sending me this review sample!
This will kind of be a comparison of the OPA1612 to the Burson V5i.
Packaging:
I ordered a single V5i Dual from Burson. It took about 3 weeks to get to me and arrived in a small bubble mailer from China, which is on par with most items that I order from China. Which is fine. The opamp its self was inside a small plastic case filled with foam. So there are no worries of it being damaged during shipping and the case will come in handy for keeping track of the opamp(s) you replace. All-in-all, a good first impression.
Set up:
Foobar>xDuoo XD-05>Alpha Primes
Pleas ignore Mr. Blooby. My brother got him for me while he was in England.
For my testing I ended up using my xDuoo XD-05 and my MrSpeakers Alpha Primes. I choose the XD-05 because it had the easiest opamp to replace. All you need is a T4 Torx Screwdriver. I used this one in case you were wondering: https://www.amazon.com/Wiha-96704-Screwdriver-Precision-Handle/dp/B000T9XPTK/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1479086410&sr=8-3&keywords=torx+t4+screwdriver but any T4 will get the job done.
I decided to use the Alpha Primes for the sound portion of the testing because they are probably the most accurate headphones I own.
Installation/ Design:
As far a design goes the V5i is a well built little opamp. It is larger than the stock opamp that came in the XD-05.
Its size should posse no real problem if it is used in a non-portable device.
The installation of the V5i in the XD-05 did pose a minor problems. The V5i has slightly more girth than the stock OPA1612 that came in the XD-05. So to properly install the V5i I had to bend a few of the capacitors near the opamp socket out of the way(see the pictures).
So long as you are careful and do not bend them too far you will be able to get the V5i in with no problems.
Sound:
Now we come to the main purpose of this review. The sound. I will try my best to explain the sound signature for the amp with my, relatively new, audio vocabulary. I will break it down by Highs, Sound stage, imaging, Lows and instrument separation. So bear with me and if anything doesn’t make sense I apologize in advance.
-Highs:
For testing the highs I decided to mainly use the song Cowboy Bebop - Spokey Donkey(Alternative Take).
I found the highs on the V5i to be incredibly clean, crisp and bright. Though during the more intense portions of the Harmonica solo the opamp could come off as a tiny bit sibilant to those with a sensitivity to sibilance. It never quite made to sibilance for me but it was very close. Overall I found the highs to be vastly improved in both quality and crispness compared to the stock OPA.
-Lows:
For testing the lows I ended up mostly using the song Run the Jewels, El-P – Run the Jewels.
The low end reach and reproduction on the V5i is incredible. The bass never bleed into the mids and never lost any of it cleanness. The sub bass was always powerful, tight and never sloppy. Compared to the laidback sound for the OPA the V5i truly gave an incredible accuracy to the bass.
-Instrument Separation:
For testing the separation I found Beck - Missing to be the best.
The V5i did incredible. Everything had its place and nothing overlapped. I was able to pick out every instrument. The OPA gave, what I would call, a slightly more musical sound with its warmth and slight blending of the instruments.
-Soundstage and Imaging:
For testing the soundstage I ended up listening to classical music and the Ni No Kuni Sound track.
This is where I found the V5i to fall a little short. While it was still able to give a decent sound stage it was never able to really give the feeling of listening to a live orchestra. Things felt a little cramp, pushed forward or towards you. Nothing overlapped but still felt small. It did, however, do very well at imaging. I was able to track sounds with great accuracy as they moved across my head and from the drivers to my ears. The OPA did provide a slightly larger soundstage but was a tiny bit worse at imaging compared to the V5i.
Final thoughts:
-Will it work in all devices?
No, it is a little too large to work in smaller portable devices and any device that has a lack of space around the opamp socket.
-Is it better than the OPA?
In technicality?
Yes.
In listening enjoyment?
Maybe, depends what you like. If you like cleaness and accuracy? Yes. If you like laid back and warm? No.
-Do I think it is worth it?
Yes, unless you prefer a warmer sound. It is a great, technically accurate, opamp for the low price of $39. It will be a great improvement to just about any device you own.
I would like to thank Burson again for giving me the opportunity to do a review of the V5i and thank you, the reader, for… well... reading my ramblings.
-Best,
Lickumms
I received a review sample of the Burson Audio Supreme Sound Opamp V5i in exchange for my opinion on it. No other compensation was offered or implied. This is also my first review so hopefully I am able to properly articulate my thoughts for the V5i.
At the time of this review the 1x V5i Dual is selling for $39 + shipping. https://www.bursonaudio.com/products/supreme-sound-opamp-v5i/
Big thanks to Burson for sending me this review sample!
This will kind of be a comparison of the OPA1612 to the Burson V5i.
Packaging:
I ordered a single V5i Dual from Burson. It took about 3 weeks to get to me and arrived in a small bubble mailer from China, which is on par with most items that I order from China. Which is fine. The opamp its self was inside a small plastic case filled with foam. So there are no worries of it being damaged during shipping and the case will come in handy for keeping track of the opamp(s) you replace. All-in-all, a good first impression.
Set up:
Foobar>xDuoo XD-05>Alpha Primes
Pleas ignore Mr. Blooby. My brother got him for me while he was in England.
For my testing I ended up using my xDuoo XD-05 and my MrSpeakers Alpha Primes. I choose the XD-05 because it had the easiest opamp to replace. All you need is a T4 Torx Screwdriver. I used this one in case you were wondering: https://www.amazon.com/Wiha-96704-Screwdriver-Precision-Handle/dp/B000T9XPTK/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1479086410&sr=8-3&keywords=torx+t4+screwdriver but any T4 will get the job done.
I decided to use the Alpha Primes for the sound portion of the testing because they are probably the most accurate headphones I own.
Installation/ Design:
As far a design goes the V5i is a well built little opamp. It is larger than the stock opamp that came in the XD-05.
Its size should posse no real problem if it is used in a non-portable device.
The installation of the V5i in the XD-05 did pose a minor problems. The V5i has slightly more girth than the stock OPA1612 that came in the XD-05. So to properly install the V5i I had to bend a few of the capacitors near the opamp socket out of the way(see the pictures).
So long as you are careful and do not bend them too far you will be able to get the V5i in with no problems.
Sound:
Now we come to the main purpose of this review. The sound. I will try my best to explain the sound signature for the amp with my, relatively new, audio vocabulary. I will break it down by Highs, Sound stage, imaging, Lows and instrument separation. So bear with me and if anything doesn’t make sense I apologize in advance.
-Highs:
For testing the highs I decided to mainly use the song Cowboy Bebop - Spokey Donkey(Alternative Take).
I found the highs on the V5i to be incredibly clean, crisp and bright. Though during the more intense portions of the Harmonica solo the opamp could come off as a tiny bit sibilant to those with a sensitivity to sibilance. It never quite made to sibilance for me but it was very close. Overall I found the highs to be vastly improved in both quality and crispness compared to the stock OPA.
-Lows:
For testing the lows I ended up mostly using the song Run the Jewels, El-P – Run the Jewels.
The low end reach and reproduction on the V5i is incredible. The bass never bleed into the mids and never lost any of it cleanness. The sub bass was always powerful, tight and never sloppy. Compared to the laidback sound for the OPA the V5i truly gave an incredible accuracy to the bass.
-Instrument Separation:
For testing the separation I found Beck - Missing to be the best.
The V5i did incredible. Everything had its place and nothing overlapped. I was able to pick out every instrument. The OPA gave, what I would call, a slightly more musical sound with its warmth and slight blending of the instruments.
-Soundstage and Imaging:
For testing the soundstage I ended up listening to classical music and the Ni No Kuni Sound track.
This is where I found the V5i to fall a little short. While it was still able to give a decent sound stage it was never able to really give the feeling of listening to a live orchestra. Things felt a little cramp, pushed forward or towards you. Nothing overlapped but still felt small. It did, however, do very well at imaging. I was able to track sounds with great accuracy as they moved across my head and from the drivers to my ears. The OPA did provide a slightly larger soundstage but was a tiny bit worse at imaging compared to the V5i.
Final thoughts:
-Will it work in all devices?
No, it is a little too large to work in smaller portable devices and any device that has a lack of space around the opamp socket.
-Is it better than the OPA?
In technicality?
Yes.
In listening enjoyment?
Maybe, depends what you like. If you like cleaness and accuracy? Yes. If you like laid back and warm? No.
-Do I think it is worth it?
Yes, unless you prefer a warmer sound. It is a great, technically accurate, opamp for the low price of $39. It will be a great improvement to just about any device you own.
I would like to thank Burson again for giving me the opportunity to do a review of the V5i and thank you, the reader, for… well... reading my ramblings.
-Best,
Lickumms
BTW, thanks for the link, pretty cool website one I will utilize one day...
Cheers