@Pharmaboy - I will measure it for you when I get home. It is pretty large - probably about as wide or slightly wider than my GOTL and twice as deep.

@LeMoviedave - I'm sure we can arrange something at some point. I'd say this is the best combo I've heard with the HEKse by a mile.

How much do the tubes color the sound?

I heard Dragon Lv 1 with Cipher Lv 1 at SoCal. Honestly, that “entry level” pairing alone sounds like endgame / summit-fi.

I agree with everything said in this review. My Level II is better than amps I have had with a much higher price point. It is easily the best pairing of the HEKSE that I have ever heard. I cant even imagine how good the level III must be. Right now I am not tempted to upgrade to it as I am so satisfied with the Level II.Great review.

Nevermind @Hansotek I just went and ordered one anyway. Although, if it isn't a perfect match for the HEKSE, I will be very crabby with you!

@Pharmaboy - here are the dimensions:
W: 10.5”
D: 16”
H: 8”

FWIW I’ve heard my VO out of a WA33 and Dragon Lv 1. To me it was no contest. Dragon won. WA33 is a euphonic, punchy and resolving amp, but Dragon is also those things but with a cavernous subbass (out of the VO) and a fraction of the price compared to the competition.

I was dragging people over to check out Jeff’s systems at CanJam because they were phenomenal. People are sleeping on this.

What DAC did you use for this review?

@jurumal Chord Hugo 2 w/ the 2Go.

@LeMoviedave - you won’t be disappointed. This the THE definitive amp for the HE1000se, IMHO. I’ve heard the headphone with 10 or 12 really good amps, at minimum, and none of them came close to the synergy I heard with the Dragon.

I am currently listening with the SparkoS Labs Aries, and that is a spectacular amp, but I can help but think the HEKSE could use a hint of tube.

Thanks for the measurements, Dave. Unfortunately that's too big for my crowded desktop (sound of sad trombones).

But I'm pretty interested in the Milo, which would fit in both my main desktop system (speakers, amp, sub, headphones) & side-system (headphones only). So there's that.

(I need my head examined...I have 7 amps, and here I am obsessing about an 8th!)

Is it made in China?

Hand made in the USA. Made to order, i believe.

Amp plays 8 ohms no problem

@Onik - they are hand made in California, just outside San Jose.

I wonder how much better Version III is than II?

@Jimmyblues1959 I’m kinda afraid to find out.

lol.. I am afraid to find out too. Based on your reviews of the Cavalli Liquid Platinum and Liquid Spark, I bought both and really enjoy them. I really think the Dragon is a beauty and just came into a small windfall,
which has me thinking about getting one.

But I need another headphone amp like I need another set of headphones.