The LC has darker, smoother signature than the Jot. I like the sound of the LC because of that, for many listening applications.
☯️ CAVALLI AUDIO ➜ Liquid Carbon Final Production Run!
- Thread starter warrenpchi
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earnmyturns
Headphoneus Supremus
Darker, sure. Smoother, I don't hear that, at least with my current headphone system (Bimby>amp>Ether C Flow). Listening right now to a 96/24 FLAC Chandos album, "Bartók: Works for Violin and Piano", James Ehnes and Andrew Armstrong, and the sound is very realistic, smooth or rough where it should be according to how the instruments are being played. For example, listening to the last Bartók Romanian Folk Dance, "Maruntelul," the violin is played hard and fast, with a lot of "roughness," as it should be, being the fiddle for a fast dance. I also played the Folk Dances with the LC replacing the Jot and as close a level matching as I could get by ear. Yes, the LC sounds a tad smoother, but when the violin and the piano play together in louder passages they sound a bit less separated, more blended, than with the Jot. It's that Jot clarity, instrument separation and, yes sometimes harsher truth that have made the Jot my favorite. (You'd guess correctly that I would not enjoy tube amps, and you are right, at least none that I've listened to).
I've observed that sometimes "smooth" signatures are hiding some of the real "roughness" from interfering overtones and higher-order resonances you can hear when listening closely to how bow, fingers, and hammer interact with strings in string instruments and piano. I listen to enough live acoustic music (several times a month on average) to favor a more realistic signature.
As another example, the built-in DAC in my Hegel H360 integrated amp sounds "smoother" than the external Schiit Yggdrasil I prefer. The Yggy can sound "harsh" when the playing is harsh, as it should be for some compositions.
OTOH, I've really enjoyed the LC's darker tone on Midori's Onyx recording of Bach's Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin.
sh414sh4sk4
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I wondered if there was still any stock of these? I recently got some LCD-3s and am looking for an amp to pair with them. Am currently running the Audeze from a Chord Hugo from my laptop but I find I have to turn up the Hugo a bit more than I'd like to really get the LCDs sounding their best. I thought this amp might be a good bet. I wondered if anybody had a take on this? (My first post so please be gentle!)
Hoping I haven't missed the boat
Thanks!
Hoping I haven't missed the boat
Thanks!
TSAVJason
Sponsor: The Source AV
I believe we have 2 in stock. It's definitely able to pair and push the LCD3's pretty easily. Use the PM and I'll send you the info.
sh414sh4sk4
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Ok my unit just broke when I just recieved my pair of ZMF Eikons 
. On both se and balanced outputs I'm hearing only a faint sound on the left channel and nothing else regardless of the volume pot position. I burned it in without headphones so I didn't notice if it failed earlier... Contacted Cavalli for instructions.
I'll be staying without my amp untill it gets repaired (it had only 1min of music time out of the se output
)
. On both se and balanced outputs I'm hearing only a faint sound on the left channel and nothing else regardless of the volume pot position. I burned it in without headphones so I didn't notice if it failed earlier... Contacted Cavalli for instructions.I'll be staying without my amp untill it gets repaired (it had only 1min of music time out of the se output
)
jamato8
Headphoneus Supremus
I am a little confused. Is the LC balanced or not? I have version 1.
TSAVJason
Sponsor: The Source AV
Bridged balanced not a differential balanced
Can you kindly explain the difference?
to my understanding in simple terms differential circuits use 2 out of phase circuits in each section offsetting or balancing each other, think of it as a common twisted pair phone wire; bridged circuits use two of everything in the signal path to accomplish the balanced circuit, dual mono amplifier circuits are a common example. Is one better than the other, opinion takes over there. In telephony or data circuits balanced implies differential circuits. IMO let the sound decide as I am happy with my LC's sound and have compared to differential balanced amps and honestly could not tell any difference at all music or noise level but my ears are not fine digital measuring instruments
@boblauer Thank you for your explanation as it is appreciated!!
TSAVJason
Sponsor: The Source AV
Excellent explanation! I just noticed the question and saw your answer. :thumbsup_tone1::thumbsup_tone1:
FYI, in high-end audio "Full Differential" is almost always specified. If it says "Balanced" it could mean phase inverted or bridged. Balanced is Infrequently used if it is a Full Dif. in high-end audio because that term that is generally used to explain a portion of the commonly higher cost to the consumer.
I'm not really sure why folks are so hung up on the LC not being differential and a bridged solution. It's still a balanced circuit #1 and sorry to offend but the price point is not what I would call high end. IMO sound matters, build quality I get the complaints there but circuit design, I'm puzzled over those complaints.
I don't think there are really complaints, some people just want clarification on how the amp operates.
Was referring partly to the article quoted several pages back and some critiques of the way the amp is balanced. Not referring to anyone in particular
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