[qua2k]

Tell me about it. I have a bocote eikon, the limited atrium would match so very well....

New headphones and Ramen match very well.

 

[1-MiC]

but ramen and a unhappy wife doesn't taste so good lol

 

[Pharmaboy]

Tell me about it. I have a bocote eikon, the limited atrium would match so very well....

Bocote is a fabulous wood.

One of my only real regrets in this hobby is that I didn't get my Ori in bocote...I got it in ormosia henryi.

I love that headphone to pieces and will never part with it. But the thought of it in bocoto kind of haunts me.

 

[robo24]

So will I be glad I got my Eikon when I did, or will I be tempted with a new product soon? Time will tell!

My thought...both.

If you like the Eikon and Auteur, I think you're really going to love the Atrium. That's how I feel about the 3 anyway. My Auteur was my #3 favorite after the Verites but the Atrium has knocked it down a notch. Spent all day yesterday going between the two and will write something up eventually, hopefully after my next sorta day off.

 

[jonathan c]

New headphones and Ramen match very well.

They have to….feast for ears or famine for the rest….…

 

[DenverW]

If you like the Eikon and Auteur, I think you're really going to love the Atrium. That's how I feel about the 3 anyway. My Auteur was my #3 favorite after the Verites but the Atrium has knocked it down a notch. Spent all day yesterday going between the two and will write something up eventually, hopefully after my next sorta day off.

Your profile pic still haunts me, robo!

 

[SolaVirtus]

I could use some amp suggestions to pair with my Atticus. It would also get some use with a couple Senn cans (650 and 660S) and a Focal Elear. I'll probably jump up to another ZMF can down the road too.

For context, I've got a Bifrost2/Jotunheim 2 right now which does a good job with almost everything I've got, just wanting to get a tube amp to go with some of those dynamics. I'm using a little Vali2+ as a preamp to the Jot2 sometimes, but it's not really scratching the itch. Hopefully an OTL will. I previously had a Little Dot MKii and wasn't ever too impressed with it, before it went faulty.

Some things I have considered given my budget of $300-$500 or so.
- Valhalla 2
- Xduoo TA-26
- Used Feliks Echo

Thoughts and suggestions appreciated!

 

[jonathan c]

I could use some amp suggestions to pair with my Atticus. It would also get some use with a couple Senn cans (650 and 660S) and a Focal Elear. I'll probably jump up to another ZMF can down the road too.

For context, I've got a Bifrost2/Jotunheim 2 right now which does a good job with almost everything I've got, just wanting to get a tube amp to go with some of those dynamics. I'm using a little Vali2+ as a preamp to the Jot2 sometimes, but it's not really scratching the itch. Hopefully an OTL will. I previously had a Little Dot MKii and wasn't ever too impressed with it, before it went faulty.

Some things I have considered given my budget of $300-$500 or so.
- Valhalla 2
- Xduoo TA-26
- Used Feliks Echo

Thoughts and suggestions appreciated!

On your list, go with the Xduoo TA-26. Off your list, a secondhand Woo WA3 (from HF, Audiogon, US AudioMart classified adverts…?)

 

[erics75]

I could use some amp suggestions to pair with my Atticus. It would also get some use with a couple Senn cans (650 and 660S) and a Focal Elear. I'll probably jump up to another ZMF can down the road too.

For context, I've got a Bifrost2/Jotunheim 2 right now which does a good job with almost everything I've got, just wanting to get a tube amp to go with some of those dynamics. I'm using a little Vali2+ as a preamp to the Jot2 sometimes, but it's not really scratching the itch. Hopefully an OTL will. I previously had a Little Dot MKii and wasn't ever too impressed with it, before it went faulty.

Some things I have considered given my budget of $300-$500 or so.
- Valhalla 2
- Xduoo TA-26
- Used Feliks Echo

Thoughts and suggestions appreciated!

I'm unfamiliar with the Xduoo but the Valhalla and Echo are excellent options, as is a used Bottlehead Crack with Speedball if you can find one. I thought the Echo was a bit better than the Valhalla myself, as it was a warmer sounding amp, more tube-like. The Valhalla can sound a bit solid-state like, especially with the stock tubes. Another option is a Hagerman Tuba. I got mine used for around $500. Killer sounding amp, and more versatile as it's transformer coupled, with two different impedance outputs. It's my favorite tube amp under $1000. Another good option are Garage1217 amps. There's a range of options/models, of which I've only heard the Horizon, which I thought was very nice sounding. I would take an Echo or Tuba over it, but it's not that far off. And maybe some tube rolling would change my mind?

EDIT - As Jonathan C suggested, used Woo WA3 or WA6 would rock as well. I love the WA3 myself, a wonderful amp.

 

[Dawgfish]

I could use some amp suggestions to pair with my Atticus. It would also get some use with a couple Senn cans (650 and 660S) and a Focal Elear. I'll probably jump up to another ZMF can down the road too.

For context, I've got a Bifrost2/Jotunheim 2 right now which does a good job with almost everything I've got, just wanting to get a tube amp to go with some of those dynamics. I'm using a little Vali2+ as a preamp to the Jot2 sometimes, but it's not really scratching the itch. Hopefully an OTL will. I previously had a Little Dot MKii and wasn't ever too impressed with it, before it went faulty.

Some things I have considered given my budget of $300-$500 or so.
- Valhalla 2
- Xduoo TA-26
- Used Feliks Echo

Thoughts and suggestions appreciated!

I would look at a used Bottlehead Crack also. If you are handy with a soldering iron and looking for a DYI project, you could consider getting the Bottlehead Crack kit and assembling yourself.

 

[Dawgfish]

Btw I also have the Atticus, HD6XX, and HD660s as well as a Bifrost 2 and Valhalla. All of those phones sound great with the Bifrost 2/Valhalla combo. They sound better on my MHDT Pagoda/Bottlehead Crack combo, but the Bifrost 2/Valhalla combo is still excellent.

 

[Wes S]

I too have owned the Valhalla 2, and it sounded fantastic with the Atticus. I think the leaner sound of the V2 works well with the Atticus thicker sound, and especially with some 12AT7's w/adapters. Also, I actually preferred the V2 over the BHC with the Atticus. The Valhalla 2 really is something special with warm high impedance headphones.

 

[Odin412]

On your list, go with the Xduoo TA-26. Off your list, a secondhand Woo WA3 (from HF, Audiogon, US AudioMart classified adverts…?)

+1 for the Woo Audio WA3. It's wonderful with the Aeolus and HD 650.

 

[Dawgfish]

I too have owned the Valhalla 2, and it sounded fantastic with the Atticus. I think the leaner sound of the V2 works well with the Atticus thicker sound, and especially with some 12AT7's w/adapters. Also, I actually preferred the V2 over the BHC with the Atticus. The Valhalla 2 really is something special with warm high impedance headphones.

I find I also prefer the Valhalla to the BHC with the HD6XX for the exact reasons you list. They both sound great and put a huge smile on my face with whatever high impedance phone you run with them.

On another note I also really like the way the Lyr sounds with the Atticus. It really gives it some serious punch while remaining controlled. It's a nice alternative/change of pace amp. The Atticus/Lyr combo is especially good with rock and metal to my ears.

 

[SolaVirtus]

Thanks for the Atticus amp recs! It good to hear some firsthand feedback on a few more things. I'll likely keep an eye on the used market for a little while for somethijg from Woo, Feliks, or a BHC. If nothing suitable pops up, a new Valhalla or TA-26 should keep me happy. Maybe I could convince a friend more solder-skilled than I to work on a new BHC with me