Synthax
500+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Jan 11, 2013
- Posts
- 536
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- 97
How SA31SE or NFB6 comapre to Violectric V200 or other 1000$ price range amps? Thank you for your help
I just bought a SA-31SE from audio-gd's France reseller (220V version). With the on going EUR-USD exchange rate, it costs almost the same as buying from audio-gd originally, but including shipping.
I was also considering the C2 11th anniversary edition, but decided to try the last remaining Toshiba BJT diamond differential amp from audio-gd while it can still be found. One might feel regret not doing so as an upcoming amp from another manufacturer with similar topology will cost 110% of the SA-31SE.
Good choice! I love mine.
What upcoming amp are you talking about?
I don't feel like stating the brand/model directly because I was on the waiting list buying that amp. That amp shall be Class A all the way, and with an outboard power supply. It was just the lack of low gain option of that amp turned me away. I do think the relay-based volume control of the SA-31SE will have an edge on channel separation though.
The SA-31SE will be my "power" headphone amp to drive my HE-500, or may be the T1. For all other higher sensitivity headphones I am extremely satisfied with my EPA-007.
Ok. Only the Cavalli comes to my mind
A FIX SHOULD BE DONE FOR EVERY SA-31!!!
I have owned the SA-31SE for a few days. While I like its sound, I do find a few problems with my unit:
1. The amp takes a long time to "warm up": I find it needs up to 2 hours to have its sound signature to settle down. And it is with my EPA-007 stacking over it
2. Even after warm up, it sounds lean. The bass and overall dynamic lack quite a bit
I know the SA-31 circuit is base on the discontinued/earlier audio-gd SA100/SA100i/SA200 integration amp. I recall reading something before from audio-gd's Chinese DIY forum saying there is usage of temperature compensation transistors in the SA300 poweramp circuit design (the SA300 is the balanced version of the SA100/SA200). The temperature compensation transistors should be placed/pressed to the headsink shared by the output power transistor.