"with headphones" is a really detailed description
No. It is a class A design, they have usually some noise floor with really really efficient headphones / IEMs. But to be honest, it does not matter in practive. I even use the Soloist with IEMs. Because how often do you have your headphone on your head without any music and listen to "the nothing"? Not often I open
The 3XP in 'headphone power amp mode' bypasses the whole volume stage, so both Muse op-amps. The signal still goes through the Vivid op-amps in the amplification circuit.
"with headphones" is a really detailed description
With a Meze 109 Pro I can hear just a little bit of noise floor if no music plays. But with a HE1000V2 it is completly silent.
No. It is a class A design, they have usually some noise floor with really really efficient headphones / IEMs. But to be honest, it does not matter in practive. I even use the Soloist with IEMs. Because how often do you have your headphone on your head without any music and listen to "the nothing"? Not often I open
With Arya V2, the noise is very minimum. And you're right, I didn't find it to be any problem when playing music but was just curious. Thanks for replying!
I thought that was the case "on paper" but I found the two modes sounding so different on my headphones (in terms of holography and smoothness) that I thought it surely must be bypassing the Vivid op-amps too.
No, those are still in the circuit. 2 op-amps instead of 4, minus all the volume stage circuitry. The difference indeed is big. A lot more spacious, dynamic and clear in 'headphone power amp mode'. The downside is you need a DAC with volume control.
I also like the soloist better in power amp mode. I have used several dacs and amps with a preamp function and my favorite is a denafrips ares2 going to a balanced passive preamp/volume control then into the soloist. I bought one on amazon for about $50 and it seems to be dead silent and my ears cannot tell any sound difference with or without the passive volume control in the chain. My second favorite is the mojo 2 as a dac into the soloist. Plus with the mojo 2 you also have eq.
For me it's partly the other way round. It's much more spacious in "normal" mode, although I can sense that this effect is a little "coloured' (perhaps even a little V-shaped), hence I thought that it must be the Vivid op-amps that are taken out of the equation also in the power amp mode, I didn't think that the Muse op-amps would make that big of a difference. In "bypass mode" things are much more direct, more natural (although a little "dry") I would say, but the "wow" effect is also taken away. I initially preferred the bypass mode but I constantly find myself going back to the standard mode because it's just more pleasant to my ears, even though there's clearly some colouration going on. By it seems to be done in a really nice way and I guess that's partly the reason for this DAC's price. I'll do some more switching back and forth to see if I develop a clear preference.
Yes, at the end of the day it is a preference thing. I think your observations are correct. Bypass mode is more neutral, punchier and above all, has improved clarity. At the same time it is a bit dry. Normal mode looses some clarity and it is more coloured, but also slightly warmer and more pleasant, especially in the mids. I think EDM probably sounds better in bypass mode, vocal/acoustic in normal mode. Good to have the options.
I would leave the op-amps for now.
Thanks. I should say I've had this amp connected by itself off the DAC as well and I don't feel it changed the overall signature.
Then it might be that you simply prefer the Magni.
