MisterButthead
New Head-Fier
Has anyone tried the 3XP with the Focal Utopia? I'm looking to upgrade my SS amp to something that is better for the Utopia and possibly in preparation to power a He6Se.
Can you describe the THX789 vs Soloist 3XP? I have the 789 with me and find it quite linear in tone but not delivering the kind of punch and dynamics that I want.Sorry, wasn't clear. I was considering the SA1 based on some of the reviews/postings I was seeing. Am still pretty new to all this, so I don't have any experience with any of these amps. Right now the only amps I have are the THX 789 and a Darkvoice 336se, neither of which has any real chance of powering the HE6's. Now that I've gotten the Burson the THX will probably go up for sale. Keeping the Darkvoice because it offers a pretty stark contrast to any neutral amp and depending on my mood and the music I'm listening to I find it a kind of fun pairing with my Senn HD650's, particularly since I swapped the stock tubes.
In any event, I just purchased a Burson Soloist based on some of reviews I've read, so of course I love any review that talks about what a great amp/value it is. Are you using the Burson just to power the LCD's? Any other HP's? Mine is going to be matched with a pair of HiFiman HE6se, which I understand needs a ton of power. It will replace the Drop THX I've been running for a couple of years, and which I don't think would be up to the task. Will also use it for my Sennheiser HD 650's which I've owned for years. Interested to see how it will change the sound on these.
Honestly volume is like measurements - if you go by measurements, the Topping A90 would be the best amp in the world with totally flat response, no noise and high power. But many if not most more expensive amps are noisier and less flat by measurements, but many prefer them - maybe it's all placebo, maybe it's not - it's basically all subjective and how people feel about how something sounds.
Dbs are the same - depending on where in the frequency range the dbs are coming from, and whether it's pleasant or crappy noise, people perceive volume differently. So db measurement is a theoretical measure of sound pressure but is it like FR or noise measurements? Volume, loudness, like FR response and noise, are often a matter of opinion. Would I care if a db meter tells me two things are at the same volume while one sounds louder than the other because it's loud in certain frequencies that I am sensitive to? Honestly I care more about how my ears feel than what some meter displays.
I had a 789 and 887 as well for some time. The things you are missing atm are exactly the things you will get with the Soloist plus better stagingCan you describe the THX789 vs Soloist 3XP? I have the 789 with me and find it quite linear in tone but not delivering the kind of punch and dynamics that I want.
Volume matched of course
Spent half an hour searching for this post to update.I don't have the Soloist 3XP (yet..) but I do have their op-amps and have used them for a number of years now. Currently they get use in my Gustard P26 preamp.
I have observed today that they sound best on maximum volume (99 on the preamp's display). I've used foobar to mitigate volume and tested.. the classics, for example, can give a leaner sound on 50, however the sound also sounds hollowed out and digitally artifacted in the treble. It's weird to explain...
I'm sure the circuitry is much different between the P26 and Soloist 3XP, but perhaps these opamps sound the best when run at '100%' so to speak. Or at least the circuit performs optimally at that level, and anything less can degrade the sound.
If you use foobar, they have a fantastic volume implementation. It functions like a preamp.Only had about a day with the amp.. love it so far. Think I enjoy poweramp mode in medium gain most as others have mentioned, but I absolutely despise having to control the volume through my PC since my BF2 has none. Probably just leave it in medium gain with poweramp mode off since I enjoy using the awesome volume pot Burson has created. It's definitely a step up from my singxer. I think this is it for me. No more upgrades (famous last words). It's time to enjoy the music and stop chasing marginal improvements with wallet crushing costs haha. Maybe an LCD4 way down the road but thats a topic for another day
• The Sennheiser HD650, being a dynamic-driver headphone with a 300 ohm nominal input impedance, is best driven by a higher output-impedance, high output-voltage swing amplifier. The Massdrop THX 789 is not this. You have not been hearing the full capabilities of the HD650. The ‘gap’ between the HE6se and HD650 may not be quite as wide.So I've been spending some time with my Burson Soloist and my HiFiman HE6se's and all I can say is WOW. Both represent an upgrade from my Sennheiser HD650 powered by a Massdrop THX 789. The biggest change is obviously the headphones. This is my first set of plannars and the difference is simply amazing. It's as if I've never heard drums or cymbals until I listened to them through these headphones. The sound is just so crisp. The bass is tighter and more impactful. And the level of detail ... I can now literally separate out every instrument and I feel like I'm hearing things I've never heard before in tracks I have been listening to for years. I honestly thought the differences would be negligible, but they are obvious.
As to the differences between the Soloist and the THX - they are more subtle, but noticeable. The THX is drier. Whereas the Soloist is warmer and more "musical" if that makes sense. The highs feel slightly warmer and the bass feels tighter. I will say the quality of the underlying recording seems to make more of a difference when listened through the HE6se's and the Burson. A crappy recording will sound crappier through this set up than through my Senns.
So I've been spending some time with my Burson Soloist and my HiFiman HE6se's and all I can say is WOW. Both represent an upgrade from my Sennheiser HD650 powered by a Massdrop THX 789. The biggest change is obviously the headphones. This is my first set of plannars and the difference is simply amazing. It's as if I've never heard drums or cymbals until I listened to them through these headphones. The sound is just so crisp. The bass is tighter and more impactful. And the level of detail ... I can now literally separate out every instrument and I feel like I'm hearing things I've never heard before in tracks I have been listening to for years. I honestly thought the differences would be negligible, but they are obvious.
As to the differences between the Soloist and the THX - they are more subtle, but noticeable. The THX is drier. Whereas the Soloist is warmer and more "musical" if that makes sense. The highs feel slightly warmer and the bass feels tighter. I will say the quality of the underlying recording seems to make more of a difference when listened through the HE6se's and the Burson. A crappy recording will sound crappier through this set up than through my Senns.