[TwoEars]

Maybe this has been mentioned already but does anyone have any idea how the Liquid Fire compares to the:
 
1) Apex Peak with Volcano Amp
2) DNA Stratus
3) Eddie Current Balancing Act
 
I'm considering mostly the LF or Peak or Stratus I think but have no clue as to which would be best for me. Anyone who has been fortunate enough to compare them?

 

[mwilson]

The Liquid Fire has a significantly lower output voltage than the Blue Hawaii 

 
Edited on a serious note: The BHSE is a different type of amp, and won't work with dynamic headphones.
 
 
Quote:

Maybe this has been mentioned already but does anyone have any idea how the Liquid Fire compares to the:
 
3) Headamp Blue Hawaii
 
 
I'm considering mostly the LF or Peak or Stratus I think but have no clue as to which would be best for me. Anyone who has been fortunate enough to compare them?

 

[TwoEars]

Quote:

The Liquid Fire has a significantly lower output voltage than the Blue Hawaii 

 
Edited on a serious note: The BHSE is a different type of amp, and won't work with dynamic headphones.
 
 

Ok - forget about the Blue Hawaii then

 

[googleli]

I will try to compare the BHSE and the LF when my BHSE arrives in August. 

 

[Radio_head]

If you're in the US and have the chance to go to a meet, that would be optimal, as they might have one or two of those amps that you can compare for yourself.  I've had every one of those dynamic amps in-home (save for the Stratus which I hope to get soon) and they all had their strengths.  

 

[TwoEars]

Quote:

If you're in the US and have the chance to go to a meet, that would be optimal, as they might have one or two of those amps that you can compare for yourself.  I've had every one of those dynamic amps in-home (save for the Stratus which I hope to get soon) and they all had their strengths.  

Sorry - not in the US, otherwise that definitely would have been my first option.
 
Can you say anything about the differences between the LF and the Peak/Volcano? I like PRAT in my music and listen to alot of electronica so bass response is important. But then I also listen to something like the wonderful new swedish duo "first aid kit"with their tender female voices so quite a big spectrum there...
 
I guess I'm looking for something fairly neutral sounding but dynamic with good PRAT, completely black background but also that mystic quality very you connect to the music in an almost magical way that tubes are so good at. From what I've read it sounds like the LF might be for me - would you agree?
 
Of course tube rolling can change the sound a lot but I'm looking for any feedback I can get - original tubes or not.

 

[sachu]

Quote:

 
I guess I'm looking for something fairly neutral sounding but dynamic with good PRAT, completely black background but also that mystic quality very you connect to the music in an almost magical way that tubes are so good at. From what I've read it sounds like the LF might be for me - would you agree?
 

Yup.. that would be the LF indeed for you out of the 3 listed.

 

[mwilson]

Big caveat here, as I haven't heard any of the other amps you've listed, but I was very happy with the LF while I had it. Once you get rid of the stock JJ tubes and go with a quad of Siemens E88CC, it will provide the very immersive experience you seem to be seeking. There's just something about the LF and a quad of Siemens that gave a tremendously dynamic and enjoyable aspect to music listening. I know at least two other head-fi'ers who can vouch for this combo.
 
Quote:

I guess I'm looking for something fairly neutral sounding but dynamic with good PRAT, completely black background but also that mystic quality very you connect to the music in an almost magical way that tubes are so good at. From what I've read it sounds like the LF might be for me - would you agree?
 
Of course tube rolling can change the sound a lot but I'm looking for any feedback I can get - original tubes or not.

 

[Icenine2]

Does anyone actually cover their LF up after it cools down?  I blow the dust out of mine about every six weeks.  All the top venting allows some dust in.  What an exciting post!

 

[mwilson]

Yeah, I covered it after every single use. 
 
Quote:

Does anyone actually cover their LF up after it cools down?  I blow the dust out of mine about every six weeks.  All the top venting allows some dust in.  What an exciting post!

 

[Equus]

Quote:

Maybe this has been mentioned already but does anyone have any idea how the Liquid Fire compares to the:
 
1) Apex Peak with Volcano Amp
2) DNA Stratus
3) Eddie Current Balancing Act
 
I'm considering mostly the LF or Peak or Stratus I think but have no clue as to which would be best for me. Anyone who has been fortunate enough to compare them?

 
Quote:

Sorry - not in the US, otherwise that definitely would have been my first option.
 
Can you say anything about the differences between the LF and the Peak/Volcano? I like PRAT in my music and listen to alot of electronica so bass response is important. But then I also listen to something like the wonderful new swedish duo "first aid kit"with their tender female voices so quite a big spectrum there...
 
I guess I'm looking for something fairly neutral sounding but dynamic with good PRAT, completely black background but also that mystic quality very you connect to the music in an almost magical way that tubes are so good at. From what I've read it sounds like the LF might be for me - would you agree?
 
Of course tube rolling can change the sound a lot but I'm looking for any feedback I can get - original tubes or not.

 
I had a loaner Peak/Volcano and wrote a review that you can read here: http://www.head-fi.org/products/apex-high-fi-audio-peak-and-volcano/reviews/4800
 
Long story only slightly longer, I own the LF and haven't really looked back.  I wasn't particularly thrilled about the lower mid range on the Peak, which is where I think I have a tendency to connect to the music.  The caveat is that I haven't had both amps to audition at the same time and I have rolled the tubes in the LF (while I was limited to stock tubes and Shuguang Black Bottle 6SN7 on the Peak), so my head to head comparisons are from memory and without a lot of experimentation, so take it with a grain of salt.
 
Quote:

Does anyone actually cover their LF up after it cools down?  I blow the dust out of mine about every six weeks.  All the top venting allows some dust in.  What an exciting post!

 
I usually don't cover mine unless I'm going out of town or something.  Blowing out dust every now and then to make sure it's not getting caked in there is probably a good idea, but I haven't really worried about dust too much since there aren't any moving parts to get gummed up.  Maybe being more careful about dust would be a good idea, but I don't know. 

 

[Clayton SF]

I open up my LF every month and use a [size=11.0pt]Giottos AA1900 Rocket Air Blaster to chase the dust away. [/size]It even is the same color scheme as the LF!
 

 

[Jamiee]

Quote:

I open up my LF every month and use a [size=11.0pt]Giottos AA1900 Rocket Air Blaster to chase the dust away. [/size]It even is the same color scheme as the LF!
 
 

 
 
Maybe Alex should give away one of these with every LF purchase!   

 

[preproman]

Quote:

If you're in the US and have the chance to go to a meet, that would be optimal, as they might have one or two of those amps that you can compare for yourself.  I've had every one of those dynamic amps in-home (save for the Stratus which I hope to get soon) and they all had their strengths.  

 
 
 Whats the pros and cons of the ECBA vs the LF?

 

[MacedonianHero]

Quote:

Big caveat here, as I haven't heard any of the other amps you've listed, but I was very happy with the LF while I had it. Once you get rid of the stock JJ tubes and go with a quad of Siemens E88CC, it will provide the very immersive experience you seem to be seeking. There's just something about the LF and a quad of Siemens that gave a tremendously dynamic and enjoyable aspect to music listening. I know at least two other head-fi'ers who can vouch for this combo.
 

 
Am I too late to vouch for this combo? 

 (And yes, the Siemens E88CCs are the perfect finish to the setup).
 
 
 

Yeah, I covered it after every single use. 
 

 
Good to hear that I've continued the tradition with said amp.