[Andykong]

May I ask what is your source dac used?
I forgot to take notice.

iDAP-6 and iDAC-6.

Come back next week, Munich start on 10 May and I'll try a new setup this time.

 

[Andykong]

Indeed it is! I've outgrown the HA-1A mk2 upon upgrading to Utopia and the only logical move forward is the HA-300. While there are plenty of great choices out there, nothing really interest me enough other than the HA-300.

I have a Holo Spring as well and its going to be really interesting how that will add/affect its holographic characteristics that I love about it. With the HA-1A mk2, it brought it a bit forward while the IHA-6 seems to retains its holographic airy nature but at the sacrifice of tube goodness.

I'll update back when I receive it in a week or two!

You have both? I mean iHA-6 and HA-1AMK2? and when HA-300 arrive, you'll have all three headphone amplifiers form Cayin ? This is very interesting.

 

[Andykong]

i you don't want to pay big bucks for a pair of 300B I would go with EML 300B Mesh tubes but if money is not a problem then the Takatsuki 300B.
For drivers I like the Tungsol Black Glass/Round Plates 6SN7 or the 6F8G (but you need an adapter for these). Also the Sylvania Brown Base/Chrome top 6SN7WGT are nice.
The guys from Cayin recommended not to mess with the rectifier tubes. They are rare and the stock are very good.

That probably is me. Rolling rectifier tubes will most likely improve the sound but since we use NOS RCA tubes for this purpose in HA-300, we can wait.

 

[Level5]

You have both? I mean iHA-6 and HA-1AMK2? and when HA-300 arrive, you'll have all three headphone amplifiers form Cayin ? This is very interesting.

Sadly I had to sell the HA-1A mk2 to make room for HA-300 on my desk and besides It'll just collect dust when I get the HA-300.

 

[cradon]

I'll suggest you start with 6SN7 , this is the first stage of the single end tube amplification, any change in tonal balance or sound signature will further "enlarged" in second stage, so I always recommend customers to start with the smaller Stage 1 tube.

One final reminder, stick with the stock tubes for a while, wait till all the components (and transformers) has settled down, this will allow you to audition the tube accurately,

I got my unit in yesterday and found it a little lacking in resulution, top end sparkle/air and soundstaging. After about 5 hours I noticed some improvements. How long do you recommend waiting for the components and transformers to settle down?

 

[Andykong]

I got my unit in yesterday and found it a little lacking in resulution, top end sparkle/air and soundstaging. After about 5 hours I noticed some improvements. How long do you recommend waiting for the components and transformers to settle down?

The first 50 hours will be fairly noticeable, the changes will become subtle after that, and kind of fairly stable one you pass the 100 hours mark.

 

[Level5]

Just got it yesterday so still breaking in but with a brief listen, I am left speechless with Utopia!

First thing I noticed is the gobs of resolution this thing spits out and the thunderous slam and bass yet its not muddy nor bloomy!

The level of transparency, layering and clarity is almost SS-like and made me not want to listen to my IHA-6 anymore. I never knew a tube amp is able to go toe to toe with a good SS amp!

Soundstage is very open, airy and I get a better sense of depth. It paired really well with my Holo Spring and it didn't ruin its holographic nature.

I'll add more later when its fully broken in but so far it has exceeded my expectations and made my Utopia show its true colors!

 

[Dobrescu George]

Just got it yesterday so still breaking in but with a brief listen, I am left speechless with Utopia!

First thing I noticed is the gobs of resolution this thing spits out and the thunderous slam and bass yet its not muddy nor bloomy!

The level of transparency, layering and clarity is almost SS-like and made me not want to listen to my IHA-6 anymore. I never knew a tube amp is able to go toe to toe with a good SS amp!

Soundstage is very open, airy and I get a better sense of depth. it paired really well with my Holo Spring and it didn't ruin its holographic nature.

I'll add more later when its fully broken in but so far it has exceeded my expectations and made my Utopia show its true colors!

Oooh, sounds like it would give a lot of energy and life to a pair of LCD headphones as well

 

[alphanumerix1]

Just got it yesterday so still breaking in but with a brief listen, I am left speechless with Utopia!

First thing I noticed is the gobs of resolution this thing spits out and the thunderous slam and bass yet its not muddy nor bloomy!

The level of transparency, layering and clarity is almost SS-like and made me not want to listen to my IHA-6 anymore. I never knew a tube amp is able to go toe to toe with a good SS amp!

Soundstage is very open, airy and I get a better sense of depth. It paired really well with my Holo Spring and it didn't ruin its holographic nature.

I'll add more later when its fully broken in but so far it has exceeded my expectations and made my Utopia show its true colors!

Looks great aswell

 

[Maxx134]

I'll add more later when its fully broken in but so far it has exceeded my expectations and made my Utopia show its true colors!

The Utopia is very much like the Abyss Diana.

They match Really really well because they are so transparent, and the Cayin is so dam musical.
It increases the size and power and life of the headphones.

I was listening to the Cayin 3days ago at a friend's house, so memory still fresh.

The euphoric nature of the amp, is extremely well done, because it is ever so slightly richer than a 2a3 amp, while being extremely resolving so you only notice how musicall it is.

Especially with highly resolving headphones.
It makes the HD800 scale higher than I have heard before.
You would never say the HD800 lacks any bass with this amp.


Wait till your tubes burn in and the trebles become optimal.
Happens to all new tubes, you gotta burn them in.

Stock driver tubes highly musicall, but take a while to burn in...
If your not patient,
roll in some old stock Tung-sol in driver tube spot, you get an instant slap of dynamics and stage.

 

[wasupdog]

where did you order from? I didn't know they had these yet in the usa.

 

[Level5]

where did you order from? I didn't know they had these yet in the usa.

Musicteck

 

[Level5]

It increases the size and power and life of the headphones.

Yes this was the most surprising aspect of this amp that just boggles my mind. Its like all my previous amps that are more than capable powering my Utopia felt under powered somehow! Its totally a different animal now!

I'm im love with the stock tubes to start rolling right away, but will try Tung Sol in the future!

 

[musicman59]

Can the 6F8G tubes with adapters be used instead of the 6SN7?

 

[Level5]

Back from the honey moon phase and now I no longer love the stock 300b after swapping it with a pair of Gold Lions PX300B.

I must admit the stock TJ Full Music 300b/n were slightly more transparent, faster and had deeper/punchier bass than the GL, but at the cost of being too sizzly/shrilly with vocals! The GL on the other hand is very balanced with better depth and soundstage!

One of my of stock TJ 300b/n glass is bigger than the other and I noticed a chip on the ceramic base of the tube. I'll try a different mesh type 300b from another brand tube next time.

I'm still at break in period with the GL at less than 100hrs and I'm sure these will loosen up a bit more in a few days.

Later today I'm swapping the stock Shuguang WE6SN7 with a pair of Psvane CV181-TII and will give a brief impression on them.

Overall I'm very satisfied with the HA-300 and I already sold my IHA-6 because it'll just collect dust. I'm pretty much done with solid state amps!

300B is truly a magical tube and I can't wait to try more!