So after bugging
zach915m with way too many questions last week (thanks again Zach for all the help: you really went above and beyond!), I ordered a sliver HA-3A from ZMF and received it promptly this week.
I'm still getting used to its sound signature, and I have yet to do critical compare and contrast to my current main amp, the Ferrum Oor (I've been listening to one or the other amp in a general use sense before or after each other, not really doing a/b'ing of tracks or albums), but...
I like what I'm hearing.
A lot.
That was apparent from the start (good thing too, as with almost all gear, if I don't like it within literally 30 seconds I'm never going to really like it) and I've only been more impressed with more listening.
I'll say more later, but a couple of key points:
The HA-3A sounds fantastic with my Odins (probably even better than my Oor, since it gives them more sound stage as it has more sound stage in toto, which is crucial for IEMs; gives more body to and smooths out their sometimes/somewhat thin and too forward mids/upper mids; and really ramps up their excellent bass response); this is a very good thing as I bought this for the purpose of using it in a 2nd bedroom set up with the Odins.
The HA-3A makes my HE1000V2's sing, something I did not expect it to have the power (on paper at least) to do. Compared to the Oor, it gives an even bigger stage to them, imbues them with more body/impact, and gives them more heft in the bass response as well.
The amp, of course, looks gorgeous and is functioning perfectly and there is no background noise at normal listening levels with the proper impedance selected/out used with any headphone I've tried (including the Odins with the 4.4 out; I have to go up to around 11 - 12 on the dial to hear any noise here and that's too loud for me!)
Music/sound is reproduced more realistically/naturally ("you are there/instruments sound how they sound" effect) than I've heard on a headphone amp, and there is a good sense of pace, energy, and vividness to the sound. Vocals and instruments can sound downright beautiful (though I was getting this with the Oor, just not as emphasized). This is an engaging, emotive amp that also has strong technicalities and is clear and resolving. It is simply, at least in my short assessment of it, a top tier amp. I'm very happy and already thinking about getting another HA-3A to replace or maybe complement the Oor in my main setup (also thinking of the 6A for that purpose since it has more power for any cans I might get in the future and the TR/UL feature is intriguing).
