Finally able to try this amp. The first thing that comes to my mind is this amp is unmistakenly tuned by Cayin. In general the character is highly organic, smooth, plenty of meat on the bones, with "cayin" sweetness in midrange area.
Some things that impressed me the most are how big the soundstage, not just width, but also depth and height are truly excellent to create holographic feel. Secondly, how every notes seems clean, smooth, there is no harshness anywhere, but attack notes still solid, no dullness feeling. This is a pleasant surprise for me as I have hard time to enjoy various Cayin tube amps before (include HA300-II) due to lack of "sharpness" for attack notes, and soundstage felt a bit limited with a bit blurry pin point imaging.
Able to compared with Feliks Envy Performance (just for a brief though, like only 5 songs) with Full Music 300B tube:
- Both amp definitely have tubey character, balance-warm tonality, with "thicker than neutral" organic flavour
- Cayin 170HA push even further for the sweetness character, making Vocal become more "wet", with fuller meat on the bones, and also fuller bass body as well
- Envy Performance seems provide faster notes, a bit more "intense" from upper mid to treble (a little more aggressive), and a bit leaner from Midrange to Bass
- Soundstage is bigger with Cayin, in term of width and depth
- The smallest micro detail seems easier to hear with Envy Performance, not just in treble area, but also some textures in midrange and bass
- Cayin seems able to "fight" Envy Performance in term of how clean the black background of each notes, which is impressive for me. I know that I can just rolling to Elrog tube to "level up" the Envy in this area, but the price gap will also become bigger.
My favourite setting is with TR, as UL seems a bit messy in pin point imaging area, and I feel lost a bit of "magical" feeling with Vocal. Dynamic/Soft timbre only minor difference, I like dynamic more.
Tried with ZMF Caldera. I wonder how 170HA will perform with Immanis. Will try tomorrow.
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Btw, is there any options to rolling KT170 tube?
Continuing the impression, with a little different set up here and there. For now the set up consist of Rockna Wavedream Signature and Raal Immanis.
Feliks Envy Performance use standard tube set Full Music 300B and Ps Vane 6SN7 (in previous impression use RCA 5692 Red Base). Set to High Gain.
Cayin Soul 170HA use Tri Mode, Dynamic Timbre, and Medium Impedance Out. All standard tubes.
Here some notes:
- For the same loudness, if at Cayin volume at 1 o'clock, with Envy "only" less than 10 o'clock
- Cayin still perform more spacious soundstage, especially for width. Envy Performance really comparable with depth presentation though.
- Cayin has more relax character, a bit softer bite/impact, more "chill" feeling around while Feliks Performance provide faster and more attack notes, livelier, more "headbanging" feel.
- Both amp produce around the same meat on the bones. Full body presentation, with warm feeling, without any muddy problem
- With Cayin I can feel a bit more "ethereal" feeling, like high notes have more floating effect. While Envy is more "grounded" with more immediate notes
- Envy Performance has a little more information for the smallest micro detail, but Cayin perform well too.
- At certain recordings, somehow Cayin may produce lighter notes, especially upper mid to treble area. Not sharper, or harsher, just lighter than Envy.
- Bass at Envy kick harder, with more density. Bass at Cayin is a little bit softer and bloomier, with more or less same quantity as Envy.
All in all, 170HA is definitely by far the best headphone amp from Cayin I ever tested. Even able to catch up to Feliks Envy Performance (an amp that I really like). Personally for Raal Immanis, I prefer Envy all the time. However for ZMF Caldera, I think I prefer Cayin 8 out of 10 songs.