Comparable alternatives for B22

[Arlekiin]

Oh thats your order? Thats great, i mean its great to see someone else ordering from him. If you get it its a genuine deal. 
Also I dont think its too likely people will be needing the warranty and if he achieves the level where there is so much interest and need for it ill bet hes gonna raise prices...

 

[Nebby]

Ah, I personally go for the 2CP-2508 with the Log taper. It's $99.95
 
My experience with stepped attenuator is that the volume I want is consistently right between two notches, so prefer pots more.
 
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The TKD is just $75 and yes, it's indeed a great pot. I really liked it in my last amp and IMO, it should become a standard for higher amps, instead of the RK27.
I still prefer the stepped attenuator though.

 

[Lil' Knight]

Just get more steps then

 

[Nebby]

Good idea, M3 would be a good alternative.
 
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Nobody has mentioned the M3?

How long has your build been in the making? Please post pictures when it's complete

 
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Well... It's seems that my builder is offering my amp for sale

nah.. but it's definitely my build there in the pictures, my amp won't be so unique after this one LOL

 

[[OverDrive]]

[size=100%][size=100%]Burson HA160[/size][/size]
 
http://www.headfonia.com/burson-ha-160-review-vs-ambs-beta22/

 

[yossi126]

Quote:

[size=100%][size=100%]Burson HA160[/size][/size]
 
http://www.headfonia.com/burson-ha-160-review-vs-ambs-beta22/

You can't take this review seriously, I'm serious

Just read his impressions of the LCD-2, you haven't seen such a contradiction in your life LOL
 
 
Nebby wrote:
Quote:

 How long has your build been in the making? Please post pictures when it's complete

 

 
We were waiting on a back order from glass jar (I bought these before I knew the builder) and by the time almost all the amp is complete he's been waiting on a few final bits from amb which delays the amp until now (The project begun early August).
 
Will post pics

 

[Nebby]

"...comparison [to the HD800] the LCD-2 is accentuated on the upper treble..."
 
oh boy.

 

[sokolov91]

Quote:

Ummm..... what?  How are the Phoenix internals much higher quality than that of a GS-X or a B22.  Now given that the B22 is DIY what parts are used and the subsequent build quality is up to the builder but there are some very nice B22s out there, that could easily pass as commercial amps both internally and externally.  And I agree with Nebby, what parts do you expect the GS-X to use?  Now given the price differential, the Phoenix might be a better value, but I have yet to see anything near conclusive or even a significant consensus on the matter.

If you read what I actually posted, you wouldn't have written half of your post.
 
Never said it was better than the b22, in fact i stated due to no DIY posibility and having to go with market solutions, value of the amps being discussed is changed.
 
You don't have to agree with me, but you could at least read what you are quoting. For 1200 you are getting 2 chasis (I don't care if it actually changes the sound or not just saying it is extra value), 3 R-core transformers, and a plethora of discrete components of high quality.
 
Sonically, I said I don't know which is better, but for your money, it would seem you are getting much more from Audio GD. If you build yourself, well all of this changes somewhat.
 
Also, all three of these amps are so good it probably doesn't matter which one you get, which is why it would be good to get the one that has the most "value" if you cannot audition all of them. At least there was some logic in your choice, right?
 

 

[Arlekiin]

Well the deal on british ebay is 1000 USD which is reasonable and I could upgrade it if i wanted to, I was somewhat worried if it could be a ripoff or not...by ripoff i mean me paying and getting squat....
And could replace volume pots etc over time if I wanted to. Even if it doesnt use top of the line parts it would probably blow my mind with quality at first...

 

[sokolov91]

I thought you wanted a balanced amp? This is 3 channels FWIW and yes even if it is not using million dollar caps it should sound phenomenal

 

[Arlekiin]

Well I hear that going balanced is a real treat but also I dont have any phones that are balanced yet.
I currently own a pair of HD650's and possibly plan to get a pair of Beyer T's but that would be it, im not sure if i want to get a stax deal from Wooaudio at some point or not with 007's. 
I wouldnt want to pay +200usd on each pair of phones im gonna get to get decent aftermarket cabling for them cause I really dont believe that much into Cable-fi.
But balanced...hmm I just dont know what it is I would be getting and I have no way of auditioning balanced amps/phones the only reasoning would be to get a balanced amp just for the hell of it.

 

[sokolov91]

Quote:

Well I hear that going balanced is a real treat but also I dont have any phones that are balanced yet.
I currently own a pair of HD650's and possibly plan to get a pair of Beyer T's but that would be it, im not sure if i want to get a stax deal from Wooaudio at some point or not with 007's. 
I wouldnt want to pay +200usd on each pair of phones im gonna get to get decent aftermarket cabling for them cause I really dont believe that much into Cable-fi.
But balanced...hmm I just dont know what it is I would be getting and I have no way of auditioning balanced amps/phones the only reasoning would be to get a balanced amp just for the hell of it.

Well 1 you would need a balanced source to fully benefit.
 
You don't have to use snake oil cables to go balanced. A HD 650 would be a snap to recable as DIY connector pins are super cheap.
 
10 bucks a pair + a nice 4 pin xlr jack + 10 feet of 4 conductor cable + shrink wrap is tops 40$ and 15 mins of time. 
 
T1 cable is a simple cut and reterminate job if I am not mistaken, so going balanced does not mean you will have to POTA (pay out the....) like some people do.
 
But if you wanted to go balanced the phoenix is deff a good choice for the price, but any amp mentioned is a good choice. For 1200 the phoenix is great especially considering the flexibility and features like ACSS and pre map function not to mention being fully balanced. That is why I want one, but it doesn't mean you have to want one...

 

[Arlekiin]

Still these features you mention are indeed valid points and 1200 is in tolerable range.
And no I dont have a balanced source and I don't plan to get one...yet as I use my PC as a source and getting a balanced source would probably mean getting a balanced dac...I bet these wont come cheap.
 
But it seems that at the moment 2 main contenders are Phoenix and B22 (built by a builder)
 
P.S: Also I probably wouldnt have even started to search for a new amp but it seems that my Morgan Jones is just a tad out of breath with HD650's or just not the best match. I cant say its terrible but I feel that it could be way more clear and articulate also as I run my amps for hours on end I think Wooaudio 6SE would end up being quite expensive if I go through tubes as fast as I do for that reason a mid/highend SS amp needs to find its way to my home.

 

[Arlekiin]

Oh and it has a remote....

 

[nikongod]

Use a transformer to convert the SE output from your soundcard to balanced. Or get a soundcard that has balanced outputs. The later can be assumed to be of better quality (they assume that if you need balanced outputs you wont tolerate the same levels of worthless crap that someone who buys what they are told will buy will tolerate) BUT the transformer buys you some very valuable isolation.
 
Better soundcard, with balanced outputs, and a transformer between your computer and the AMP. mmmmm,hmmmm mucho nice.