[ttys0]

Well I didn't think it was useful enough to keep it..

I did the same, and didn't realize until later that I was supposed to keep them.

 

[hanumanbob]

I heard the E3 at CanJam NYC.... Had to get one. My E3 will arrive on Tuesday. Can't wait.

The more power you give it the better it is. For a portable solution, the Woo WA11 really works very nicely.

 

[gc335]

The more power you give it the better it is. For a portable solution, the Woo WA11 really works very nicely.

Oh yeah… so I saw your posts earlier this week and bought a used WA11 because of your post. It will arrive the same day as the E3. Thanks.

 

[plzTJ]

Has anyone tried pairing the E3 with a Violectric amp?

 

[boomyak]

I'm using my E3 with an Audio-gd R28 NOS, and it's GREAT up until about 75db, but then it kinda falls apart at louder volumes. the specs say it should have more than enough power, and it can def get LOUD, but anything north of 75-80db it just sounds bad. Here are the specs for that particular amp:

9500mW / 25 ohm
8000MW / 40 ohm
3500MW / 100 ohm
1200MW / 300 ohm
600MW / 600 ohm

It might just be because both the headphones and the dac/amp are "breaking in"? I've never bought an amp or cans this high-end before.

Has there been a consensus around what the perfect amp for these cans are yet? I'm sorry I don't have time to go through 120 pages. Not looking for a dac/amp, just the best amp at a reasonable price.

Thanks!

 

[DMITRIY R]

Has anyone tried pairing the E3 with a Violectric amp?

Vio 550 and Niimbus work well with DCA Stealth. I'm sure they are also compatible with E3.

 

[dougq]

I'm using my E3 with an Audio-gd R28 NOS, and it's GREAT up until about 75db, but then it kinda falls apart at louder volumes. the specs say it should have more than enough power, and it can def get LOUD, but anything north of 75-80db it just sounds bad. Here are the specs for that particular amp:

9500mW / 25 ohm
8000MW / 40 ohm
3500MW / 100 ohm
1200MW / 300 ohm
600MW / 600 ohm

It might just be because both the headphones and the dac/amp are "breaking in"? I've never bought an amp or cans this high-end before.

Has there been a consensus around what the perfect amp for these cans are yet? I'm sorry I don't have time to go through 120 pages. Not looking for a dac/amp, just the best amp at a reasonable price.

Thanks!

Magni unity with built in dac.

 

[jarnopp]

I'm using my E3 with an Audio-gd R28 NOS, and it's GREAT up until about 75db, but then it kinda falls apart at louder volumes. the specs say it should have more than enough power, and it can def get LOUD, but anything north of 75-80db it just sounds bad. Here are the specs for that particular amp:

9500mW / 25 ohm
8000MW / 40 ohm
3500MW / 100 ohm
1200MW / 300 ohm
600MW / 600 ohm

It might just be because both the headphones and the dac/amp are "breaking in"? I've never bought an amp or cans this high-end before.

Has there been a consensus around what the perfect amp for these cans are yet? I'm sorry I don't have time to go through 120 pages. Not looking for a dac/amp, just the best amp at a reasonable price.

Thanks!

Maybe it’s the high output impedance of the Audio-gd? The specs say 100/200 ohms, which is much higher than the E3.

 

[chesebert]

I'm using my E3 with an Audio-gd R28 NOS, and it's GREAT up until about 75db, but then it kinda falls apart at louder volumes. the specs say it should have more than enough power, and it can def get LOUD, but anything north of 75-80db it just sounds bad. Here are the specs for that particular amp:

9500mW / 25 ohm
8000MW / 40 ohm
3500MW / 100 ohm
1200MW / 300 ohm
600MW / 600 ohm

It might just be because both the headphones and the dac/amp are "breaking in"? I've never bought an amp or cans this high-end before.

Has there been a consensus around what the perfect amp for these cans are yet? I'm sorry I don't have time to go through 120 pages. Not looking for a dac/amp, just the best amp at a reasonable price.

Thanks!

Headamp GSX mk2 - you will probably get 85% of the performance.
CFA3 - you will get 100% of the performance based on current available product (technically only 1 version of this amp is commercially available and it's based on modified circuit from the original)
Mass Kobo 465 (not reasonably priced) - this will also get you there and it sounded slightly different from but as good as my CFA3.

There are other potential contenders such as Silver Fox and Bliss but I don't have experience with them.

 

[plzTJ]

Headamp GSX mk2 - you will probably get 85% of the performance.
CFA3 - you will get 100% of the performance based on current available product (technically only 1 version of this amp is commercially available and it's based on modified circuit from the original)
Mass Kobo 465 (not reasonably priced) - this will also get you there and it sounded slightly different from but as good as my CFA3.

There are other potential contenders such as Silver Fox and Bliss but I don't have experience with them.

What about any of the Violectric amps? Have you tried any of them?

 

[boomyak]

I thought the Violectric amps paired best with high Ohm headphones like the HD800s, as they were designed 10+ years ago when high impedance headphones was where the market was moving.
Wavetheory says that the Mjolnir 3 is a better bit for headphones with low Ohms than the V222. But I have no idea, I've never tried either.

 

[Salted Peanut]

Has anyone tried pairing the E3 with a Violectric amp?

Yes, the HPA V222 and it sounded amazing. The E3 was in total control and I could hear everything, I was surprisingly deep into the recordings.

 

[boomyak]

Yes, the HPA V222 and it sounded amazing. The E3 was in total control and I could hear everything, I was surprisingly deep into the recordings.

How loud can it get before it starts to fall apart and distort? If you can approximate dB, or any other reference you can think of. My amp sounds FANTASTIC until I try to push it beyond about 75dB. A v222 would be an economical solution, as some of the other suggestions are a bit out of my price range (appreciate them all though!)

 

[Hifitam]

Go with a Topping A90/D90 stack, it's just perfect.

 

[plzTJ]

Yes, the HPA V222 and it sounded amazing. The E3 was in total control and I could hear everything, I was surprisingly deep into the recordings.

It seems they would be a good match - the E3s slightly bright leaning tuning, paired with a warm-ish amp. I also heard the Pietus Maximus pairs well with it, though probably not as well as the Violectric.