Dan Clark Audio Stealth Review, Interview, Measurements

[theveterans]

Ok, so if the A90 leaves out low-level signals that would be audible on a different amplifier, then I should be able to reduce the input signal to a point where the sound suddenly cuts out.
I attempted this and I heard no such cutoff. It continued to decrease until ambient noise overpowered it.
Thinking logically about this, I would expect the amplifier to be able to produce a signal so low that it won't be able to move the headphone drivers.

Then I though of a different test.
I set the Windows volume control to 1/100 and my software volume control to 1/100.
This represents an extremely low level signal, far below what is audible.
I then switched the A90 up to high gain and 100 volume and I could just barely hear it.

So either I don't understand what you mean or you're making stuff up.

Low level information isn’t about dynamic range (i.e. turning down the volume of the signal until noise takes over), it’s about hearing every nuance of the recording that gives you realistic illusion of the recoding (in layman’s terms as if you’re truly transported there). Tubes are one of the cheapest ways to get to that level of sound reproduction though an extremely overengineered SS amp that will cost much more than tubes can do the same or better with better overall dynamics at high SPLs. This is just referring to headphone amplifier and not speaker amplifier

 

[PointyFox]

Low level information isn’t about dynamic range (i.e. turning down the volume of the signal until noise takes over), it’s about hearing every nuance of the recording that gives you realistic illusion of the recoding (in layman’s terms as if you’re truly transported there). Tubes are one of the cheapest ways to get to that level of sound reproduction though an extremely overengineered SS amp that will cost much more than tubes can do the same or better with better overall dynamics at high SPLs. This is just referring to headphone amplifier and not speaker amplifier

No, and I didn't say it was dynamic range. Tube amps are the worst way to do it. SS amps run circles around tube amp measurements for the same price. All amplifiers should be capable of amplifying signals well below the threshold of hearing and I demonstrated the A90 is more than capable of this.

 

[theveterans]

No, and I didn't say it was dynamic range. Tube amps are the worst way to do it. SS amps run circles around tube amp measurements for the same price. All amplifiers should be capable of amplifying signals well below the threshold of hearing and I demonstrated the A90 is more than capable of this.

Just a question if you have ever tried the Stealth with a DHT single ended triode amp? OTL amps are a bad pairing with the stealth due to tube output being primarily voltage driven thus Stealth would pair up best with an output transformer coupled amplifier. Currawong has both the A90 and a SET amp (studio six) and having heard both amp topologies (NCFA and SET), and I align/concur with his impressions as what I also hear from Stealth and even the Aeon 2 Open headphones

 

[PointyFox]

Just a question if you have ever tried the Stealth with a DHT single ended triode amp? OTL amps are a bad pairing with the stealth due to tube output being primarily voltage driven thus Stealth would pair up best with an output transformer coupled amplifier. Currawong has both the A90 and a SET amp (studio six) and having heard both amp topologies (NCFA and SET), and I align/concur with his impressions as what I also hear from Stealth and even the Aeon 2 Open headphones

I only have the A90D at the moment.

 

[OneEyedHito]

I only have the A90D at the moment.

dang, sorry.

 

[Tachyon88]

So is my noise floor not low enough if I can't tell the difference between the amp being on or off ? Blacker blacks, the blackest of blacks, to help you hear all of the nuances......this isn't possible because of a price point ?

 

[elira]

So is my noise floor not low enough if I can't tell the difference between the amp being on or off ? Blacker blacks, the blackest of blacks, to help you hear all of the nuances......this isn't possible because of a price point ?

Most modern amps have very low noise floor, unless you use very sensitive headphones it's not an issue.

 

[theveterans]

So is my noise floor not low enough if I can't tell the difference between the amp being on or off ? Blacker blacks, the blackest of blacks, to help you hear all of the nuances......this isn't possible because of a price point ?

IMHO, It’s not just about the black background as pointed out that most amps have noise floor that starts at -70 dBFS (yes that includes tubes). It’s the ability to resolve the most microdetails and microdynamics in a way that when it’s presented, the sound (timbre, scale, depth, sense of the room/recording studio) truly becomes incredibly spooky from its realistic presentation. It’s truly hard to describe it unless you’ve personally heard a system that conveys that level of sonic information (aka blown away that you’ve never thought possible)

 

[paradoxper]

dang, sorry.

Yup.

 

[Tachyon88]

IMHO, It’s not just about the black background as pointed out that most amps have noise floor that starts at -70 dBFS (yes that includes tubes). It’s the ability to resolve the most microdetails and microdynamics in a way that when it’s presented, the sound (timbre, scale, depth, sense of the room/recording studio) truly becomes incredibly spooky from its realistic presentation. It’s truly hard to describe it unless you’ve personally heard a system that conveys that level of sonic information (aka blown away that you’ve never thought possible)

That is dependent on the recording though. I've had whoa moments and have thought things were outside my room, or something dropped on my floor. Some people are talking about expensive SS or a PSU making blacks blacker and that is what unlocks this hidden, elusive nuances in micro details....eh. Can't get that apparently with cheaper good measuring amps, because (insert audio world view).

 

[dougq]

After trying these out on a few different amps (all over balanced cable) over the last month:

• Cayin IHA-6
• A90D
• Ferrum Oor

I'm going to have to disagree with the assessment that you have to spend X amount of dollars to get the "most" out of these. Compared to the internal amp of the RME there were very little differences when I was trying to get to them. Listening to one vs the other I did not ever feel like one amp was missing something. I'm a bit exhausted at this point from testing gear and have gotten rid of everything minus the RME and Stealth for now. Everything didn't necessarily sound identical, but just ever so slightly different, but nothing necessarily better than the other. TBH they were hard to really hear differences. If I didn't like to make small PEQ adjustments I'd probably 'downgrade' even further to an element 3 or a modi / jot 2 stack. Plus I love the visualizer of the RME.

TLDR; Gear hunting on pause for the rest of the year. This stuff sounds good as it is, and it in the recommend list directly from DCA and they probably know better than anyone what it will sound best out of.

 

[PointyFox]

That is dependent on the recording though. I've had whoa moments and have thought things were outside my room, or something dropped on my floor. Some people are talking about expensive SS or a PSU making blacks blacker and that is what unlocks this hidden, elusive nuances in micro details....eh. Can't get that apparently with cheaper good measuring amps, because (insert audio world view).

It's 100% wishful thinking. There's absolutely nothing based on reality to back it up. Magic is not a component of an electric signal despite what people think they hear. "Microdetails" are NOT low level signals. All amps are capable of putting out low level signals with the exception of amps with high noise floors. Most likely it's being imagined. If it IS something being heard then it's distortion. And if you like it then you like distortion. Deal with it.

 

[6PANDEMONIUM6]

After trying these out on a few different amps (all over balanced cable) over the last month:

• Cayin IHA-6
• A90D
• Ferrum Oor

I'm going to have to disagree with the assessment that you have to spend X amount of dollars to get the "most" out of these. Compared to the internal amp of the RME there were very little differences when I was trying to get to them. Listening to one vs the other I did not ever feel like one amp was missing something. I'm a bit exhausted at this point from testing gear and have gotten rid of everything minus the RME and Stealth for now. Everything didn't necessarily sound identical, but just ever so slightly different, but nothing necessarily better than the other. TBH they were hard to really hear differences. If I didn't like to make small PEQ adjustments I'd probably 'downgrade' even further to an element 3 or a modi / jot 2 stack. Plus I love the visualizer of the RME.

TLDR; Gear hunting on pause for the rest of the year. This stuff sounds good as it is, and it in the recommend list directly from DCA and they probably know better than anyone what it will sound best out of.

If you don't think the differences in sound are worth it then very well; I'll stop bothering you about it. I'm tired of fighting about amps anyway. Let's all just enjoy the Stealths however we please. I'll use my big amps and you can use your tiny amps. I've stopped caring.

 

[Andrewteee]

After trying these out on a few different amps (all over balanced cable) over the last month:

• Cayin IHA-6
• A90D
• Ferrum Oor

I'm going to have to disagree with the assessment that you have to spend X amount of dollars to get the "most" out of these. Compared to the internal amp of the RME there were very little differences when I was trying to get to them. Listening to one vs the other I did not ever feel like one amp was missing something. I'm a bit exhausted at this point from testing gear and have gotten rid of everything minus the RME and Stealth for now. Everything didn't necessarily sound identical, but just ever so slightly different, but nothing necessarily better than the other. TBH they were hard to really hear differences. If I didn't like to make small PEQ adjustments I'd probably 'downgrade' even further to an element 3 or a modi / jot 2 stack. Plus I love the visualizer of the RME.

TLDR; Gear hunting on pause for the rest of the year. This stuff sounds good as it is, and it in the recommend list directly from DCA and they probably know better than anyone what it will sound best out of.

I know what you mean. Trying to compare things for a long time can both be exhausting as you listen for differences and take away from enjoying the music. And in many case things are just different and it comes down to what you enjoy most. I can appreciate the simplicity of where you landed with your system.

There's so much good stuff out there at any price point these days.

 

[theveterans]

If you don't think the differences in sound are worth it then very well; I'll stop bothering you about it. I'm tired of fighting about amps anyway. Let's all just enjoy the Stealths however we please. I'll use my big amps and you can use your tiny amps. I've stopped caring.

I do agree with different strokes for different folks just like Vinyl against Digital