chengka7
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Oct 14, 2013
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Craig is building my MKIV right now, and will be finished soon I guess. I actually ordered 445 but it has been delayed due to the redesign, so I switch to 2A3MKIV. I am so excited.
I was part of the first run of 4-45s. My amp, #3, was delivered yesterday.
Just a note for future 4-45 owners. When you power on the amp, you will hear a truly terrifying noise that sounds like aliens boring into your brain. When I first heard this I was unprepared, and it scared the sh!t out of me. I immediately powered down the amp and contacted Craig who assured me this sound---what he innocently calls "the Star Trek noise"---is 100% normal for this amp. It lasts for about 10 seconds before going away. If you find yourself turning on a 4-45, you too will likely hear this Borg-sticking-dental-equipment-into-your-ears sound. Be prepared.
The 4-45 is not a "god amp" (as a certain forum says) but rather a "demon amp" that will strike fear into any other amp in the vicinity with its mighty roar before devouring its soul. When the beast's thirst for audiophile blood is quenched, the noise subsides leaving you with a background as quiet as a tomb.
Indeed, for example, the BA is FULLY BALANCED, in and out, while the 4-45 has balanced outputs, but only RCA inputs !
is this a drawback or it does not make any SQ difference ?
This would be a deal breaker for me. Maybe the redesign will have balanced inputs?
Indeed, for example, the BA is FULLY BALANCED, in and out, while the 4-45 has balanced outputs, but only RCA inputs !
is this a drawback or it does not make any SQ difference ?
So I wonder if the 4-45 is just a more powerful BA that is useful only with very hard to drive headphones or... does the 4-45 sound better than the BA with ALL headphones ?
Marv,
Can you compare the 445 with the Dynahi for some harder to drive cans (orthos particularly). Much as I love my BA and it with the Lampizator really is head and shoulders better than anything else I've heard with the HD800. However, the Dynahi just does well with everything reducing the BA to a bit of a one trick HD800 pony. Even the AD2000 I prefer with the Zana Deux. Does the 445 effectively replace the need for two amps like the D-Hi and BA?
I know some people don't have a problem with single ended cables and RCA connections. In my experience balanced interconnects between the DAC and amplifier make noticeable difference in sound stage and overall sound quality. There is less of a difference on the outputs, but still noticeable.
I'll have to check with Craig. I wonder if the MKIV is single ended or balanced . . . ?
I know some people don't have a problem with single ended cables and RCA connections. In my experience balanced interconnects between the DAC and amplifier make noticeable difference in sound stage and overall sound quality. There is less of a difference on the outputs, but still noticeable.
I'll have to check with Craig. I wonder if the MKIV is single ended or balanced . . . ?
Use this if you have to do balanced into SE amp:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Jensen-Transformers-PC-2XR-XLR-RCA-Audio-Converter-Balanced-to-Unbalanced-/400456028519?pt=US_Signal_Amplifiers_Filters&hash=item5d3d0a1167
BA has this built-in.
It's more like a tradeoff. The BA does take balanced inputs, but the balanced inputs are converted to SE via transformers (those two small cylinders marked Cinemag mounted on the back panel of the BA). This is both good and bad. The good is that both legs of the balanced output are actually used. The bad is that we are adding an unnecessary reactive component in the signal path. Some DACs which have balanced output capability, electically sum the balanced signal for the SE output. So in this case, using short (not 30ft. length in studios) patch cables, it shouldn't matter on the 4-45. Other DACs, like the PWD2 I had, sort of cheat and simply use one leg of the balanced for its SE output. Taking the PWD2 for example, I felt the SQ was kind of a wash between the SE (one leg of the balanced) and balanced outputs into the BA. Really too close to call. It's important to understand that the BA is still a SE amp....
When I asked Craig what is the best amp for HD800 and HD650, he told me like this:
If all you want is a good headphone amp to run HD800, HD650 headphones, the 445 amp is the best sound. Second best is the 445 proto amp that I sent a picture of.
And based on the other comment, 445 should work best with HD800.