Ferrum OOR - headphone amplifier with a soul ?

[abase21]

Xlr from Spring to Oor? Balanced from Oor to Arya? Using hi gain? Do you have Hypsos?

..yes I have good Transparent xlr cables - I have tried the Gain in all positions, yes I have the Hypsos. But for me the sound stays flat and un-involving like Mkay says

I think I will not buy this combo and try the Benchmark HPA4

 

[plumpudding2]

..yes I have good Transparent xlr cables - I have tried the Gain in all positions, yes I have the Hypsos. But for me the sound stays flat and un-involving like Mkay says

I think I will not buy this combo and try the Benchmark HPA4

Every pair of ears is different

 

[krude]

..yes I have good Transparent xlr cables - I have tried the Gain in all positions, yes I have the Hypsos. But for me the sound stays flat and un-involving like Mkay says

I think I will not buy this combo and try the Benchmark HPA4

Hmm, ok then, interesting, let us know how it compares with HPA4 in your tests. From my experience I would struggle to say there are amps with objectively better performance, also with regards to dynamics ... however we all have different expectations and ears and appreciate different qualities. Ferrum is not a raging horse and its designed for high class non fatiguing sound. Not sure if HPA4 would be an upgrade in any regard in terms of "character" I would try Burson or a tube amp for a more engaging presentation.

 

[abase21]

I have

Hmm, ok then, interesting, let us know how it compares with HPA4 in your tests. From my experience I would struggle to say there are amps with objectively better performance, also with regards to dynamics ... however we all have different expectations and ears and appreciate different qualities. Ferrum is not a raging horse and its designed for high class non fatiguing sound. Not sure if HPA4 would be an upgrade in any regard in terms of "character" I would try Burson or a tube amp for a more engaging presentation.

I have found a good dealer, he let me try and then decide - I will keep the tread here informed what the final decision
is. I know how my loudspeaker can sound I have had an good PreAmp, but sold it for the Ferrum stack...

I can play with the Ferrum-Stack until the Benchmark will arrive (end of next week)

 

[TheR0v3r]

I have

I have found a good dealer, he let me try and then decide - I will keep the tread here informed what the final decision
is. I know how my loudspeaker can sound I have had an good PreAmp, but sold it for the Ferrum stack...

I can play with the Ferrum-Stack until the Benchmark will arrive (end of next week)

Strange.

I’ve listened to alot of Hifimans (Sundara, Ananda, Arya, Arya SE, HE1000, HE1000 v2, HE1000SE and Susvara) on the Ferrum stack. And IMHO the Ferrum stack is one of the better SS amps (regardless of price) for the Hifiman planars. It gives the Hifimans a nice tonal balance and some needed ”heft”/slam with better transient response that I wonder if the THX-AAA amps can deliver… (But the Ferrum needs to be run balanced from end-to-end.)

Can you play around with cables while you wait for a more suitable headphone cable (XLR)?

P.S. Listening to music in headphones is a very personal experience so no right or wrong

 

[abase21]

P.S. Listening to music in headphones is a very personal experience so no right or wrong

..I`m waiting for my XLR-cabel - the think is, that I want to use it also as preAmp in in my opinion the Ferrum is not the right tool for both jobs. I know how me Setup can sound and the Ferrum can`t do that. And it is not practical to switch on the power amp by hand. On the Ferrum you have not the possibility to change from Speaker to HP. On the Benchmark you can choose HP or Line or both...

 

[krude]

..I`m waiting for my XLR-cabel - the think is, that I want to use it also as preAmp in in my opinion the Ferrum is not the right tool for both jobs. I know how me Setup can sound and the Ferrum can`t do that. And it is not practical to switch on the power amp by hand. On the Ferrum you have not the possibility to change from Speaker to HP. On the Benchmark you can choose HP or Line or both...

What pre-amp are you comparing to that is so vastly superior? I have Bliss KTE which is a damn good pre amp and Ferrum is hands down better as a pre

 

[abase21]

I have had a SPL Director MK2

 

[krude]

I have had a SPL Director MK2

Fair game, I haven't heard anything from SPL. Used Ferrum mostly as a pre into a tube amp and active monitors for over a year and can only say good things about it. Sound is subjective, I would call it many things but definitely not lifeless. For me it has very strong dynamics, great bass density, great midrange detail and non fatiguing treble. I love the fact that gain and voltage settings affect the pre-amp. I assume you're running Hypsos via the Ferrum link with all the fancy options turned on and the amp is set to 24v?

Anyway, sorry you don't like it. Hope you'll find a good substitute soon. It will be interesting to hear if you like the HPA4 better. I tried it and I found it lifeless and sterile but we all have different taste

 

[tawmizzzz]

..today I received the "Ferrum Stack" for testing from a local dealer. I`m not realy satisfy with this stack. For me it sound flat

-->melco S100 --> STMO neo ultra --> holo audio spring3 KTE --> Ferrum oor --> Hifiman Arya

I know there are many others who love the combo, but I just did not like the Spring 3 KTE (no pre-amp) with Ferrum OOR stack. It was a nice synergy for the LCD5s more aggressive profile, but made Susvara sound very mediocre. As you described, it felt flat, laid-back and rather congested.

Once I got to A/B Spring 3 KTE against the Rockna Wavelight DAC through the Ferrum, the entire chain changed significantly to the point that I took my Susvara listing down and never looked back. Much more expansive, dynamic, and engaging. So it could be the DAC if we're having the same chain "pitfalls", as I am convinced Ferrum OOR showcases the DAC's characteristics with very obvious transparency.

 

[krude]

I know there are many others who love the combo, but I just did not like the Spring 3 KTE (no pre-amp) with Ferrum OOR stack. It was a nice synergy for the LCD5s more aggressive profile, but made Susvara sound very mediocre. As you described, it felt flat, laid-back and rather congested.

Once I got to A/B Spring 3 KTE against the Rockna Wavelight DAC through the Ferrum, the entire chain changed significantly to the point that I took my Susvara listing down and never looked back. Much more expansive, dynamic, and engaging. So it could be the DAC if we're having the same chain "pitfalls", as I am convinced Ferrum OOR showcases the DAC's characteristics with very obvious transparency.

I'd even go a step further. You can find my post in the Bliss thread about AudioQuest interconnects I started to experiment with recently ... literally swapping a cable between May and Bliss (or Ferrum) changes the sound characteristics rather dramatically with sensitive headphones like the TC. TL;DR it's all about synergy. I like Ferrum with May for Susvara though, a lot more than May with Bliss.

 

[SLC1966]

I know there are many others who love the combo, but I just did not like the Spring 3 KTE (no pre-amp) with Ferrum OOR stack. It was a nice synergy for the LCD5s more aggressive profile, but made Susvara sound very mediocre. As you described, it felt flat, laid-back and rather congested.

Once I got to A/B Spring 3 KTE against the Rockna Wavelight DAC through the Ferrum, the entire chain changed significantly to the point that I took my Susvara listing down and never looked back. Much more expansive, dynamic, and engaging. So it could be the DAC if we're having the same chain "pitfalls", as I am convinced Ferrum OOR showcases the DAC's characteristics with very obvious transparency.

Well put Tom! One of my living heroes! I hope you are still living and your GF is not impersonating you! If she is, she sure writes better than you.

Like Tom said, Ferrum is a transparency masterpiece. It really plays off the DAC! For me Spring KTE with FS was fine but I prefer FS with YGGY and even more FS with Yggy and Serene as pre. Spring KTE is now more than content partnering up with Bliss. I just hope I do not come upon a May L2 for sale. Then of course I will have to try that out. Like an addicted fool!

 

[krude]

Well put Tom! One of my living hero's! I hope you are still living and your GF is not impersonating you! If she is, she sure writes better than you.

Like Tom said, Ferrum is a transparency masterpiece. It really plays off the DAC! For me Spring KTE with FS was fine but I prefer FS with YGGY and even more FS with Yggy and Serene as pre. Spring KTE is now more than content partnering up with Bliss. I just hope I do not come upon a May L2 for sale. Then of course I will have to try that out. Like an addicted fool!

Before you start TOTL DAC jumping roll some XLRs first (assuming you haven't done so already ). To me rolling XLRs gives more impact than changing the actual DACs.

 

[tawmizzzz]

I'd even go a step further. You can find my post in the Bliss thread about AudioQuest interconnects I started to experiment with recently ... literally swapping a cable between May and Bliss (or Ferrum) changes the sound characteristics rather dramatically with sensitive headphones like the TC. TL;DR it's all about synergy. I like Ferrum with May for Susvara though, a lot more than May with Bliss.

Yeah I recall us discussing ICs several months ago on the Spring thread I think! I had the QA Thunder and Blizzard ICs swapped into the Spring 3 which definitely helped enhance the R2R characteristics to my ears, mainly in decay and airiness; but just the DAC change to Rockna WL itself was a whole different world at least in my chain.

Well put Tom! One of my living hero's! I hope you are still living and your GF is not impersonating you! If she is, she sure writes better than you.

Like Tom said, Ferrum is a transparency masterpiece. It really plays off the DAC! For me Spring KTE with FS was fine but I prefer FS with YGGY and even more FS with Yggy and Serene as pre. Spring KTE is now more than content partnering up with Bliss. I just hope I do not come upon a May L2 for sale. Then of course I will have to try that out. Like an addicted fool!

Still living, good sir! That is until GF realizes I am back on headfi and ready to blow my wallet wide open again for more audio toys. Then she might actually eliminate me and impersonate me

 

[krude]

Yeah I recall us discussing ICs several months ago on the Spring thread I think! I had the QA Thunder and Blizzard ICs swapped into the Spring 3 which definitely helped enhance the R2R characteristics to my ears, mainly in decay and airiness; but just the DAC change to Rockna WL itself was a whole different world at least in my chain.


Still living, good sir! That is until GF realizes I am back on headfi and ready to blow my wallet wide open again for more audio toys. Then she might actually eliminate me and impersonate me

I've got May ... but Im curious about Rockna ... mmm ... but also Weiss 501 ... mmmm ... maybe after the summer. Need to finish cabling up first AQ Blizzard and their hi end XLRs are amazing