Ferrum OOR - headphone amplifier with a soul ?

[PrestonSturgesEnthusiast]

How's the ferrum stack with LCD-5?

I like it a lot. And the Hypsos adds some flexibility with the voltage.

 

[GiBGUN]

How's the ferrum stack with LCD-5?

Very good match imo. Brought something out in the low end that the amp section of the TT2 couldn’t, and that’s a damn good amp.

Also, Resolve was using the Oor when making his initial (and very positive) impressions of the LCD-5.

 

[obstacleofaffliction]

The Hypsos Oor combo is also a wonderful preamp for power amps.
I have my Hypsos / Oor preamping into my LTA ZOTL10 -> Zu Audio Soul Supreme speakers.
While not as holographic as with my LTA MZ3 preamp, the sound is delightful, engaging, and smooth with a delicious weight to it. I would say the bottom end is heartier while not as sharp/fast as the MZ3. Mids are sweet and pleasing. Treble is slightly more relaxed but still detailed albeit not as crisp as with the MZ3. The differences between the two are clear but one is not necessarily better than the other, just different flavors of excellence.
The Hypsos/ Oor combo continues to make me smile every time.

 

[EMINENT]

How's the ferrum stack with LCD-5?

Great. Recommend Hypsos too if you go that route. I could sense the lower registers of bass with Hypsos vs without but it is more narrow presentation vs Bliss.

 

[Ricco275]

Just wanted to update that I have finally received my Spring 3 kte and it’s a terrific match with the Ferrum combo. It’s a trio for me now!
The holo red with Farad3 is on the way and can’t wait.

Thanks for all the advices I got here.

At the same time I have finally decided to part with the Elite. Too much going on when paired with the Spring for my taste.

As I type I’m listening with Camerton Binom-ER and Yamaha YH5000SE.
Both amazing headphones and difficult to pick one. I have been very silly being snobbish towards the 5000SE, it’s a great headphone and IMO definitely worth to be up there with the usual flagship cans.

I don’t want to talk too long about it and already put comments on the 5000SE and Elite thread. Tomorrow I’ll borrow again the Solitaire P and see how it changes paired with the Ferrum and the Spring.

 

[George Hincapie]

Just wanted to update that I have finally received my Spring 3 kte and it’s a terrific match with the Ferrum combo. It’s a trio for me now!
The holo red with Farad3 is on the way and can’t wait.

Thanks for all the advices I got here.

At the same time I have finally decided to part with the Elite. Too much going on when paired with the Spring for my taste.

As I type I’m listening with Camerton Binom-ER and Yamaha YH5000SE.
Both amazing headphones and difficult to pick one. I have been very silly being snobbish towards the 5000SE, it’s a great headphone and IMO definitely worth to be up there with the usual flagship cans.

I don’t want to talk too long about it and already put comments on the 5000SE and Elite thread. Tomorrow I’ll borrow again the Solitaire P and see how it changes paired with the Ferrum and the Spring.

Did you consider Bliss? Would seem a good move given you own Spring.

 

[JAnonymous5150]

Camerton Binom-ER

Sounds like you're having some fun! How are the Camertons if you don't mind me asking?

 

[Ricco275]

Did you consider Bliss? Would seem a good move given you own Spring.

I bought the Ferrum one month ago to replace a few weeks old pass labs HPA1. I’d like to enjoy music for a little while and haven’t settled on the headphone yet. I prefer not to read about the Bliss as I may just buy it right away if I like what I read.

 

[JAnonymous5150]

I bought the Ferrum one month ago to replace a few weeks old pass labs HPA1. I’d like to enjoy music for a little while and haven’t settled on the headphone yet. I prefer not to read about the Bliss as I may just buy it right away if I like what I read.

Honestly, I preferred the Ferrum stack to the Bliss with my May KTE so it's not a given anyways. Both are great amps though.

 

[Ricco275]

Sounds like you're having some fun! How are the Camertons if you don't mind me asking?

Since you asked, I feel entitled to share my comments and will include the YH5000SE as tested side by side:

As promised, I’d like to share some first comments about the Camerton Binom ER I have borrowed from Pierre at Headonist.

I remind my short experience in the headphones world and I apologise for my poor vocabulary and use of technical words.

The Camerton is indeed an excellent Headphone!

What strikes me his its full bodied presentation, musicality, details and dynamic, more natural than elite IMO, open and airy soundstage but not wide as in unnatural, slight short of treble peaks.

It’s definitely a headphone that for me battles with the usual big names and I put it amongst my top 3 favourites so far.

At the same time I have also borrowed what I consider the wild card, the Yamaha 5000SE.
What a great surprise.
I imagine my chain makes the difference vs what I have mostly read so far about it.
Bass and low end is there using the suede pads. Very good soundstage and dynamics. The soundstage is not as wide as with the HE1000SE V2 I owned but it’s definitely sufficient.

The 5000SE seems to be very complete for my taste and difficult to choose between it and the Camerton.
The main advantage of the Camerton is that with the two pads you have two very different and very good headphones. One not so far from the 5000SE but less detailed IMO, and one with BIG bass. I’m not a big fan of the Yamaha full leather pads.
I listened to my usual tracks for testing and the Yamaha excels on each of them.
Dylan - the man in the black coat
Muddy Waters - good morning little schoolgirl
SRV - little wing
Muse - Uprising
Pink Floyd - Time

Both 5000SE and Camerton have good musicality, the Camerton a tad more musical perhaps, barely noticeable.

The main difference between the two headphones IMO are higher details and accuracy and airy presentation of the 5000SE, and I feel the treble peaks more than on the Camerton, not in an irritating way.
The 5000SE is also more dynamic than the Camerton with hybrid pads, as in having more pronounced contrast between bass, mids, and trebles. The Camerton with full leather thicker pads get very closer to the 5000SE in this regards.
Naturally the Camerton will be less fatiguing.

The timbre is obviously different. The Camerton has more of a “olive oil voicing” paraphrasing the godfather. More musical than the Yamaha which is a bit more raw (not in a negative acception), a bit less musical, with more attack.

In terms of design, the Camerton is just perfect for me. Minimalist, solid, beautiful. Not crazy about the suede headband. The cable is quite thin but I’ve been reassured that it’s quality his so high that it could be 6 metres long and still very good. Practical the usb C connectors and the “on the go” cable with just one connector.

The design of the 5000SE is super cool, similar to the Final in a way but feather-light and smaller. The plastic bits where the sliders are bother me somehow, but it was a technical necessity to make the sliders work properly, I’ve been explained by Pierre at Headonist.
The cable has a plastic feeling which I’m not crazy about, however I’m picky with cables ; )

Both are very comfortable with minimum clamp. I find the Camerton a bit more comfy.

Very difficult to pick one side, and tomorrow evening will be the time to retest the Solitaire P with the Spring 3 KTE, it might be another contender to replace the Elite.

The Elite has to go because with the Spring KTE its fun and engaging character reach a level too high for me which distracts me from the original master.
On top of that the elite is too blinky blinky to my taste, the latest dark version would have been better. And the Bond case is really not for me.

The same comments have been posted in the YH5000SE thread.

Happy to answer any more specific question, if I can!

 

[Ricco275]

Honestly, I preferred the Ferrum stack to the Bliss with my May KTE so it's not a given anyways. Both are great amos though.

JA’s convincing opinion was one of the crucial factors in my choice actually.

 

[Exekuhtor]

Yeah, the "Ferrum stack versus Bliss" discussion is the new hot topic nowadays, both seem fantastic (i love my Ferrum) with everything including Susvara, some prefer one, some the other. The Bliss is bigger and more expensive though (and the latest hype product).
You will probably be very happy with either of them, the Ferrum pairs also very well with a Holo Audio DAC.

I think both those rare TOTL headphones are at Munich, so i'm excited to hear them.

 

[Ricco275]

Yeah, the Ferrum stack versus Bliss is the new hot topic nowadays, both seem fantastic (i love my Ferrum) with everything including Susvara, some prefer one, some the other. The Bliss is bigger and more expensive though (and the latest hype product).
You will probably be very happy with either of them, the Ferrum pairs also very well with a Holo Audio DAC.

I think same price with the necessary Hypsos.

 

[Exekuhtor]

Oor is 2k, Hypsos is 1k, (i paid 2,8k for both brand new when they came out), Bliss is 3,9k €. These may be EU prices. But the Bliss is ~1k € more for me.

 

[JAnonymous5150]

Since you asked, I feel entitled to share my comments and will include the YH5000SE as tested side by side:

As promised, I’d like to share some first comments about the Camerton Binom ER I have borrowed from Pierre at Headonist.

I remind my short experience in the headphones world and I apologise for my poor vocabulary and use of technical words.

The Camerton is indeed an excellent Headphone!

What strikes me his its full bodied presentation, musicality, details and dynamic, more natural than elite IMO, open and airy soundstage but not wide as in unnatural, slight short of treble peaks.

It’s definitely a headphone that for me battles with the usual big names and I put it amongst my top 3 favourites so far.

At the same time I have also borrowed what I consider the wild card, the Yamaha 5000SE.
What a great surprise.
I imagine my chain makes the difference vs what I have mostly read so far about it.
Bass and low end is there using the suede pads. Very good soundstage and dynamics. The soundstage is not as wide as with the HE1000SE V2 I owned but it’s definitely sufficient.

The 5000SE seems to be very complete for my taste and difficult to choose between it and the Camerton.
The main advantage of the Camerton is that with the two pads you have two very different and very good headphones. One not so far from the 5000SE but less detailed IMO, and one with BIG bass. I’m not a big fan of the Yamaha full leather pads.
I listened to my usual tracks for testing and the Yamaha excels on each of them.
Dylan - the man in the black coat
Muddy Waters - good morning little schoolgirl
SRV - little wing
Muse - Uprising
Pink Floyd - Time

Both 5000SE and Camerton have good musicality, the Camerton a tad more musical perhaps, barely noticeable.

The main difference between the two headphones IMO are higher details and accuracy and airy presentation of the 5000SE, and I feel the treble peaks more than on the Camerton, not in an irritating way.
The 5000SE is also more dynamic than the Camerton with hybrid pads, as in having more pronounced contrast between bass, mids, and trebles. The Camerton with full leather thicker pads get very closer to the 5000SE in this regards.
Naturally the Camerton will be less fatiguing.

The timbre is obviously different. The Camerton has more of a “olive oil voicing” paraphrasing the godfather. More musical than the Yamaha which is a bit more raw (not in a negative acception), a bit less musical, with more attack.

In terms of design, the Camerton is just perfect for me. Minimalist, solid, beautiful. Not crazy about the suede headband. The cable is quite thin but I’ve been reassured that it’s quality his so high that it could be 6 metres long and still very good. Practical the usb C connectors and the “on the go” cable with just one connector.

The design of the 5000SE is super cool, similar to the Final in a way but feather-light and smaller. The plastic bits where the sliders are bother me somehow, but it was a technical necessity to make the sliders work properly, I’ve been explained by Pierre at Headonist.
The cable has a plastic feeling which I’m not crazy about, however I’m picky with cables ; )

Both are very comfortable with minimum clamp. I find the Camerton a bit more comfy.

Very difficult to pick one side, and tomorrow evening will be the time to retest the Solitaire P with the Spring 3 KTE, it might be another contender to replace the Elite.

The Elite has to go because with the Spring KTE its fun and engaging character reach a level too high for me which distracts me from the original master.
On top of that the elite is too blinky blinky to my taste, the latest dark version would have been better. And the Bond case is really not for me.

The same comments have been posted in the YH5000SE thread.

Happy to answer any more specific question, if I can!

Wow, thanks for the detailed comparison. I have demoed the 5000SEs so I think I'm getting a pretty good idea of what you're hearing. I might just have to arrange to get my hands on a pair of the Camertons to hear for myself. I really appreciate you sharing your thoughts, bro!