FLUX M-Field Class-A MOSFET headphone amplifier.

[zeek99]

OK, in short - the Prelude is not an upgrade, in my opinion. I even have doubts it's a sidegrade unless you're really after a tube-like sound. It’s definitely warmer, slightly bassier, and has much more rolled-off highs. The bass is thicker, warmer, and more 'dynamic driver-like.' It pushes the mids forward but has less control over them, which was quite noticeable with the HEKU, as they already have fuller and more direct mids on their own. Their mids sounded more linear and cleaner on the M-Field. The treble is rolled off and much calmer on the Prelude. While I didn't mind it with the HEKse, it felt too tamed with the HEKU. Tracks like Private Investigations by Dire Straits didn’t pierce at all - and they should, as they're super sharply produced.

i'm curious how a double stack of the m-field would compare with the prelude. the price wouldn't be too far off from the msrp of the prelude (although hifiman likes to do sales). does a double m-field bring up the technicalities and soundstage capacity or just get more warmer-tube like sound? given my location, i can go try out the prelude somewhat local to my area while the m-field would be a blind buy for me. i like the idea of getting the m-field at the lower price in contrast to the hifiman prelude, and then later if i feel like upgrading, get the 2nd m-field for a stack.