Go-Vibe for HD580

[Oistrakh]

how good do you think a go-vibe is at powering the HD580? approxingmately how long will the battery last with the HD580? Is it better than the MINT, PINT or PA2v2 coupled with the HD580?

 

[K2Grey]

It will get the HD580 to a good volume, almost everything can do that. There are posts from users who have been satisfied with the combo of Go-Vibe (usually with AD8620 opamp) + HD580.

The last time I knew, the word was that the Go-Vibe's circuit was very similar to that of a CMoy. It's certainly better built than most CMoys though - PCB, made by someone who has made a ton of other amps, socketed opamp, good enclosure etc.

 

[Oistrakh]

bump

 

[dhp]

I highly doubt it's better than the PINT

 

[Oistrakh]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DieInAFire I highly doubt it's better than the PINT

why? the go-vibe is a very good amplifier and is made by a really good amplifier maker Norm Dalgarno

 

[fewtch]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oistrakh how good do you think a go-vibe is at powering the HD580? approxingmately how long will the battery last with the HD580? Is it better than the MINT, PINT or PA2v2 coupled with the HD580?

It's pretty decent IMO... the Go-Vibe is a little bit on the thin side to my ears, and the HD580 a bit on the warmer side... they should balance each other out pretty well. I really liked it with AD8620 op amp. The only issue might be that powering a 300-ohm headphone with a single-9v amp could result in distortion with extremely loud, dynamic music (a condition unlikely to be encountered, but it could happen). If it were me, I would consider a PINT instead, as I believe it runs off 18 volts (two 9v batteries) which will be a better guarantee against clipping at higher volume levels. Also, the PINT has been getting rave reviews (in its mini^3ified form) and may in fact be a better amp.

 

[Teerawit]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oistrakh why?

Does the go-vibe have a 3-channel design like the PINT? Also the PINT uses better opamps IMO - more output current.

 

[Oistrakh]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fewtch It's pretty decent IMO... the Go-Vibe is a little bit on the thin side to my ears, and the HD580 a bit on the warmer side... they should balance each other out pretty well. I really liked it with AD8620 op amp. The only issue might be that powering a 300-ohm headphone with a single-9v amp could result in distortion with extremely loud, dynamic music (a condition unlikely to be encountered, but it could happen). If it were me, I would consider a PINT instead, as I believe it runs off 18 volts (two 9v batteries) which will be a better guarantee against clipping at higher volume levels. Also, the PINT has been getting rave reviews (in its mini^3ified form) and may in fact be a better amp.

whatever

, I already ordered the Go-vibe so no PINT for me! Also not a lot of PINT amps are sold in the For Sale forum, and I just grabbed the Go-vibe based on the rave reviews!

 

[Teerawit]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fewtch If it were me, I would consider a PINT instead, as I believe it runs off 18 volts (two 9v batteries) which will be a better guarantee against clipping at higher volume levels.

Clipping is going to be a function of a particular opamp and its power supply. Just because one opamp has clipped for you doesn't mean that any opamp running at 9V is going to clip. At 9V, the AD8397 doesn't clip at high volumes.

 

[fewtch]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teerawit Clipping is going to be a function of a particular opamp and its power supply. Just because one opamp has clipped for you doesn't mean that any opamp running at 9V is going to clip. At 9V, the AD8397 doesn't clip at high volumes.

The actual power supplied to the amp can apparently be an issue as well... there was a long discussion about this on HydrogenAudio, and it was proved to my satisfaction that 9v had the potential for clipping with 300 ohm headphones. I also discussed it with one of the major DIYers/amp designers around here (I won't say who, but feel free to PM me about it) and they also agreed. If you disagree, that's fair enough... just saying that I myself was satisfied with the evidence, enough so that I modded my Go-Vibe to use two 9v batteries.

 

[hciman77]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fewtch there was a long discussion about this on HydrogenAudio, and it was proved to my satisfaction that 9v had the potential for clipping with 300 ohm headphones.

Wasnt this clipping evidence posited on driving headphones at between 110 and 120db (iirc) and if you are listening at 110 or 120db then a little clipping is probably the least of your problems (imo).