hi end SE vs balanced

[glitch39]

I've always wondered about going balanced -

Has anyone compared a really nice SE (SP extreme in this case) vs an equally good balanced setup (LD mk VI)

I don't want to balanced for the sake of going balanced unless there is an improvement vs the Extreme. TIA.

 

[vcoheda]

one thread on the subject.

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f113/b...-worth-324811/

there are of course lots more via the search function.

 

[robm321]

I never felt compelled to go balanced. If an awesome new peice of equipment comes out, you won't be able to get it unless it's balanced. So, your choices are limited. And it doesn't always better single ended.

But if you have a headphone that you are dedicated to and it benefits from balancing, then I guess it might be worth it.

 

[pompon]

the ld6 don't use the same tube ... you will have something different for sure.
Will be better ... not sure ...

Buy one and test yourself .. I saw one in auction ...

 

[foo_me]

depends, but really not needed IMO...have had it before and not...think it's like that last 5% improvement in sound that you might be looking so something to look into once you find the headphones you like.
Unless you've experimented alot and know what you want, I'd put going balanced on a much lower priority than other factors.
Find the headphones you like, the sound signature of the amp, and the source. Once you know your sound, then see if balanced will add something.

I'm somewhat high end with the k1000 and 300b SET amp and spectral source...and am not running anything balanced. Haven't for a long time.

I do have an EC Balancing Act on order which is balanced, but I purchased it based upon my experience with the Zana (single ended) and listening to a prototype of the BA (again single ended) so I ordered purely based upon the sound I heard single ended.
I'll probably get a balanced can for it, but again, not a big deal for me.

 

[Spareribs]

Going balanced would be nice. But with the extra money, I'd rather spend it on a great speaker rig. Plus, I am happy with my k1000 which is kind of like a balanced type. That being said, those balanced amps sound very nice. Why not if money is not an issue?

 

[vcoheda]

another post i made relevant to the question.

Quote:

Originally Posted by vcoheda /img/forum/go_quote.gif i don't think the right question is whether balanced is better than single ended, because same amp, it is - always and all the time. the question really is whether balanced is worth the additional cost. for me, it is a resounding yes. for others, maybe not. and of course another more common and complicated question is whether balanced amp A is better than single-ended amp B, where the two amps being compared may be of different manufacture and topology (tube v. solid state). that's a harder question to answer. but i would say this - the best amps i have heard have always been balanced and tube based. and i think many would agree that the very best dynamic amps out there are the RSA B52, TTVJ 307A, and the high end single power amps (SDS XLR, for example).

 

[SleepyOne]

With a few exceptions from tube amps companies likes cj, jadis, audio note, airtight etc which are SE.

 

[Mher6]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbd2884 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Not agreeing or disagreeing. But did you see Icarium's SSI XLR? Its most hideous amp I've seen on this Forum so far. I have never heard a balanced system, be wonderful to hear sometime. I'm still deciding what to get for my next headphone hehe, never mind going balanced.

Huh??

You're response has nothing to do with SE vs. balanced. Please keep "Where is Singlepower? Where is Mikhail?" material inside that specific thread.

 

[sacd lover]

Quote:

Originally Posted by glitch39 /img/forum/go_quote.gif I've always wondered about going balanced - Has anyone compared a really nice SE (SP extreme in this case) vs an equally good balanced setup (LD mk VI) I don't want to balanced for the sake of going balanced unless there is an improvement vs the Extreme. TIA.

The only balanced amps I have compared to an Extreme were SS and I preferred SE tube over balanced SS.

As a side note .... that LD VI has a very small chassis to try and dissipate all the heat from 4 x 6080s. The 6080 output tubes are drawing 10 amps just to supply their heater current, let alone the heat from the high voltage power supply and the other tubes.

 

[El_Doug]

youd be very pleasantly surprised about the load temp the LD MK VI - though the chassis gets warm, it never gets hot at all, and thats with ultra-low cfm fans installed

it's truly an excellent amp

 

[sacd lover]

Quote:

Originally Posted by El_Doug /img/forum/go_quote.gif youd be very pleasantly surprised about the load temp the LD MK VI - though the chassis gets warm, it never gets hot at all, and thats with ultra-low cfm fans installed it's truly an excellent amp

That makes sense they used fans. But, what is the amps internal temperature?

Just curious, truly excellent compared to what?

 

[El_Doug]

yeah, the small design really does require fans. however, I swapped in ultra-low (read: 800rpm) yate loon fans, which when run without fan grills, and in combination with rubber mounting grommets, are literally inaudible.

I havent installed any kind of thermometer to measure internal air temp, however I have measured the case heat with a thermal probe, which after a few hours measured steady at 52C (which calculates to 125F)

as for "excellent compared to what," I am of the belief that headphones are responsible for most of the sound differences we hear from a given source, and that system synergy is a more powerful force than combining a mismatched set of top tier cans and amp. that being said, having heard HD650's through both a B52 and MKVI, I do not believe that there is an amp on the planet that compares to the MKVI at $600 (what I paid, thanks to the old ebay 25% off), nor the full price, nor $1200. it is excellent in every sense of the word, especially in headstage and transient performance, with a surprisingly flat response for a tube amp.

 

[apatN]

Nice to see some discussion about going balanced. I would like to do so in the future as well.

 

[KevM2]

I was thinking about it, but the more I ponder the issue, the more I think I'll leave it alone. I don't want to have to rebuy expensive cables for my headphones and get headphones that don't have detachable cables recabled. The Zana Deux is $2500, but the Balancing Act will be around $4000 or so. That's a $1500 price difference, plus the need to buy balanced cables for your headphones, which if you're buying aftermarket cables, can be very expensive. I don't blame those who do go balanced, but I'll probably stay single ended unless I strike it rich.