[goldwerger]

I'm pretty new to the Susvara gang, hi.

So I just received my EF-400 and Susvaras today and I've been listening to music for the last 5 hours straight after work.
I have my A90 Discrete coming soon so I'm excited to see how that fairs but that won't be for a few more months.
I haven't burned in either yet but the initial listening impression is that the soundstage isn't as wide or deep as my HEK v2s.
The timbre is so real, my HEK v2 I loved but definitely has a more artificial sound to them. Can't find the proper word for them.

I'm not sure if I have a speaker amp to play around with in the future but I'm thinking of getting the iFi iCan Signature for the extra "spacial audio" and X-Bass effect, granted if they get a bit cheaper in Canada or a new TOTL comes out.

I was thinking of the AHB2 if I was going to get a speaker amp but does it actually make the dynamics hit harder or is it a perceived bump due to the dB increase overall?
If the dB levels were matched with the iCan Signature and the AHB2, will the AHB2 hit harder and have a wider soundstage? (All the perceived goodness of speaker amps).

Edit:
Pictures are fun.

Not in specific, as I've never heard any of the amps you mention to be able to form a specific opion about them, but in principle --

yes, you'll hear a dramatic difference with the Susvara when you scale your amp, at the same dB level (you definitely are not getting a power amp to play it more loud.. if that were needed, you'd blow your ears off.. we all want to listen for may years to come)

Strong, and as importantly, higher quality amps will have higher quality circuitry, higher quality power supplies, cleaner and more efficient signal paths, and just better design; all of which can manifest itself in a better slew rate (the speed in which current changes in response to voltage swing), more headroom (when more power is available), better dynamics, blacker background, bigger soundstage and a clearer separation of instruments.

These, btw, don't always show up in marketing metrics. Not that numbers are unimportant, they are. But many can be manipulated to have highly marketable numbers without sounding well.

This thread has insane amount of information, and we all tend to repeat it with such questions. To spare you the overwhelming flood of replies, go back 20-30 pages in this thread and just start to read. In 4-5 pages you'll be neck deep in amp recommendations...

Meantime, welcome!

 

[Nooborghini]

Not in specific, as I've never heard any of the amp you mention to be able to form a specific opion about them, but in principle --

yes, you'll hear a dramatic difference with the Susvara when you scaling your amp, at the saem dB level (you definitely are not getting a power amp to play it more loud.. it that were needed you'd blow you ears off.. we all want to listen for may years to come)

Strong, and as importantly, higher quality amps will have higher quality circuitry, higher quality power supplies, cleaner and more efficient signal paths, and just better design; all of which can manifest itself in a better flew rate (the speed in which current changes in response to voltage swing), more headroom (when more power is available), better dynamics, blacker background, bigger soundstage and a clearer separation of instrument.

These, btw, don't always show up in marketing metrics. Not that numbers are unimportant, they are. But many can be manipulated to have highly marketable numbers without sounding well.

This thread has insane amount of information, and we all tend to repeat it with such questions. To spare you the overwhelming floor of replies, go back 20-30 pages in this thread and just start to read. In 4-5 pages you'll be neck deep in amp recommendations...

Meantime, welcome!

Yeah I've been trying to go from page 1 when I was thinking about upgrading and I'm at like... page 100 lol
I try to read a few pages every night before I go to bed.

I also was reading the same, I figured the consensus is to hear it to believe it so hopefully one day I'll be able to test.

Appreciate the response and advice!

 

[goldwerger]

Yeah I've been trying to go from page 1 when I was thinking about upgrading and I'm at like... page 100 lol
I try to read a few pages every night before I go to bed.

I also was reading the same, I figured the consensus is to hear it to believe it so hopefully one day I'll be able to test.

Appreciate the response and advice!

your diligence is very notable! If you start on page 1, by the time you get here you'll be 3 years behind perhaps start 40-50 pages back. You'll be flush with ideas and questions by the time you get here.. and yea, feel freet to ask here, folks will answer..!

 

[Bonesy Jonesy]

I'm pretty new to the Susvara gang, hi.

So I just received my EF-400 and Susvaras today and I've been listening to music for the last 5 hours straight after work.
I have my A90 Discrete coming soon so I'm excited to see how that fairs but that won't be for a few more months.
I haven't burned in either yet but the initial listening impression is that the soundstage isn't as wide or deep as my HEK v2s.
The timbre is so real, my HEK v2 I loved but definitely has a more artificial sound to them. Can't find the proper word for them.

I'm not sure if I have a speaker amp to play around with in the future but I'm thinking of getting the iFi iCan Signature for the extra "spacial audio" and X-Bass effect, granted if they get a bit cheaper in Canada or a new TOTL comes out.

I was thinking of the AHB2 if I was going to get a speaker amp but does it actually make the dynamics hit harder or is it a perceived bump due to the dB increase overall?
If the dB levels were matched with the iCan Signature and the AHB2, will the AHB2 hit harder and have a wider soundstage? (All the perceived goodness of speaker amps).

Edit:
Pictures are fun.

Ditch the EF400 as it's no good with the Susvara and your wasting your time and money trying to drive them with it !

You need the Hifiman EF1000 Amp for the Susvara to sing along with a high quality source input !

Or keep the EF400 to drive other Hifiman headphones and sell your Susvara !

 

[Bonesy Jonesy]

Yeah I've been trying to go from page 1 when I was thinking about upgrading and I'm at like... page 100 lol
I try to read a few pages every night before I go to bed.

I also was reading the same, I figured the consensus is to hear it to believe it so hopefully one day I'll be able to test.

Appreciate the response and advice!

Just buy the Hifiman EF1000 and be done with Amp searching for the Susvara !

 

[normie610]

Just buy the Hifiman EF1000 and be done with Amp searching for the Susvara !

Not everyone has $18k to spend on EF1000

 

[iFi audio]

They are always available around $600. Been this way for two years. Always promotions, discounts, etc. Their nominal price was always for show.

I wasn't aware of that and was certain that their retail price was always the same, so thanks for explaining. We learn something new every day

 

[goldwerger]

I wasn't aware of that and was certain that their retail price was always the same, so thanks for explaining. We learn something new every day

Sure thing!

(this headphone has had $600 “special promotions” literally since launch)

 

[iFi audio]

(this headphone has had $600 “special promotions” literally since launch)

Thanks

$600 for these cans is a pretty sweet deal. I'd probably ask my boss to get a pair if it weren't for Susvaras that we have

 

[Roybenz]

Ok. Here is an odd question. Ive done everything i can i my chain i believe. But i don’t have any upgraded “feets” on my units. Is that a thing? Are you guys using any ? If so, what kind and what does it do to the sound, if any?

 

[iFi audio]

But i don’t have any upgraded “feets” on my units. Is that a thing? Are you guys using any ? If so, what kind and what does it do to the sound, if any?

Just to clarify, do you mean decoupling devices that go underneath an amp or DAC?

 

[Roybenz]

Just to clarify, do you mean decoupling devices that go underneath an amp or DAC?

Yes like this ones :

IsoAcoustics Orea​

 

[goldwerger]

Yes like this ones :

IsoAcoustics Orea​

Ah that will get folks fired up. It’s like asking about cables…

Well, I’ll chime in -

Where isolation underneath - feet, comes, plates, what-have-yous - definitely make a difference:

• Speakers - absorbing vibration from sound wave in acoustic chamber
• Vinyl record players - the smallest vibration is amplified to signal

Where it might:

• Tube amps - it might. In theory the stability of the delicate tube may benefit, perhaps more in directly heated tubes but in all in theory. Debatable. But worthy debate.

Where it won’t afaik:

• Solid state components

Now here is what I do in practice.. I have a rack that has all shelf’s on those thin spikes. First, it looks really cool (which is awesome). Second, I know I have all components with some vibration absorption. Second? I use those IsoAcoustica pucks if I ever stack components directly. I used to do that more (before putting things in a rack. And still do sometimes when I run out of space. At min, it creates separation for heat ventilation (important with some components). And can also isolation some vibrations as a bonus. And again, it looks nice

Hope this helps!

You’ll get lots of other opinion on this for sure

 

[Roybenz]

Ah that will get folks fired up. It’s like asking about cables…

Well, I’ll chime in -

Where isolation underneath - feet, comes, plates, what-have-yous - definitely make a difference:

• Speakers - absorbing vibration from sound wave in acoustic chamber
• Vinyl record players - the smallest vibration is amplified to signal

Where it might:

• Tube amps - it might. In theory the stability of the delicate tube may benefit, perhaps more in directly heated tubes but in all in theory. Debatable. But worthy debate.

Where it won’t afaik:

• Solid state components

Now here is what I do in practice.. I have a rack that has all shelf’s on those thin spikes. First, it looks really cool (which is awesome). Second, I know I have all components with some vibration absorption. Second? I use those IsoAcoustica pucks if I ever stack components directly. I used to do that more (before putting things in a rack. And still do sometimes when I run out of space. At min, it creates separation for heat ventilation (important with some components). And can also isolation some vibrations as a bonus. And again, it looks nice

Hope this helps!

You’ll get lots of other opinion on this for sure

Thanks. I was thinking for my dac and amp. It’s now placed on a table. But it’s not tube. Guess it’s worth a try maybe. Never considered this before. But it won’t brake the bank either

 

[goldwerger]

Thanks. I was thinking for my dac and amp. It’s now placed on a table. But it’s not tube. Guess it’s worth a try maybe. Never considered this before. But it won’t brake the bank either

It shouldn't make a difference, but it will look cool, and perhaps give you better ventilation if stacked. no harm...