HiFiMan Susvara

[jonchard]

I have been known to listen from 100+ especially when the music demands it. These days I'm probably more like 90-95. I love loud music and always have. My ears still work thankfully.

 

[jlbrach]

my envy drove my OG susvara wonderfully...from what I understand this new version is supposed to be for the unveiled which is not nearly as hard to drive...my guess is it is just marketing

 

[Sand Dan Glokta]

This is from hifipig:

"The usual models were on demo in this booth, there was something new here from Feliks Audio though – an Envy “Susvara edition” with a few tweaks (custom output transformers, new power transformer for increased voltage output, upgraded capacitors and wiring, Strade 300B power tubes and, a re-tuned pre-amp module). It’s been custom-tuned to work with the Susvara and sounds absolutely fantastic with them. It sounds a little cleaner than the standard Envy, and really does bring out the best qualities of the Susvara"

 

[Mista Lova Lova]

This post is a callback to my exchange with @theveterans many, many pages ago

We had a chat about different cables for the Susvara. Since then, I have parted for good with my old OFC cable (I still think that it punches the hardest but it lags behind everywhere else) and have come to really like the stock copper-and-silver Hifiman cable as a very even- and balanced-sounding cable, with the refinement that I have come to associate with OCC copper and without a hint of harshness.

I am currently able to do some testing using Lavricables' top of the range Grand Silver 8-core cable and despite seeing (or hearing) its strengths (even more detail and airiness) I am actually feeling underwhelmed by its slightly 'cold' nature, less body and weight to the sound and almost a tiny bit of 'glare' making sound less believable to my ears. This cable seems to be universally loved and respected as the ultimate headphone cable. Am I the only one who's hearing things this way with the Susvara?

So, based on my current experience, I tend to agree with you @theveterans that the stock mix of copper and silver really suits the Susvara well. To my ears (from memory), Forza's Hybrid Noir brings some 'magic' that the stock cable doesn't have, but it's a double-edged sword as it's not as neutral and this can backfire on some recordings. If I had compared the Lavricables to my old OFC cable I probably would have said that it's a straight-up upgrade, albeit costly; when it comes to the stock cable, though, unless one is a detail freak, however controversial it may sound to many, I think that even compared to the Lavricables TOTL offering, the stock cable brings more goodness (in subjective terms) out of the Susvara.

EDIT - There are recordings such as INXS's 'The Very Best' where the Lavricables' cable is way ahead on detail and transparency, to my ears. Albeit at the cost of a bit less weight and body, so a matter of prioritising what's more important.

EDIT 2 - there being slightly less body/weight aside, the clarity and amount of detail can be really addictive on certain recordings; definitely a good cable for bringing out even more clarity and details from the Susvara.

 

[Drrizzt]

I'm experiencing different DAC here to try to find the good match with the sus and the (outstanding) Burson Soloist 3XGT and my search finally ended on a Denafrips r2r with the ares 15th.
As i imagined, the sus loves indeed to be fed with source than can fill in the medium with flesh and bones.
This aspect combined with a very convincing holographic sound presentation and top of the line detail retrieval is something to be experienced.
(And what a joy to see the face of my gf, discovering for the first time what a good headphones sound like, after only knowing a cheap crap Bluetooth headphones. She was totally in awe!).

Previously i tryed and loved very much the Smsl vmv d2r but i had the feeling that a d/s couldn't really fill in the medium with enough thicknesses to the tones that r2r dacs are known for.

The thing is with the Susvara is that every little bottleneck is immediately perceived, and adding a DDC to the chain in order to clean up the USB before feeding the dac using a i2s connexion is almost mandatory.

(I'm wondering if top tier dac also benefits for ddc, i hope they take a greater care of the usb).

 

[plumpudding2]

The thing is with the Susvara is that every little bottleneck is immediately perceived, and adding a DDC to the chain in order to clean up the USB before feeding the dac using a i2s connexion is almost mandatory.

(I'm wondering if top tier dac also benefits for ddc, i hope they take a greater care of the usb).

Most dacs nowadays are best when fed USB. While top tier stuff should have its own galvanic isolation, an Intona USB isolator does the job better than a ddc, I have one for peace of mind despite the Holo May not needing it.

Alternatively, a streamer like the Holo Red or a raspberry pi 5 if you like tinkering is also a good way to physically separate your dac from your PC which is not just electrically noisy but often also physically noisy when running for example HQPlayer with demanding filters.

 

[Drrizzt]

Most dacs nowadays are best when fed USB. While top tier stuff should have its own galvanic isolation, an Intona USB isolator does the job better than a ddc, I have one for peace of mind despite the Holo May not needing it.

Alternatively, a streamer like the Holo Red or a raspberry pi 5 if you like tinkering is also a good way to physically separate your dac from your PC which is not just electrically noisy but often also physically noisy when running for example HQPlayer with demanding filters.

The Intona is more expensive than the 2nd hand DDC Musician pisces II i bought, thanks for the info though.

 

[FiGuY1017]

Just curious if anyone has any experience with ZMF Hifiman+ Subs for Susvara? My favorite pads for Susvara so far are the Dekoni Fenestrated Sheepskin but my second pair is coming unglued again and I'm curious if ZMF will be better?