[SteveM324]

The GS-X Mini at 5w into 50ohms is more than enough to drive Susvara.

What I think (and I'm probably totally off on this), is that bass draws a lot more power from an amplifier than the rest of the frequency curve. When I had the HA-300, the VU meters would swing wildly when it was a bass heavy track. An amp with high power reserve (which I equated to having lots of capacitors and a big power supply) would have better bass and dynamics. I'm a total layman on this and would like to hear from someone who has a better understanding on this topic.

My Auris Nirvana drives the Susvara without breaking a sweat. Very loud volume levels are obtained at about 10:30 on the volume control. But as most of us know, it's not about volume level, it's about dynamics, full body sound, with great bass punch and a expansive soundstage. I get all of that with the Nirvana driving the Susvara. The power meters on the Nirvana are only at 20% during dynamic passages in very dynamic recordings such as "The Planets (Jupiter)" by Zubin Mehta and the LA Orchestra. Other headphones in my collection don't even budge the Nirvana's power meters (except my modded K340 which moves the meters). I think the Susvara/Nirvana has deeper and better quality bass than my Utopia and overall more enjoyable than any headphone that I've listened to including the SR-009 and the TC.

 

[musicman59]

The GS-X Mini at 5w into 50ohms is more than enough to drive Susvara.

What I think (and I'm probably totally off on this), is that bass draws a lot more power from an amplifier than the rest of the frequency curve. When I had the HA-300, the VU meters would swing wildly when it was a bass heavy track. An amp with high power reserve (which I equated to having lots of capacitors and a big power supply) would have better bass and dynamics. I'm a total layman on this and would like to hear from someone who has a better understanding on this topic.

You are in the right direction. One thing is watts and another is amperes (current). You can have high watts output with low current and the amplifier is going to struggle with difficult loads.

High current will provide better control of the drivers. Speaking of speakers amplifiers, back in the late 80s early 90s McIntosh amplifier designed produced high watts but the lack enough current. McIntosh has a patent called Power Gard. It is a circuit that monitors the amplifier performance and when it goes into clipping it smooths out the signal to protect the speakers. They have a light in the front panel that lights up when the circuit is engaged.
It was testing a MC2500 that is 500 watts/ch with a pair of A/D/S M20 speakers. They were 4 ohms and in the low 80s in db. The power guard light was blinking like a Christmas light!
Then we use a Threshold S550e which is 250 watts per channel but with high current output and it handled the speakers like nothing.

IMO and not know the design and specs of the GSX mini and the Moon amplifiers that could be the reason why you are experiencing unsatisfactory bass. With my two amps I am very happy and impressed with the Susvara bass extension.

 

[musicman59]

My Auris Nirvana drives the Susvara without breaking a sweat. Very loud volume levels are obtained at about 10:30 on the volume control. But as most of us know, it's not about volume level, it's about dynamics, full body sound, with great bass punch and a expansive soundstage. I get all of that with the Nirvana driving the Susvara. The power meters on the Nirvana are only at 20% during dynamic passages in very dynamic recordings such as "The Planets (Jupiter)" by Zubin Mehta and the LA Orchestra. Other headphones in my collection don't even budge the Nirvana's power meters (except my modded K340 which moves the meters). I think the Susvara/Nirvana has deeper and better quality bass than my Utopia and overall more enjoyable than any headphone that I've listened to including the SR-009 and the TC.

Agree with you Steve. I love my Utopia specially with the Axios AG cable but the Susvara bass is better in every aspect and the listening is more enjoyable plus they are light and comfortable.

 

[koven]

Agree with you Steve. I love my Utopia specially with the Axios AG cable but the Susvara bass is better in every aspect and the listening is more enjoyable plus they are light and comfortable.

I think the Susvara/Nirvana has deeper and better quality bass than my Utopia and overall more enjoyable than any headphone that I've listened to including the SR-009 and the TC.

Guys give some credit to the Bricasti, it has excellent bass presentation.

 

[llamaluv]

Will be an interesting weekend, trying out the AHB2 and using wa22 and gsx mini as pre amps

The AHB2's low gain setting is unusually low at just 11dB (and its medium gain setting is just 17dB), so in the case of this power amp specifically, it may be worth trying that along with PC-based volume control, and skipping an extra pre-amp device altogether. 11dB gain is definitely not enough to blow out a headphone like the Susvara if the digital volume was accidentally set at 100%.

Anyway, just another permutation worth considering (among the many at your disposal) .

 

[SteveM324]

Guys give some credit to the Bricasti, it has excellent bass presentation.

Agreed!

 

[yolosauce]

I finally gave in and bought the Susvara. Brand new with a dealer discount so it came to $4600. Now it's time to sell off my he1000se and verite and buy a better amp!

 

[makan]

I just tried the Susvara from the gsx mini and wa22. The bass seems a bit lacking, but the mids and highs are plenty loud.

Is the lack of bass:
1) normal/to be expected/a tradeoff
2) because I'm using the wrong amp
3) due to newness and needs more breaking in (fresh out of the box)

My susvara definitely digs deep enough but it is a fast bass and so, not as much punch as the TC. This is using the Ifi pro ican. I think it may be brain burn-in that may have to take place in your ne t few hours of listening. It’s just a different presentation, less visceral than the TC, but the transparency is unrivalled.

 

[Matez]

High current will provide better control of the drivers. Speaking of speakers amplifiers, back in the late 80s early 90s McIntosh amplifier designed produced high watts but the lack enough current. McIntosh has a patent called Power Gard. It is a circuit that monitors the amplifier performance and when it goes into clipping it smooths out the signal to protect the speakers. They have a light in the front panel that lights up when the circuit is engaged.

Exactly. Watts alone give only partial info on what an amp really can do.

 

[Ciggavelli]

My Susvaras out of my WA33 (10W per channel) have good bass. It's not in the quantity of the TCs, but it goes down just as low, and hits hard when it is supposed to. Compared to the TCs, the Susvaras are lacking bass, but compared to basically every other headphone, the Susvara bass is fine and in some case better than other headphones.

 

[Roasty]

welcome to the family.

early impressions is, the Utopia does have better midbass and better bass impact; it changes the way the song is presented, coupled with the smaller soundstage, ends up comparatively sounding more natural and enjoyable to me; there is a nice weight and thickness to the mids. Or maybe I'm just a bass head, or I have crappy amplification..
But overall refinement, timbre, soundstage, spacing, clarity, low end detail and texture go to the Sus.

Will run in the Sus over the next 1 or 2 weeks and update if there are any changes. Oh man now I can't stop thinking about a wa33..

 

[musicman59]

Guys give some credit to the Bricasti, it has excellent bass presentation.

100% agree on that! The Bricasti DAC are very musical and detailed at the same time plus as you said the bass is great.

 

[yolosauce]

I hope my susvara has the 3.5mm connectors. My dealer said it arrived at the store at the beginning of August and he did not open the box to verify. I decided to buy the asgard 3 to drive the susvara until I do more research on totl amps. For only $200 and based on the specs I think it should be good enough for now.

 

[koven]

Oh man now I can't stop thinking about a wa33..

I beat around the bush for a while, but I should have pulled the trigger sooner. WA33 sounds great, even on stock tubes for now.

 

[Roasty]

I beat around the bush for a while, but I should have pulled the trigger sooner. WA33 sounds great, even on stock tubes for now.

That's another great picture from you! Which wa33 version did u get? I'm thinking of the JPS Labs edition that comes with the upgraded tubes (seems more "value" for money if ordered from Abyss, as Woo doesn't include the tube upgrade if ordered from them..). After u got the wa33, does the hpa4 still get any play time?