[ajaipuriyar]

I was reading the previous discussions on amp specs requirement wrt to driving the Susvara.

With the output voltage fixed to 6V in the Vivaldi, the Headtrip with 50 watts into 8 ohms has a comfortable volume listening position at 12 o’clock while the Solista with 25Watts into 8 Ohms, the comfortable volume is at around 8 o’clock. Both are class A designs. Both has enough headroom with Susvara or any headphones.

So I believe the topology, implemention, design, output impedance etc of the amp has a major role to play wrt the ability to power and synergise with the top end planers.

 

[Bonesy Jonesy]

Even though the Viva is right in your face on the picture my eyes immediately zoomed in on the Vivaldi Headtrip combo.
Gorgeous setup

 

[Bonesy Jonesy]

I was reading the previous discussions on amp specs requirement wrt to driving the Susvara.

With the output voltage fixed to 6V in the Vivaldi, the Headtrip with 50 watts into 8 ohms has a comfortable volume listening position at 12 o’clock while the Solista with 25Watts into 8 Ohms, the comfortable volume is at around 8 o’clock. Both are class A designs. Both has enough headroom with Susvara or any headphones.

So I believe the topology, implemention, design, output impedance etc of the amp has a major role to play wrt the ability to power and synergise with the top end planers.

Secret sauce for Planar Magnetics is an Amp with low output impedance and high current with as low distortion as possible !

 

[PointyFox]

I think that applies to most headphones.

 

[Articnoise]

I think that applies to most headphones.

Well electrostatics actually needs a lot of voltage It’s why you must use a special amp to drive them.

 

[iFi audio]

Well electrostatics actually needs a lot of voltage It’s why you must use a special amp to drive them.

So very true

 

[paradoxper]

Well electrostatics actually needs a lot of voltage It’s why you must use a special amp to drive them.

And the special sauce to electrostatic drive is, well, called the DIY T2.

 

[iFi audio]

called the DIY T2.

If I may ask, what's that? Some uber project of sorts?

 

[Marco59]

In reality, it is not so strange that among the amplifiers dedicated to headphones you rarely find one that can drive any type of headphones well, and this for a very simple reason: the great variability of impedance and efficiency that exists between a headphone and the other one.
In loudspeaker amplifiers this problem does not exist, as the standard impedance is 8 ohms, and at most you can run into 4 ohms speakers. With headphones you go from a minimum of 16 ohms to a maximum of 600.
If the headphones have a low impedance, with the same power output, the amp must deliver a higher current; if it is of high impedance, it must instead supply a higher voltage; if it is an orthodynamic like the HE-6 or Susvara, the amp must be able to handle both high currents and high voltage swings.
The swing in tension is related to the gain of the amplifier, so it is clear that with low impedance headphones the gain should not be too high, while with high impedance headphones the opposite is true.

 

[paradoxper]

If I may ask, what's that? Some uber project of sorts?

https://www.head-case.org/forums/topic/6837-the-ultimate-diy-a-stax-srm-t2/

 

[iFi audio]

In loudspeaker amplifiers this problem does not exist, as the standard impedance is 8 ohms, and at most you can run into 4 ohms speakers. With headphones you go from a minimum of 16 ohms to a maximum of 600.

Word

You nailed it

 

[Sajid Amit]

And while we are on the topic of the Susvara, what about the synergy of this DAC with the Sus?

 

[Articnoise]

In reality, it is not so strange that among the amplifiers dedicated to headphones you rarely find one that can drive any type of headphones well, and this for a very simple reason: the great variability of impedance and efficiency that exists between a headphone and the other one.
In loudspeaker amplifiers this problem does not exist, as the standard impedance is 8 ohms, and at most you can run into 4 ohms speakers. With headphones you go from a minimum of 16 ohms to a maximum of 600.
If the headphones have a low impedance, with the same power output, the amp must deliver a higher current; if it is of high impedance, it must instead supply a higher voltage; if it is an orthodynamic like the HE-6 or Susvara, the amp must be able to handle both high currents and high voltage swings.
The swing in tension is related to the gain of the amplifier, so it is clear that with low impedance headphones the gain should not be too high, while with high impedance headphones the opposite is true.

Headphones can differ in sensitivity and impedance, but the difference between the driver tech in electrostatic, magnetostatic, ribbon and dynamic is bigger than that. They are driven by different physical forces and principles.

Some speakers can have an impedance dip at 2 ohm which is much harder for an amp than higher loads. The thing to understand is that the impedance of many dynamic headphones and speakers vary with frequency and the 4, 6, 8 Ohm is the nominal impedance only.

 

[donato]

And while we are on the topic of the Susvara, what about the synergy of this DAC with the Sus?

I certainly like your taste in audio equipment Can't wait to hear your impressions!

 

[Articnoise]

And while we are on the topic of the Susvara, what about the synergy of this DAC with the Sus?

I would think that all good DACs match Susvara well and it’s more about which type of DAC YOU like, and that depends on preference and the other gear in the audio system.