HiFiMan Susvara
Sep 17, 2021 at 8:37 PM Post #11,236 of 25,688
This one is en route to me, it will probably relegate 13R to another lesser duty. We’ll see when it arrives.

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Now this is something I'm looking forward to impressions of with sus.

Also, mind if I ask if you've tried hpa4 vs ahb2 with sus?
 
Sep 17, 2021 at 8:48 PM Post #11,237 of 25,688
Now this is something I'm looking forward to impressions of with sus.

Also, mind if I ask if you've tried hpa4 vs ahb2 with sus?
Unfortunately no
 
Sep 18, 2021 at 12:04 AM Post #11,239 of 25,688
An ideal bed-side companion 😊

B143B925-86F7-4741-968E-733F6EF559D7.jpeg
exactly. I have mine in my bedroom and there are few amps particularly speaker amps with which that would be possible...
 
Sep 18, 2021 at 3:59 AM Post #11,240 of 25,688
Mine ships from a dealer tomorrow. I plan on giving my initial impiressions in here with the Susvara and the 1266 TC this weekend.
https://www.hifistatement.net/tests/item/3140-ferrum-oor?start=0
https://www.headfonia.com/ferrum-audio-oor-review/
https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/ferrum-oor/

I just found out we have a local dealer that already carries the Hypsos power supply and can also bring the Oor over. I am seriously considering and I'm only 2-3 reviews away from triggering a purchase. Everything about it on paper, on reviews, form factor, and features is sooooo attractive to me right now.
 
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Sep 18, 2021 at 8:16 AM Post #11,242 of 25,688
Sep 18, 2021 at 8:29 AM Post #11,244 of 25,688
Sep 18, 2021 at 5:15 PM Post #11,245 of 25,688
Mine ships from a dealer tomorrow. I plan on giving my initial impiressions in here with the Susvara and the 1266 TC this weekend.

I look forward to your impressions, especially about Hypsos.
 
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Sep 18, 2021 at 8:40 PM Post #11,247 of 25,688
I'm on a DAVE as well. Regarding the amps I cited earlier (AHB2/HPA4, AMP-13R, and Pass Labs X150.8)...

For treble I'd give the HPA4 top ratings. That was my favorite aspect of the HPA4 with the Susvara. The 13R and the Pass Labs are both a shade more modulated in that area, equally so, I'd say.

For decay, I like the Pass Labs the best. Especially late at night when the power quality is at its best for me, the sense of decay and the ability to render low-level details generally can be almost magical. The other two would be tied for second. Relatedly (at least in my mind), the differences of PGGB upscaled tracks compared to their originals are markedly more apparent on the Pass Labs than the 13R, which is something I value a lot.

For soundstage, width as well as separation is best on the HPA4. For depth, the Pass Labs amp without question. The 13R is good and well-balanced in both dimensions.

For transparency? I have lots of trouble with that word along with words like "resolution" and "realism". Each of the 3 amps presents a slightly different interpretation of the reality of a recording, which admittedly isn't too helpful.

***

Of the headphones I use, I think the AMP-13R synergizes best with the Phi TC. Its smoothness and relatively laid-back character does the TC well. It's my favorite of my amps for the TC (over the Pass Labs and probably also the Cayin HA-300), and this is the pairing I've done the majority of my listening with since after my first couple weeks with the amp.

I also really like it with the Auteur, which was really a nice surprise.

The Susvara comes in third, which I both hate having to admit and took me a long time to admit, in large part due to my own preconceptions. I now kind of regret having written some slightly overly-gushing first impressions of the amp a couple months back, actually. I also had to make like four different specific tweaks to my system setup to make the Susvara sound less bright and more dynamic, which is not an issue I've ever had with any amp with the Susvara (regarding brightness, I mean). I think the 13R sounds pretty good with the Susvara generally, but is lacking oomph in the bass compared to amps with better Susvara synergy, and lacking a little bit in bass quantity generally. It's partly for those reasons that it does better with the TC for me -- though based on the criteria you specified, I could see this not being a sticking point, potentially.

Lastly, I like the Utopia least among my headphones with the 13R, though I've done very little listening to the Utopia for several months now.

Very interesting read. But most importantly, I just really appreciate the honesty in the latter half of this post. I think it's human nature to tend to just push and praise what you've paid for, but it's the critical posts of gear people own that always matters to me most. I also have a friend and fellow head-fier that went from the WA33 to the Bakoon with the Susvara, that heavily praised it early and ultimately sold it and went back (btw not saying the WA33 is the ideal amp either, although I love mine, I'm likely selling mine soon). All of it's based on the person and preferences, but the transparency here is good to see and always good to share.

Also, regarding looks and form factor, I think people fall in love with both the Bakoon and WA33 and amps like them for that purpose to a degree. I do not care at all. Does it sound optimal or not, that's all that matters to me lol
 
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Sep 18, 2021 at 8:49 PM Post #11,248 of 25,688
Very interesting read. But most importantly, I just really appreciate the honesty in the latter half of this post. I think it's human nature to tend to just push and praise what you've paid for, but it's the critical posts of gear people own that always matters to me most. I also have a friend and fellow head-fier that went from the WA33 to the Bakoon with the Susvara, that heavily praised it early and ultimately sold it and went back (btw not saying the WA33 is the ideal amp either, although I love mine, I'm likely selling mine soon). All of it's based on the person and preferences, but the transparency here is good to see and always good to share.

Also, regarding looks and form factor, I think people fall in love with both the Bakoon and WA33 and amps like them for that purpose to a degree. I do not care at all. Does it sound optimal or not, that's all that matters to me lol
Yes. Once you get over the original adrenaline and dopamine rush, you’re left with how the component REALLY sounds.
 
Sep 18, 2021 at 8:50 PM Post #11,249 of 25,688
Yes. Once you get over the original adrenaline and dopamine rush, you’re left with how the component REALLY sounds.
What if the adrenaline and dopamine rush stays forever? 🤔
 

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