[Christer]

For the Europeans here - a cool opportunity to hear the Susvara and Abyss TC on a top-flight speaker amp The new ATM300 with the upgrade tubes is really something special, hands-down the best non-monoblock 300b amp that I've ever tried, and not a close contest either.

The picture below is from my visit there in early June - Stefan's Amsterdam-based shop is one of the most impressive showrooms I've been to in the world, and has a wonderful selection of high end head-fi and 2-channel gear (Airtight, Sennheiser, Abyss, Audio Technica, etc.).

Stefan also wanted me to mention that he offers small-group evening audition sessions from 9pm to midnight, with your choice of liquor (Japanese whisky, wine, G&T's), for 150 euros for up to 3 people, deductible on any purchase of 1,000 euros or above. I took advantage of this and while it's not cheap, you get access to an amazing selection of gear, with no pressure to buy, and the opportunity to chat over drinks with Stefan, who is extremely knowledgable and just a great guy to be around with.

Hello would you know what BNC cable they have connected between DAVE and HMS?
It looks like a very short cable with Ferrites at only one end to me?
Cheers CC

 

[Matez]

don't ask me how.

It's a Pass, that's how

 

[iFi audio]

For the Europeans here - a cool opportunity to hear the Susvara and Abyss TC on a top-flight speaker amp The new ATM300 with the upgrade tubes is really something special, hands-down the best non-monoblock 300b amp that I've ever tried, and not a close contest either.

The picture below is from my visit there in early June - Stefan's Amsterdam-based shop is one of the most impressive showrooms I've been to in the world, and has a wonderful selection of high end head-fi and 2-channel gear (Airtight, Sennheiser, Abyss, Audio Technica, etc.).

Stefan also wanted me to mention that he offers small-group evening audition sessions from 9pm to midnight, with your choice of liquor (Japanese whisky, wine, G&T's), for 150 euros for up to 3 people, deductible on any purchase of 1,000 euros or above. I took advantage of this and while it's not cheap, you get access to an amazing selection of gear, with no pressure to buy, and the opportunity to chat over drinks with Stefan, who is extremely knowledgable and just a great guy to be around with.

We need to get our hands and ears on those Raals one day...

 

[Zhanming057]

Hello would you know what BNC cable they have connected between DAVE and HMS?
It looks like a very short cable with Ferrites at only one end to me?
Cheers CC

I don't know the model but I recall it's made by someone in Europe, every other piece of cable in that chain was shockingly expensive. I'd email Stefan who would know for sure.

 

[Sound Eq]

can ifi ican pro drive the susvara or will it be lacking

how does susvara compare to hifiman 1000 SE

 

[Johnny1982xyz]

can ifi ican pro drive the susvara or will it be lacking

how does susvara compare to hifiman 1000 SE

I didn't liked susvy from ican pro... Enough power but not good sounding in my opinion susvara deserves a better amp

 

[QueueCumber]

I thought the iFi iCan Pro sounded great with the Susvara. I also liked all the toggles that could be played around with if a recording was bass lean or if you wanted to add a little tube coloring into the mix. What really sucks about the iFi iCan Pro is trying to type its name on an iPhone. Thank you spell correction...

 

[cladane]

For the Europeans here - a cool opportunity to hear the Susvara and Abyss TC on a top-flight speaker amp The new ATM300 with the upgrade tubes is really something special, hands-down the best non-monoblock 300b amp that I've ever tried, and not a close contest either.

The picture below is from my visit there in early June - Stefan's Amsterdam-based shop is one of the most impressive showrooms I've been to in the world, and has a wonderful selection of high end head-fi and 2-channel gear (Airtight, Sennheiser, Abyss, Audio Technica, etc.).

Stefan also wanted me to mention that he offers small-group evening audition sessions from 9pm to midnight, with your choice of liquor (Japanese whisky, wine, G&T's), for 150 euros for up to 3 people, deductible on any purchase of 1,000 euros or above. I took advantage of this and while it's not cheap, you get access to an amazing selection of gear, with no pressure to buy, and the opportunity to chat over drinks with Stefan, who is extremely knowledgable and just a great guy to be around with.

Yes, lucky we are in Europe.
Another best of showrooms is located in France (Nîmes) with even more headphones and amps to listen to, only on appointment.

 

[iFi audio]

Yes, lucky we are in Europe.
Another best of showrooms is located in France (Nîmes) with even more headphones and amps to listen to, only on appointment.

The place looks really lovely and equipped well.

 

[Matez]

can ifi ican pro drive the susvara or will it be lacking

It'll do fine and most of the time that's my setup. But that extra slam and openness I'm getting from regular stereo decks via iESL I thoroughly enjoy. My workbench is the limiting factor, for several hours a day I need to go small

 

[tunes]

It'll do fine and most of the time that's my setup. But that extra slam and openness I'm getting from regular stereo decks via iESL I thoroughly enjoy. My workbench is the limiting factor, for several hours a day I need to go small

I am very interested in a comparison between the Pass labs XA25 for the Susvara versus the much less expensive and smaller Benchmark AHB2 which is also very transparent, runs cool and could be driven directly from CHORD DAVE/Mscaler. For the SUSVARA, since the DAVE is not balanced, how is it connected to the AHB2 input and what cable termination would be needed on the SUSVARA to use the AHB2?

 

[tunes]

I go the chance to listen to the AHB2 connected to my system, with many thanks to @WilliamWykeham. It's remarkably clean, which can be very compelling in my opinion, though wouldn't necessarily be everyone's cup of tea. I don't feel qualified to comment further than that based on my limited exposure except to say I was pretty intrigued by it, and wanted to keep listening... Connected to the Susvara and the RAAL SR1a.

How does the XA25 compare the the Benchmark AHB2 and what cable termination is needed for SUSVARA? Would the AHB2 pair well with the CHORD DAVE? DAVE is not balanced but do you use XLR out from DAVE to XLR In to AHB2?

 

[Thenewguy007]

How does the XA25 compare the the Benchmark AHB2 and what cable termination is needed for SUSVARA? Would the AHB2 pair well with the CHORD DAVE? DAVE is not balanced but do you use XLR out from DAVE to XLR In to AHB2?

You would connect the headphones to the amp with a cable like this
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Balanced-X...ifiman-HE4-HE5-HE6-HE500-adapter/172733761468

It would be perfectly normal to use the XLR of the Dave. I believe the only difference when using XLR vs RCA is voltage (2 volts vs 6 volts), which may result in having a bit more power in your set up & volume.

 

[llamaluv]

How does the XA25 compare the the Benchmark AHB2 and what cable termination is needed for SUSVARA? Would the AHB2 pair well with the CHORD DAVE? DAVE is not balanced but do you use XLR out from DAVE to XLR In to AHB2?

I've not heard the XA25 specifically, though based on what I've heard from the Pass Labs amps in general, I imagine it would be a pretty different sound compared to the AHB2.

The AHB2 is just really clean, precise, and neutral. And very detailed. I really liked it with the RAAL SR1a, which surprised me, to be honest, since I've been into a warm-and-meaty kind of sound signature for a while now. And it conveyed a sense of "PRaT" that I wasn't necessarily expecting.

I only heard it for a few minutes with the Susvara on my own system with the MScaler/Dave and was more on the fence with that combination. I may get a more extended listen on my own system again in a few days so I can post more impressions then.

And yea, on the connection question, I agree with @Thenewguy007's comments, XLR out of the DAVE is perfectly good in general. Single-ended out is the more direct signal path out of the DAVE in architectural terms, but I've never noticed a difference in sound quality between the two based on limited testing (and I don't think I've ever read of anyone else noticing one either). It is 3 volts out instead of 2 volts as mentioned, which arguably benefits the AHB2, since the AHB2 has a relatively low gain for a speaker amp (though maybe that's not of much importance with the Susvara specifically).

 

[third_eye]

I have the Auris Headonia 2A3 in for review. This amp is being used primarily with the Susvara and the pairing sounds REALLY good. Will update the thread once the review is posted later this summer.