[mixman]

The tech is getting so good these days, that we may be splitting hairs. Generally speaking a measurable difference used to equate to a perceivable difference to the ears. With the technology is getting soooo good and so much more affordable, I think the law of diminishing returns is exaggerated even more.

I have a THX 789 and most agree it is a great value. I'm quite certain I can hear a small difference (difference nonetheless) with the Bakoon Amp 13-R which is way way way more expensive.

95% of the causal listeners probably would not know or care about the differences between the two. I paid a premium not only for the perceivable difference but because I love the industrial look and design of the Bakoon Amp-13R, its build quality, its simplicity, high power and versatility (HPA and speaker amp) in a minimal footprint. Also, since I have $6K USD headphones, a $6K HPA isn't such a stretch.

The latest value on the block is supposedly the Topping A90 - rave reviews. Sandro just released a video and said it beats out his Bechmark HPA4 in many categories at a fraction of the price.

Since I am curious, I ordered one and will see if there are any perceivable differences between it and the Bakoon AMP-13R with the Susvara.

For pleasure listening, if a measurable difference is not perceivable, then its only value is a psychological. You feel better because it measures better even though you can't really hear it.

I would just hope there is a bigger difference in sound between the Bakoon and THX789, A90. If not, there is not much for me to look forward to when I upgrade to a lesser amp than the Bakoon.

 

[iFi audio]

The tech is getting so good these days, that we may be splitting hairs. Generally speaking a measurable difference used to equate to a perceivable difference to the ears. With the technology is getting soooo good and so much more affordable, I think the law of diminishing returns is exaggerated even more.

I have a THX 789 and most agree it is a great value. I'm quite certain I can hear a small difference (difference nonetheless) with the Bakoon Amp 13-R which is way way way more expensive.

95% of the causal listeners probably would not know or care about the differences between the two. I paid a premium not only for the perceivable difference but because I love the industrial look and design of the Bakoon Amp-13R, its build quality, its simplicity, high power and versatility (HPA and speaker amp) in a minimal footprint. Also, since I have $6K USD headphones, a $6K HPA isn't such a stretch.

The latest value on the block is supposedly the Topping A90 - rave reviews. Sandro just released a video and said it beats out his Bechmark HPA4 in many categories at a fraction of the price.

Although that's just my experience, I think that cans like Susvaras and that Bakoon amp most likely deserve an outstanding DAC to show what they can really do. I also think that early impressions in audio can be a bit misleading in general. Once we get used to products, we notice new things about them, but this requires time. There were some DACs, amps and cans I considered as OK after some early A-B comparisons, but after several weeks or even months my appreciation for their performance grew and at times significantly

After hearing Susvara for the first time I didn't understand all hype about them, but now I do

 

[SteveM324]

..... Once we get used to products, we notice new things about them, but this requires time. There were some DACs, amps and cans I considered as OK after some early A-B comparisons, but after several weeks or even months my appreciation for their performance grew and at times significantly

After hearing Susvara for the first time I didn't understand all hype about them, but now I do

Agreed but it also works the other way around .... after several months of ownership, you may find that something that you loved initially isn't all that great anymore. The faults that you didn't hear at the beginning start bothering you only after months of ownership. I've had that happen to me a few times...

 

[iFi audio]

Agreed but it also works the other way around .... after several months of ownership, you may find that something that you loved initially isn't all that great anymore. The faults that you didn't hear at the beginning start bothering you only after months of ownership. I've had that happen to me a few times...

Fully agreed on the other end as well. I'm as guilty of prematurely falling for a product or two just as most of us here

 

[Slim1970]

Agreed but it also works the other way around .... after several months of ownership, you may find that something that you loved initially isn't all that great anymore. The faults that you didn't hear at the beginning start bothering you only after months of ownership. I've had that happen to me a few times...

Agreed, once the honeymoon period is over you start to listen more critically. That’s when you start to hear things you never noticed before. For me, it was the balanced sound of the Susvara‘s that really exposed the hole in the sound in upper mid/lower treble of the LCD-4‘s when I had them. The LCD-4z’s are much better in this regard. Both are a step down from the Susvara’s in sound quality, but are great alternatives to the Hifiman sound in general.

 

[SteveM324]

Agreed, once the honeymoon period is over you start to listen more critically. That’s when you start to hear things you never noticed before. For me, it was the balanced sound of the Susvara‘s that really exposed the hole in the sound in upper mid/lower treble of the LCD-4‘s when I had them. The LCD-4z’s are much better in this regard. Both are a step down from the Susvara’s in sound quality, but are great alternatives to the Hifiman sound in general.

My Susvara will arrive tomorrow morning so I hope that I share your opinion of them.

 

[jlbrach]

I have not, actually I have only tried TC at CanJam, never at home. Honestly everyday I wake up thinking, is today the day I buy a TC? It's only a matter of impulse now..

when you do buy the TC you will wonder how you went so long without it...it is that good and I own the susvara as well..the first time I heard the susvara I was unimpressed, I heard it at canjam in nyc and had just listened to the abyss and the susvara sounded underwhelming but after repeated listening and proper amplification I started to hear the subtlety of the susvara and the ethereal quality ..the detail is incredible but it doesnt jump out at you...the soundstage isnt all that wide but it is deep and the location of the instruments is perhaps the best of any HP I have ever heard...I sold my speaker system recently and am now all in on HP's so I do alot of comparison shopping...

 

[AudioDoctor]

So, to bring my contribution to a conclusion, I decided on a Linear Tube Audio Z10 Integrated. In my emails with the company I learned that they upped the power available to the headphone output for the Susvara. Additionally, in my research on this device I found a bunch of reviewers that said this combo rocks.

 

[SteveM324]

So, to bring my contribution to a conclusion, I decided on a Linear Tube Audio Z10 Integrated. In my emails with the company I learned that they upped the power available to the headphone output for the Susvara. Additionally, in my research on this device I found a bunch of reviewers that said this combo rocks.

What is the Z10 power output? The LTA website says 2w/CH @ 50 ohms for the Z10. What did they upgrade it to? I was on their website earlier today looking at their 10e which they recently upgraded to 3w/Ch.

 

[MacedonianHero]

My Susvara will arrive tomorrow morning so I hope that I share your opinion of them.

Congrats Steve! You will love them...I absolutely do! SR-009 resolution/speed with ortho weight/bass...have your cake and eat it too! Looking forward to your impressions!

 

[AudioDoctor]

What is the Z10 power output? The LTA website says 2w/CH @ 50 ohms for the Z10. What did they upgrade it to? I was on their website earlier today looking at their 10e which they recently upgraded to 3w/Ch.

No idea, but no reviewer said the headphone output was lacking in power to drive them. In fact, they pretty much all said it drove the hell out of them.

 

[sahmen]

So speaking of big money and not so big money amps yielding small differences in SQ, if anyone has ever tried the Susvara on the Gustard H20, could you give your impressions. Also, since that amp will fall under the category of the not-so-big money amps among those that often mentioned on this thread, some comparative evaluation of performances, of say, the H20 and some of the heavier hitters would be helpful and welcome

Reason for the question? Well, the H20 is back on Massdrop, for nth time, and it seems to get high praise there, but I do not see it getting as much love on Head-fi as do some of the mentioned heavier hitters...To simplify the question somewhat, and also make it pertinent to this thread, is there some compelling reason why one should, or should, not consider the H20 as a serious contender for a Susvara driving amp?

 

[SteveM324]

Congrats Steve! You will love them...I absolutely do! SR-009 resolution/speed with ortho weight/bass...have your cake and eat it too! Looking forward to your impressions!

Thanks Peter! That‘s just what I hope to hear. I’ll post my impressions here after I get them burned in.

 

[koven]

The LTA website says 2w/CH @ 50 ohms for the Z10.

It also says 0.5% THD, yuck. Hard pass.

Kidding

 

[iFi audio]

Both are a step down from the Susvara’s in sound quality, but are great alternatives to the Hifiman sound in general.

Audeze cans are doing very well, got significantly better since the pre-fazor LCD-2 era and yeah, I would see them as an alternative for Susvaras too.