HiFiMan Susvara
ufospls2
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Susvara is still 2.5mm for whatever reason. Continuity I guess.
I think they ditched 2.5mm late 2017 after Susvara released. So any 2018+ models have 3.5mm like Arya, HEKse, Ananda, Sundara, HE6se.
Nah. I have a 2019 version, it's still 2.5mm. I confirmed that all Susvaras are 2.5mm by my dealer
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You can ask @Matez, the owner of Forza AudioWorks. He provides this type of service and is reliable.
Yeah they're all 2.5mm because Susvara was released in 2017 before they went 3.5mm, they may have updated the wood/grill quietly but they won't redo the connector/cups.
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That's true, but 2,5mm isn't the end of the world in case of cans used at home. I wouldn't worry too much, but portable stuff is more prone to damage.
That's true, but 2,5mm isn't the end of the world in case of cans used at home. I wouldn't worry too much, but portable stuff is more prone to damage.
I'd trust the 2.5mm more if it was recessed like it is in the Audioquest Nightowl/Nighthawk headphones, so it had some strain protection.
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I agree, 2.5mm in Susvaras protrudes a fair bit.
My objective would be to get gain figures at minimal distortion so I'd know how loud I could play the Susvara with Bakoon straight out of my Marantz SA-KI Ruby SACD/DAC, which outputs the standard 2v for CDs and 2.4v for SACDs Meanwhile I've solved my problem by adding a preamp to the chain. But before I'd done that my DIY hp amp designer provided me with the gain for a 2v input (using 6DJ8s, which are the higher gain option for this amp) because using 6N30Ps definitely didn't play Susvara loud enough for me or (I think) almost anyone - quite far from realistic levels. The gain at 0.2% THD was 21 dB (still not enough) and at 27 dB there was 1% THD (loud enough, but not very good-sounding). Without gain and distortion figures all we have are each others' subjective statements about loudness and where the volume control is for "loud enough" or "very loud" or whatever. To get 27 dB gain I was running my amp at around 4:30 - full power. No wonder the sound wasn't acceptable in terms of tonality and overall "ease". Amps shouldn't be pushed that far, but 6dB of gain makes a lot of difference subjectively.What is your objective or hypothesis? Are you genuinely trying to speculate how the Bakoon sounds based on THD or is it more of a witch hunt?Sure 0.5% can be heard, if you're listening to test tones in an anechoic chamber. Otherwise in more practical applications, THD is more or less irrelevant unless it is extremely high or low, e.g. at <0.001% you can probably have full assurance of zero distortion and vice versa at I don't know, let's generously assume >1%. Anything in between is essentially a gray area on negative audibility, masked by your music, even your room. 0.5% THD translates to -46dB attenuation [20*Log(0.5/100)], if you assume the average listening volume as 80dB, that is a 34dB SPL distortion peak i.e. not constant, so maybe millisecond occurrences. Take your SPL meter, or download one on your phone, and check the ambient noise level in your 'quiet' listening room, I bet it's +/- 30dB, probably closer to 40dB if you have a computer, air purifier, open window, or whatnot. Compound that with the fact that you're listening to music, not test tones, and personally I wouldn't put money on being able to distinguish 0.05% vs 0.1% THD reliably. Yes technically THD, IMD even more so, is an objective reflection of accurate reproduction, but pragmatically it says little about the subjective perception of sound quality. In fact many consider added low or 2nd order harmonic distortion as euphonic and desirable, which is somewhat inherent to many tube topology.
Some people here are confusing power and gain. Watts into impedance alone alone won't tell you how loud the amp plays, though how much reserve power there is is of course is important.
I'm certainly not on a witch-hunt. My concern with Bakoon is that its co-designer doesn't seem to know how much gain his amp produces at any given distortion figure, and is providing specs that don't seem to indicate he knows much about audio electronics. I guess he leaves that to his Japanese partners.
Yes, 1% THD on a tube amp might be euphonic and enjoyable. But ss amps put out much more IMD than tube amps, and that much IMD (odd-order harmonic distortion) is definitely not enjoyable.
Please forgive my ignorance, but I don't understand your comments about ambient noise in the listening room. This relates more to SNR rather than THD, doesn't it? How can "your music" or ambient sounds mask THD? THD, if audible to a listener, is going to be heard at whatever the volume is that's producing that much of it that its effects are audible. It's inherent in the quality of the sound the amp is producing at or near its limit.
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jlbrach
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pretty much all of the reviews I have read speak of the bakoon sounding terrific with the susvara and having more than ample power...if it easily drives the susvara it will drive any HP...I trust peoples ears far more than I do measurements....
Law87
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Yes quite easily drives Susvara, I'm at ~45% volume on the Bakoon vs 80%+ on the 430HA/HPA4, for comparative reference.
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