[FractalSound]

Thanks a lot! We believe that we know our onions, but finding a confirmation for it here on HF is rewarding

... and when iFi says they know their onions... I'm guessing they mean:
[1] they know that their customers say what they want (by listening) and
[2] they know what their customers really want (by thinking) ...

 

[LarsMan]

The S200 supposedly does have some stuff in common with the new S201, and is supposedly a good buy at the used prices it comes up at. I haven't personally heard it, but it would likely be worth trying with the Susvara, if you have a similarly capable pre-amp.

Indeed!! The S201 is the exact same as the 85 pound S200 except that they changed the heat sinks a bit. I've had that amp for almost 10 years now and it is awesome; no coloration of the input whatsover - tube preamp sounds like tubes, SS sounds like SS, not warm, not cool, just effortlessly accurate. I got a demo back then for about $6500; that was the first I'd heard of MSB. I've upgraded everything in my system since then, but I have not had even the slightest desire to try another power amp. But good luck seeing a used one come up; I almost never do....

 

[LarsMan]

I remember seeing MSB S204 monos several years ago in Munich... and just seeing these hulks was enough to remember them for years to come

Yeah, those were the M204's - just about every review I've ever read about them was totally ga-ga, and yeah, they were BIG suckers! But they got a lot of heart of those monos into one box on the S200 and later S201. Their newer gear looks totally different. My S200 looks like it should be on a shop floor or something but its sound is so good you just don't even notice it.

 

[Sound Eq]

Love when I get to hear my favorite tracks all over again with a bit of different dressing on top. Makes for what can be the same old meal, fresh - new and exciting!!

I am a fan of the iCan Pro for the same sounds signature you describe.

well after more listening i lost a bit resolution and went back to using the ifi pro dsd as a dac only feeding my violectric

 

[FiGuY1017]

Another vote for Kinki THR-1. M2 Tech Young MK IV/ VGMKII --> creates a dynamic world of sonic power. The soundstage feels infinite, and the micro dynamics and bass are a show. I recommend M2 Tech highly, not well known in the U.S as much, but wow, really good stuff. I will be trying Marcos M2 Tech Marley Mkii soon, it is a beast of a amp at around 28 watts, with variable voltage and tone controls it looks to be primed for the Susvara. And knowing Marco, it will sound world class like all his high end gear. Look him up if your into the tt/analog world as well.

 

[iFi audio]

Their newer gear looks totally different. My S200 looks like it should be on a shop floor or something but its sound is so good you just don't even notice it.

Yes, the new visual style is more conservative so many people would probably find it more universal, but if your amp sounds great it doesn't matter all that much how it looks like. Also, great visuals won't work if performance isn't there.

well after more listening i lost a bit resolution and went back to using the ifi pro dsd as a dac only feeding my violectric

If I may ask, is Pro iDSD in its solid-state mode?

 

[Bonesy Jonesy]

TOTL Speaker amp? I wonder if my 200 watt per channel MSB power amp could do the Susvara justice???

Why don't you try it and let us all know how it sounds !

 

[iFi audio]

Why don't you try it and let us all know how it sounds !

I was going to ask about that as well, but results will most likely be awesome

 

[sahmen]

To all the fans of EQ out there, does the newly released beast of Schiit Loki Max check all the boxes for EQ done manually (by ear) and done right?

I have been wondering whether this might be worth considering as a one-stop EQ solution for my main speaker rig, which is also integrated with one of my main headphone rigs, so that I might use the Loki Max to control both. At present, the only EQ I am using is the Roon parametric system, which seems more than okay for my own rather limited use cases. i have not ruled out the possibility that a more savvy system such as a Loki Max (that is, if it is indeed "more savvy") might unlock some valuable EQ "secrets" yet unknown to a largely uninitiated enthusiast, such as myself, which is why I am asking.

 

[Spawn300Z]

TOTL Speaker amp? I wonder if my 200 watt per channel MSB power amp could do the Susvara justice???

Something to try out. I know I connected my BelCanto S300 that’s 150 watts per channel with great results. Just watch that volume knob.

 

[Sound Eq]

Yes, the new visual style is more conservative so many people would probably find it more universal, but if your amp sounds great it doesn't matter all that much how it looks like. Also, great visuals won't work if performance isn't there.



If I may ask, is Pro iDSD in its solid-state mode?

yes in solid state mode

 

[LarsMan]

Yes, the new visual style is more conservative so many people would probably find it more universal, but if your amp sounds great it doesn't matter all that much how it looks like. Also, great visuals won't work if performance isn't there.



If I may ask, is Pro iDSD in its solid-state mode?

Oh, I didn't phrase that very well. When I said the sound was so good you didn't notice it, I didn't mean the appearance of the amp, I meant the transparent sound of it, like the signal was going right from the preamp to the speakers, but louder. In my case, I've got a Herron Audio tube preamp, which doesn't sound (or look) 'tube-y' at all and is also very transparent, so the coloration being done after the source is by my DAC and my speakers, and I like how they sound....

 

[Tachyon88]

To all the fans of EQ out there, does the newly released beast of Schiit Loki Max check all the boxes for EQ done manually (by ear) and done right?

I have been wondering whether this might be worth considering as a one-stop EQ solution for my main speaker rig, which is also integrated with one of my main headphone rigs, so that I might use the Loki Max to control both. At present, the only EQ I am using is the Roon parametric system, which seems more than okay for my own rather limited use cases. i have not ruled out the possibility that a more savvy system such as a Loki Max (that is, if it indeed "more savvy") might unlock some valuable EQ "secrets" yet unknown to a largely uninitiated enthusiast, such as myself, which is why I am asking.

If you want to give up precision for knobs then go for it. Otherwise roon and free equalizer apo is superior.

 

[iFi audio]

Oh, I didn't phrase that very well. When I said the sound was so good you didn't notice it, I didn't mean the appearance of the amp, I meant the transparent sound of it, like the signal was going right from the preamp to the speakers, but louder. In my case, I've got a Herron Audio tube preamp, which doesn't sound (or look) 'tube-y' at all and is also very transparent, so the coloration being done after the source is by my DAC and my speakers, and I like how they sound....

Thanks for explaining what Pro iDSD does for you in your setup. If you like it in there, that's all that matters

 

[FractalSound]

If you want to give up precision for knobs then go for it. Otherwise roon and free equalizer apo is superior.

I have been using RME ADI-2 with very good results.