3 years ago I destroyed my Sus from using a speaker amp with a tube buffer. But that was when I was still new to the Sus and didn’t do things right. I would stay away from Speakers amps also because I did not enjoy having to wait for a replacement.It happened with all three sets i had. My first were 3.5mm. Maybe i stretch with more gusto than you
I found that i needed to get onto a valve amp to round off that treble. Going back to 2 different solid state amps put me back on the war path for valves. I went from HA300II with elrogs to Formula S (disliked), Pathos Inpol EAR (ok but nto worth the money) to Paltauf HPA-100 (Amazing powerful and refined hybrid) to Soul 170HA (More dynamic than HA300II but needs U52 recs and decent drivers, std are shrill).
Valve amps don't lose detail, but they do round off the top 10% and that is bliss to my ears even as an older person (49). The next change i made which i thought was outstanding was the Holo May L2. The Gustard R26 is a good compromise for cost and its amazingly featured. But the May was another level. They offer a more natural sound and again in NOS mode, a more rounded sound. Everything becomes accessible, and those songs that hit nerves don't in quite the same way. Game changer for me. I can listen to almost anything at volume and that is wonderful. Add valves/tubes to a holographic DAC and its utter magic - Layering and 3D.
Regarding speaker amps.... its a fools errand. I did this, blew 3 sets in total and paid money. If you have a spare £1000 for the consideration that it MIGHT go wrong, then fine no problem. If you cannot spare that £1000, then stay clear of headphone amps. Speaker amps are much more noisy, some hum, some click. Those transient clicks can destroy the very sensitive planar membrane on the Susvara, i did this twice by changing the source to a non active source. Just switching noise. I plugged my HD650 in afterwards and the dynamic drivers took thi click without a care in the world. I also retested a brand new speaker amp the Hegel 190, and it was so noisy i immediately stopped. Hum on the system and switching noise once more! Once i blew the third, I bought the HA300II. Many people i think are lucky to get away with speaker amps, i was not so lucky.
Think i'm talking cr@p? Don't worry, the soap box parade are on their way to tell you i'm wrong
Sand Dan Glokta
100+ Head-Fier
Does anyone have listened to the rockna wavelight dac/preamp with susvaras?
I would like to know how it compares to a May or a Terminator.
I would like to know how it compares to a May or a Terminator.
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musicinmymind
Headphoneus Supremus
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Just got the ZMF Susvara lambskin pads for my Susvara. Unfortunately, I'm not a fan. I find the high frequencies are rolled off, noticeably so even around 7-8kHz. They make the Susvara sound a bit boring to my ears. I'll be going back to the stock pads.
jlemaster1957
Headphoneus Supremus
Good to know. 1 less variable in the mix to achieve optimal SQ is a good thing!
musicinmymind
Headphoneus Supremus
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Hifiman tuned the Susvara to perfection with the stock cable and pads
Having tried both versions of the stock cable, as well as the Lazuli Nirvana and DH Chimera, I find the DH Prion4 to be the best cable for the Susvara.
Yeah I bought a used pair that came with both ZMF pads (lambskin and hybrid) and not the stock pads. Ate the cost of getting the stock pad from Hifiman - worth every penny.Hifiman tuned the Susvara to perfection with the stock cable and pads
FiGuY1017
1000+ Head-Fier
If you've got a semi neutral amp, I highly recommend the PS Audio Stellar Gold for Susvara, it's incredibly good imo. Huge, incredible imaging and soundstaging and only 4k compared to 8k for the DSMkii lol
I’m thinking about buying a Susvara and building a new system around it. I have a very good sense of which headphone amps will drive it well, but am interested in the best speaker amp pairings.
What speakers amps have you tried with Susvara? What worked and what didn’t? I’ve thought about Pass XA25 or XA30.8, or maybe one of the integrated Pass amps, but totally open minded.
Curious if anyone has paired Susvara with the First Watt F1 or F1J? I ask since they’re current output amps, like the Enleum/Bakoon amps. But I’m not sure if they have enough power for Susvara (or an appropriate impedance).
What speakers amps have you tried with Susvara? What worked and what didn’t? I’ve thought about Pass XA25 or XA30.8, or maybe one of the integrated Pass amps, but totally open minded.
Curious if anyone has paired Susvara with the First Watt F1 or F1J? I ask since they’re current output amps, like the Enleum/Bakoon amps. But I’m not sure if they have enough power for Susvara (or an appropriate impedance).
All I can say is be careful with speaker amps with Susvara since you can easily blow out the drivers even if you're ridiculously careful with fiddling your system. It's a high risk, high reward but for me I like low risk, high reward approach with big boi tube headphone amp instead
jlemaster1957
Headphoneus Supremus
Ditto to what @theveterans said- then having said that (idiot that I am) I use the Schiit Tyr speaker amps, via a Zynsonix converter box. SQ is very good- excellent stage/imaging “limitless”, authoritative, well-textured bass, great detail delivery. I did blow a pair of Susvaras on them by accidentally turning up the volume all the way with the remote (instead of down as I thought) - just one time, and for just a moment.
Ok — as to your selected choice- the XA25 has been used to drive them and by users in this thread, like this one, Sajid Amit a few years ago. You could try to PM him to see what he thinks, though he also did a video on the subject , search YT for Amplify Audio Reviews ‘A Review of 20 amplifiers for HIFIMAN Susvara’ His top recs are unsurprising. There were no Pass Labs among them.
Good luck- many folks do use speaker amps with Susvaras successfully, it can be an end-game solution for Susvara SQ wise but it can also be an end-point for your use of them if you make ANY mistakes.
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Matez
Sponsor: Forza Audio Works
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Not sure about Rockna or May, never heard these, but Terminator is to my taste a bit too warm and cosy.
Sand Dan Glokta
100+ Head-Fier
Thx for the answers. I have my eyes now put in the mola mola tambaqui. Any experience with tambaqui, a good power hp amp like my soul170 and susvaras?
OrionDayz
Head-Fier
I have my eyes on it too for my speaker setup. It's highly praised by Sajid Amit from "amplify audio reviews". Check out his channel on YouTube he has specific videos about it.
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