High end Bakoon headphone amp Japan version discussion thread and Impression Thread

[AppleheadMay]

Correct.

Sonically, perfect match.
When it comes to power, too much.
So yes, that's the reason for selling it. Too little volume control on sensitive cans.

 

[zenpunk]

I am using this same combo and I will have to disagree. I can't even fathom how that could be the case. I am using the current output and usually listen with volume at 2pm on low gain, which provide extremmely precise volume control and lot of adjustment to play with. I even occasionally listen on high gain when listening to uncompressed classical music.
With the TH900, I also clearly preferred the Bakoon over the Zana Deux, but personal preferences will play a major role are they are both superb.

 

[jacal01]

Correct.

Sonically, perfect match.
When it comes to power, too much.
So yes, that's the reason for selling it. Too little volume control on sensitive cans.

 
I second that observation.  I've said before that the one distraction I have with the HPA-21 is its nonlinear volume control at the bottom end.
 
Not enough distraction to dump it, tho. 

  Applehead must be working the margin for big bucks. 

 

[AppleheadMay]

  I am using this same combo and I will have to disagree. I can't even fathom how that could be the case. I am using the current output and usually listen with volume at 2pm on low gain, which provide extremmely precise volume control and lot of adjustment to play with. I even occasionally listen on high gain when listening to uncompressed classical music.
With the TH900, I also clearly preferred the Bakoon over the Zana Deux, but personal preferences will play a major role are they are both superb.

 
 
I can assure you at the 2PM setting either in current low gain or voltage mode either my eardrums or the drivers will be blown.
I wonder where the difference comes from though. More output power from the source?
Or could it bet the Satri amp boards? I do not have the EX boards like the Korean version or standard Japanese version comes with. I have the upgraded Satri UL modules, a factory option.
 
Really, with the power this amp has it can easily drive any phone. I had a Phonitor way back that was also a powerful amp and used the K1000 with it with good results (not as good as speaker outputs from a tube amp though) but this amp definitely has twice the power.
I'd recommend it for all hard to drive cans and power hungry planars.
 
Sonically, it's a joy to listen to. Not dull like the P-1u I had, not anlytical. It has an involving sound I only expreienced once before, with the Zana.

 

[zenpunk]

Interesting to know you have the Japanese version, which seem to have different gain. I have the Korean HPA-21version and I have noticed it doesn't like source hotter than the standard 2.2v.
When using voltage output there is indeed very little volume to play with before it gets too loud.

 

[AppleheadMay]

My source is the HP-A8 but no idea what the output voltage of that one is.
 
The phones voltage output does indeed sound a little louder thatn the current output, but only a little in my case so I guess the output of the HP-A8 isn't too high.
 
Listening to Vicious by Lou Reed now and 12 O' Clock is about where it doesn't need to be any louder anymore even if you're in a headbanging mood.  
Man, this amp really rocks, it's impossible to sit still when you crank this thing up.

 

[zenpunk]

I now remember one of the first review, on 6moon, mentioned issues with too much gain with sensitive cans and the HPA-21 but I believe that was then fixed and the gain lowered when the amp was officially released.

 

[AppleheadMay]

Hmm, just plugged in the HD650 and this one sounds as loud as the Fostex on current but much less so on voltage.
The amp really has full control of the 650s bass, something I'm not used to with these cans.

 

[Dr. Roberts]

The pairing of the LCD3 with the Bakoon AMP 11-R is one of the most synergistic couplings this aficionado has ever heard. The only problem is that the volume control on the Bakoon does not allow for the exact desired setting on many discs. Fortunately, using an EAR Acute CDP with its own remote controlled volume control solves the dilemma for me.
 
The Bakoon is a better match for the HD 650 than is my reference EAR HP4. I would say the Bakoon makes the Senns sound exciting.

 

[AppleheadMay]

  The pairing of the LCD3 with the Bakoon AMP 11-R is one of the most synergistic couplings this aficionado has ever heard. The only problem is that the volume control on the Bakoon does not allow for the exact desired setting on many discs. Fortunately, using an EAR Acute CDP with its own remote controlled volume control solves the dilemma for me.

 
Good to hear the Bakoon does well with hard to drive cans. Anyone else have experience with those on a Bakoon?

 

[Llloyd]

   
Good to hear the Bakoon does well with hard to drive cans. Anyone else have experience with those on a Bakoon?

 
 
Not the audeze but I have hifiman phones if we're talking planars.  I was always curious to try the HE-6 with my 5210mk3 but still have never had a chance.  The HE-500 is driven with ease.  I don't use the bakoon amp atm because it does not pair very well with my dac(Concero HD) + HE-500, and I power speakers with my taboo amp which also sounds damn good.  I found with the HE-500 + 5210mk3 + Concero that the HE-500 became really fatiguing.  I guess that means just about any combo would be fatiguing with that setup because the HE-500 is anything but.
 
I really enjoyed the combo with the MHDT Labs Havana.  That was a wonderful combo.  I've been thinking about trading in the Concero for a MHDT Stockholm.  The only problem is I also use the taboo amp to drive speakers.  
 
I would not call the HE-500 hard to drive particularly, they just have that rep.  However to sound their very best they need a good audio chain with some juice behind it.

 

[AppleheadMay]

Thanks for the info Lloyd. I must say I have only had the chance to try my amp with 1 Dac, the HP-A8.
 
I wonder if anyone had a chance to compare this amp to a GS-X? I ordered a GS-X Mk2 and am expecting it somewhere around the end of the year.

 

[AppleheadMay]

Just bought a new Dac yesterday, the Marantz NA-11S1.
Problem solved, I can now go higher in volume on the Bakoon.
Like Zenpunk said, the HP-A8 must have high voltage output.
The Marantz has 2.2V, no idea about the HP-A8.

 

[Zojokkeli]

Does anyone have experience with DAC-9730, or how the Satri-link connections differ from voltage? 

 

[Justin_Time]

Allright, in the little time I had I did some casual listening with the TH-900.


 


First of all, this is a marvelous amp, true high end stuff.


It matches the TH-900 very well sonically, enhances its strong features and makes the mids fuller, which is what the TH-900 needs.


I'd describe the sound as full-bodied.


That would mean the amp is not analytical at all, rather slightly euphonic, slightly warm with a strong presence all across the spectrum. It's really involving. Extended but well controlled lows and highs but not polite like a Luxman, compared to this a Luxman is pretty dull.


This thing has muscles and it likes to show them off.


Only one amp of all the high end amps I owned in my profile managed to amaze me like this one: the Zana Deux.


 


On the other hand, as I said many times before in this thread and the Korean Bakoon thread this amp is God damn powerful.


Therefore I'm not going to recommend it to people who listen to the TH-900 and other easy to drive cans.


This is an amp to use with hard to drive Audezes, Hifiman, HE600, AKG K701, HD800 and the likes, I even bet it won't break sweat with a K1000.


 


 


Which is also the reason I'm going to sell it. All cans I like are sensitve, low impedance, easy to drive  closed dynamics. 


This is the top version of the amp with all factory options maxed out so I guess it will go to someone with a HD8000, HE600, LCD3, LCDX, K1000 or someone who really loves his K701/801.


 


Will put it up for sale in one of the next weekends if I got the time.

 


I read your impression of the Japanes MK3. I fully agree, especially your apt description of the sound.

This amp is very powerful. It also presents vivid details all across the audible frequencies with a slight warmth typically associated with tubes. This sonic combination is unlike any other sound from the many headphone amps that I am familiar with.

The Korean Bakoon has virtually identical sonic signature, though for my taste, this battery version of the Bakoon seems to be a little shy on bass impact compared to the EAR HP4--someone else expressed the same opinion earlier. Power Supply?

A while back, you wanted to know how the MK3 stacxks up against the GS-X Mk2. It is rather amazing to me that two amps with such superlative sound qualities could sound so different. The GS-X has more bass authority. It does not have the warmth in the midrange of the Mk3. What it has is an abundance of delicate, silky smooth details in the treble that is unmatched by any other amp that I am familiar with (please check the the list inmy profile).

I would be hard-pressed to choose between the two,

In your case I think you will like the THREE (3) ranges of output from the GS-X better than the two choices of the Mk3--I think thelow output of the Bakoon, especially the Korean version with a different volume control is too high--though you could just reduce the output from your DAC and you would get plenty of range of volume from the Mk3 or HPA-21. I did that with all three of my DACs with great success.

Cheers,

ST (Justin_Time).