[Cardier]

I’m curious how is the quality of 6.35 phone output compared with balanced. Has anyone tried 6.35? My grado gs2000e has only 6.35 plug and I’m afraid bliss is poor in 6.35.

 

[incredulousity]

I’m curious how is the quality of 6.35 phone output compared with balanced. Has anyone tried 6.35? My grado gs2000e has only 6.35 plug and I’m afraid bliss is poor in 6.35.

I have Grado Hemp, and Bliss sounds just fine on 6.35, and on XLR. As a rule, I never use 6.35 though.

 

[George Hincapie]

I just continue to be amazed how good HQP-May-Bliss-Susvara sounds. I feel grateful for being able to own such a system. It's a bottomless well of satisfaction.

What are you using for your source?

 

[gammi]

I currently have both Bliss and Ferrum Oor/Hypsos. I know the Ferrum stack like the back of my hand and love it. Just getting to know Bliss. My initial take is that the difference is flavoring vs. quality. Ferrum stack is more of an analytical transparent flavor. So far Bliss seems to add more musicality to the mix. With Ferrum stack the music comes to you more due to the clarity and transparency of it. Bliss so far is more about enjoying the music. So far Stealth and Expanse are more appealing to me with Ferrum stack. Verity Closed was almost on the docket to be sold but not anymore once it touched Bliss. Really nice. Caldera is good on both.

As someone with an Expanse who is currently considering the Ferrum stack and Bliss, can you expand on why you like the Expanse better with the Ferrum?
Is the color the Bliss adds just not a good match for the Expanse's stock sound?

 

[Rayon]

What are you using for your source?

You mean before HQPlayer? Qobuz->Roon->HQPlayer. Roon acts only as a UI and a bit perfect transportation layer. I also really like Roon's radio. It gives really good recommendations.

 

[minibox]

Ordered my Bliss last week along with a Red. Wanted to test out the i2s from the red to may. Currently using a bluesound node2 into May. Hopefully Red will be a noticeable upgrade. Will post impressions when they arrive.

 

[George Hincapie]

You mean before HQPlayer? Qobuz->Roon->HQPlayer. Roon acts only as a UI and a bit perfect transportation layer. I also really like Roon's radio. It gives really good recommendations.

I mean what streamer or end point are you using to feed May?

 

[damascato]

As someone with an Expanse who is currently considering the Ferrum stack and Bliss, can you expand on why you like the Expanse better with the Ferrum?
Is the color the Bliss adds just not a good match for the Expanse's stock sound?

I use Bliss and Expanse and they're a match made in heaven mate.

 

[gammi]

I use Bliss and Expanse and they're a match made in heaven mate.

Welp, I just bought one, so I guess I'll see!

 

[SLC1966]

As someone with an Expanse who is currently considering the Ferrum stack and Bliss, can you expand on why you like the Expanse better with the Ferrum?
Is the color the Bliss adds just not a good match for the Expanse's stock sound?

Now that I have spent a lot more time with Bliss I think it was more of getting used to what Bliss does for Stealth and Expanse. I am biased toward clarity over warmth. So the added warmth Bliss was providing threw me off a bit. I am now used to it and enjoy the Bliss warmth as much as the Ferrum clarity. Mainly about preferences. Cannot go wrong with either amp for Stealth and Expanse in my opinion.

 

[FOUNDERZERO]

Ordered the KTE! Now I wait.

 

[gammi]

Now that I have spent a lot more time with Bliss I think it was more of getting used to what Bliss does for Stealth and Expanse. I am biased toward clarity over warmth. So the added warmth Bliss was providing threw me off a bit. I am now used to it and enjoy the Bliss warmth as much as the Ferrum clarity. Mainly about preferences. Cannot go wrong with either amp for Stealth and Expanse in my opinion.

I think it's good I went with the Bliss then. Considering my current favorite amp for the Expanse is a tube amp, it would seem I like some warmth added to the Expanse. Thanks for your opinion.

 

[SlothRock]

Now that I have spent a lot more time with Bliss I think it was more of getting used to what Bliss does for Stealth and Expanse. I am biased toward clarity over warmth. So the added warmth Bliss was providing threw me off a bit. I am now used to it and enjoy the Bliss warmth as much as the Ferrum clarity. Mainly about preferences. Cannot go wrong with either amp for Stealth and Expanse in my opinion.

Interesting that you hear a warm sound signature with the Bliss. I felt the Ferrum had much more of a "sound" to it - and that sound was warm. I feel like the Bliss is a lot more transparent and doesn't really impart much of its tone on anything and just lets the DAC shine

 

[stuck limo]

Ordered my Bliss last week along with a Red. Wanted to test out the i2s from the red to may. Currently using a bluesound node2 into May. Hopefully Red will be a noticeable upgrade. Will post impressions when they arrive.

What cable are you using?

 

[Rayon]

I mean what streamer or end point are you using to feed May?

Oh, I'm running HQPlayer NAA (HQPlayer's custom endpoint OS) in Intel NUC. Then I connect NUC to May with USB as I heard that May has a really good USB implementation (galvanically isolated, will remove jitter etc.). I would probably connect May to my PC directly, but to support 1.536mHz and DSD1024 one needs custom kernel.

NAA is very easy to use. You can just install the NAA image into USB stick (with Rufus or similar) and boot it from there. No installation to HDD/SSD needed. NUC you can get for <100USD used. The only thing you need to consider is that if you buy NUC used, NAA doesn't work with like the very first NUCs (that are now super old). Google will help you to find the supported ones, but that basically means almost all of them.