[spike33]

I've had the PINT (LM6172) + HD595 combo for a few days. Wow, I am very impressed. The LM6172 really gives the HD595 a kick in the bass. I much prefer the LM6172 over AD8397. AD8397 might be livelier but it has a hollow midrange which I couldn't stand. LM6172 is not exactly laidback. It has a unique sound that I can only describe as warm, vibrant, detailed.

 

[Andrea]

Quote:

Originally Posted by spike33 /img/forum/go_quote.gif I've had the PINT (LM6172) + HD595 combo for a few days. Wow, I am very impressed. The LM6172 really gives the HD595 a kick in the bass. I much prefer the LM6172 over AD8397. AD8397 might be livelier but it has a hollow midrange which I couldn't stand. LM6172 is not exactly laidback. It has a unique sound that I can only describe as warm, vibrant, detailed.

In my experience the AD8397 can vary in an impressive manner in its sound quality. In my Xenos (where I kept it for a while) I've heard it sounding rich and smooth. In a Go-Vibe v4 it sounded crappy (hollow, unrefined). And consider that the Hornet, an amp that's often labeled 'liquid', 'warm', 'tubey' etc. uses it. The LM6172 must suit the PINT fine I guess... Thinking of it, I remember having perceived the LM6172 (edit- actually the LM6171, but it's about the same) as warm in the Pengamp, and rather dull in the Go-Vibe v5

 

[spike33]

The differences could be in the headphones. HD650 is not a good match for the pint in any config I've tried. It sounded thin with the AD8397, similar to what I heard out of gilmore lite. With LM6172, I wouldn't call it dull but it certainly wasn't as involving as my M^3. I'd say the midrange was a tad dry for my tastes. No matter how loud I turn it up, it just didn't sound right. But it really brings the HD595 to life! I guess it's all about synergy.

 

[Andrea]

Quote:

Originally Posted by spike33 /img/forum/go_quote.gif The differences could be in the headphones. HD650 is not a good match for the pint in any config I've tried. It sounded thin with the AD8397, similar to what I heard out of gilmore lite. With LM6172, I wouldn't call it dull but it certainly wasn't as involving as my M^3. I'd say the midrange was a tad dry for my tastes. No matter how loud I turn it up, it just didn't sound right. But it really brings the HD595 to life! I guess it's all about synergy.

Well, whatever, I'll definitely keep in mind your finding!

 

[Andrea]

Oh and for the 3 channel amps, the sound of the AD8397/45048 can vary significantly depending on the ground channel op-amp used. Thinking back, I could rank my liking of ground channel op-amps for the AD45048 as: LM6171 < THS4051 < AD8055 < LMH6654, AD9631.

The LMH6654 probably yielded the richest, most involving sound of all these chips. The AD9631 makes the sound somewhat less euphonic but overall equally good (with the benefit of a lower DC offset than the LMH6654's 7-8 mV thanks to the lower input bias current).