How do the Singlepower amps stack up against the RKV?

[PUGSTUB]

Anyone compared the Singlepower amps vs. the RKV's and can offer comments? Thanks for the interest.

 

[bifcake]

I like the Singlepower amps better. The RKV is too bright and sometimes too harsh especially with HD600 phones. It fares better wtih the 650's, but I still found myself slightly cringing when listening to RKV.

The Singlepower amps are much better. Especially the Maestro. It's a very nice amp and although it's twice the price of the RKV, it is well worth it in the detail and musicality it provides without being bright or harsh.

I didn't care too much for Supra. I thought it was slightly too bright and way too dry. However, it never hurt my ears the way the RKV did.

Given a choice and limited funds, I would get the SinglePower PPX3 6sn7. It's warm, sweet and musical. Whereas it doesn't have the same level of detail that the RKV delivers, its sheer musicality and enjoyment more than make up for it.

 

[Hirsch]

The SinglePower amps can drive all impedances without a transformer. The RKV can be noisy with low impedance cans, unless you use the Impedanzer, and outboard transformer. The RKV will change slightly with different tube brands, while the SinglePower amps can change dramatically. This is due to the DC Servo control in the RKV. This linearizes the output of the tubes, at the cost of some of the high-end "air". The SinglePower amps are simply better in the midrange and highs, at least with decent tubes. The RKV has a much higher power output, however, and can drive a K-1000, which the SinglePower amps cannot do. If that's your headphone, the choice is easy.

IMO you get almost everything the RKV offers, plus a degree of transparency the RKV cannot do, even with the stock PPX-3. As you move up the SinglePower line, some of the tube euphony is traded off for increased detail. These amps are capable of retrieving information that the RKV just doesn't reproduce.

 

[Habib]

I wanted a RKV as my last amp. That is until Singlepower amps begin to show up at head-fi. To this day I still haven't heard the RKV, I dont feel like I am missing much

I know one member (shafu) who sold his RKV for a MPX3. I was told that the MPX3 sounds better in every way, which is the reason I got mine