[iFi audio]

my NAD M22 V2 (300WPC) powering iESL to power 009 made the 009 from unlistenable more than 5min into being much better than 009+BHSE.

Interesting to see what people use with their iESLs....

 

[FLguy]

my NAD M22 V2 (300WPC) powering iESL to power 009 made the 009 from unlistenable more than 5min into being much better than 009+BHSE.

nope, because i listen at low gain from the amp, which is ~150w. Using iDSD Pro as the Dac+preamp, for 009, normal listening levels are at around 9-11o'clock depending on the music.

Interesting... does this configuration produce noticeable background noise, or does the reduced gain eliminate or greatly reduce the potential for background noise when using a high power amp?

 

[bluesaint]

Interesting ... Do you get much hum or background noise in this configuration (given that the NAD M22 has a lot of


Interesting... does this configuration produce noticeable background noise, or does the reduced gain eliminate or greatly reduce the potential for background noise when using a high power amp?

That's the beauty of it, and I've tested it both with 009, susvara, and he6se. If the planars hooked directly to the NAD there would be a lot of background noise and overall distortion. But through iesl which I assume the vishay resistors are doing their jobs, had made it fully black background with, susvara, and 009.

 

[FLguy]

That's the beauty of it, and I've tested it both with 009, susvara, and he6se. If the planars hooked directly to the NAD there would be a lot of background noise and overall distortion. But through iesl which I assume the vishay resistors are doing their jobs, had made it fully black background with, susvara, and 009.

Cool! Thanks for the info.

 

[Zblarg]

The IESL provides a great sound for planars/dynamic headphones, but I have to warn you: it also has a high probability to provide you some background noise.
I tested it with my two preamps - Pass Labs X0.2 (solid state) and McIntosh C2300 (tubes) + my Coda CX monoblocks and I got some background noise with both of them.
My dealer told me he also had some. Sad thing because the sound is great with excellent dynamics, slam and soundstage.
Of course, the amount of noise depends on what kind of headphones you plug into the IESL. The less sensitive headphone you plug, the less noise you get.
But I got enough noise to complain with an Audeze LCD-4, which is known to be a headphone with a quite low efficiency.
With my Kennerton Odin, it was simply unbearable. It almost disappeared completely with my JPS Labs Abyss v1.
I didn't have this kind of problem with the electrostatic output which was completely clean.

 

[bluesaint]

The IESL provides a great sound for planars/dynamic headphones, but I have to warn you: it also has a high probability to provide you some background noise.
I tested it with my two preamps - Pass Labs X0.2 (solid state) and McIntosh C2300 (tubes) + my Coda CX monoblocks and I got some background noise with both of them.
My dealer told me he also had some. Sad thing because the sound is great with excellent dynamics, slam and soundstage.
Of course, the amount of noise depends on what kind of headphones you plug into the IESL. The less sensitive headphone you plug, the less noise you get.
But I got enough noise to complain with an Audeze LCD-4, which is known to be a headphone with a quite low efficiency.
With my Kennerton Odin, it was simply unbearable. It almost disappeared completely with my JPS Labs Abyss v1.
I didn't have this kind of problem with the electrostatic output which was completely clean.

Theres 2 variables that may need to be considered. One is how much power is going into the iesl, and second how clean measuring is that power.

Using modern class D amps that measures better than majority of class A or class AB will eliminate background noise due to its low noise and error feed forward correction.

At least when using Susvara it is completely noise free even when using it with Tube+ mode from iDSD Pro.

 

[bluesaint]

@Zblarg I also want to thank you. I wouldn't have tried powering iesl with speaker amps if wasnt for your discovery that they do work quite well! Thanks for pioneering that discovery with your carbon cc vs. Iesl+amp post.

 

[iFi audio]

That's the beauty of it, and I've tested it both with 009, susvara, and he6se. If the planars hooked directly to the NAD there would be a lot of background noise and overall distortion. But through iesl which I assume the vishay resistors are doing their jobs, had made it fully black background with, susvara, and 009.

To have iESL silent was on of key goals. Crazy stack btw., you're lucky to have it!

 

[spacequeen7]

The IESL provides a great sound for planars/dynamic headphones, but I have to warn you: it also has a high probability to provide you some background noise.
I tested it with my two preamps - Pass Labs X0.2 (solid state) and McIntosh C2300 (tubes) + my Coda CX monoblocks and I got some background noise with both of them.
My dealer told me he also had some. Sad thing because the sound is great with excellent dynamics, slam and soundstage.
Of course, the amount of noise depends on what kind of headphones you plug into the IESL. The less sensitive headphone you plug, the less noise you get.
But I got enough noise to complain with an Audeze LCD-4, which is known to be a headphone with a quite low efficiency.
With my Kennerton Odin, it was simply unbearable. It almost disappeared completely with my JPS Labs Abyss v1.
I didn't have this kind of problem with the electrostatic output which was completely clean.

I would suggest different -none speaker amp or connection ,I'm feeding iESL via XLR and couldn't be happier
Cheers

 

[iFi audio]

I would suggest different -none speaker amp or connection ,I'm feeding iESL via XLR and couldn't be happier
Cheers

We can't blame you

 

[saudio7]

I am looking this particular amp to try out. If I am powering an Estat, say 007 or 009 or Shangri Jr, would using something like 100 tube wpc be overkill behind the iESL (Rogue Audio Atlas 2)? And being this amp not having volume control, will a preamp be required as well as the iESL?

Will a Chord Hugo 2 + iFi iESL + 009 be a sufficient chain or will the Hugo 2 not have enough juice?
Hugo 2 output:
94mW 300Ω
740mW 32Ω
1050mW 8Ω

You can try this setup, I am using Trilogy 933 to 4pin XLR input and sound is good, enough for my listening level but not very loud.

 

[bluesaint]

We can't blame you

question regarding using the XLR 4 pin input.

Looking at the internal circuity it does seem the XLR input has better traces, vs. a modular board for the speaker cable input, so my question is, can i simply use a cable like this output from speaker amp to the iesl balanced in? Any concerns?

 

[iFi audio]

question regarding using the XLR 4 pin input.

Looking at the internal circuity it does seem the XLR input has better traces, vs. a modular board for the speaker cable input, so my question is, can i simply use a cable like this output from speaker amp to the iesl balanced in? Any concerns?

We have to double-check with our tech team. For now please don't use this.

 

[bluesaint]

We have to double-check with our tech team. For now please don't use this.

did you hear back? thanks.

 

[iFi audio]

did you hear back? thanks.

You can use it instead of speaker inputs.