IMPRESSIONS: Lavry DA10 XLR out vs. Singlepower MPX3

[PFKMan23]

Quote:

Originally Posted by steaxauce The single ended output of the Lavry is absolutely terrible with high impedance headphones such as the HD650; I can personally attest to that. It does work very well with lower impedance headphones like the SA5000, though. For high impendace headphones, the balanced outputs are much, much better.

That seems to be the consenses, however I just think that the 650 has a tad too much bass. If only I was motived enough to get my senn cables retermed....

 

[steaxauce]

I agree that the HD650 has too much bass. Have you tried it defoamed? That helps with the bass, and also makes it much more detailed. It is very bright like this, but IMO worth it. The stock HD650 just isn't my type of headphone. Also, the balanced outputs also serve to tighten things up. There's still a lot of bass when they're balanced but not defoamed, but it doesn't get in the way so much.

 

[Scrith]

(off-topic...Lavry + Audiophile USB)

Quote:

Originally Posted by steaxauce The power in my dorm room isn't so great, and I've been experiencing some performance issues with the Lavry and the M-Audio Audiophile USB. When the Lavry is in Crystal Lock Mode, it makes a very loud (sometimes painful) noise whenever the sample rate changes. This has been happening often, even in the middle of songs.

I use this exact setup (although I have both the Lavry and the Audiophile USB plugged into a PS Audio Ultimate Outlet currently, previously they were in a P500 which I am starting to miss). I have never heard this sound or had a problem with the Lavry changing sample rate in the middle of a song. I have seen it change when I play a game (which is usually at 48K) then stop playing and switch to Foobar2000 for music playback (it goes back to 44K), but I've never really noticed anything unusual when this switch occurs, either. It sounds like you may have a problem with the Audiophile or the Lavry.

 

[steaxauce]

If you pull the digital plug on the Lavry while it's playing, does it make a loud noise? The noise I'm hearing is exactly like when I do that (I don't do that, BTW

). If other DA10s don't do that, my problem is with the DA10. I think there might be some other issues with my DA10. I thought the DA10 was protected from pops. Mine makes a loud popping noise if I turn it off or on with the headphones plugged in. Do y'all's do that? Also, what does the polarity switch do? I figured it switches the left and right channels, but mine doesn't seem to do anything

 

[steaxauce]

Wow, looks like someone's ready to buy it. Hopefully it's working. I'm not sure I want to sell it, btw. I'll have to see if there's something better suited to my needs. Perhaps a modded squeezebox and a Mapletree Audio Ear+ HD.

 

[blessingx]

The pops are normal.

 

[roy_jones]

Good review.

I've heard a pair of highly modded K340's through the balanced outputs of the Lavry and thought it sounded excellent. I'm not sure if the Lavry has the ideal level of power output for headphones of that impedence, but I would imagine that it would have more than enough for Senns. I think it drives the AKG's excellently, but I wonder how the comparison with the singlepower would look if the can being tested required more power.

Also, just to give everyone a heads-up- one of the best head-fiers around these parts is selling his Lavry in the 'for sale' section, so check it out, especially if you're a canadian head-fier.

 

[Scrith]

Quote:

Originally Posted by steaxauce If you pull the digital plug on the Lavry while it's playing, does it make a loud noise? The noise I'm hearing is exactly like when I do that (I don't do that, BTW ). If other DA10s don't do that, my problem is with the DA10. I think there might be some other issues with my DA10. I thought the DA10 was protected from pops. Mine makes a loud popping noise if I turn it off or on with the headphones plugged in. Do y'all's do that? Also, what does the polarity switch do? I figured it switches the left and right channels, but mine doesn't seem to do anything

I pulled it on the Audiophile USB end (which should be the same as pulling the Lavry end...no input signal) and it didn't make a noise.

The polarity switch doesn't switch channels, it switches polarity. Go here and listen to the two Pink Noise tests (and read the instructions) to determine whether you need regular or inverse polarity.

 

[humanflyz]

While we are on the topic of the Lavry's amp section, I have this one question?

Has anyone tried using AT W5000s straight out of the Lavry's headphone jack? How does it sound? I am in the process of simplifying my system, which will mostly be something like:

Lavry DA10 --> amp --> K1000/speakers.

I want a closed headphone in there somewhere, and the W5000 seems like a good choice: low impedance, doesn't leak very much, and seem to work well without crazy amplification.

 

[slwiser]

For myself I think the Lavry powers the W5000 very well with its headphone out. Almost as good as my HA5000. I can tell some difference but it is very much a near thing for my hearing. Smoother, better dynamics but is it worth the added price if you already have the Lavry? That is a very personal thing indeed.

I am not going to tell you it is worth the difference cause I might see you sometime. You might shoot me or hug me, I can't tell from here.

Vic has some good impressions of the Lavry on his big thread that suggest that the W5000 is very good with the Lavry. Small improvement with the Original Master and a more significant change with the Singlepower or Raptor with the right tubes. I would like to suggest that with the W5000 the HA-5000 is near that Singlepower used single-ended or the Raptor but I really can't since I have not heard the Singlepower. I would like their may be in the same league when used with the W5000.

Quote:

Originally Posted by humanflyz While we are on the topic of the Lavry's amp section, I have this one question? Has anyone tried using AT W5000s straight out of the Lavry's headphone jack? How does it sound? I am in the process of simplifying my system, which will mostly be something like: Lavry DA10 --> amp --> K1000/speakers. I want a closed headphone in there somewhere, and the W5000 seems like a good choice: low impedance, doesn't leak very much, and seem to work well without crazy amplification.

 

[humanflyz]

@slwiser:

That's good to know. I will probably not get a separate amp for the W5000s, since my primary rig will be a K1000/speaker rig, with both the K1000s and the speakers powered by the same amp. It's good to know that the Lavry can drive the W5000s adequately, because that's all I really need anyways.

 

[slwiser]

I am such a clutch as writing. I had my "is it" as "it is." I ment to say..

"Smoother, better dynamics but is it worth the added price if you already have the Lavry? That is a very personal thing indeed. "



Quote:

Originally Posted by humanflyz @slwiser: That's good to know. I will probably not get a separate amp for the W5000s, since my primary rig will be a K1000/speaker rig, with both the K1000s and the speakers powered by the same amp. It's good to know that the Lavry can drive the W5000s adequately, because that's all I really need anyways.

 

[humanflyz]

What about the noise level? AT phones are usually low-impedance/high-sensitivity, so they pick up noise pretty easily? Do you guys hear any noise using the Lavry with the W5000?

 

[slwiser]

Check out my sig. I don't hear anything directly out of the Lavry or my Amp except when the music plays. Yea, I should add that last part.

Bottom line is that the Lavry headamp is a fairly nice design and implementation. Go over to the Lavry forum off his site and check out some of the threads. www.lavryengineering.com

Quote:

Originally Posted by humanflyz What about the noise level? AT phones are usually low-impedance/high-sensitivity, so they pick up noise pretty easily? Do you guys hear any noise using the Lavry with the W5000?

 

[BrianS]

humanflyz, send a PM to Vic I am sure he will tell you about the lavry and the w5000.

Do you guys think the increased clarity and detail is a result of less bass or going from (SE to BALANCED vs. TUBE to SS)? (ie. the mpx3 would be tubed single ended and the lavry balanced out would be balanced and ss)

I agree that both methods beat the headphone amp in the lavry.