sclamb
1000+ Head-Fier
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Today I took delivery of a new addition to the family, a brand spanking new Corda HA-2
Whilst it has only been playing for three hours, there are some very noticeable initial impressions that it leaves.
The HA-2 oozes quality. It is heavier than the Solo and the attention to detail in the manufacture is easy to see, down to the engraved face plate. Overall it is about 50% bigger than the Solo, and the all-black casing really looks very nice. Only gripe here is the rubber feet which have been stuck on and not properly aligned with the sticky pads so they look a bit off-centre. However, I don't have to look at them so I can live with that very minor gripe.
The initial impression after switching on and listening straight away through the Senn HD650s with Zu cable to the Pat Methany Group was that the sound was muddy compared to the Solo. However, after the first three hours everything has opened up and there are some very obvious differences, and I am sure with further burning in that these will become even more apparent.
The difference between the 0 ohm socket and the 120 ohm socket is very noticeable. In the 0 ohm socket the sound is much more analytical and seems to be purer in its elements. Switching to the 120 ohm socket and the sound becomes warmer and more blended. Having listened for ninety minutes straight I think that the 0 ohm is more to my liking with my set-up.
Crossfeed is not something that the Solo offers but having now noticed the difference that is makes on the Corda I am a convert. The combination of 0 ohm and low crossfeed is excellent and the music is defintely less fatiguing after a lengthy period of listening.
So, the initial impression of differences between the Solo and the HA-2.
1. BASS!!!!! I thought the Solo had powerful bass but I immediately noticed the deeper but more controlled bass on the HA-2. It just seems to be more full, more controlled and very tight. The Solo in comparison seems to throw the bass down your ears whereas the HA-2 lets is flow.
2. Soundstage. Again the much better soundstage of the HA-2 was apparent from the first notes. Visualisation of the music is much easier and the breadth of the soundstage is noticeably wider, something that I thought would be difficult to beat the Solo on, but beat it the HA-2 has.
3. Separation. There is more discernible space around the instruments, a concept that I was having difficulty in understanding until listening to the difference between the Solo and the HA-2. Instruments seem to have more space between them, and I am once again hearing nuances that I did not hear when listening through the Solo.
4. Refinement. This is one of the biggest differences I have noticed but at the same time one of the hardest to describe adequately. Listening to tracks that I have played over and over with the Solo, they just seem to be more refined, a better quality of sound which ultimately is more relaxing. I remember Pink Floyd once said that the Solo was like a Ferrari whereas the Chairra was more like a Rolls Royce (or a similar car analogy). Well, now I know what he meant. Where the Solo is forceful in rendering the music, the HA-2 is accurate and refined.
I really want to let this baby burn in for a few days before comparing the performance of the HA-2 versus the Solo on specific tracks, but if this can only get better then I know that I will not be disappointed.
In my set-up now I have the Senn HD650s, Zu Mobius, Corda HA-2, Chord Chorus ICs and Arcam CD73T. So now I am thinking, how much better would this be with a better source
What I can say for sure at this point is that the Corda with the HD650/Zu combo is awesome. Speaking to Jan today, he said that only 100 HA-2s were manufactured. With the Meier offer currently running in Mall-Fi, if you are in the market for a solid state amp and have Senns then this is really something worth listening to. And you get to buy into a limited edition as well
Simon
The HA-2 oozes quality. It is heavier than the Solo and the attention to detail in the manufacture is easy to see, down to the engraved face plate. Overall it is about 50% bigger than the Solo, and the all-black casing really looks very nice. Only gripe here is the rubber feet which have been stuck on and not properly aligned with the sticky pads so they look a bit off-centre. However, I don't have to look at them so I can live with that very minor gripe.
The initial impression after switching on and listening straight away through the Senn HD650s with Zu cable to the Pat Methany Group was that the sound was muddy compared to the Solo. However, after the first three hours everything has opened up and there are some very obvious differences, and I am sure with further burning in that these will become even more apparent.
The difference between the 0 ohm socket and the 120 ohm socket is very noticeable. In the 0 ohm socket the sound is much more analytical and seems to be purer in its elements. Switching to the 120 ohm socket and the sound becomes warmer and more blended. Having listened for ninety minutes straight I think that the 0 ohm is more to my liking with my set-up.
Crossfeed is not something that the Solo offers but having now noticed the difference that is makes on the Corda I am a convert. The combination of 0 ohm and low crossfeed is excellent and the music is defintely less fatiguing after a lengthy period of listening.
So, the initial impression of differences between the Solo and the HA-2.
1. BASS!!!!! I thought the Solo had powerful bass but I immediately noticed the deeper but more controlled bass on the HA-2. It just seems to be more full, more controlled and very tight. The Solo in comparison seems to throw the bass down your ears whereas the HA-2 lets is flow.
2. Soundstage. Again the much better soundstage of the HA-2 was apparent from the first notes. Visualisation of the music is much easier and the breadth of the soundstage is noticeably wider, something that I thought would be difficult to beat the Solo on, but beat it the HA-2 has.
3. Separation. There is more discernible space around the instruments, a concept that I was having difficulty in understanding until listening to the difference between the Solo and the HA-2. Instruments seem to have more space between them, and I am once again hearing nuances that I did not hear when listening through the Solo.
4. Refinement. This is one of the biggest differences I have noticed but at the same time one of the hardest to describe adequately. Listening to tracks that I have played over and over with the Solo, they just seem to be more refined, a better quality of sound which ultimately is more relaxing. I remember Pink Floyd once said that the Solo was like a Ferrari whereas the Chairra was more like a Rolls Royce (or a similar car analogy). Well, now I know what he meant. Where the Solo is forceful in rendering the music, the HA-2 is accurate and refined.
I really want to let this baby burn in for a few days before comparing the performance of the HA-2 versus the Solo on specific tracks, but if this can only get better then I know that I will not be disappointed.
In my set-up now I have the Senn HD650s, Zu Mobius, Corda HA-2, Chord Chorus ICs and Arcam CD73T. So now I am thinking, how much better would this be with a better source
What I can say for sure at this point is that the Corda with the HD650/Zu combo is awesome. Speaking to Jan today, he said that only 100 HA-2s were manufactured. With the Meier offer currently running in Mall-Fi, if you are in the market for a solid state amp and have Senns then this is really something worth listening to. And you get to buy into a limited edition as well
Simon
