Introducing the new Continental V5 portable tube amp

[DanKhoo]

So is the v5 better sounding overall compared to CDM? How are these 2 positioned within ALO product line?

 

[x RELIC x]

So is the v5 better sounding overall compared to CDM? How are these 2 positioned within ALO product line?

http://www.head-fi.org/t/802291/introducing-the-new-continental-v5-portable-tube-amp/15#post_12438245

 

[WCDchee]

I tried the cv5 with a few different IEMs and they sounded simply stunning with all.

And it really doesn't turn Hot at all, runs cooler than my daps and ss amps

 

[ChavaC]

I'm kind of curious about the comparison of the v5's amp section to the CDM's as well. I've seen the prior posts and all seem to indicate the v5 pretty much operates on a refined version of the CDM's amp that's smaller, more powerful, more efficient, cooler, and it seems sonically superior based on comments here. Was set on picking up a CDM, but from the looks of it there's little incentive to drop $1500 on one when the $700 v5 amp and an $800 whatever dap/portable source gets you something smaller, more powerful, with better battery, etc. Thinking a mojo/v5 stack would be a pretty enticing option. Can't wait for this thing to drop in May.

 

[gr8soundz]

I was leaning that way as well, preparing for a $1500 plunge into the CDM (or the more costly WA8) then I read the CV5 is more powerful than the CDM balanced! Seems (from specs and what I've read) even the much bigger WA8 isn't as powerful as the CV5.
 
$700 for an even better product in the CV5 should be much easier to handle. Will just pair it with my iDSD Micro, AK Jr, or my other DAPs.
 

 

[James Reference]

I have a CDM. I like it's DAC, very rich and delicate, but the amp part is not so good.
Hope that this Continental V5 would be better

 

[mscott58]

  I'm kind of curious about the comparison of the v5's amp section to the CDM's as well. I've seen the prior posts and all seem to indicate the v5 pretty much operates on a refined version of the CDM's amp that's smaller, more powerful, more efficient, cooler, and it seems sonically superior based on comments here. Was set on picking up a CDM, but from the looks of it there's little incentive to drop $1500 on one when the $700 v5 amp and an $800 whatever dap/portable source gets you something smaller, more powerful, with better battery, etc. Thinking a mojo/v5 stack would be a pretty enticing option. Can't wait for this thing to drop in May.

Agree. The Cv5/Mojo/AK100 stack will very likely be a cube of amazing audio goodness! Now just have to get a Cv5...
 
I already use the CDM to amp my Mojo and it's awesome. I alternate between the CDM and the Liquid Carbon for amp duties depending on what sound I'm feeling like. The Cv5 will make it even more portable!
 
Cheers 
 
PS - Ken and Vinnie, better get them out to the market ASAP as the mobs might start forming if we have to wait too long. 

 

[goldendarko]

  Agree. The Cv5/Mojo/AK100 stack will very likely be a cube of amazing audio goodness! Now just have to get a Cv5...
 

What purposed does the Mojo serve if the CV5 is doing amp duty and the AK100 is doing DAP/DAC duty?

 

[WCDchee]

What purposed does the Mojo serve if the CV5 is doing amp duty and the AK100 is doing DAP/DAC duty?

The ak100 is acting as a transport with the mojo doing the dac/amp function, or in this case, the dac function while the cv5 would be the amp.

 

[goldendarko]

The AK100 doesn't have a DAC? Or just not up to snuff? I prefer streamlined setups myself so a 2 box solution is certainly more ideal than 3

 

[WCDchee]

It does, but most daps have the option of using it as a transport, the mojo is after all an incredible dac

 

[XERO1]

Originally Posted by mscott58 /img/forum/go_quote.gif

 
Agree. The Cv5/Mojo/AK100 stack will very likely be a cube of amazing audio goodness! Now just have to get a Cv5...
 

 
Try putting that in your front pocket!

 

[goldendarko]

   
Try putting that in your front pocket!

Yeah thats my concern, a stack that big starts entering the "trans-portable" territory rather than actually being portable.

 

[mscott58]

It does, but most daps have the option of using it as a transport, the mojo is after all an incredible dac

Exactly. I strongly disliked the AK100 and swore I'd never own one. To me the AK100 just didn't sound that good as a full DAP. Then the Mojo came out and one of the first things I did after buying it was to find a cheap source for an AK100! Why did I go back on my word? The AK100 is a great transport for the Mojo. It holds two micro SD cards, has a good battery, has optical out (which is Rob Watts preferred data transfer mode for the Mojo) and it is an almost exact size match for the Mojo. The Mojo's DAC is IME far superior to the AK100's DAC, and superior to any other portable DAC I've tried. 
 
And true the 3-piece stack of AK100/Mojo/Cv5 would not win a contest for looks or for being svelte, it would be a TOTL portable/transportable stack and would beat any DAP I've ever heard in terms of SQ. I use my AK100/Mojo stack all the time, traveling the world, and when I'm at my desk or in a hotel I often connect the Mojo output to the CDM, as the tubes in the CDM make the sound that much better for me. 
 
Cheers 

 

[KB]

Digital Audio Review posted a nice video and blurb on the Cv5, thank you John!
 
http://www.digitalaudioreview.net/2016/03/alo-audio-tease-continental-v5-at-canjam-socal-2016/
 
We had a great time at the SoCal show, next stop for us is
 
http://www.axpona.com/
 
Hope to see you there,
 
Ken