Just thought I'd pop in and give my impression of this superb amp now it has had over 500 hours under its belt.
In a couple of words.......Absolutely incredible. This is the most effortless amp I have ever had the pleasure to listen to. There is nothing I don't like about the sound, I just switch it on and listen to the music and find myself listening for hours on end.
Compared to my upgraded Musical Fidelity X-Can V2 the Chiarra is in a totally different league altogether. The X-Can V2 tried to make music but always sounded as if it was forcing the issue sounding unnatural and highly coloured. The Chiarra doesn't have to resort to cheap tricks it quite simply makes music sound so natural and inviting.
I built one of these kits for Nigel, a fellow head-fi member, and his words just about sum up what this amp is all about. I quote from a recent e-mail:
" Isn't this amp wonderful? It just sounds so right you forget about Headfi & Headwize & Crossfeed filters they don't seem to matter anymore. You just play the music......."
I couldn't have said it better. This amp is quite simply enthralling and I'd class it as streets ahead (by quite some margin) of the majority of the commercially available amps on the market today.
I just cannot understand how the Sugden headmaster can sell for £600 when there are amps like the Chiarra that are available for £200 in kit form... maybe it's because not a lot of people know about the Chiarra or maybe they just don't want to take a chance on a kit amp without having first heard it?
I don't know, but I can honestly say that this amplifier would easily cost in excess of £800 if it was sitting next to the Sugden headmaster in an audio boutique. It is a truly great amplifier designed by the legendary John Linsley Hood and I believe it will soon become a legend in itself once people hear it.
If you've got soldering skills and £207.14 and are looking for the best headphone amp you are likely to hear then I can wholeheartedly recommend the Chiarra amp and andante power supply kits from Williams Hart Electronics. This is British Hi-Fi at it's very best in an affordable kit form and it will truly open your eyes and your ears to what good value and the very best sound quality really means.
Williams Hart:
http://users.classicfm.net/williamshart/
Details of my kit:
http://freespace.virgin.net/rock.grotto/index2.htm (headphone amp section link)
I have listened for a prolonged period to this amp and my conclusion is final, this headphone amp is the best I have ever heard and I believe it's virtues should be made known to the headphone community.
Pinkie.