Leckerton Audio Slimline UHA-4

[Blasto_Brandino]

I must say, for the money, that is a lot of amp, even if it was JUST AN AMP it would be worth more then he's charging, the DAC puts it over the top. I still can't get over how well it runs the HD650's, how the hell did he do that?

 

[mrarroyo]

estreeter I am confused, If I only have $200 USD that will be what I can spend on a new toy. So it does not help me that another amp sounds better if it is outside of my price range at twice my budget. If money is not an issue the shop away!

 

[estreeter]

Quote:

estreeter I am confused, If I only have $200 USD that will be what I can spend on a new toy. So it does not help me that another amp sounds better if it is outside of my price range at twice my budget. If money is not an issue the shop away!

Agreed, and I acknowledge that many will shop purely on price. You and I both know that many of those purchases prove to be a 'false economy' for people who end up 'climbing the ladder' anyway. What of the folk who come here, buy a pair of phones and a DAC/amp then never return ? All I can say is that I envy them
 

 

[bulmanxxi]

@estreeter

I am not sure what you are trying to say either. This amp is not an FOTM as it has not replaced any previous FOTM. Also, it is highly regarded not because it is priced quite well but because its features and SQ PER dollar relative to ALL other amps, is FANTASTIC. So it is great for the budget shopper, the sensible shopper and even for someone who could afford to pay more but has no reason to. Yeah, it's that good.

I have (and seems others have too) actually gladly "come down" the ladder to the UHA-4 from three different amps/dacs in the $400-500 range as well as three in the $200-300 range and do not anticipate shopping for any other amp other than maybe a reasonably priced and sized iDac/amp (if one is to be produced by someone at a reasonable price unlike the CLAS and Fostex units).

 

[estreeter]

bulmaxii, just enjoy your amp - all that going up and coming down ladders seems to have given you vertigo 
 
End of the day, does it MATTER if I perceive it as an FOTM amp ? All that matters is that you enjoy it.

 

[Kunlun]

Mami! Papi! Stop Fighting!

 

[estreeter]

You're right - I'll be late for my anger management classes. Seems I'm a rage-a-holic when I get hold of a keyboard.

 

[alphaphoenix]

My last two cents: I'm glad that the thread title wasn't an appreciation thread.

 

[aamefford]

eiyiyi, or however you spell it!  This thread reads like a FOTM thread!  The amp?  A fine amp/dac at a great value of a price.
 
***EDIT: I just saw the second price increase below.  that is starting to encroach on the value proposition a bit. ***
 
Very good with high sensitivity IEM's.  I like mine a lot for exactly that purpose.  On high gain, it is excellent with the HD25 and the DT1350.
 
For higher impedance cans, I might choose something else.  For desktop dedicated, definitely something else.  To use primarily as a dac/amp - tough call.  For form factor, the UHA-4, for overall function and sound quality, maybe something like the Pico amp/dac.  The Pico is awesome, but it has been a while since I've heard it, so I can't compare fairly.
 
So, at the end of the day, for me, a great little amp that suits my needs.  And yet I still want am algorithm solo and rxmkii combo...

 

[nous]

Price is now $199 unfortunately. I'm very happy I ordered mine two days ago

 

[illquid]

That's quite a raise in the time frame, $30, if one of the major arguments for the UHA-4 was value, that argument is diminishing to some degree. Absolutely no moral/ethical objections to the raise, it's his business to charge what he likes, and the market to determine the appropriate demand.
 
I still am yet to hear another thorough review of the amp other than Blasto's and also from aamefford. Descriptions such as great SQ and better than more expensive amps are really quite limited in usefulness. How is it better, what does it do differently etc etc... Some more proper A/Bing, rather than from memory would be a great start. I don't care if you think the differences are "night and day" from memory, once you're splashing hundreds of dollars on an amp, the differences are rarely night and day, generally it's incremental or colors the sound differently. Hyperbole like that just raises my cynicism. Memory is incredibly subjective anyway and I have doubts about how long anyone can retain the subtle differences in sound between one amp and another when it's been months since owning said equipment.  This isn't aimed at anyone in particular, just at large. I might have missed the boat to get this amp at the cheaper price, but I'd rather spend $200 confident I'm getting what I want than $170 as an impulse.

 

[Nachkebia]

Its all your fault guys :mad:

 

[Kunlun]

Quote:

Price is now $199 unfortunately. I'm very happy I ordered mine two days ago

Huh.
 
 

 

[ardgedee]

Quote:

Price is now $199 unfortunately. I'm very happy I ordered mine two days ago

He's posted an explanation for the price increase. Not a lot to say but not a lot to be said, I suppose. Rising expenses are harder on crafters and small businesses because they can't negotiate better volume discounts from their suppliers or absorb increasing costs by increasing sales volume. I wouldn't be surprised if other hi-fi makers in the US are forced to raise their prices soon, too.

 

[Armaegis]

Hmm, $200 is a dangerous psychological break point for spending. It's high enough to dissuade, OR it might make you think you might as well spend more money on something from the competition.