Looking for a balanced amp need advice

[FallenAngel]

If you think a balanced M^3 was "spectacular", you are very likely to find a balanced CKK-III just as good.

Different flavor, same league. People prefer either one. Personally, I've enjoyed the PPAv2 more than the M^3 or CKK-III and it's a serious tossup between M^3 and CKK-III for me with the M^3 taking the lead with the Sigma11 PSU and fun factor of swapping opamps.

 

[Kees]

Quote:

Originally Posted by apatN /img/forum/go_quote.gif Thanks a lot Kees. Very interesting. That Rudistor looks pretty nice and I guess I'll read into all of them. The whole idea of balanced has got me thinking that it must be better than SE however and it is hard to let go. I understand from you (and other as well though) that balanced is not necessarily better but just different from SE. Often better yes, but in the end it are all different flavours.

Balanced is (IME) always better than the same amp would have been single ended.
Some phones benefit (a lot) more than others. HD650 benefits a lot. HD600 some, K701 also. But I have also had balanced Darth Beyers and they were no good balanced, it didn't help them one bit. Same goes for my balanced L3000. Not one bit better than single ended (balanced from Rudistor RPX-100). K340: they need heaps of power, balanced or single ended makes no difference, as long as it is LOTS of power.

 

[apatN]

Maybe a SE amp is indeed a better choice then? If some headphones don't benefit at all from going balanced and I would like to try more headphones.. Hmm.

Oh, I saw the Graham Solo has a PSU-1. What do you have to say about the psu?

OP, if I am going too much off-topic, say so.

 

[Kees]

Quote:

Originally Posted by apatN /img/forum/go_quote.gif Maybe a SE amp is indeed a better choice then? If some headphones don't benefit at all from going balanced and I would like to try more headphones.. Hmm. Oh, I saw the Graham Solo has a PSU-1. What do you have to say about the psu? OP, if I am going too much off-topic, say so.

Sorry, I don't know about the PSU-1, I only heard it with ordinary wall wart.