[TSAVJason]

It's beautiful, I'll give you that. And I like the features and was tempted for a moment.

But I find it hard to believe it will beat my Quad PA-1 + in the sound department. Maybe I'll try one someday and find out.

lets make it a project. I’d like to find out also

 

[jwbrent]

I like that they used green leds to light up the tubes, looks really nice. I love the small footprint. I got out of flagship headphones and moved to flagship IEMs, so I hope this amp can deal with low impedances.

I wonder if this amp is voiced with a traditional tube sound or a more modern tube sound?

 

[TSAVJason]

I like that they used green leds to light up the tubes, looks really nice. I love the small footprint. I got out of flagship headphones and moved to flagship IEMs, so I hope this amp can deal with low impedances.

I wonder if this amp is voiced with a traditional tube sound or a more modern tube sound?

Good question. I’m told it sounds like the most current MC275. If that’s accurate it would sound warm, highly detailed with mid-bass presence. I haven’t heard a production piece yet.

 

[AppleheadMay]

full balanced.

Is that sure Jason?
My dealer didn't think so but he sent a mail to get the schematics so he could check.

Very nice looking amp though and for once one I have the chance to listen to at a local dealer.
I'll need to get used to getting screwed with prices here in Europe, a Schiit amp costs us about double as well.

Any ideas on what the sound differences are vs. the Luxman SQ-N150, based on amp topology and tubes used?
I have the Luxman right here and use it SE from the phones output and balanced from the speaker output taps at 10W.

I do wonder though if 0,5W will be enough ...

 

[TSAVJason]

Is that sure Jason?
My dealer didn't think so but he sent a mail to get the schematics so he could check.

Very nice looking amp though and for once one I have the chance to listen to at a local dealer.
I'll need to get used to getting screwed with prices here in Europe, a Schiit amp costs us about double as well.

Any ideas on what the sound differences are vs. the Luxman SQ-N150, based on amp topology and tubes used?
I have the Luxman right here and use it SE from the phones output and balanced from the speaker output taps at 10W.

I do wonder though if 0,5W will be enough ...

That’s what they told me. I guess we’ll see. I know they’ve been using quite a few cans for design and evaluation. McIntosh doesn’t typically disappoint but they’ve goofed on a couple things. This has been around a 3 year project for them. My bet is it doesn’t disappoint. I’ll be letting this thread know what I think soon and I will be putting it through its paces. Dealer/Distributor orders to McIntosh are quite high. The amount on order is already far more than they can make.

 

[flargosa]

Curious how this compares to cheaper options like Schiit Jotunheim or Lyr.

 

[jwbrent]

That’s what they told me. I guess we’ll see. I know they’ve been using quite a few cans for design and evaluation. McIntosh doesn’t typically disappoint but they’ve goofed on a couple things. This has been around a 3 year project for them. My bet is it doesn’t disappoint. I’ll be letting this thread know what I think soon and I will be putting it through its paces. Dealer/Distributor orders to McIntosh are quite high. The amount on order is already far more than they can make.

Looking forward to your impressions ...

 

[xand]

Curious how this compares to cheaper options like Schiit Jotunheim or Lyr.

I'm curious about how this compares to more expensive options like the WA33, Stellaris, Feliks Euforia Anniversary...

 

[emilsoft]

Is the 94 SNR and 0.5% distortion competitive for a tube amp?

 

[xand]

Is the 94 SNR and 0.5% distortion competitive for a tube amp?

Ouch. Not really.

 

[emilsoft]

Ouch. Not really.

What is the norm? I checked some stats from others and noted < 96db snr I think it was for Wa6.. schiit Valhalla is also not too far from this..

 

[alvin sawdust]

$2500?
I just got the price in Europe: 3599€ which is 4333$.
That's over $1800 more!
McIntosh can keep their crap if they can't use a better pricing strategy.

Had an email from a friend in the industry and he said the UK price will be £2795. Hopefully my friend is nearer the mark.

 

[xand]

What is the norm? I checked some stats from others and noted < 96db snr I think it was for Wa6.. schiit Valhalla is also not too far from this..

Not sure how fair this is - but here are the claimed stats of the cayin C9 (battery operated with a tube option, higher claimed power up to 300ohms). You may need to view the full image.

 

[emilsoft]

Not sure how fair this is - but here are the claimed stats of the cayin C9 (battery operated with a tube option, higher claimed power up to 300ohms). You may need to view the full image.

Vastly different designs - I think the C9 uses the tubes to warm up the sound but not to directly drive the headphones - like a tube buffer stage, so it's more like a solid state thus reflected in the SNR.

 

[xand]

Vastly different designs - I think the C9 uses the tubes to warm up the sound but not to directly drive the headphones - like a tube buffer stage, so it's more like a solid state thus reflected in the SNR.

Quite possibly true.. It definitely always uses a solid state amp as well otherwise I'm not sure it can ever be portable.

There's a functional diagram in the headfi thread - you can look at it to confirm but I don't want to go off topic too much!

So - I might be wrong - that was just the only tube ish amp whose stats I've looked at recently.