Here're some initial impressions of Oblivion from a customer using LCD-4 and HD800. He'll probably add something later as well.
Well that would me me! I recently bought an Oblivion amplifier from SonicTrance and have had time to listen to a variety of music using my Audeze LCD4 and Sennheiser HD800 headphones. I am somewhat in awe of the members here with technical knowledge and an understanding of circuitry, sound, electronics, etc. My feedback (I would never dare to call it a review!) will be as someone who loves music and simply knows what they like without being able to necessarily explain why.
I'll start with a potted history as this may help members understand where I'm coming from, and perhaps what appeals to me, sonically.
I have enjoyed listening to music through headphones since I was a teenager and I remember my first pair - Sennheiser HD414 - giving me so much pleasure. I subsequently bought a pair of Sennheiser HD580s which I kept for almost 20 years. A few years ago I decided to upgrade the HD580s and in a matter of a couple of years went through a number of headphones.
Headphones:
Beyerdynamic T90. Initially loved them, perhaps because they were very different from the HD580s, but soon their bright and sibilant character became too much for me. (I had previously tried Grados and also found them to be overly harsh/bright sounding).
AKG Q701. Very enjoyable, comfortable, but I knew I wanted something 'better'.
Philips X2. Fun, lively, good soundstage, but still not end game.
Audeze LCD 2.2 (pre fazor). I'll never forget the moment I first heard these and I knew this was the sound I was after! Full, rich bass, wonderful mids, enough detail and clarity, but with none of the sibilance of the Grado/Beyerdynamics. They also allowed me to kick back and just enjoy the music without having to analyse it or concentrate too much.
Sennheiser HD800. As much as I loved the LCD2s for rock, soul, vocals, etc. they lacked the clarity, soundstage and sparkle that I wanted for classical, jazz and some acoustic music (my musical taste is eclectic). The HD800s filled this gap perfectly and, with the right amplifier - I'm getting to that! - gave the detail and soundstage that I felt the Audezes lacked, but without the treble spike that others had criticised them for.
Audeze LCD3. A smoother and more refined sound than the LCD2s and for a while I kept both pairs, not knowing which to sell. An advert in the local classifieds made the decision for me . . .
Audeze LCD4. I couldn't resist a virtually brand new pair for half price! They are more refined than the LCD2s with a smoother bass, richer mids and added detail. The LCD2s are more fun, but for serious listening the LCD4s are everything I want for rock, soul, vocals, etc.
I now have two pairs of stunning headphones which complement each other perfectly - LCD4 and HD800 - and I cannot believe that I will ever change them.
For years I had driven my headphones from the headphone output of my amps (Audiolab 8000Q, Peachtree Nova, Naim DAC-V1), but when I bought my first Audeze headphones I started to look for a dedicated headphone amplifier. I also tried running a balanced set-up for the first time.
Amplifiers:
Trafomatic Audio Experience Head One. I loved this amplifier with the HD800s and regret selling it. It was compact, beautifully made, lovely to look at and the sound was full and rich, adding some welcome warmth to the Sennheisers. It was perhaps a bit too warm for the Audezes though so not ideal for my needs.
Woo Audio WA3. I'm not sure if there was something wrong with mine, but it just never sounded very good and I sold it very quickly. Not much more I can say about it.
Bryston BHA-1. My first balanced set-up. This worked very well with both headphones and the balanced set-up gave a wider and fuller soundstage and a feeling of space to the music. It was dynamic and had plenty of power to drive the LCD4s (no mean feat). However, I was not convinced that the Bryston sounded any better than my portable equipment . . .
I have a PW AK120 (similar to the RWAK120) with balanced output to an RSA SR71b amplifier. I bought balanced cables for the HD800 and LCD4 headphones and this small set-up drove both headphones perfectly and in back-to-back listening tests I really couldn't hear any difference between this and running them from the Bryston and my main system. I eventually sold the Bryston and just used my portable gear when listening through headphones. It did seem ridiculous to own two reference level headphones and run them from a portable set-up so I decided to once again explore a dedicated headphone amplifier. Phew!
The Oblivion:
I play music from files on a hard drive as well as hi res audio from Tidal, running through Audirvana on a dedicated Mac Mini. I have a Teddy Pardo audio system so use a Teddy USB cable to the Teddy DAC then to the PR1 pre-amp and then to the Oblivion amplifier using RCA cables. I have inexpensive custom made balanced XLR cables for both pairs of headphones.
HD800. I have the volume at 12 o'clock most of the time. To some extent the Oblivion brings the sound of the HD800s closer to that of the LCD4s and I mean this in a good way. They retain the clarity, detail and soundstage that I want for the kind of music I use them for, but the Oblivion adds some warmth, taming the occasionally bright treble in a similar way that I experienced with the Trafomatic. I can perhaps best sum it up by saying that the sound is no longer clinical, but more natural whilst not losing any of the detail. There is more heft or body to the music and it definitely sounds richer. With the Oblivion I could easily imagine having the HD800s as my only headphone or perhaps adding a cheaper planar headphone for kicking back and enjoying rock, pop, etc. I still prefer using the HD800s for classical, acoustic and jazz music, but I can also happily use them for other genres too.
LCD4. I have the volume between 1 and 2 o'clock for most listening. The Oblivion seems to enhance all of the best qualities of the LCD4s whilst drawing out some that were perhaps a little hidden previously. The bass is tight, full and natural with no unnecessary or added punch beyond what is already in the music. I love mids in music, especially vocals and The Oblivion/LCD4 combo delivers this in spades. It is hard to describe this without resorting to cliche, but the mids are natural, warm and rich and the sound envelops you as you listen. What the Oblivion adds is an increased soundstage and level of detail that I haven't previously heard. There is space between and around the instruments. I find myself literally moving my head from side to side to 'see' where the instrument is and where the sound is coming from! I feel totally immersed in the music and I cannot believe that sound could get any better, at least not for my taste and the way that I like to listen.
I am very fortunate to be able to indulge myself in this hobby and since buying the headphones and now the amplifier, I have started to listen to music as frequently as I used to years ago. I hope my thoughts might be of use to some of you. I have benefited from reading the posts of other members over the years and I have been meaning to write something to give a little back. Purchasing the Oblivion and - I hope - completing my system has given me the motivation to set down some of my thoughts.
Finally I would like to thank SonicTrance and Maxx134 who have been very helpful, answering my questions and giving open and honest views about the Oblivion amplifier and comparisons with similar products from other manufacturers.