[TheMiddleSky]

3-Way Amplifier Comparison. Gear use: Raal 1995 Immanis (32 Ohm Interface), Rockna Wavedream Signature, connection through RCA Cable.

- Cayin 170HA use Triode and Dynamic Mode, with Mid Impedance Out, standard tube.

- Feliks Envy Performance use the highest gain setting, standard tube (Full Music + PSVane)

- Riviera use Low Impedance Out (Mullard NOS)

"TLDR" Not in particular order:

Riviera AIC-10: Master of Technicalities

Feliks Envy Performance: Master of Midrange

Cayin Soul 170HA: Master of Soundstage

To give more detail about my impression:

Riviera clearly excel in term of resolution, effortlessly provide the smallest micro detail and transparency feeling, with better layering/separation than the other 2 tube amps. At the same time, Riviera also become the punchiest amp as well. Percussion notes hit really hard, it creates rock solid feeling. Sparkle treble is in between Cayin and Feliks with bite Upper Mid and Midrange become the most energetic among all of amps here.

Feliks Envy Performance has more midrange presence than the other 2 amps, with more gentle and rounded high notes, make overall presentation become "classic" tube notes with warmth and "wet" feeling, but uniquely still provide solid attack notes for percussion and bass. While Riviera does wider soundstage, but Envy feel slight more "surround" to project depth soundstage, with a little bit better height. Last minute detail seems a bit blurry compared to Riviera, but character wise, Envy also produce more rounded notes.

Cayin Soul 170HA definitely perform the most spacious soundstage in all direction. Just a little bit wider than Riviera, but has more apparent advantage at depth and height. Attack notes from treble/midrange/bass are the softest here, and midrange area somehow also feel the least "meat on the bones". Lots of airy feeling on top, but bass bass still feel heft, full body and tight. There's a constant of sweet tube character through all spectrum, like instrument decay lingering around in really natural way before disappear.

All in all, I can vouch these 3 amps perform excellent for Immanis. It's back to the subjective listener taste and set up to decide which amp is the best. As these 3 amps rather transparent with set up, synergy of the whole chain really play big roles here.

P.s: My personal preference is Feliks Envy Performance. While all spectrum of frequencies are important, but Midrange area is one aspect that I truly enjoy the most to convey emotion feeling from singer. I can easily understand if others may pick different amps here, especially as they are truly excellent as well!

 

[ThanatosVI]

3-Way Amplifier Comparison. Gear use: Raal 1995 Immanis (32 Ohm Interface), Rockna Wavedream Signature, connection through RCA Cable.

- Cayin 170HA use Triode and Dynamic Mode, with Mid Impedance Out

- Feliks Envy Performance use the highest gain setting

- Riviera use Low Impedance Out

"TLDR" Not in particular order:

Riviera AIC-10: Master of Technicalities

Feliks Envy Performance: Master of Midrange

Cayin Soul 170HA: Master of Soundstage

To give more detail about my impression:

Riviera clearly excel in term of resolution, effortlessly provide the smallest micro detail and transparency feeling, with better layering/separation than the other 2 tube amps. At the same time, Riviera also become the punchiest amp as well. Percussion notes hit really hard, it creates rock solid feeling. Sparkle treble is in between Cayin and Feliks with bite Upper Mid and Midrange become the most energetic among all of amps here.

Feliks Envy Performance has more midrange presence than the other 2 amps, with more gentle and rounded high notes, make overall presentation become "classic" tube notes with warmth and "wet" feeling, but uniquely still provide solid attack notes for percussion and bass. While Riviera does wider soundstage, but Envy feel slight more "surround" to project depth soundstage, with a little bit better height. Last minute detail seems a bit blurry compared to Riviera, but character wise, Envy also produce more rounded notes.

Cayin Soul 170HA definitely perform the most spacious soundstage in all direction. Just a little bit wider than Riviera, but has more apparent advantage at depth and height. Attack notes from treble/midrange/bass are the softest here, and midrange area somehow also feel the least "meat on the bones". Lots of airy feeling on top, but bass bass still feel heft, full body and tight. There's a constant of sweet tube character through all spectrum, like instrument decay lingering around in really natural way before disappear.

All in all, I can vouch these 3 amps perform excellent for Immanis. It's back to the subjective listener taste and set up to decide which amp is the best. As these 3 amps rather transparent with set up, synergy of the whole chain really play big roles here.

P.s: My personal preference is Feliks Envy Performance. While all spectrum of frequencies are important, but Midrange area is one aspect that I truly enjoy the most to convey emotion feeling from singer. I can easily understand if others may pick different amps here, especially as they are truly excellent as well!

Important are used tubes, could you add that info to your post?

 

[Exekuhtor]

I realized that i don't like the Immanis that much with Western Electric 300B's. Too soft sounding. I think they don't need so much added warmth. Elrog TM's are much snappier and more enjoyable overall. The Immanis really excels at details and transients, so i wanna keep it that way. I'm also interested in hearing it with my Takatsukis (if that guy above me doesn't keep them, hehe).

 

[ThanatosVI]

I'm also interested in hearing it with my Takatsukis (if that guy above me doesn't keep them, hehe).

So you're telling me, that this is an option?

 

[nfandi]

So you're telling me, that this is an option?

…..holds his breath while waiting for the reply…..

 

[Aetherhole]

3-Way Amplifier Comparison. Gear use: Raal 1995 Immanis (32 Ohm Interface), Rockna Wavedream Signature, connection through RCA Cable.

- Cayin 170HA use Triode and Dynamic Mode, with Mid Impedance Out

- Feliks Envy Performance use the highest gain setting

- Riviera use Low Impedance Out

"TLDR" Not in particular order:

Riviera AIC-10: Master of Technicalities

Feliks Envy Performance: Master of Midrange

Cayin Soul 170HA: Master of Soundstage

To give more detail about my impression:

Riviera clearly excel in term of resolution, effortlessly provide the smallest micro detail and transparency feeling, with better layering/separation than the other 2 tube amps. At the same time, Riviera also become the punchiest amp as well. Percussion notes hit really hard, it creates rock solid feeling. Sparkle treble is in between Cayin and Feliks with bite Upper Mid and Midrange become the most energetic among all of amps here.

Feliks Envy Performance has more midrange presence than the other 2 amps, with more gentle and rounded high notes, make overall presentation become "classic" tube notes with warmth and "wet" feeling, but uniquely still provide solid attack notes for percussion and bass. While Riviera does wider soundstage, but Envy feel slight more "surround" to project depth soundstage, with a little bit better height. Last minute detail seems a bit blurry compared to Riviera, but character wise, Envy also produce more rounded notes.

Cayin Soul 170HA definitely perform the most spacious soundstage in all direction. Just a little bit wider than Riviera, but has more apparent advantage at depth and height. Attack notes from treble/midrange/bass are the softest here, and midrange area somehow also feel the least "meat on the bones". Lots of airy feeling on top, but bass bass still feel heft, full body and tight. There's a constant of sweet tube character through all spectrum, like instrument decay lingering around in really natural way before disappear.

All in all, I can vouch these 3 amps perform excellent for Immanis. It's back to the subjective listener taste and set up to decide which amp is the best. As these 3 amps rather transparent with set up, synergy of the whole chain really play big roles here.

P.s: My personal preference is Feliks Envy Performance. While all spectrum of frequencies are important, but Midrange area is one aspect that I truly enjoy the most to convey emotion feeling from singer. I can easily understand if others may pick different amps here, especially as they are truly excellent as well!

Great write up! Thanks for sharing. Definitely curious at the tubes used in the riviera and the Cayin.

I still need to hear the Riviera with the Immanis, but the Cayin and the Feliks are great, great amplifiers.

 

[TheMiddleSky]

Important are used tubes, could you add that info to your post?

Great write up! Thanks for sharing. Definitely curious at the tubes used in the riviera and the Cayin.

I still need to hear the Riviera with the Immanis, but the Cayin and the Feliks are great, great amplifiers.

Tube info added, thanks for the suggestion. I quite like RCA 5692 Red Base with Envy Performance, but decided to just used standard tube. I need to ask to the owner of Riviera about the tube. What I remember it's Mullard NOS, but not sure exactly which type.

 

[Aetherhole]

Tube info added, thanks for the suggestion. I quite like RCA 5692 Red Base with Envy Performance, but decided to just used standard tube. I need to ask to the owner of Riviera about the tube. What I remember it's Mullard NOS, but not sure exactly which type.

This is great info! Thanks for adding it. Additionally great to see them performing at this level in stock form, at least the Feliks PE, and the Cayin. With the Cayin, the sound got even larger with the us of the Apos Ray 6SN7 Reserve tubes. Very happy with those tubes. I still need to roll the GZ34 to see what I land on with in that slot.

 

[jlbrach]

3-Way Amplifier Comparison. Gear use: Raal 1995 Immanis (32 Ohm Interface), Rockna Wavedream Signature, connection through RCA Cable.

- Cayin 170HA use Triode and Dynamic Mode, with Mid Impedance Out, standard tube.

- Feliks Envy Performance use the highest gain setting, standard tube (Full Music + PSVane)

- Riviera use Low Impedance Out (Mullard NOS)

"TLDR" Not in particular order:

Riviera AIC-10: Master of Technicalities

Feliks Envy Performance: Master of Midrange

Cayin Soul 170HA: Master of Soundstage

To give more detail about my impression:

Riviera clearly excel in term of resolution, effortlessly provide the smallest micro detail and transparency feeling, with better layering/separation than the other 2 tube amps. At the same time, Riviera also become the punchiest amp as well. Percussion notes hit really hard, it creates rock solid feeling. Sparkle treble is in between Cayin and Feliks with bite Upper Mid and Midrange become the most energetic among all of amps here.

Feliks Envy Performance has more midrange presence than the other 2 amps, with more gentle and rounded high notes, make overall presentation become "classic" tube notes with warmth and "wet" feeling, but uniquely still provide solid attack notes for percussion and bass. While Riviera does wider soundstage, but Envy feel slight more "surround" to project depth soundstage, with a little bit better height. Last minute detail seems a bit blurry compared to Riviera, but character wise, Envy also produce more rounded notes.

Cayin Soul 170HA definitely perform the most spacious soundstage in all direction. Just a little bit wider than Riviera, but has more apparent advantage at depth and height. Attack notes from treble/midrange/bass are the softest here, and midrange area somehow also feel the least "meat on the bones". Lots of airy feeling on top, but bass bass still feel heft, full body and tight. There's a constant of sweet tube character through all spectrum, like instrument decay lingering around in really natural way before disappear.

All in all, I can vouch these 3 amps perform excellent for Immanis. It's back to the subjective listener taste and set up to decide which amp is the best. As these 3 amps rather transparent with set up, synergy of the whole chain really play big roles here.

P.s: My personal preference is Feliks Envy Performance. While all spectrum of frequencies are important, but Midrange area is one aspect that I truly enjoy the most to convey emotion feeling from singer. I can easily understand if others may pick different amps here, especially as they are truly excellent as well!

unless you upgrade the tubes you wont really know how good the envy is

 

[Aetherhole]

unless you upgrade the tubes you wont really know how good the envy is

Really the same goes for any tube amp.

 

[TheMiddleSky]

unless you upgrade the tubes you wont really know how good the envy is

I have tried several tubes with Envy (Elrog, Elrog Mo, and KR), and of course realised the potential of this amp. In the past while I only had planar headphones, I thought Elrog Mo was the best for Envy. Later on after acquired Immanis I just felt Mo was no longer synergise well. I need something that provide fuller meat.

p.s: yes, i'm thinking about WE300

Really the same goes for any tube amp.

Indeed. I need to try what RCA 5692 can do for Cayin.

 

[DJJEZ]

I had the HM-1 & AIC-10 at the same time. But as good as the HM-1 was it wasn’t in the same league as the AIC-10. I was hoping for the one two punch. So I let it go.

i agree, hm1 and aic-10 are not in the same league. I used to own HM1 and sold it.

 

[TheMiddleSky]

After 8 months apart, finally able back listened to the amp that made me decided to purchased Immanis: SAEQ Armageddon

Even as a person who loves tube amp so much, I need to give (a big) nod that Armageddon does synergise really well with Immanis. It's balance-warm tonally, but with highly energetic bite and punch through all spectrum. An amp that will boost "headbanging" effect instead of chill with a glass of wine. Bass punch really hard, with tactile quality and very agile. Vocal is fuller than what I remembered (which is a good thing), plenty of meat on the bones with natural presentation. It delivers "lively" treble bite, but somehow remain not harsh by any means. One thing for sure, Armageddon able to reveal the "true speed" of ribbon drivers on Immanis, better than most of amps out there.

p.s: If my Oblivion amp is a push pull tube amp that act like solid state, Armageddon is like a an aggressive solid state amp that has some tubey characters. I think that's why I can enjoy Armageddon well. Need to give Armageddon more listening time indeed.

 

[Newsee]

An absolute stunning tiny (trans)portable system:





Edit: what I wrote here before seems to be eaten up during upload. It was something like this:

Someone wrote that the Immanis let you hear your chain. I do not hear the chain. The Romi Audio BX2+ and the Cayin N30LE is transparent to the music .
I shall reconnect the transformer cable to my desktop chain to do A/B comparison, but I just cannot stop listening.

PS: the N30LE alone needed 75/100. I did not feel it effortless.

 

[Aetherhole]

An absolute stunning tiny (trans)portable system:

Very nice! I definitely want to try a portable amp, but surprisingly, the iBasso 320Max runs it pretty well directly.