[Vinnie R.]

Quote:

So if I were to use the Isabellina as a DAC with the fixed outputs, would the single tube be a part of the signal path still?

 
Yes - it is!

 
And the outputs are offered as fixed, or variable (volume controlled)... depending if you want to use the Isabellina HPA as a dac into
another system, or to feed power speakers or a power amp where you would need a volume controlled signal.
 

 
 

 

[ford2]

Quote:

 
Yes - but the gain would need to be increased for this...

Might be worth considering user selectable gain.
 
This would make it a Great all in one.
 

 

[TMoney]

If anyone is interested in the balanced headphone stage on Red Wine Audio gear you may want to check out my post here: http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/437559/isabellina-hpa-owner-s-thread-and-impressions/405#post_7391006
 
I'll post a new impressions thread once I've had a chance to evaluate it. It only just came in this afternoon.

 

[MrQ]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrQ /img/forum/go_quote.gif 3/21/11 at 11:28pm
 
Seriously. Since buying the NFB-10ES and now running it balanced with my LCD2's. I really thought I wouldn't be able to improve on this set up without having a separate DAC and amp and keep it balanced. 
 
I'm going to wait for when Vinnie goes balanced on the Isabella... que bella!

I hate being right.

 It's too expensive.
 

 

[brasewel]

Tmoney I got to hear the Balanced RWA at the NY meet and I literally had to pick my jaws off the floor when listening to the LCD-2. They took the LCD-2 to a level only the WA22 and the Apache could possibly emulate. I'm not sure how much they will be retailing for but it is definitely the best tube/hybrid amp I've heard period. 

 

[Paganini Alfredo]

Don't worry, the single ended Isabellina sounds just as good!

 

[TMoney]

If anyone is interested in reading my thoughts on the Balanced Isabella, I finally put them up here.
 
http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/437559/isabellina-hpa-owner-s-thread-and-impressions/420#post_7418924

 

[leesure]

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm...
 

 
Balanced Isabella DAC/HPA prototype on loan from Vinnie for my mini-meet this weekend. 
 
My LCD-2's have never sounded so good.

 

[knopi]

Beautiful photo and with new red control volume it is even much more nicer!

 

[Hayang]

I just came back from a meet and got the chance to listen to the Red Wine Audio Isabellina HPA with the HE-600 and the Audeze Edition with LCD-2s.

I was floored by how natural they sounded! They really put the other setups in the room to shame (notably I saw the Lyr, Asgard, and a +$6000 Woo Audio setup); they were very warm, immersive, and most notably they were incredibly clean-sounding, that is, the purity and transparency of their sound was in a class of its own.  I have never heard such lifelike tonality come out of acoustic and classical music.
 
Also it has absolutely no noise whatsoever; when there is silence on the track it is dead silent, which means a lot.
 
And Vinnie is very friendly and a pleasure to talk with!

 

[Vinnie R.]

All,
 
Thanks for posting your pics and impressions!  More feedback from the NJ Headfi meet last Saturday was posted here:
 
http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/566003/new-jersey-meet-aug-6-2011-post-pics-impressions-here:
 
(page 1 is mostly nice pics from the meet.  You'll even spot our upcoming CD transport that can plug into the Audeze Edition, 
Isabellina HPA, etc. 12Vdc output jack.  So its all on LiFePO4 power and transportable...)
 
I'm also making a Balanced Isabellina HPA LFP-V Edition for Wavoman - with more gain for his K1000s and 12Vdc output for
his Wadia iTransport.  I already tested the design on my K1000s... never heard them sound this good before!
 
Thanks again!  
 
Hope to see you guys at the next NY or NJ Headfi meet, or at CanJam at RMAF!
 
Vinnie
 

 

[carm]

Vinnie, 
 
Congratulations on new good stuff you will bring to all head-fiers around the globe !

Would love to know what extra upgrades (excluding  tube stage and LPF battery) I could get for my almost 2 years old Isabellina HPA.
 
David

 

[Vinnie R.]

Hi David,
 
Thank you!
 
If you exclude the LFP-V Edition upgrade to the SLA version of the Isabellina HPA, the only other upgrade
that can be added is the Isabellina Pro dac: http://redwineaudio.com/components#isabellina_pro
 
and the 12Vdc output jack feature.
 
The Isabellina HPA cannot be upgraded to the balanced output stage without the LFP-V Edition upgrade because
the balanced output stage requires our 25.6V LiFePO4 battery pack.  The SLA version of the Isabellina HPA
that you have only has one 12V SLA battery inside.
 
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
 
Vinnie 
 

 

[third_eye]

The Isabellina is definitely on my short list, has anyone heard a T1 out of this amp? Based on user impressions of the LCD-2 and HD800, I'm assuming the Isabellina will work well with T1. Looking for musicality and fatigue-free signature but not at the expense of dynamics and detail.

 

[branislav]

Well, I finally signed up for the website. I'm a new happy owner of Red Wine Audio Isabellina LFP-V amplifier and I'm using it with my Beyerdynamic T1 with an upgraded cable. I think it's a terrific combination.