REVIEW: Purity Audio K.I.C.A.S. Caliente home headphone amp - updated with comments on regular KICAS

[Armaegis]

I just recently pumped out a some RMAA data, one of which was comparing the regular Kicas vs Caliente. All measurements were the same, except for frequency response...
 

 
White is the regular Kicas
Green is Caliente

 

[Skylab]

Which makes sense, since the Caliente is just a bass boosted KICAS.

 

[Zuqi]

Hi, Skylab, does Meier Swing sound identical to the Arietta? If I am looking for a amp for grado hf-2, which sub 500 dollars amp do you recommend? Thank you.

 
Quote:

Quote:

Originally Posted by sbulack /img/forum/go_quote.gif Skylab, How would you compare the KICAS Caliente to stationary amps of comparable price, like the Meier Arietta or the 2007 Micro Amp?

The Meier Arietta impressed me as being a VERY good amp when i had one to review, especially for the money. I no longer have it on hand, so a direct comparison isn't possible. But from memory, I'd say the Caliente is a step up from the Arietta in terms of the combination of resolution and detail. Both are exceptionally smooth, but the Caliente has that enticing combination of being smooth and just a touch warm but still having plenty of detail and resolution.

These are the two best sub $500 SS headamps I have heard, but the nod does go to the KICAS.

I have never heard the 2007 MicroAmp.

 

[Skylab]

I confess I am no longer an expert in the current slate of sub-$500 solid state amps.  There are quite a few I have not tried, as my interests are both at the higher end, and in tube amps.  But the KICAS and the Meier Swing are certainly good choices.

 

[Zuqi]

Thanks anyway

 

[K3cT]

CKKIII. 

 

[Zuqi]

Oh, I remember you have done a lot of fantastic reviews on portable amps, what portable amp do you recommend in my case? Thanks.

 

[wyki]

Excellent review, as is Skylab's.  I don't know whether I'll take the plunge (because of budget), but I'm considering a Caliente for use either with a Sennheiser HD 530 or HD 560 or a Beyerdyamic DT 880 600 ohm.  (Why the vintage Sennis?  Because I listen to classical music, and their tonal fidelity is stunning -- perhaps better than the 6xx series, at least with stock cable.)  
 
You say the Caliente is great with rock and pop.  Did you have a reason to limit it to those genres?  Do you think a different amp in that price range would be better for classical?
 
You listened primarily with an HD 650, and Skylab with a D 7000.  Skylab did say that the Caliente drove the DT 880 / 600 ohm to good volume but he did not comment on the richness of tone, compared say to a tube amp in the same price range.  I would slightly prefer the Caliente to a tube amp, all other things being equal, because of lower maintenance costs and perhaps greater clarity (available on tubes with the best amps and tubes but perhaps compromised in budget models).  The vintage Sennheisers are also a bit less sensitive than the newer ones, so again the power of the amp is important.
 
Thanks and best.  

 

[wyki]

PS: Would a KICAS would be better with classical?

 

[mythless]

Quote:

Excellent review, as is Skylab's.  I don't know whether I'll take the plunge (because of budget), but I'm considering a Caliente for use either with a Sennheiser HD 530 or HD 560 or a Beyerdyamic DT 880 600 ohm.  (Why the vintage Sennis?  Because I listen to classical music, and their tonal fidelity is stunning -- perhaps better than the 6xx series, at least with stock cable.)  
 
You say the Caliente is great with rock and pop.  Did you have a reason to limit it to those genres?  Do you think a different amp in that price range would be better for classical?
 
You listened primarily with an HD 650, and Skylab with a D 7000.  Skylab did say that the Caliente drove the DT 880 / 600 ohm to good volume but he did not comment on the richness of tone, compared say to a tube amp in the same price range.  I would slightly prefer the Caliente to a tube amp, all other things being equal, because of lower maintenance costs and perhaps greater clarity (available on tubes with the best amps and tubes but perhaps compromised in budget models).  The vintage Sennheisers are also a bit less sensitive than the newer ones, so again the power of the amp is important.
 
Thanks and best.  

     Quote:

PS: Would a KICAS would be better with classical?

Between the Caliente and the Kicas of course the caliente is better for pop/rock because of the additional bass.  I have a modified kicas with caliente switch so I can switch between the two.  This is what I think of the caliente, only a candle flame warmer (if that) over the kicas, that that's due to the additional bass and slightly smoother sounding responses.  I would doubt if many could tell the difference without actually paying attention to what to hear for.  Tube are becoming much of an interest for me, but if you really want the smoothness of a tube with power, either a hybrid or transformer coupled tube amp would be ticket to go.  I have not heard many tubes amps, however I think the general consensus is that SS will always be designed to produce better clarity and detail.  While tubes will produce a much more warmer, intimate and "fuller" response.  A toss up to your own personal taste. 
 
Both Kicas and Caliente do well on multiple genres because of their neutrality.  It really depends on your headphones.  I think a darker/warmer sounding headphone would be better suited than a bright sounding headphone with these amps.

 

[wyki]

Thanks.  I really appreciate your taking time for such an informative answer.

 

[mythless]

You might want to read more on the Beyer and Kicas combination, I don't have any 600 ohm beyers so I can't comment.  However, the price for the Kicas is a great deal.  These amps are excellent.  I've taken them to the head-fi meets here in my city and many were impressed by it, definitely a keeper until you move up the scale.

 

[wyki]

Thank you -- and thanks to Skylab and tbonner1 as well for their reviews. I chose a K.I.C.A.S. Regular.  It arrived Monday, and I'm going to offer some impressions.
 
After the reviews by experts, I write as a beginner, on a budget, who cares intensely about quality.  I had originally thought of a DT 880/ 600 ohm and perhaps an Elekit TU-882 or a Ming Da MC 84.  The idea was to combine precision and warmth.  But I was a bit hesitant to commit myself to tubes.  An amp is a big investment for me, and I'd like it to work without any further investment for years to come.  My eye fell on Skylab's review of the Caliente with his postscript about the K.I.C.A.S. original.  Since I listen to classical music, I decided to take the latter and to try it with my existing headphones, Sennheiser HD 530s, or a pair of Sennheiser HD 560s that I recently got on Ebay.  
 
The box from Purity Audio arrived Monday.  I had chosen the blue because it was on sale.  I was surprised by how much I liked the color; it looks far nicer than the photograph. I knew about burn in, of course, but could not resist an initial listen.  Immediately I was struck by a level of clarity I had never heard.  But it was also much brighter than what I was used to.
 
After 48 hours of burn in, wonderful things started to happen.  There is plenty of bass as well as just the right amount of warmth in the mid-range, and it all has a purity I had never dreamed of.  It reminds me of flyfishing a lovely trout stream.  I am now sure I made the right choice of the Regular instead of the Caliente.  The Caliente would have been very beautiful, but this is exquisite.  Not only do I find myself listening again to my favorite recordings, which tend to be chamber music; I am also discovering orchestral pieces which are now interesting thanks to the stunning instrument separation and sound stage.  I had thought that Stravinsky's "Rite of Spring" would be a good disc for burn in, because all the crashing noise would give it lots of exercise.  But when I took the headphones out from under the towels and started to listen, I was electrified.  I had never heard that quiet, sinister opening with such intensity.
 
I would add that Oriel Mendelovitz was very helpful -- both prompt and friendly.  Incidentally, the vintage Sennheisers fully repay this amp.  They are gorgeous performers for classical music and jazz (and are often sensationally under priced on Ebay).  I noticed that the tuner sounded fuller than CDs from my DVD player, so I have ordered a Musical Fidelity V-DAC.  Perhaps someday I'll get a better transport, possibly the Little Dot CDP1.  But it is definitely the K.I.C.A.S. that has transformed the quality of my sound, and the sale price is an extraordinary buy.  I give Purity Audio my highest recommendation, and for classical listeners, I think the K.I.C.A.S. would be first among equals (at least with my headphones).  Thanks to all of you for helping me to discover it.  

 

[mythless]

I am glad you enjoy the amp, I really love mine when I pair it when my Grado HF-2 Vixen.  Hope the amp serve you well

 

[wyki]

Thanks and Happy New Year!
 
I am certainly listening more intently than I ever have.  For the first time, I hear the difference in the sound engineering of recordings.  These differences may be more accentuated in the K.I.C.A.S. regular (as a neutral amp) than in the Caliente.  Often I hear stunning levels of detail I had never even imagined.  Occasionally, a too-bright recording is not pleasant.  For example, I recently got the much acclaimed Takacs Quartet recording of the late Beethoven Quartets.  It sounds a bit sharp and cold, which gives the intellectual, edgy performance even more bite.  It's admirable, but do I love it?  I found my old Quartetto Italiano CDs and once again heard the four voices that Beethoven keeps in conversation.  Then I took the Takacs recording back in my bedroom, put it in my mid-fi Onkyo mini-system, plugged in the headphones -- and it sounded very nice.  The bass boost and roll off made it much easier to listen to.  It sounded more like the Quartetto Italiano.  
 
I suppose the Takacs would sound better with the Caliente.  But I see from the Amazon reviews that at least one other listener found the recording too bright, which I might have missed.  I can't help thinking I'm getting something really remarkable in the K.I.C.A.S.. with a level of resolution that even an excellent warmer amp would have a hard time quite matching.  When I want to forgive a recording, I can always play it on the Onkyo.  Am I right here?  Has anyone done a detailed comparison of sound stage and resolution on K.I.C.A.S. and Caliente?  (I know Skylab meant to but was unable to have the amps side by side at one time.)
 
I have toyed with the idea of aftermarket cables for my HD 560, though putting $100-200+ cables on a headphone that I paid a quarter that for on Ebay is a bit questionable.  If I did so, it would be for just a shade of warmth without losing resolution (possibly gaining it if the cable were better than my original one).  But I see that cables are very controversial on Head-Fi, and since I've never tried, financial caution sends flashing lights.
 
Perhaps it's as well with the K.I.C.A.S. to be reminded that some recordings just sound better than others.  It's an extraordinary amp, and I'm very grateful to have it.