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

[Skylab]

The white things are a type of capacitor if I am not mistaken. And I also believe that any discrete design will have to be two channel like that if it wants to be a stereo amp

 

[jilgiljongiljing]

Vs the Gilmore Lite? Both sell for the same price now, at 399$.

 

[Drag0n]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skylab /img/forum/go_quote.gif I haven't had the Lisa for a while, so a comparison is tough. From memory, the Caliente would get the nod for overall smoothness, and for bass authority and definition, as well as for having a slightly more balanced treble. But again, I am unable to directly compare them.

Oh ok, i thought you still had the Lisa,..thanks.

 

[oicdn]

I read this a bit earlier when it was only one page, but didn't have a chance to respond.

Have you heard any DIY offerings? Even a PPAv2 or of the like? I'm curious as to how they would compare seeing as they're roughly in the same price ballpark. Have you heard a B22? I'm currently waiting to source a faceplate/enclosure before I get my builder to build it for me, but I'm curious how this amp stacks against some of the DIY variants as it appears to be a very good deal! I'm having a hard time now buying any amp commercially produced as it just doesn't seem to be as great a deal anymore...I'm now on the darkside, lol.

 

[Skylab]

Hi Nate. I had a PPAv2 with Steps a while back, and there is no doubt in my mind that the KICAS is better. I have not heard a B22 though.

 

[Dobro]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jilgiljongiljing /img/forum/go_quote.gif Vs the Gilmore Lite? Both sell for the same price now, at 399$.

Also curious about this.

 

[Skylab]

That I personally cannot help with. I did have a GLite in for review about a year ago, but that was far too long ago to recall anything meaningful since I only had the amp for about a week.

 

[Asr]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sbulack /img/forum/go_quote.gif I've never seen the insides of an all-discrete amp before. What are those four white, rectangular box-shaped structures? Also, since it appears that the electronic components on the PCB are all in symmetrically-placed, mirror-image pairs, I take it that this is a two-channel design?

The white box-shaped parts are relays. Edit: I see the Dynalo also uses relays, scratch what I previously wrote.

Most amps are two-channel designs. The fact the layout is symmetric doesn't have that much significance. Well it does mean the amp is lower-noise than it would be otherwise, and channel separation better too, but other than that, not much significance.

 

[dcpoor]

wonder how this compares to the little dot mark V that's in the same price range.

 

[sbulack]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Asr /img/forum/go_quote.gif The white box-shaped parts are relays. Edit: I see the Dynalo also uses relays, scratch what I previously wrote. ...The fact the layout is symmetric doesn't have that much significance. Well it does mean the amp is lower-noise than it would be otherwise, and channel separation better too, but other than that, not much significance.

To Asr and Skylab:
Thank you to both of you for the information you've shared in response to my thinking-"out-loud" question. Relays... hmmm, in all my readings in the public threads where the design, layout, performance of a few DIY opamp-based amps were discussed, I don't remember "relays" coming up. But in several all-discrete amps, there are relays. Looks like I've got some more reading to do. Very instructive, and very helpful! Thanks so much for the help!

See?? THIS is why I keep coming back to Head-Fi!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Skylab]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Asr /img/forum/go_quote.gif The white box-shaped parts are relays. Edit: I see the Dynalo also uses relays, scratch what I previously wrote.

Actually, as I thought, they are caps, not relays. I confirmed this with Purity Audio. Their use in the circuit is not something they want to reveal

 

[mypasswordis]

As Skylab said, they are definitely caps. Just read the text on them, the capacitance (.47uF) and tolerance (10%) are listed. I'm not sure what relays would be used for in an actual amp circuit.

 

[Asr]

Oops, so they are, I didn't look at the pics that closely. The wide-angle shots make them look like relays.

 

[n_maher]

Quote:

Originally Posted by oicdn /img/forum/go_quote.gif Have you heard a B22? I'm currently waiting to source a faceplate/enclosure before I get my builder to build it for me, but I'm curious how this amp stacks against some of the DIY variants as it appears to be a very good deal!

Given your current $$ troubles do you really feel it's wise to be spending what must be a fairly decent sum of money on another headphone amp?

 

[oicdn]

Quote:

Originally Posted by n_maher /img/forum/go_quote.gif Given your current $$ troubles do you really feel it's wise to be spending what must be a fairly decent sum of money on another headphone amp?

That was before the check finally got deposited...and before the check today...and the tips I just took home. Thanks for caring though...much appreciated.