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

[Skylab]

I, too, prefer chassis-mounted plugs.

But hey, the amp makers have to make money! They are not a charity. And $399 is not a lot of money for an amp that sounds as good as this one.

 

[LoweArt]

Thanks for another great review Skylab.

I have been too busy with work lately and haven't been following the discussions here much of late. Then I come in today to have a look around and spotted this thread and now my wallet is "twitching" for no apparent reason

I see that the KICAS Caliente is available in RED too !

 

[sbulack]

I'm currently burning in a Headroom 2007 Micro Amp and a Meier Arietta to evaluate each for a new rig I'm putting together (for which I'm currently using a TTVJ Portable Millett Hybrid Amp I already own). After reading Skylab's description of the sound from the KICAS Caliente, I ordered one, and I'm expecting to receive it this coming week as well. I think this will be a very interesting and, at the end, satisfying evaluation. Maybe it is NOT for nothing that Skylab's impressions of the Caliente are making our wallet's twitch. (sigh) Sorry about our wallets. Well, depending on what I hear, maybe not TOO sorry.

 

[eeerie1]

Definitely keep us posted!

 

[92135011]

the power supply is 12VDC. maybe it's possible to upgrade the power supply?

 

[ephrank]

I think a DIY PSU like the sigma11 should improve the sound a lot.

 

[eeerie1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcpoor /img/forum/go_quote.gif wonder how this compares to the little dot mark V that's in the same price range.

x2

 

[Skylab]

That comparison isn't likely until there are more KICAS owners...finding someone with both of those amps seems a bit unlikely, and I have never heard the Mark V...

 

[s1rrah]

So has anyone else listened to this amp?

I'm dieing to hear some other folks opinions as I'm interested in buying one.

Post some thoughts folks.

 

[sbulack]

Quote:

Originally Posted by s1rrah /img/forum/go_quote.gif So has anyone else listened to this amp? I'm dieing to hear some other folks opinions as I'm interested in buying one. Post some thoughts folks.

I bought a KICAS Caliente, and it is still burning in, so I cannot comment on what its final sound will be yet. So far, however, it excels at presenting a transparent, effortless sound with realistic soundstage (width and depth) and enviable dynamic range. It presents the timbre and texture of each musical voice highly competently, and human voice through it sounds compellingly present and real. It is a very competent amp which puts me in full contact with all of my music, across a broad range of genres. More often than not, a "quick check-in" to see how the burn-in is progressing turns into over an hour of highly engaging listening. So far, I've been using it exclusively with HD650 phones. Once the burn-in is finished, I'll be trying it with a broader variety of phones: various full-sized, buds and IEMs.

 

[Loftprojection]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sbulack /img/forum/go_quote.gif I bought a KICAS Caliente, and it is still burning in, so I cannot comment on what its final sound will be yet. So far, however, it excels at presenting a transparent, effortless sound with realistic soundstage (width and depth) and enviable dynamic range. It presents the timbre and texture of each musical voice highly competently, and human voice through it sounds compellingly present and real. It is a very competent amp which puts me in full contact with all of my music, across a broad range of genres. More often than not, a "quick check-in" to see how the burn-in is progressing turns into over an hour of highly engaging listening. So far, I've been using it exclusively with HD650 phones. Once the burn-in is finished, I'll be trying it with a broader variety of phones: various full-sized, buds and IEMs.

Hey sbulack, I see in your sig that you have a TTVJ Millett and I personally love the sound out of this little amp. I'd be quite curious to know what you think between those two amps...

 

[sbulack]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loftprojection /img/forum/go_quote.gif Hey sbulack, I see in your sig that you have a TTVJ Millett and I personally love the sound out of this little amp. I'd be quite curious to know what you think between those two amps...

I, too, love the sound out of the TTVJ Portable Millett. When the Caliente has come into its full and final sound, I'll give them a good comparison and let you know what I hear. It's too bad that I'm limited to listening to them with only my own ears. Hmmmm ..... interchangeable (or tunable) ears ..... Hmmmm .....

 

[Vaughn]

X2 on everything sbulack has said...
+
I will also second everything Skylab said about this amps control and extension in the bass range.

I have had a Caliente for about four days and have had the opportunity to listen to it for about 10 hours, with a limited number of phones, but it is very impressive so far. I am already thinking about doing a power supply upgrade

 

[sbulack]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vaughn /img/forum/go_quote.gif ... I am already thinking about doing a power supply upgrade

I, too, am thinking about avenues by which I might acquire a 12V STEPS or Sigma22 that is beefy enough to provide abundant, clean power for this amp. Not that the present performance of the Caliente with the supplied PSU is noticeably lacking in any way that detracts from my full enjoyment - it's more in the interest of seeing just HOW good it can sound. Nothing exceeds like excess

 

[Skylab]

I'd be interested in how that sounds as well