[warp08]

Quote:

Where can I get a cable that allows me to connect the balanced output of the Boomslang DAC to the balanced input of the SR-71B? I tried searching the site and Google but did not find anything.

That's because up until now there was no need for it.  I placed a custom order at Whiplash Audio for one a month ago and I got it last week.  I'm sure other vendors will soon offer similar products.  I just prefer the premium TWag cables, because I use it pretty much across the board.
 

 

[debitsohn]

yea id contact whiplash or moon audio. both craig and drew are world class business owners and do beautiful work

 

[Jalo]

Quote:

It would seem to me that the two amps have a different gain for each gain level. They don't use the same topology or op amps so that wouldn't surprise me. Power doesn't have anything to do with gain or volume and will only affect volume when you go to a point of clipping where one amp with less power can go no louder but an amp with maybe double the power will go louder at the same point without clipping.  
 
I am not clear. Are you saying the Protector is louder when operated totally single ended when compared to the 71B in balanced or are both amps outputting a balanced signal with a single ended input? 

Jam. you may be right with different gain for the same gain level for the 71b and the Protector.  You would think Ray would do all the portable amps the same way, but then he may not.  Ray will have to chime in.
 
I mean both amps outputting a balanced signal with a single ended input, I am still waiting for my Boomslang to 71B IC from Moon Audio, so for now it's only SE.  But with the same ipod, same song, same LOD, same gain level, same balanced TWag headphone cable, same JH13, the Protector is louder than the 71b at let say 12:00 o'clock.  Strange.
 

 

[Jalo]

Quote:

Quote:

Where can I get a cable that allows me to connect the balanced output of the Boomslang DAC to the balanced input of the SR-71B? I tried searching the site and Google but did not find anything.

That's because up until now there was no need for it.  I placed a custom order at Whiplash Audio for one a month ago and I got it last week.  I'm sure other vendors will soon offer similar products.  I just prefer the premium TWag cables, because I use it pretty much across the board.
 
 

Hehe, looks like you missed the TWag v2 by a few days

 

[warp08]

Quote:

Quote:

Quote:

Where can I get a cable that allows me to connect the balanced output of the Boomslang DAC to the balanced input of the SR-71B? I tried searching the site and Google but did not find anything.

That's because up until now there was no need for it.  I placed a custom order at Whiplash Audio for one a month ago and I got it last week.  I'm sure other vendors will soon offer similar products.  I just prefer the premium TWag cables, because I use it pretty much across the board.
 
 

Hehe, looks like you missed the TWag v2 by a few days

Yup, but it's cool.  Neat sounding IC, nevertheless.

 

[Skylab]

For those using/testing the SR-71B with the HE-6; what gain setting are you using on the SR-71B?

 


Pretty much requires high gain mode, IMO. But sounds excellent that way.

 

[graphicas]

How much is this IC？

 

[warp08]

Quote:

How much is this IC？

To be honest, I'm not quite sure, because it's not up on the website and I ordered it as part of a larger order with 4 other cables/adapters and Craig only sent me an invoice for the total amount.  My guess is that it should cost around $125, but don't hold me to that.  Ask Craig for a direct quote, specifying the length and wire you want.

 

[sherwino]

Skylab, have you eventually tested this out with your Ed8's? I am actually very curious about that one on whether to get the SR71B for this or go for the Meier. I listen to the Ed8 single ended through a Hornet at the moment. I think there are other amps out there that can drive the Ed8 better. My current favourite is the 3move which I was able to audition side-by-side with the Stepdance. Would appreciate your impressions on the SR71B so I would know which one to jump on. Many thanks! 
 
 

 

[Skylab]

I did try it with the Edition 8. While I thought the sound was excellent, it was not really any better than the Meier Stepdance, or RSA's own P51 Mustang, when driving the single ended Edition 8.

 

[Nabil]

[size=10pt]I tried the SR-71B both SE and balanced (PC to iBasso Boomslang to SR-71B)  with the HE-6 and I find that with this combination there is very noticeable distortion in piano parts (e.g. Keith Jarrett Koln Concert).[/size]
 
[size=10pt]Actually although with the SR-71B balanced I can drive the HE-6 to higher volumes than with the ALO RX II can, the ALO does not introduce the piano distortion I hear with the SR-71B.[/size]
 
[size=10pt]Is there something wrong with my SR-71B given HPA's experience contradicts mine? Note: I understand that the HE-6 is one of the hardest headphones to drive and a portable amp would not have been a choice but given HPA's impressions I was hopeful the SR-71B would do a decent job. Not for me, not for any music heavy on piano. [/size]
 
[size=10pt]Update: I was using the SR-71B battery powered and although the battery was charged enough to cleanly drive my other headphones (ED 8) and IEMs it apparently was not charged enough to drive the HE-6. When I plugged the AC adapter the distortion is almost all gone[/size]
 
[size=10pt]2nd Update: I was wrong. Even fully charged/plugged into AC, my SR-71B distorts with the HE-6 at anything above a very low volume (the distortion was extreme before I recharged and then improved but is still very much there). In contrast the ALO RX II distorts only when volume is almost maxed out. Not sure if this means my SR-71B has a problem or not.[/size]
 
Quote:

 

INITIAL IMPRESSIONS SR-71B (updated with more details from an edited copy of this post that I put in another thread last night):
 
My SR-71b arrived on the 22nd, and I have only had time to try the HE-6 and JH13Pro balanced with the SR-71b so far.  The SR-71b sounded great right out of the box, but I'm still giving it some burn-in with music into my balanced JH13Pro.  After some listening with the HE-6 balanced I can say that the SR-71b is "significantly" more powerful than my balanced Protector (using TWag "Protector to 4-pin XLR" adapter). 
 
While the Protector drives my HD600 and HE-5 LE with authority, it can only maintain "conversation level" volumes with the HE-6; but the SR-71b drives the HE-6 better than I ever hoped.  I didn't believe it until I heard it for myself.  And it's not just in having enough power, but the sound quality is also superb.  I would have to say the treble quality is smoother than the Protector in balanced mode so far.  Bass, mids and highs are all excellent and balanced in respect to each other.  So, in both power and sound quality I'd say the SR-71b has an edge over the Protector, and that's with less than 24 hours on the SR-71b and over 1,000 hours on the Protector.  One thing to note is that the Protector in balanced mode sounds slightly more aggressive than the SR-71b or P-51, although less so via single ended mode.  While the Protector has been perfect for my balanced JH13Pro, the SR-71b is every bit as good or better with them and yet not too forward with the HE-6.  (I have not swapped over my Westone IEM to the balanced TWag cable yet, as it's too early in my ownership to try anything else.)  I will compare the balanced output vs SE output later.
 
There are several other amps that I reported on in the HE-6 threads, including the HDP, SAC KH1000, EF5, WA6 and ZDT.  I haven't compared the SR-71b yet to them, but I can say that I do believe it's a better match than HDP, SAC or EF5 in terms of sonic synergy and balance because I'm enjoying the combo more.  I previously felt that the SAC and HDP amps could be slightly bright with HE-6 as the volumes got higher, and the EF5 had a good balance but lacked the detail and soundstage of the other amps.  I'm certain that I would pick the SR-71b over any three of those amps for my HE-6.  I'm surprised that I can turn it to max volume without signs or strain or distortion like with the above desktop headphone amps.  My ZDT also allows me to max out the volume with the HE-6 without any distortion, and I would not be surprised of the SR-71b can match volume levels with the ZDT, based on what I am hearing up here in my bedroom rig.  The SR-71b is clearly more powerful driving the HE-6 than my WA6, although I didn't have many complaints about the sound quality at normal volumes with the WA6.  The WA6 is phenomenal with the JH13Pro, and it's too early to say how the SR-71b compares, although I am not hearing anything that I would want to change or fix with the SR-71b.  
 
As stated above, I have not had time to try any other full size phones or IEM with it yet.  I am planning to order a balanced LCD-2 Silver Dragon cable in the next week or two, so I'll be able to listen like I did at RMAF with the demo SR-71b and LCD-2 - I loved that combo there.  My HE-5, HE-5 LE, HD600, HD800 are already balanced with a 4-pin XLR like the HE-6, and I'll try them later on the SR-71b.  Plus with my Protector adapter and my APS V3 1/8" adapter I can use all these phones on any of my amps.  So that will make comparing amps easier later.  
 
I wanted another small balanced SS amp, and I have gotten my wish.  So far, just with these two phones I have no regrets about spending $614 on the SR-71b, and all my desires to repair my balanced Single Power Square Wave XL's broken PSU have evaporated (other than to fix it in order to sell it).  

 

[ilwaa]

Hi Nabil,
 
 
My SR71B has the piano distortion, too.
Especially it is noticeable when the album Marcin Wasilewski's "Trio" is played.
 
My setup is iPod classic(160GB) or iMod or HM801 line out > SR71B > balanced Silver Dragon cable of Moon Audio > LCD2.
There is always distortion with every player.
But the distortion is gone when I change SR71B to SR71A or iQube, and when I change LCD2 to JH16 (with balanced whiplash cable).
 
At first I thought it is caused by the less of burning-in-time, but my SR71B is burned in over 250 hours now, and distortion is still there.
I have never tried balanced input, because I have no balanced player/DAC now.
 
Ray, Do you think that this is a problem on our unit only?

Quote:

[size=10pt]I tried the SR-71B both SE and balanced (PC to iBasso Boomslang to SR-71B)  with the HE-6 and I find that with this combination there is very noticeable distortion in piano parts (e.g. Keith Jarrett Koln Concert).[/size]
 
[size=10pt]Actually although with the SR-71B balanced I can drive the HE-6 to higher volumes than with the ALO RX II can, the ALO does not introduce the piano distortion I hear with the SR-71B.[/size]
 
[size=10pt]Is there something wrong with my SR-71B given HPA's experience contradicts mine? Note: I understand that the HE-6 is one of the hardest headphones to drive and a portable amp would not have been a choice but given HPA's impressions I was hopeful the SR-71B would do a decent job. Not for me, not for any music heavy on piano. [/size]
 
[size=10pt]Update: I was using the SR-71B battery powered and although the battery was charged enough to cleanly drive my other headphones (ED 8) and IEMs it apparently was not charged enough to drive the HE-6. When I plugged the AC adapter the distortion is almost all gone[/size]
 
[size=10pt]2nd Update: I was wrong. Even fully charged/plugged into AC, my SR-71B distorts with the HE-6 at anything above a very low volume (the distortion was extreme before I recharged and then improved but is still very much there). In contrast the ALO RX II distorts only when volume is almost maxed out. Not sure if this means my SR-71B has a problem or not.[/size]
 
Quote:

 

INITIAL IMPRESSIONS SR-71B (updated with more details from an edited copy of this post that I put in another thread last night):
 
My SR-71b arrived on the 22nd, and I have only had time to try the HE-6 and JH13Pro balanced with the SR-71b so far.  The SR-71b sounded great right out of the box, but I'm still giving it some burn-in with music into my balanced JH13Pro.  After some listening with the HE-6 balanced I can say that the SR-71b is "significantly" more powerful than my balanced Protector (using TWag "Protector to 4-pin XLR" adapter). 
 
While the Protector drives my HD600 and HE-5 LE with authority, it can only maintain "conversation level" volumes with the HE-6; but the SR-71b drives the HE-6 better than I ever hoped.  I didn't believe it until I heard it for myself.  And it's not just in having enough power, but the sound quality is also superb.  I would have to say the treble quality is smoother than the Protector in balanced mode so far.  Bass, mids and highs are all excellent and balanced in respect to each other.  So, in both power and sound quality I'd say the SR-71b has an edge over the Protector, and that's with less than 24 hours on the SR-71b and over 1,000 hours on the Protector.  One thing to note is that the Protector in balanced mode sounds slightly more aggressive than the SR-71b or P-51, although less so via single ended mode.  While the Protector has been perfect for my balanced JH13Pro, the SR-71b is every bit as good or better with them and yet not too forward with the HE-6.  (I have not swapped over my Westone IEM to the balanced TWag cable yet, as it's too early in my ownership to try anything else.)  I will compare the balanced output vs SE output later.
 
There are several other amps that I reported on in the HE-6 threads, including the HDP, SAC KH1000, EF5, WA6 and ZDT.  I haven't compared the SR-71b yet to them, but I can say that I do believe it's a better match than HDP, SAC or EF5 in terms of sonic synergy and balance because I'm enjoying the combo more.  I previously felt that the SAC and HDP amps could be slightly bright with HE-6 as the volumes got higher, and the EF5 had a good balance but lacked the detail and soundstage of the other amps.  I'm certain that I would pick the SR-71b over any three of those amps for my HE-6.  I'm surprised that I can turn it to max volume without signs or strain or distortion like with the above desktop headphone amps.  My ZDT also allows me to max out the volume with the HE-6 without any distortion, and I would not be surprised of the SR-71b can match volume levels with the ZDT, based on what I am hearing up here in my bedroom rig.  The SR-71b is clearly more powerful driving the HE-6 than my WA6, although I didn't have many complaints about the sound quality at normal volumes with the WA6.  The WA6 is phenomenal with the JH13Pro, and it's too early to say how the SR-71b compares, although I am not hearing anything that I would want to change or fix with the SR-71b.  
 
As stated above, I have not had time to try any other full size phones or IEM with it yet.  I am planning to order a balanced LCD-2 Silver Dragon cable in the next week or two, so I'll be able to listen like I did at RMAF with the demo SR-71b and LCD-2 - I loved that combo there.  My HE-5, HE-5 LE, HD600, HD800 are already balanced with a 4-pin XLR like the HE-6, and I'll try them later on the SR-71b.  Plus with my Protector adapter and my APS V3 1/8" adapter I can use all these phones on any of my amps.  So that will make comparing amps easier later.  
 
I wanted another small balanced SS amp, and I have gotten my wish.  So far, just with these two phones I have no regrets about spending $614 on the SR-71b, and all my desires to repair my balanced Single Power Square Wave XL's broken PSU have evaporated (other than to fix it in order to sell it).  

 

 

[wuwhere]

It may be clipping specially if you listen relatively loud.
 
Nabil, it depends on the amp's design. I tried my HE-6 on two different portable amps (not RSA). On one, it started clipping off the bat. On the other, at max volume, it played, no distortion but just not loud enough. Now on the one that clipped, I believe I fried its opamps. After I did this there was static noise even on my IEMs. The good thing is its opamp rollable. Its like a car with a rev limiter or one that doesn't.

 

[melville]

Looking into its specs, this amp seems quite promising and might challenge some big guns out there quality wise (not only its massive driving power).
 
Has anyone compared the SR-71B against some popular and well-performed desktop amps? (i.e. Meier Concerto, Woo, Zana Deux, Audio-GD Phoenix)
More interestingly against its older brothers: RSA HR-2 and Apache.
 
It would be interesting to see whether this amp will hold its ground or probably surpass some of them.

 

[Skylab]

I never noticed any distortion, even when using the HE-6.  I was actually quite surprised (and impressed) by this.  But I will try to play some piano-oriented music and see if I hear any.  Can you confirm you are using high-gain, and also what setting you have the volume control at?  And better yet, if you have an SPL meter, what peaks you are trying to get on the piano?