Review: Violectric HPA V200 amp

[jonathan c]

Tomorrow my V200 will arrive, it will become a backup or alternative to the V222, I'm a bit sorry for the lack of balanced output, but the V280 with the same form factor and balanced output is really difficult to find at least in Europe if not at high prices. I can hardly justify especially considering that the V281 exists.

... once warmed up, running, V200 will dispel any initial regrets about balanced output. [I have V200 connected to the DAC via XLR-XLR cables.]

 

[Vellerofonte]

... once warmed up, running, V200 will dispel any initial regrets about balanced output. [I have V200 connected to the DAC via XLR-XLR cables.]

I'm happy with your answer, I will connect the V200 in RCA to the V850 and probably in XLR to an RME ADI-2, I hope for a good result.

....And no... I correct that, reading the manual I discovered that I cannot use XLR and RCA at the same time, it will only remain connected in RCA to the V850.

 

[Vellerofonte]

Here is the little beast connected to the V850 in RCA. It's been on for a couple of hours, I can't give any real opinions, since it's a new unit, it needs a few hours of work. For now, the first impressions are of a more relaxed sound than the V222, the sound is softer, the high frequencies are less intrusive, more rounded and I don't mind this at all. I thought about using the V200 as a backup but given these features it could instead become a regular alternative for when I'm looking for more relaxed listening.

 

[infinitykappa]

Has anyone tried using the V200 in DC mode? I tested this mode with Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO headphones and found that it gives a noticeably thicker bass. However, I'm hesitant to connect my Audeze LCD-X because there is a constant 10 mV DC offset on the RCA output of my Audio-GD R2R-11 DAC.

 

[roskodan]

Has anyone tried using the V200 in DC mode? I tested this mode with Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO headphones and found that it gives a noticeably thicker bass. However, I'm hesitant to connect my Audeze LCD-X because there is a constant 10 mV DC offset on the RCA output of my Audio-GD R2R-11 DAC.

Maybe use some EQ/PEQ to boost the bass. However, the DC setting on the V200 does also soften the sound across the whole audible band, to my ear and all that of course...

I've two V200, one set to DC one to AC... ... keep the beat...

 

[infinitykappa]

Maybe use some EQ/PEQ to boost the bass. However, the DC setting on the V200 does also soften the sound across the whole audible band, to my ear and all that of course...

I've two V200, one set to DC one to AC... ... keep the beat...

I’ve been using EQ, but honestly — it doesn’t give the same effect as switching the V200 to DC mode. I heard back from Fried at Violectric (awesome support, by the way) — he said 10 mV of DC is really small and totally safe for headphones.

Also, that 10 mV is what I measured at the RCA output of my DAC (Audio-GD R2R-11), but with the V200 running in DC mode at my usual listening level, the output is just around 0.2–0.4 mV — basically nothing. There’s a brief spike up to 4.2 mV when powering the amp on, but that’s totally normal.

As for the sound — yes, I noticed that DC mode sounds smoother and more relaxed. I didn’t have time to test this with the LCD-X today, but I believe a little softening won’t hurt them.

Update:

the DC setting on the V200 does also soften the sound across the whole audible band

Just tried DC mode with my LCD-X — wow, the difference is massive. The sound got way too smooth, totally wrong for metal. All the grit and punch were just gone. I was about to flip it back to AC mode, but figured I’d try changing the interconnect first. Swapped out my DIY 1930s General Electric cable for a Cardas Quadlink 5C — and boom, it started sounding much more reasonable.

 

[BeyerMonster]

Has anyone tried using the V200 in DC mode?

Is this something on newer versions of the V200? I have had mine since 2014 and wasn't aware there even was a DC mode. Not entirely sure what that even means in the context of headphones. I only recall there being gain switches on the back.

EDIT: I found a manual online and saw the description moving internal jumpers.

Towards the low end, your HPA V200's frequency response is not
restricted at all. This means that even extremely low frequencies - right
down to DC - will be amplified. "DC-coupling" as this technique is called,
is not necessarily useful since neither DC nor very low frequencies are
audible, but may damage your headphones on the other hand.
Therefore, the HPA V200 offers a low-frequency limiting option as well.
For this purpose, the two "LO-CUT" jumpers to the left and right of the
"VOLUME" control can be swapped from "DC" to "AC" position. When
set to "AC", low frequency response is limited to 12Hz, again referred to
the "3-dB point".
See also: technical appendix, page 26.
Ex-works, the HPA V200 is set to "AC" response (12Hz).

The HPA V200 is DC-coupled, i.e. it can transduce DC voltage as well.
For good measure, a low-cut filter can be inserted by setting the
corresponding jumpers. After input buffering, the signals are forwarded
to a simple 6dB-per-octave filter stage which can be set to two
characteristics: AC (12 Hz), or DC (0 Hz).
Why does frequency bandwidth limiting make sense ?
In signal processing, sound is represented by AC voltages. Sound is
audible - for young people - from about 20 to 20000 Hz. The elder the
listener, the less he will hear high frequencies in particular.
In order to transmit these frequencies at optimum quality, the frequency
response of an amplifier should be as wide and as "flat" as possible. At
the low end of the scale, this limit is represented by DC, as there is no
frequency lower than zero. In upward direction, the limit can be set to
practically any frequency, but the higher, the more susceptible the device
becomes concerning electro-magnetic interference. This is not audible in
the first place, but may interfere with the useful signal and then become
evident. Therefore, unrestricted frequency response attests
thoughtlessness rather than remarkable engineering skill

 

[infinitykappa]

Is this something on newer versions of the V200? I have had mine since 2014 and wasn't aware there even was a DC mode. Not entirely sure what that even means in the context of headphones. I only recall there being gain switches on the back.

This mode is available on every V200 — you just need to pop the top cover and move two jumpers. I’d recommend grabbing the V200 pdf manual if you're curious; it shows everything clearly with diagrams and instructions. Super easy to do if you're comfortable opening it up.

 

[BeyerMonster]

This mode is available on every V200 — you just need to pop the top cover and move two jumpers. I’d recommend grabbing the V200 pdf manual if you're curious; it shows everything clearly with diagrams and instructions. Super easy to do if you're comfortable opening it up.

Thanks, I didn't see your comment until now, but I just found the manual online and updated my comment above. Sounds like I should just leave it where it is.

 

[infinitykappa]

Thanks, I didn't see your comment until now, but I just found the manual online and updated my comment above. Sounds like I should just leave it where it is.

I wasn’t sure about using DC mode either at first. But ChatGPT actually helped me understand what’s going on technically, what the potential risks are, and what voltage levels could be dangerous for headphone drivers. I picked up a cheap multimeter for like $5 and measured the DC output in different scenarios — now I feel totally confident that DC mode is safe in my setup.

 

[roskodan]

As always, I highly recommend DC mode on the V200.

It's like having two very different amps.

 

[infinitykappa]

As always, I highly recommend DC mode on the V200.

It's like having two very different amps.

I agree, but I still added a filter that blocks frequencies below 10 Hz. Even though Audeze claims their headphones can handle it, I’d rather not take any risks with the diaphragms.