First off, great review! Thank you for the efforts - I know how time consuming this can be, and you have done a thorough and thoughtful job. Generally I'd say your views are similar to at least some of my own reactions to the V181, but I'm using LCD-2's to make my own judgments and have a more limited base of headphone experience to make comparisons with. I might be the person Currowong referred to as I replaced my Woo WA6SEm with the V181, largely for convenience and space. In the process of doing that I learned how I had been blaming the LCD-2's for deficiencies that had more to do with a certain lack of synergy with the Woo, which became revealed in hearing them in direct comparison with the Apex Peak Volcano, as well as the V181. If you are interested to read more on that I contributed a review to the Apex Peak loaner thread - though not as thorough as yours here. One thing that really clicked with me is that you mention that this is an SS amp that a tube lover (like me) could really appreciate. Ultimately it does not have that wonderful euphonic midrange that just sucks you in like a siren calling out, but it definitely maintains a very natural and immediate presence in the mids, especially in vocals. It also ads strengths traditionally ascribed to SS amps as the way you've described it's command of the low-end without being overtly basscentric. It is, to me, a very well-balanced amp (pun not intended), that does an excellent job of getting out of the way and connecting me with the music I love. I gave the edge to the Apex Peak Volcano in my review, and qualified it with the fact that my V181 was not yet broken in having only perhaps 50 hours or so on it, with the APV loaner being thoroughly broken in. I'd bet I'd still give the APV the knod, but who knows. My own reasons for liking it more were in the midrange where the use of the the tube in that hybrid design seemed to bring along the magic sirens call I spoke of earlier. It just seemed to be more natural and to describe instruments in three dimensions and texture and mass, where the V181 seemed just a bit flatter in comparison. Still, it suits my needs very well in giving me back more space in my office, and not worrying about exposed tubes. I'm curious to hear about your views on the V200, which I'm guessing you prefer from your comment. My understanding from Fried that one of the differences is that with the V181 four amps are used to amplify each of the balanced connections, whereas two are used with the V100, on which its based, and with the V200, which is a different amp in more ways than that. I'd encourage you to try to borrow some LCD-2's and or HE6's while you have both amps in your possession - you'd certainly have the intent interest of quite a few looking for their own ideal amp for those somewhat challenging cans (HE6 more so). I can say that for the former it is a very compatible playmate and that combination works very well to my ears. I'm also using an AudioGD DAC, but the REF. 8 (also in balanced).
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Ah, I see. So you are actually powering the monitors with the V181? I guess that could work since it delivers about the same power as some "flea-watt" amps I've seen.
Actually, I think Trevor is using them to his powered monitors so he's got attenuation options at both the Violectric and at the monitors themselves - kind of like using the Violectric as a preamp...correct, Trevor? Fried also told me not to do that (Trevor and I had a conversation about it - glad it's still working out, Trevor - I can't recall Fried's reasons but have that email somewhere). Instead Fried suggested I use the internal DIP switches to alter my rear-panel RCA's to line outputs, which I have been doing for my own powered monitors. It's a bit of a compromise from going direct from DAC via balanced to the monitor (this sounds the best), but it's still quite good and no serious compromises.
PS I really have Trevor to thank for his pointing out the V181 to me in the first place, and recommending I get in touch with Fried. I was having an exchange in purchasing one of his excellent cables for my LCD2 and mentioned in passing that I needed to scale back the size of my rig to regain space in my office. The rest is history. Thanks again, Trevor. I otherwise had not really given it a second glance - as the OP points out, there really isn't that much mention of it here in the forums, and haven't seen much press on it.