[onlychild]

Great writeup and review BPED. Thanks for starting the thread.

I received my Moon Audio speaker taps adapter yesterday to run the Susvaras from the speaker taps (vs the XLR output I have been using for the last month or two) and I am shocked on how big of a difference it makes for the Susvara. The sound is way more dynamic and holographic. I'm also hearing more low level details, e.g. more transparent. The bass has also improved a lot, more sub-bass presence (which I didn't hear before) and with a tighter and more present bass line.

I can confidently say that any Susvara owner that plans to use this amp should not even bother with the 4-pin XLR output and go straight to the speaker taps.

I am not sure what brought out so much improvement. It can't be just more power. i'm thinking a shorter signal path and better connections with speaker taps vs the XLR output that is all the way in the front of the amp?

 

[simorag]

I am not sure what brought out so much improvement. It can't be just more power. i'm thinking a shorter signal path and better connections with speaker taps vs the XLR output that is all the way in the front of the amp?

Curiously enough, I was speaking just this morning with Luca Chiomenti (AIC-10 designer) about this same topic.

I was reporting that I am now using my AB-1266 systematically via the speaker taps because of the same reasons posted by @onlychild, plus a very beneficial effect on soundstage size and depth in my case.

Luca (who's strongly against using the speaker taps for headphones as the risk of damaging the drivers increases) said the signal path is exactly the same with the exception of a single additional resistor attenuating the headphone out. He also added that - as with any single other component on the amp - that same resistor has been chosen carefully among dozen of others, based on listening tests (i.e. not only based on spec and quality grade), so it is supposed to degrade sound quality very minimally.

So, we're left with the mostly likely option of the additional current swing available on the speaker taps.

The puzzling thing is that I am not even remotely pushing the amp, having my volume less than h12 on the XLR out, or h11 or less with the rear out, and still the difference with the speaker output is easy to hear ...

 

[F208Frank]

Damn everyone is suggesting speaker taps but a part of me always afraid and not wanting to go that route despite not even have demoed it yet due to fright of damage and also I dislike the thought of an adapter for personal preferences if adapter is not made from the same cable material (in my case the SC cable).

 

[onlychild]

I also hate and avoid “adapters” aT all costs. I purchased the adapter just to know if I will like the sound out of the speaker taps before I have DHC make me a Prion4 cable with no adapters.

Once my new cable is made in the next month or two, I’ll be happy to let other owners try the moon audio adapter to test for themselves.

 

[F208Frank]

I also hate and avoid “adapters” aT all costs. I purchased the adapter just to know if I will like the sound out of the speaker taps before I have DHC make me a Prion4 cable with no adapters.

Once my new cable is made in the next month or two, I’ll be happy to let other owners try the moon audio adapter to test for themselves.

That is very kind of you. May I please be in line?

Also is the process of making adapter basically asking your cable manufacturer to sell you the cable material and then have someone to make the adapter with that cable material?

Lastly if I found my current headphone cable a bit short, would this be a good opportunity to extend the length of my headphone cable by having a "longer cable adapter" or would this compromising the sound in some way?

Appreciate the advice in advance!

 

[fredfung28]

Finally a thread for aic10!
I’m using b749 for the aic10 which is very very nice haha! Hope your guys could try it if there is some available online.
I think speaker tap has more bass and better strength. But still it might be the situation that the speaker tap uses different material which makes sound changes.
My speaker tap is a 12 braid norne s3 which is very nice!!

 

[onlychild]

delete

 

[simorag]

Lastly if I found my current headphone cable a bit short, would this be a good opportunity to extend the length of my headphone cable by having a "longer cable adapter" or would this compromising the sound in some way?

An adapter is very practical if you want to change the input (XLR vs. speaker taps) on the fly, or if you have multiple headphones to swap.
In your case, if you want to keep the same material you can ask Joe Skubinski to manufacture an adapter made out of the superconductor (it is going to be veeery expensive).
As an alternative, I believe I will ask my custom cable supplier to manufacture a AB-1266 headphone cable with speaker taps termination, so to minimize the number of connectors.

I’m using b749 for the aic10 which is very very nice haha!

Lucky you! Genuine Genalex Gold Lion B749 NOS from Marconi-Osram Valve are basically impossible to find. Last time I have seen one last year, it was just sold for 1650USD

Finally, guys let me indulge in some hifi porn, borrowed directly from the spectacular Facebook page of Headphoneauditions. @StefanHAA sure knows how to tease

​

 

[BPED]

Great writeup and review BPED. Thanks for starting the thread.

I received my Moon Audio speaker taps adapter yesterday to run the Susvaras from the speaker taps

I am glad you liked it. Your setup seems excellent as well... I am curious about Susvara but you have to stop somewhere so I will pass...

 

[BPED]

Regarding adapters, unless you find them impractical to use, I don’t see any issue. I’d just take something neutral/transparent to avoid losing resolution. The ECC82 will anyway colour the AIC-10 tonal signature (unless you opt for a super transparent type) so it’s more a question of matching and balancing components to your taste.

 

[BPED]

The Duo look really nice and the Uno even more... beautiful!!

 

[F208Frank]

An adapter is very practical if you want to change the input (XLR vs. speaker taps) on the fly, or if you have multiple headphones to swap.
In your case, if you want to keep the same material you can ask Joe Skubinski to manufacture an adapter made out of the superconductor (it is going to be veeery expensive).
As an alternative, I believe I will ask my custom cable supplier to manufacture a AB-1266 headphone cable with speaker taps termination, so to minimize the number of connectors.



Lucky you! Genuine Genalex Gold Lion B749 NOS from Marconi-Osram Valve are basically impossible to find. Last time I have seen one last year, it was just sold for 1650USD

Finally, guys let me indulge in some hifi porn, borrowed directly from the spectacular Facebook page of Headphoneauditions. @StefanHAA sure knows how to tease

​

"As an alternative, I believe I will ask my custom cable supplier to manufacture a AB-1266 headphone cable with speaker taps termination, so to minimize the number of connectors."

Are you planning to give them your existing ab-1266 cable to add speaker taps termination or are you buying a brand new cable and start from scratch? Good luck!

 

[BPED]

Video review in French with Susvara comparing with Viva 845 + with speakers Viva Allegro comparing with Viva Solista.

 

[F208Frank]

Video review in French with Susvara comparing with Viva 845 + with speakers Viva Allegro comparing with Viva Solista.

I saw this and had no idea what he was saying lol.

But he looks like a serious dude, haha.

 

[BPED]

he's saying buy this amp
jokes apart, he says that the AIC-10 is on par with the Viva for headphones, with slightly different sound characteristics: more body, beautiful natural tone reproduction, a bit less airy, a bit smaller scene (via 1/4 plug). The AIC-10 is also excellent with Viva speakers but in direct comparison the Solista is better (much more powerful)