RSA SR71b, quad mono balanced. img. 1 & 17 Review pg 32, 34, 68, UPDATED 4/2013 for Improved sound.

[DannyB]

Can someone explain what cables/adaptors are needed with the SR-71B to allow hookup with XLR terminations for the source and XLRs from the headphone?

 

[nc8000]

Something like these http://www.whiplashaudio.com/cables/headphone-cables/protector-balanced-to-female-xlr.html

 

[DannyB]

Very helpful. Thank you. Do you, by chance, know what connectors Ray includes with his amp?
I'm thinking the SR-71A as the B is not out yet?

 

[nc8000]

Very helpful. Thank you. Do you, by chance, know what connectors Ray includes with his amp?


I'm thinking the SR-71A as the B is not out yet?

None would be my guess, I certainly never had any with my Hornet or Protector

 

[DannyB]

Any comments on how Craig's adaptors, from Whiplish, compare to Ray's or any others. This is new territory for me. I guess when one has the 71B they will have to put in another $250 or so for the two cable sets (headphone and source) which is a pain if one needs balanced and SE. The adaptors seem to approach the cost of the amp.

 

[nc8000]

No idea how they compare. However your observation is valid and needs to taken into consideration when buying this kind of amp, but all balancing configurations require investments in cables as most headphones unless bought used are single ended.

 

[Audio Addict]

Quote:

Any comments on how Craig's adaptors, from Whiplish, compare to Ray's or any others. This is new territory for me. I guess when one has the 71B they will have to put in another $250 or so for the two cable sets (headphone and source) which is a pain if one needs balanced and SE. The adaptors seem to approach the cost of the amp.

Ray's are not available for purchase that I am aware of.  Whiplash Audio or Moon Audio are probably the two most prominent that use Ray's balance connector.  It looks like the adapter would be the same for either the input or headphone connection for using a normal dual 3 pin XLR.  You would need the female XLR to connect either the balance cable or the balance headphone cable.  
 
If you are going balance for the first time there probably are more versatile options.  I would drop either Craig or Drew and email for their input.  
 
I actually  have Craig's adapters but either I think will do a great job.

 

[tourneychamp23]

Considering I am a noob when it comes to amps, would you guys recommend this as my first portable amp purchase? My logic behind this purchase is to get an amp that can drive a wide range of headphones should i choose to buy a more power hungry headphone in the future. Cost is not my first priority. I need something that is portable though, so a desktop one is out of the question for now (want to pair it with jh-16). Also, does anyone know for sure that it won't come with a cable connecting it to the iphone? I have not heard a single bad thing about this amp, but not that many people have heard it yet. 

 

[nc8000]

I can't see why you shouldn't buy this as long as realise that any phone you want to plug into it will require retermination or recabling and that it might not be the easiest amp to resell. I would be surprised if an iDevice cable was included but don't know for a fact that it wont. And like the Protector it's main reason for existing is with balanced phones and in this case also sources. While it will probably be good with single ended gear I'm sure there are better options out there for the same price for single ended use

 

[Skylab]

I'm listening right now to Open by Cowboy Junkies.  Running the balanced outs (using Moon Audio Blue Dragon cable) of my Yulong D100 DAC into the SR-71B, driving the Hifiman HE-6 via my balanced cable from A Pure Sound (using a short adapter provided by Ray).
 
The sound is absolutely ridiculous.  I wasn't quite prepared for how good it is.  While at $600 this amp is far from cheap, it does an astonishing job driving the HE-6.  I can't believe how powerful, detailed, and yet smooth the sound is.  There is a tiny bit of congestion during very intense crescendos versus my DecwareMini-Torii, but overall it's really, really good sounding, will be THE portable amp to use with the HE-6 (not sure there is really another...)

 

[warp08]

Quote:

.  There is a tiny bit of congestion during very intense crescendos versus my Decware CSP-2, but overall it's really, really good sounding, will be THE portable amp to use with the HE-6 (not sure there is really another...)

I heard a similar "congestion" during tracks with cymbal crashes early in my Protector burn-in process, but it has disappeared past the 100-150 hours stage.  Hopefully, the same thing will happen with the SR71B.

 

[Skylab]

Supposedly the review loaner I got is "fully burned in", according to Ray.  Also I should have said Decware Mini-Torii, not CSP-2 (old habits die hard).

 

[warp08]

Quote:

Supposedly the review loaner I got is "fully burned in", according to Ray.  Also I should have said Decware Mini-Torii, not CSP-2 (old habits die hard).

I have not been familiar with the Mini-Torii before your posts, so I just looked it up.  I'd love to audition one when the opportunity presents.   Still, considering the design and general classification of the Mini-Torii, the mere fact that the production version of the SR71B can deliver comparable performance, based on your impressions when paired with the relatively hard-to-amp HE-6s is commendable, to say the least from a solid-state portable amp.
 
Thanks for the initial impressions.

 

[revolink24]

Quote:

I'm listening right now to Open by Cowboy Junkies.  Running the balanced outs (using Moon Audio Blue Dragon cable) of my Yulong D100 DAC into the SR-71B, driving the Hifiman HE-6 via my balanced cable from A Pure Sound (using a short adapter provided by Ray).
 
The sound is absolutely ridiculous.  I wasn't quite prepared for how good it is.  While at $600 this amp is far from cheap, it does an astonishing job driving the HE-6.  I can't believe how powerful, detailed, and yet smooth the sound is.  There is a tiny bit of congestion during very intense crescendos versus my DecwareMini-Torii, but overall it's really, really good sounding, will be THE portable amp to use with the HE-6 (not sure there is really another...)

You can't say we didn't tell you so.

 

[Jalo]

Quote:

I'm listening right now to Open by Cowboy Junkies.  Running the balanced outs (using Moon Audio Blue Dragon cable) of my Yulong D100 DAC into the SR-71B, driving the Hifiman HE-6 via my balanced cable from A Pure Sound (using a short adapter provided by Ray).
 
The sound is absolutely ridiculous.  I wasn't quite prepared for how good it is.  While at $600 this amp is far from cheap, it does an astonishing job driving the HE-6.  I can't believe how powerful, detailed, and yet smooth the sound is.  There is a tiny bit of congestion during very intense crescendos versus my DecwareMini-Torii, but overall it's really, really good sounding, will be THE portable amp to use with the HE-6 (not sure there is really another...)

Sky, you are "killing us softly with your song (or words)?  But pay real close attention because my $600.00 is resting on it

  This needs to be your best review