migasson
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Dec 11, 2012
- Posts
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I compared a few amps, for my HD700...
And the winner was… the Senn HDVA-600! (cue fanfare and all that nonsense)
Ok, in order, first to last which I thought had the best synergy.
1) Senn HDVA-600
2) Matrix M-Stage
3) Woo WA6
4) Burson Soloist
5) Schitt Valhalla 2
6) Schiit Lyr
So, I popped into A2A, and fired up the Valhalla 2. To be transparent, I used their AK120 playing HiRes tracks, and my lowly iPod filled with ALAC's, just so I got the gist of how my fav tunes fitted into the mix. This was all via a line out from the AK, and the mini-jack on my iPod to RCA's on the back of the amps.
I heard a lot about this combo on HeadFi, and to be honest, it was quite spacious sounding. the highs were pretty good. Just some tracks were borderline harsh, the stereo imaging was great from left to right, and ok depth wise. Occasionally I heard new details. Just a glassy tone that pissed me off
Next up was the Lyr. Urgh. TOTALLY overrated combo. Theres a lot of positive comments about it around the forums, but to me it was grainy, and brittle around the edges. It did have more propulsive drive though. Was getting fatigue FAST. (Lyr 2 not on demo. They had boxed stock, but none out on the floor)
Then onto the WA6. Now I've got a massive soft spot for Woo. Still one of the best sounds I've heard was the WA22/LCD/T90. Now to be transparent, it did have the stock rectifier, the bloody awful Shuguang 274B, but good drivers in some Westinghouse branded 6SN7's. Typical SET here lovely milky highs, and a ever-so-dark tone, which I'm a big fan of. However, a bit wooly in the bass
Just before I left, I popped in the Soloist SL. Not bad at all. Kinda a blend of all the best of above, had good rhythmic drive, smooth top end, though not quite as good as the WA6, Just a little too glassy for me, though not as irritating as the Valhalla 2.
So. I needed a break.
I decided to visit Billy at Noisy Motel, and check out the Matrix M-Stage.
As he greeted me, with his usual enthusiasm, we caught up, and as I glanced over, I noticed the Senn. "Oh ****, I'm gonna have to try that!!!" So, he asked me how I was going to play my music, and I suggested that to use the Fostex HP-P1, to use the line-out, to basically use the iPod as a media storage. He goes out the back, rips out a Matrix and a Fostex for me to try, as he didn't have one on demo.
Thanks Billy Anyhow. I sit down. (And I have a feeling how this one is going to go)
There must be a certain synergy with the HDVA and their phones.. they probably was thinking of an apple-esque ecosystem!!
Yeah. WOW!! All of sudden, no harshness. Rhythmic drive. Depth. Width. Soul. And what I didn't expect, a certain fullness to the tone. I was hearing all kinds of details I hadn't noticed, but it wasn't so starkly emphasised. It was there. From time to time, it would be a "what-the-******-was that?" moment. This was clearly the leader, by a mile. And fully UN-balanced to boot. This thing was going half kilter and making me feeling VERY satisfied. It was just awesome to listen to. For the record, I hate tininess, hate harshness, hate listening to equipment that says "Oh look how clever I am at extracting the last detail .. etc.." I listen to music, not the equipment. Not since my regretful departure of my WA22/LCD combo have I been so musically satisfied. I just want to keep going. These are keepers
Ok, a quick note on the Matrix, my number 2. The cheapest here! What stopped me, if I wasn't being a tight arse, was it tended to harden up the top volumes comparatively to the HDVA. Tonally it was a HDVA light. It did everything the Burson did, but cheaper! that right there is THE bargain in headphones. Skip the Fiio's/Schiits/etc, and grab this! It's rollable as well.
Kudos to Billy Mav @ Noisy Motel. Great service
I used to loathe Sennheiser. (Due to the overrated HD650) Now I'm a fully paid up fan. Now to get that DAC or new phono setup