[AnamCeoil]

The amps that you've mentioned can totally be end-game for someone. Any amp can be end-game, honestly. The amps listed in the OP are at the very summit tho. Aspirational amps that many of us will probably never get to experience!

Summit and aspirational amps- nice description and helps frame it. For me, I think that getting to the $1,200 USD mark will be my upper limit, and the rest of the focus will be on different headphone...but it's easier to say that from the foothills where I am now; as I start to climb higher, my aspirations may also rise! Thanks.

 

[iFi audio]

Violectric 202/222, or even the Lake People G111 mkii would register in relation to end game

I'm sure that to some people these amps are the end game.

 

[StevenD0106]

What about something like the Questyle CMA Fifteen?

 

[smallcaps]

What about something like the Questyle CMA Fifteen?

Added and thanks for the suggestion.

 

[StevenD0106]

Added and thanks for the suggestion.

My pleasure!

 

[Haidar]

Consider including the Bakoon HDA-5210MK4

 

[helljudgement]

Missed out on the original DSHA3F but Nitsch is currently building one and I'm considering selling one of my tube amps to justify getting one. Been following Doug's design since the release of L2 back in 2012, when 2500 was considered insane even for totl headphone amp but the times have change. Interesting to see how Doug kept his prices between 2-2.8k for the past decade. The 3F is amazing for any headphones that don't require speaker amps to drive and is the best ss amps I've heard with ZMFs and Utopia. I usually prefer tubes with dynamic drivers but the 3f provides an incredibly holographic staging and for a neutral headphone it doesn't have that treble peak that I often associate with a neutral sounding ss amps like the THX stuff. Assuming Nitsch build is as good as the original it definitely belongs to the upper echelon of SS amps and worth a shout.

 

[iFi audio]

Consider including the Bakoon HDA-5210MK4

On that note, many would consider Enleum too.

 

[dan31]

Interesting discussion. I would add the Tom Christiansen HPA-1. If you read the design brief Tom lays out, it becomes clear that it cannot really be meaningfully better, unless you require insane amounts of power or additional input/outputs. Its the most transparent amp I have heard and very reveling of upstream changes. I use it with tube and SS sources. I get there are more expensive and more affordable amps. Value is different than price. Given the price, I feel the HAP-1 is a great value.

https://www.tomchr.com/products/hpa-1

 

[smallcaps]

Interesting discussion. I would add the Tom Christiansen HPA-1. If you read the design brief Tom lays out, it becomes clear that it cannot really be meaningfully better, unless you require insane amounts of power or additional input/outputs. Its the most transparent amp I have heard and very reveling of upstream changes. I use it with tube and SS sources. I get there are more expensive and more affordable amps. Value is different than price. Given the price, I feel the HAP-1 is a great value.

https://www.tomchr.com/products/hpa-1

Thanks for sharing! I haven't heard of the TCA HPA-1. I've added it to the To-Be_Debated list, as it seems a bit underpowered to drive Susvara. Let us know your impressions!

Consider including the Bakoon HDA-5210MK4

Bakoon has been added.

On that note, many would consider Enleum too.

Already on the list. Thanks for the reminder!

Missed out on the original DSHA3F but Nitsch is currently building one and I'm considering selling one of my tube amps to justify getting one. Been following Doug's design since the release of L2 back in 2012, when 2500 was considered insane even for totl headphone amp but the times have change. Interesting to see how Doug kept his prices between 2-2.8k for the past decade. The 3F is amazing for any headphones that don't require speaker amps to drive and is the best ss amps I've heard with ZMFs and Utopia. I usually prefer tubes with dynamic drivers but the 3f provides an incredibly holographic staging and for a neutral headphone it doesn't have that treble peak that I often associate with a neutral sounding ss amps like the THX stuff. Assuming Nitsch build is as good as the original it definitely belongs to the upper echelon of SS amps and worth a shout.

Added to the To-Be-Released list. I'm excited to see impressions on this one. Sent an email to express interest in picking one up, although I currently have my eye on the Silver Fox atm. Thanks for sharing!

 

[Haidar]

You could add Enleum HPA-23RM to your list which is their reference dedicated headphone amp.

By the way Enleum products are not replacing Bakoon products, they are just two separate companies

 

[572217]

You could add Enleum HPA-23RM to your list which is their reference dedicated headphone amp.

By the way Enleum products are not replacing Bakoon products, they are just two separate companies

Not so sure about the two separate companies part. bakoon.com redirects to enleum.com and this is their company description:

https://enleum.com/company/

Looks more like a rebrand.

 

[Nostoi]

Not so sure about the two separate companies part. bakoon.com redirects to enleum.com and this is their company description:

https://enleum.com/company/

Looks more like a rebrand.

This is not accurate. Bakoon Products still exists as an independent entity. Their website is currently down but you can find their latest products here https://m.smartstore.naver.com/bakoon

The relationship between Enleum, Bakoon International, and Bakoon Products is complicated but you can get a flavour of it from here onwards https://www.head-fi.org/threads/bak...t-laboratory-news.964347/page-3#post-17080359

 

[Nostoi]

Bakoon has been added but I suspect it wont last long due to it being replaced by Enleum products. Thanks for sharing!

Not replaced! Still going strong. Also, expect Bakoon Products (aka Satri Circuit Labs) to have a bit more exposure in EU/UK soon...

 

[elwappo99]

It is not that had to buy a used one to be honest, there has been one demo sitting for years unsold (maybe sold now) and there are also some used ones in the market sitting for months.
LAu is a great amp nevertheless, especially with planars. But it make sense to keep it away from the list, or put it in "discontinued" category if you want to make the list as compressive as it could be.
Or maybe the Monoprice LAuX should be on the "debated" listed.

One amp that nearly no ones talks about on HF but I have owned and loved mine, which should also considered end-game.
It is such a bargain now consider the inflation and exchange rate.
https://harmonydesign.se/produkt/ear-909/

And this
https://www.spirittorino.com/en/products/sigfrid-headphone-speaker-ibrid-amp

I think there's actually two demo units. One of them got a short and was burned out but was repaired. The shop selling it won't disclose that though, caveat emptor.

The Gold does have a pretty odd tonality. It works really well with some headphones and, but not others. Pretty strange and definitely not neutral. I was on the hunt for one until I got an extended demo. The Cavalli Glass and Cavalli Crimson are Alex's best work by far, but unfortunately the die hard Cavalli fans know this and they usually sell within an hour of being listed.


I rolled through about 20 SS amps in a few years and posted a bit about them elsewhere. For top of the line I'd list:

Audio-GD HE-9 - An upgraded Master 9 amplifier
Headroom Blockhead - Unrivaled in clarity and detail retrieval. Every other SS has a bit of grain in comparison.
Phonitor X (already listed) - Excellent tonality and detail retrieval.
Kinki THR-1 - Pretty unique little amplifier. Ultra powerful to a fault, but excellent clarity and bass control for planars



I'd say the following amps aren't really summit-fi end game SS amps, but still excellent amps for < $1000
Liquid Gold (both Cavalli Audio and Monoprice)
Schiit Rag
ifi ican pro