[SteveM324]

Trying to understand if this is an amp for everyday headphones - or more specifically geared to high demanding Susvara type headphones? Aside from my multiple Stax cans my primary drivers are the Utopia and to a lesser extent the Sony Z1R. Cans such as the new LCD-5 are on my inbound radar.

My current amps are the GSX-MK2 and GSX-Mini with a Donald North Stellaris inbound. I am starting to get interested in this new Enleum.

The 23R on low gain is great with my Utopia and I love this combination.

 

[buzzlulu]

The 23R on low gain is great with my Utopia and I love this combination.

Thanks
Anyone with a LP12-Ekos SE-Keel-Radikal has instant credibility with me
Although I am partial myself to the Naim Aro tonearm I have on my LP12

 

[iFi audio]

Enleum will sound warmer to most solid state you've heard excelling in ease of listening and stage width. Stellaris will wipe the floor in any category of resolution, space, naturalness.

Exicon transistors inside that amp have triode-like characteristic, so there's something there, but these parts are also known for speed, openness and resolution especially if used in designs with no feedback.

 

[paradoxper]

Exicon transistors inside that amp have triode-like characteristic, so there's something there, but these parts are also known for speed, openness and resolution especially if used in designs with no feedback.

Yea, I don't buy all that. I was shocked how slow and masked the 13R was although that is compared to the CFA3. THR-1 is also similarly sluggy.

 

[buzzlulu]

Well those are two completely opposite opinions - speed, openess and resolution vs. slow, masked and sluggy

Paradoxper has heard the Bakoon and not the Enleum(?), iFI Audio which one have you heard?

I guess at the end of the day one needs to listen for themselves - or get feedback from a trusted friend who shares similar ears and sonic values.

A good friend who I trust (owner of Naim, dCS etc.) has an Enleum inbound so I will be curious to see what he thinks. He will test it with 1/2 a dozen different cans

 

[MacedonianHero]

The 23R on low gain is great with my Utopia and I love this combination.

Brilliant with the LCD-5 too on low gain. Agreed with the Utopia AMP-23R combination as well!

 

[paradoxper]

Well those are two completely opposite opinions - speed, openess and resolution vs. slow, masked and sluggy

Paradoxper has heard the Bakoon and not the Enleum(?), iFI Audio which one have you heard?

I guess at the end of the day one needs to listen for themselves - or get feedback from a trusted friend who shares similar ears and sonic values.

A good friend who I trust (owner of Naim, dCS etc.) has an Enleum inbound so I will be curious to see what he thinks. He will test it with 1/2 a dozen different cans

They're the same amplifier circuit.

The context surrounds MOSFET devices and their characteristic of being more warm from BJT which is not. A different discussion though altogether.

 

[jlbrach]

Well those are two completely opposite opinions - speed, openess and resolution vs. slow, masked and sluggy

Paradoxper has heard the Bakoon and not the Enleum(?), iFI Audio which one have you heard?

I guess at the end of the day one needs to listen for themselves - or get feedback from a trusted friend who shares similar ears and sonic values.

A good friend who I trust (owner of Naim, dCS etc.) has an Enleum inbound so I will be curious to see what he thinks. He will test it with 1/2 a dozen different cans

if you didnt like the 13r you wont like the new version....and if you did you will...

 

[iFi audio]

Well those are two completely opposite opinions - speed, openess and resolution vs. slow, masked and sluggy

Paradoxper has heard the Bakoon and not the Enleum(?), iFI Audio which one have you heard?

The AMP-13R I've heard was the exact opposite of slow, masked and sluggy, so very much along the lines of how many reviewers see it and its circuitry says the same thing. That's all there is to it really

 

[paradoxper]

The AMP-13R I've heard was the exact opposite of slow, masked and sluggy, so very much along the lines of how many reviewers see it and its circuitry says the same thing. That's all there is to it really

The context is compared to the CFA3. If you were to compare it to a Formula S (another popular SS), you'd find while warm it provides comparable speed per dynamics and transient response. If you were to compare to Headtrip, you'd find it has explosive dynamic slew-rate and high resolution.

 

[iFi audio]

The context is compared to the CFA3. If you were to compare it to a Formula S (another popular SS), you'd find while warm it provides comparable speed per dynamics and transient response. If you were to compare to Headtrip, you'd find it has explosive dynamic slew-rate and high resolution.

Yes, it's all relative and I haven't heard your amp so I can't say what it does against that Bakoon. But at the same time I don't think that the latter can be categorized as slow in the grand scheme, even though it strikes you as such in comparison to what you have.

In that context one could say that HD800 cans compared to RAAL SR1a are slow, not particularly resolving and perhaps even veiled, but most folks familiar with HD800 would still consider their general profile as quick, open, detailed etc.

Enjoy your CFA3

 

[paradoxper]

Yes, it's all relative and I haven't heard your amp so I can't say what it does against that Bakoon. But at the same time I don't think that the latter can be categorized as slow in the grand scheme, even though it strikes you as such in comparison to what you have.

In that context one could say that HD800 cans compared to RAAL SR1a are slow, not particularly resolving and perhaps even veiled, but most folks familiar with HD800 would still consider their general profile as quick, open, detailed etc.

Enjoy your CFA3

It is the minutiae that differentiates the hyperbole. But sure, the sweeping generalizations is fine ground.

 

[iFi audio]

But sure, the sweeping generalizations is fine ground.

All good then, it seems that we understand each other well

As for Bakoon/Enleum, although both these platforms are now known here on HF, their primary appeal seems to be pairing with efficient speakers happy about just few quality watts. One reviewer who owns a $150k setup did say out loud that this $5k integrated amp more affordable than most his cables is the best audio product he's got, which is quite telling.

 

[paradoxper]

It certainly is telling when you spend more on cables than your amp. LOL

I am guessing the $5k integrated amp is referring to the 13R/23R.

We certainly do have different references.

 

[iFi audio]

It certainly is telling when you spend more on cables than your amp. LOL

He has several amps including $35k monos, so it's all relative

I am guessing the $5k integrated amp is referring to the 13R/23R.

Yes, both with speakers and cans, but he's more of a speaker guy.