[buzzlulu]

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



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

Agreed!
System building and matching is important. In my Naim 2 channel world many use Chord Company Cables from the UK. They have 5 different ranges. The totl Chord MUSIC cable at $5k is not appropriate for a $8k Naim SuperNait3 integrated. For a 552/500 system ($35k+$35k) it is definitely appropriate and what most of us use. As you said - "it's all relative".

I am in the process of changing the pair of digital clock cables on my Rossini Clock. When my dealer proposed a $5k set of cables for a clock which at the time cost $8k I laughed. I agree with what someone posted on the dCS forum - if a $8k clock needs a $5k set of cables to make it shine - there is something fundamentally wrong with the clock.

There is a lot of snake oil out there - especially in the audiophoolery world

 

[iFi audio]

System building and matching is important.

It's the most fundamental thing considering that we listen to entire setups, not single components.

The totl Chord MUSIC cable at $5k is not appropriate for a $8k Naim SuperNait3 integrated. For a 552/500 system ($35k+$35k) it is definitely appropriate and what most of us use. As you said - "it's all relative".

Yes, it's a matter of one's financial reach. A $15k power cord to most folks is a crazy expense beyond any justification, but to wealthy few who own setups worth millions such purchases are casual.

I agree with what someone posted on the dCS forum - if a $8k clock needs a $5k set of cables to make it shine there is something fundamentally wrong with the clock

I don't think so. A $8k clock will do what it should with a $1 cable, but the question is what it can do beyond that upon supplementing it with accessories better than regular throwaways. It's an option one can pursue or not, but I wouldn't blame an audio product that does more if it's put on an anti-vibration rack and powered from a power conditioner or distributor with a decent power cable in-between.

Conversely, we could ask what to think about a clock, DAC or amp that behave the same regardless of listed extras and whether this is good or bad. That immunity to changes some users would consider as a good thing, while others would see it as lack of transparency.

 

[jlbrach]

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.

kind of like comparing a really pretty girl to a model in your opinion lol..I haven't yet heard the CFA3 although my buddy @paradoxper has made me very curious..I do however think the 13r is an outstanding amp as well as the formula s/powerman....

 

[iFi audio]

kind of like comparing a really pretty girl to a model in your opinion lol..I haven't yet heard the CFA3 although my buddy @paradoxper has made me very curious..I do however think the 13r is an outstanding amp as well as the formula s/powerman....

Suffice it to say, on the very top there's enough space for many amps

 

[Vangelis]

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.

With all due respect to Headamp, I’ve owned the GSX-Mini and the Amp-23r is in totally different league. The Enleum is a no regret purchase.

 

[Vangelis]

I think I should have elaborated a bit more about what makes the AMP-23r special. This small 25 watt solid state integrated/ headphone amplifier is totally addictive, I have to drag myself away from my system to get some sleep. The Enleum has openess, detail, texture and great image density, all the expected audiophile stuff. What is unique, at least for me, is that the design combines a kind of “lit up from within” musical quality I’ve experienced only from deeply biased Class A power amplifiers from Plinius, Classe, Mark Levinson and my flea powered single ended triode tube amps. The amp also has a vice grip on the music that just swaggers. I have had many well regarded and more costly headphones amplifiers than the Enleum through my system, most have sounded flat, 2 dimensional and uninvolving compared the Enleum. This little amp is a bargin for the way it gets out of the way, it’s just that transparent. When I swap in different cables, power cords, DACs power supplies etc around the AMP23r it becomes immediately apparent. No amplifier is perfect but with this level of clarity some listeners will find fault with the sound when the issue is elsewhere in their system. My advise is, don’t shoot the messenger here. The Enleum is new to my system, but its becomIng clear that something this revealing needs be companioned with the best possible associated upstream HiFi to realize its real potential.

 

[Vangelis]

I think I should have elaborated a bit more about what makes the AMP-23r special. This small 25 watt solid state integrated/ headphone amplifier is totally addictive, I have to drag myself away from my system to get some sleep. This unique circuit design combines the “lit up from within” musical quality I’ve experienced from deeply biased Class A amplifiers from Plinius, Classe, Mark Levinson and my flea powered single ended triode tube amps. The amp also has a vice grip on the music that just swaggers. I have had many of well regarded, sometimes way too costly headphones amplifiers through my system, most have sounded flat, 2 dimensional and uninvolving compared the Enleum. This little amp is a bargin for the way it gets out of the way, it’s just that transparent. When I swap in different cables, power cords, DACs power supplies etc around the AMP23r it becomes immediately apparent. No amplifier is perfect but with this level of clarity some listeners will find fault with the sound when the issue is elsewhere in their system. My advise is, don’t shoot the messenger here. The Enleum is new to my system but its becomIng clear that it needs be companioned with the best possible associated upstream HiFi to realize its real potential.

 

[yagislav]

For those that use the 23R and Abyss 1266TC, do you prefer high or low gain?

 

[buzzlulu]

@Vangelis
Great information and thank you
I split my time between multiple Stax and Utopias. While I have a Donald North tube Stellaris on order, the Enleum intrigues me for use with my Utopias

 

[iFi audio]

What is unique, at least for me, is that the design combines a kind of “lit up from within” musical quality I’ve experienced only from deeply biased Class A power amplifiers from Plinius, Classe, Mark Levinson and my flea powered single ended triode tube amps.

Partially that would be the input of Exicons, even though that Enleum amp is a class AB device.

 

[jlbrach]

For those that use the 23R and Abyss 1266TC, do you prefer high or low gain?

with the 13r it requires high gain for both the tc and susvara so I assume the same for the 23r

 

[MacedonianHero]

For those that use the 23R and Abyss 1266TC, do you prefer high or low gain?

I use high gain for the Susvara and 1266PHI TC. Everything else, low gain.

 

[MacedonianHero]

Listening to Exile on Main Street on Qobuz tonight with the Susvara...and damn...this is the best I've heard them sound! Such slam, impact, dynamics and still very much controlled and detailed. It's like having your cake and eating it too! My review will be out in early February on Headphone.Guru.

 

[Dr_Hibbert]

Is Suncoast Audio the only US dealer for this amp?

 

[paradoxper]

Is Suncoast Audio the only US dealer for this amp?

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