The New Enleum AMP-23R Amplifier (Successor to Bakoon AMP-13R) Thread

[XERO1]

There is an excellent review of the 23R on 6moons from Frederic Beudot.

https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/enleum-amp-23r-3rd-opinion/

He discusses how much trouble he's had finding the perfect amp to pair with his very finicky crossover-less, wide-band driver speakers (which are actually quite similar to a dynamic driver headphone in many ways). I think he really nails how wonderful sounding this amp truly is and how it surpassed the SQ of just about every other high-end, low powered amp (tube and SS) that he has tried.

 

[Inoculator]

By chance has anyone had the opportunity to try the ModHouse Tungsten on the Enleum yet? I am considering jumping into the queue for one but wondering where people might be landing on single magnet vs double magnet version for use with the Enleum specifically.

 

[jmanpd]

Just got one of these beauties used. AXXX serial number but it just came back from being serviced (not sure if the version variation is a thing).

This is the highest price point amp I've heard but wow.... Not sure I can imagine any thing better. Pairs perfect with my Susvaras and VCs.

The remote is awesome too. Would love to use these on speakers one day - maybe some Kef metas. Or if anyone else has good pairings pls comment!

 

[Naimmuso]

Just got one of these beauties used. AXXX serial number but it just came back from being serviced (not sure if the version variation is a thing).

This is the highest price point amp I've heard but wow.... Not sure I can imagine any thing better. Pairs perfect with my Susvaras and VCs.

The remote is awesome too. Would love to use these on speakers one day - maybe some Kef metas. Or if anyone else has good pairings pls comment!

I used Buchardt s400 mk 2 with mine ,it was an amazing match

 

[cedric79]

Well if anyone needs a nice pair of speakers for the fantastic 23R, I am letting go of a pair of Magico A1, with stands and grilles, it’s a steal:

https://www.aussieaudiomart.com/det...h-sound-anchors-signature-stands-and-grilles/

If you based in Australia definitely worth considering!

 

[DLegendary0ne]

Does anyone have experience with both the 23R and the AHB2, specifically with the Susvara? I'm considering both options but have heard neither. Thanks.

Bumping this question as I have the same one. If someone has 2 in monoblock setup, even better

 

[RustyGates]

Bumping this question as I have the same one. If someone has 2 in monoblock setup, even better

From SoundNews:

When Hifiman Susvara hopped on my head, I already knew what’s going to follow, as for about a week I’m listening to this exact configuration. When it comes to solid-state amplifiers, AMP-23R made a perfect match with Susvara, improving everything I love about them. AMP-23R was in the same league as driving them with two Benchmark AHB2 power amplifiers. I’ve got the same engagement factor, the same bottomless bass performance, the same iron grip over their drivers, but this time around a little more soul and emotion was pouring from my music. There was more energy building up in the midrange and I’ve got the most impressive treble delivery – crystal clear and defined and yet brightness free. Long story short, if you’re searching for an ultimate and no-compromise solid-state amplifier for your Hifiman Susvara, this is The One! In the latest chapters of this review, I will be comparing it with top-grade headphone amplifiers, please keep a watchful eye for that.

 

[SteveM324]

Bumping this question as I have the same one. If someone has 2 in monoblock setup, even better

I had both, and I preferred the 23R. I only had one AHB2 but I don't think 2 would have made much difference since it was the sound characteristic of the AHB2 that I never warmed up to. I tried the Benchmark amp with several preamps including the LTA reference preamp, Woo Audio WA23 Luna, and the Holo Audio Serene. I would agree with the reviewer quoted in the post above regarding more soul and emotion from the 23R in comparison to the AHB2 using my Susvara. I ended up selling the AHB2 but before I did, I also tried it as speaker amp and I got the same results with a pair of Klipsch Cornwall IV and my Sterling Broadcast LS3/6. I easily preferred the 23R to the AHB2 for both headphones and speakers.

The AHB2 is on the bottom shelf in the rack on the right in my upstairs system.

The 23R in my basement system along with the Auris Nirvana tube headphone amp. I liked the 23R driving my Cornwall IV speakers but I liked the First Watt F7 even more. When using my 23R for headphones, I prefer using a vacuum tube preamp in front of it. I've tried 23R with 2 tube preamps, the Woo Audio WA23 used as a preamp and my Aric Audio Motherlode XL. For my preferences, both tube preamps improved the 23R's midrange and expanded its soundstage considerably.

 

[Haruhiiste]

Hey guys, I'm a new Enleum amp-23R owner as of today!

I'm delighted with it as a headphone amplifier, but I would like to try it with some passive speakers (up until now I was using active ones, acoustic energy ae1 active).

I really like the atc sound profil, do you think about the 23r would be up to task to power a pair of atc scm20psl mk2 in a very small 13sqm room with a lot of filled up bookshelves on the side? Or do I risk clipping/flat dynamic less sound?

Thanks in advance for the help!

 

[SteveM324]

Hey guys, I'm a new Enleum amp-23R owner as of today!

I'm delighted with it as a headphone amplifier, but I would like to try it with some passive speakers (up until now I was using active ones, acoustic energy ae1 active).

I really like the atc sound profil, do you think about the 23r would be up to task to power a pair of atc scm20psl mk2 in a very small 13sqm room with a lot of filled up bookshelves on the side? Or do I risk clipping/flat dynamic less sound?

Thanks in advance for the help!

I don't think that would be a great match. I couldn't find its sensitivity rating but ATC recommends 75 to 300 W/Ch. The specifications for that speaker only gives a nominal impedance but not a minimum. I would try to find a high efficiency speaker to mate with the 23R. I used my 23R to drive my Klipsch Cornwall IV with good success. It ultimately wasn't my favorite amp for the CW IV but it did a pretty good job driving them. The 23R is small enough that you could take it to nearby audio stores and try it with several different speakers.

 

[Naimmuso]

I don't think that would be a great match. I couldn't find its sensitivity rating but ATC recommends 75 to 300 W/Ch. The specifications for that speaker only gives a nominal impedance but not a minimum. I would try to find a high efficiency speaker to mate with the 23R. I used my 23R to drive my Klipsch Cornwall IV with good success. It ultimately wasn't my favorite amp for the CW IV but it did a pretty good job driving them. The 23R is small enough that you could take it to nearby audio stores and try it with several different speakers.

Hi there ,I drove Buchardt s400 mk 2 perfectly with Enleum ,they were sublime but it wouldn't drive my replacement speakers Raidho X1 ,I had to buy mono blocks ,Raidho are 85 dB so tough to drive but anything 88db plus be fab ,it is an amazing headphone amp though ,WOW

 

[Haruhiiste]

Apparently the scm20 have sensitivity of around 83db at 8ohm :/ does look like I made a mistake ahah

I'm hesitating between trying a master 10 to drive these atc or change speaker directly... Any recommendations of speaker great with Enleum that would be perfect for a small room, and to listen primarily to opera, acoustic music, vocals and film music (Hans Zimmer, Video Game full symphonic orchestra composition etc)? I like crystal clear transparency but with emotionally engaging low end (if not film music sound dull and instruments not real) ^^

Thanks guys!

 

[SteveM324]

Hi there ,I drove Buchardt s400 mk 2 perfectly with Enleum ,they were sublime but it wouldn't drive my replacement speakers Raidho X1 ,I had to buy mono blocks ,Raidho are 85 dB so tough to drive but anything 88db plus be fab ,it is an amazing headphone amp though ,WOW

Its more than sensitivity rating that counts when pairing an amp to speakers. The impedance matters just as much. If the impedance drops far below 4 ohms within the audible frequencies, then the speaker will demand a lot of current and the 23R might not be up to the task.

 

[Naimmuso]

Apparently the scm20 have sensitivity of around 83db at 8ohm :/ does look like I made a mistake ahah

I'm hesitating between trying a master 10 to drive these atc or change speaker directly... Any recommendations of speaker great with Enleum that would be perfect for a small room, and to listen primarily to opera, acoustic music, vocals and film music (Hans Zimmer, Video Game full symphonic orchestra composition etc)? I like crystal clear transparency but with emotionally engaging low end (if not film music sound dull and instruments not real) ^^

Thanks guys!

I had ogy speaker was thin and awful ,audio physics classic 25 floorstander was very good but Buchardt was an amazing speaker and I miss its bass ,Buchardt is open great stage images wonderfully and has a fab midrange ,an absolute steal ,I can't recommend it highly enough with the Enleum ,I used them together for a year and probably shouldn't have broken the combination,although I slightly prefer the mono blocks and Raidho ,it's very close and some may prefer the Buchardt ,Enleum combo

 

[Haruhiiste]

I had ogy speaker was thin and awful ,audio physics classic 25 floorstander was very good but Buchardt was an amazing speaker and I miss its bass ,Buchardt is open great stage images wonderfully and has a fab midrange ,an absolute steal ,I can't recommend it highly enough with the Enleum ,I used them together for a year and probably shouldn't have broken the combination,although I slightly prefer the mono blocks and Raidho ,it's very close and some may prefer the Buchardt ,Enleum combo

The buchardt sp400 seem to have a huge bass diffusion system on the back, I fear I might need to get them far from the wall and it's not very convenient in a small room, even if it's a bit more long than it's large?