[Drewligarchy]

Are these amps firmware upgradeable in the field by the end user - or do they need to be returned to the distributor?

Needs to be upgraded at the distributor.

 

[Vangelis]

I’m on the road with my Amp-23r with access to my manual. There doesn't appear to be a manual on line. How can I confirm that I have not inverted phase? The web site it suggests the volume control is involved in some respect.

 

[LarsMan]

I’m on the road with my Amp-23r with access to my manual. There doesn't appear to be a manual on line. How can I confirm that I have not inverted phase? The web site it suggests the volume control is involved in some respect.

I'm just now reading through the manual. The volume control business is that you hold the knob down for 3 seconds and then you can switch between high-gain and low-gain. The polarity they're talking about is just for speakers, and it's the same recommendation you'd get from any component for hooking up the speakers - it just concerns hooking up the speaker cables correctly, like-to-like.

 

[IanB52]

Has anyone been able to do a significant comparison against the Formula S+Powerman combo? I've been thinking about jumping ship from mine because after a week the bottom octave is lacking weight and consistency, esp on things like bass guitars with Diana TC and Empyrean. Otherwise I really like the XI, and I don't want to lose anything in terms of resolution, separation etc. A little more tone color, depth, and width could be nice as well.

I've always enjoyed zero feedback and current-based SS designs, but haven't heard the Enleum or Bakoon amps.

 

[LarsMan]

Has anyone been able to do a significant comparison against the Formula S+Powerman combo? I've been thinking about jumping ship from mine because after a week the bottom octave is lacking weight and consistency, esp on things like bass guitars with Diana TC and Empyrean. Otherwise I really like the XI, and I don't want to lose anything in terms of resolution, separation etc. A little more tone color, depth, and width could be nice as well.

I've always enjoyed zero feedback and current-based SS designs, but haven't heard the Enleum or Bakoon amps.

You might also have a look at the Ferrum Audio Hypsos/Oor stack (headphone amp and LPS), as it has all of what you're looking for, I think. I currently have both that and the Enleum in house....

 

[iFi audio]

Maybe they can enable some way for you to choose if you want it to reset to zero volume or stay at the last volume setting when its turned on.

If the manufacturer can alter how that amp behaves via a firmware update, the odds are that perhaps some button combinations on a remote control unit would allow one to cycle between these modes. The more people ask about that functionality, the higher the odds are that it will happen

 

[Drewligarchy]

Has anyone been able to do a significant comparison against the Formula S+Powerman combo? I've been thinking about jumping ship from mine because after a week the bottom octave is lacking weight and consistency, esp on things like bass guitars with Diana TC and Empyrean. Otherwise I really like the XI, and I don't want to lose anything in terms of resolution, separation etc. A little more tone color, depth, and width could be nice as well.

I've always enjoyed zero feedback and current-based SS designs, but haven't heard the Enleum or Bakoon amps.

I had a Formula S and Powerman for a year, and I think the 23r is significantly better. I didn't have them at the same time mind you, but I know what that amp sounds like. The 23r is faster, more liquid and more transparent. Soundstage and Bass quantity are about equal - but I never found the Formula S lacking in either with the Abyss. Bass quality on the 23r is better, fasture and more textured. When it comes down to it, IMO, the 23r is - overall - much more musical.

The 23r is easily the best solid state amp I've had by a fair margin - and the best one I've heard. These include an Auralic Taurs mkII, Violectric v281, Simaudio 230HAD, Formula S & Powerman and Benchmark HPA4. In my opinion the 23r is an upgrade from the Formula S, not just a different flavor.

 

[iFi audio]

The 23r is easily the best solid state amp I've had by a fair margin - and the best one I've heard. These include an Auralic Taurs mkII, Violectric v281, Simaudio 230HAD, Formula S & Powerman and Benchmark HPA4. In my opinion the 23r is an upgrade from the Formula S, not just a different flavor.

Upon reading your comment it's tempting to ask whether you had a chance to listen to Pro iCAN at any point in the past

 

[jlbrach]

Has anyone been able to do a significant comparison against the Formula S+Powerman combo? I've been thinking about jumping ship from mine because after a week the bottom octave is lacking weight and consistency, esp on things like bass guitars with Diana TC and Empyrean. Otherwise I really like the XI, and I don't want to lose anything in terms of resolution, separation etc. A little more tone color, depth, and width could be nice as well.

I've always enjoyed zero feedback and current-based SS designs, but haven't heard the Enleum or Bakoon amps.

I owned the diana phi and own the 1266 TC...the bottom end on both with the formula s/powerman is phenomenal for me so I am not sure what to say here...I am lucky enough to own the 13r which is essentially the same as the 23r and I use it with my susvara....the formula s combo is simply stunning with abyss HP's IMHO

 

[vonBaron]

I had a Formula S and Powerman for a year, and I think the 23r is significantly better. I didn't have them at the same time mind you, but I know what that amp sounds like. The 23r is faster, more liquid and more transparent. Soundstage and Bass quantity are about equal - but I never found the Formula S lacking in either with the Abyss. Bass quality on the 23r is better, fasture and more textured. When it comes down to it, IMO, the 23r is - overall - much more musical.

The 23r is easily the best solid state amp I've had by a fair margin - and the best one I've heard. These include an Auralic Taurs mkII, Violectric v281, Simaudio 230HAD, Formula S & Powerman and Benchmark HPA4. In my opinion the 23r is an upgrade from the Formula S, not just a different flavor.

You should try Niimbus.

 

[Drewligarchy]

You should try Niimbus.

Maybe will get a chance at CanJam. I can’t speak to it because I haven’t tried it. That said, I’m completely happy with the 23r.

 

[Drewligarchy]

Upon reading your comment it's tempting to ask whether you had a chance to listen to Pro iCAN at any point in the past

I demoed the Susvara with it at Audio46. It sounded great, but it was only a 10 minute audition - so I can’t fairly judge it. The thing that sticks with me is how expansive the stage is.

It got me to buy the Susvara, only to return when I wasn’t as happy with how it sounded on the v281. I then bought it later again, but it took the 23r to make me really appreciate it.

From the short time I demoed it, it’s a steal at its price.

Edit: it was a couple of years ago, so it may have been a previously model, if the Pro ICAN is new. That said, it looks the same.

 

[buzzlulu]

Someone located in Korea listed their 23R in the classifieds and claims there is a new firmware release targeting improved granularity in the volume control. Does anyone know about this? If true it appears that current units would need to go back to the distributor for updating?

Each time of firmware update comes out units will have to return to the distributor? This seems a little convoluted?

 

[Drewligarchy]

I owned the diana phi and own the 1266 TC...the bottom end on both with the formula s/powerman is phenomenal for me so I am not sure what to say here...I am lucky enough to own the 13r which is essentially the same as the 23r and I use it with my susvara....the formula s combo is simply stunning with abyss HP's IMHO

I agree that the Formula S sounds good with the Abyss - and it was tuned for it. That said, I think I prefer the Abyss on tubes. The problem I had with the Formula S was it accentuated the dryness of the Abyss, and I would get significant fatigue with it paired with Dave/MScaler. I seem to be sensitive with certain amps with the Abyss, and I didn’t experience that with the 23r or other solid state amps. Most who use the Formula S don’t seem to have the fatigue issue I did. I also felt it didn’t pair as well with headphones other than the Abyss.

That said, I primarily listen to the Abyss on a Wa33 and now a Wa33 Elite. It gave me the liquidity I was looking for, and is completely non-fatiguing for me.

 

[jlbrach]

I use the dave/blu2 with it and love it ..go figure