[alekc]

Gain control is useful, but it's not something to change often. In most cases it'll remain untouchad after setting it once. On top of that we also have aesthetics. Some manufacturers (not us though want just bare minimum of buttons and knobs on their products, which is understandable too.

@iFi audio I find this opinion quite strange, especially from Pro iCan manufacturer who put gain selector in front of own amp (and god bless the designer for it). Never the less I find gain switch in Pro iCan one of the great features and I've been using it quite often due to different headphones I have. At the same time the placement of gain selectors in Niimbus line of amps kept me away from those but I can understand why owners of Susvara or Abbys cans can setup one gain level and live with it unchanged happily after.

 

[number1sixerfan]

For speakers it's really not a user experience issue, you typically have one set of speakers and set and forget it. For headphones, most users have more than one and it's a really annoying experience not to have gain switches easily accessible.

An option only controllable by remote seems especially terrible as remotes are lost often, batteries die etc. That said, transparently, I've been interested in hearing the Enleum and think it seems like a fine amp based on everything I've read.

 

[SteveM324]

I’ve had my 23R well over a year and I’ve had no issues changing the gain. I have hard to drive and efficient headphones. Not an issue for me.

 

[iFi audio]

For speakers it's really not a user experience issue, you typically have one set of speakers and set and forget it. For headphones, most users have more than one and it's a really annoying experience not to have gain switches easily accessible.

OK, that's what I had in mind. When I look at that Enleum amp, I see primarily a device meant for speakers. But I agree that users who have multiple cans/IEMs have different needs. Hope this makes things a bit clear on my end, thanks!

 

[OrenT]

Delete (sorry)

 

[RustyGates]

Ok...after having the Enleum o

?

 

[OrenT]

?

Ha..how did that upload? My bad. I had the Enleum on a 2 day loaner and started writing my impression. Hopefully i'll continue tomorrow.

 

[iFi audio]

Ha..how did that upload? My bad. I had the Enleum on a 2 day loaner and started writing my impression. Hopefully i'll continue tomorrow.

Yeah, I was wondering about your post too and I suspected that something didn't upload. Thanks for clarifying!

 

[wbass]

Question: Is the volume pot on the Amp-23R stepped? If so, how many usable steps does it seem to have on high or low gain (with speakers or HPs)? Apologies if this has been addressed previously in the thread. A search shows that the question may have been posed, but I didn't see any definite answers. Thanks.

 

[OrenT]

Yeah, I was wondering about your post too and I suspected that something didn't upload. Thanks for clarifying!

Yes. Not one of my better posts

 

[OrenT]

Anyway- here it is. My totally non-audiophile lingo impressions after a 2 day loaner:
I had no doubts that the Enleum would work great with my Susvara. And of course, it did. That said, i couldn't make out any truly radical differences between the Enleum and my Flux Volot. Both sounded great. So, if it was merely an issue of "what headphone amp is better", i could definitely continue living with the Volot, declare it end game and call it a day.
But what really amazed me was how good the Enleum sounded with my Klipsch RF7 iii floorstanding speakers compared to my integrated Yamaha AS 2200. Like others have said in reviews- with high efficiency speakers, something magical is going on here. A 4.5kg amp at 25 watts sounding better than a 23kg amp at 90 watts?? This is crazy.
Bottom line- i will probably end up taking the Enleum. But not only because of its capabilities as a HP amp, but mainly for what it also does with speakers, making it a great all in one solution besting the combined advantages of my two seperate HP and 2-channel amps.
Cheers.

 

[iFi audio]

A 4.5kg amp at 25 watts sounding better than a 23kg amp at 90 watts?? This is crazy.

I can't say that I'm surprised considering your speakers

Question: Is the volume pot on the Amp-23R stepped? If so, how many usable steps does it seem to have on high or low gain (with speakers or HPs)? Apologies if this has been addressed previously in the thread. A search shows that the question may have been posed, but I didn't see any definite answers. Thanks.

It's probably 63 steps from what I've read.

 

[rdbogdan]

Had The Enleum from some time alongside with the Ferrum stack, fed from R26/SU-6 into Susvara and Abyss AB TC. I sold the Ferrum stack after a while, I consider the little Amp 23-R to be on a different level (and no problems with midrange as per some shared impressions). Being very transparent, dac choice would matter in that regard probably more than assumed. Excellent pairing with both cans

 

[RustyGates]

Had The Enleum from some time alongside with the Ferrum stack, fed from R26/SU-6 into Susvara and Abyss AB TC. I sold the Ferrum stack after a while, I consider the little Amp 23-R to be on a different level (and no problems with midrange as per some shared impressions). Being very transparent, dac choice would matter in that regard probably more than assumed. Excellent pairing with both cans

Nice set-up!

What's the Serial# of your AMP-23R btw?

I think Convincemeaudio and Golden reviewed the same unit or similar units with SN AXXX

 

[rdbogdan]

Nice set-up!

What's the Serial# of your AMP-23R btw?

I think Convincemeaudio and Golden reviewed the same unit or similar units with SN AXXX

Thank you! Not sure about serial , will check when at home, anyway mine is from first batch but was sent for upgrade firmware . So the serial number would not matter anymore after the upgrade i guess