The (Un)Official Amp Thread For ZMF Headphones

[theveterans]

Well, I haven't had the luck to try any DNA amps yet and also just heard the HP8 briefly quite a while ago, but the Aegis sounds plenty dynamic to me. Certainly a lot more dynamic than any of the (also great but mellower) Cayin tube amps or OTLs I owned or heard.

DNA house sound is totally different than Aegis. It's not even about dynamics itself since both will slam and be crazy dynamic macro and micro, it's about the flow/plankton, tonality and presentation are totally different between the two. Preferences seriously matter at this level

 

[erics75]

DNA house sound is totally different than Aegis. It's not even about dynamics itself since both will slam and be crazy dynamic macro and micro, it's about the flow/plankton, tonality and presentation are totally different between the two. Preferences seriously matter at this level

Very well said.

I'll add this, as I struggle to put into words my thoughts and preferences, it may seem as if I view the Aegis negatively. That's not the case at all, it's still an endgame level amp to me. But as theveterans says, preferences are paramount at this level, and the DNA/Icon amps just sound different, better matching my preferences. The Aegis is highly refined, highly nuanced and expressive. That comes across as more delicate and ethereal to me, for lack of a better description. Still end game, I admit. But i like the DNA presentation which is more forward, lively, and powerful sounding. More extroverted, again, for lack of a better descriptor.

And we're talking subtleties here, not huge night and day differences. If the DNA is 99-100% there for me, the Aegis is 97-98%. In the end I'm trying to maximize my enjoyment, so that slight 1-2% difference can be enough to sway me one way or another. It's why I go through amps like water, i'm trying to find that final 1-2% that make me stop and say ok, this is enough. The Stratus does that, hence why everything I try will eventually have to be compared to it. The Stratus is my home amp, and i'm done looking for a home amp. The Aegis, Starlett, and Icon are all my attempts to get as close as possible to the Stratus at work. That's why i'm still buying when I already own my "this is enough" amp, it's to have that at work too. Space dictates a smaller profile, hence me not buying another Stratus.

So long winded way of me saying I do think the Aegis is a wonderful amp, a truly end game amp in general. It's just not hitting all my preferences as much as others do. I won't apologize for that.

 

[betula]

Very well said.

I'll add this, as I struggle to put into words my thoughts and preferences, it may seem as if I view the Aegis negatively. That's not the case at all, it's still an endgame level amp to me. But as theveterans says, preferences are paramount at this level, and the DNA/Icon amps just sound different, better matching my preferences. The Aegis is highly refined, highly nuanced and expressive. That comes across as more delicate and ethereal to me, for lack of a better description. Still end game, I admit. But i like the DNA presentation which is more forward, lively, and powerful sounding. More extroverted, again, for lack of a better descriptor.

And we're talking subtleties here, not huge night and day differences. If the DNA is 99-100% there for me, the Aegis is 97-98%. In the end I'm trying to maximize my enjoyment, so that slight 1-2% difference can be enough to sway me one way or another. It's why I go through amps like water, i'm trying to find that final 1-2% that make me stop and say ok, this is enough. The Stratus does that, hence why everything I try will eventually have to be compared to it. The Stratus is my home amp, and i'm done looking for a home amp. The Aegis, Starlett, and Icon are all my attempts to get as close as possible to the Stratus at work. That's why i'm still buying when I already own my "this is enough" amp, it's to have that at work too. Space dictates a smaller profile, hence me not buying another Stratus.

So long winded way of me saying I do think the Aegis is a wonderful amp, a truly end game amp in general. It's just not hitting all my preferences as much as others do. I won't apologize for that.

Nothing wrong with that, preferences differ. Who knows, maybe even I would prefer the Stratus to the Aegis. I hope to find out one day. But I have to say, there is an awful lot of potential in tube rolling on the Aegis.

 

[Pharmaboy]

I know, the HP8 is a fantastic and beloved amp, but that is one bold statement there. Especially, when you start tube rolling.

In my review of the Aegis with stock tubes (which I absolutely loved), I compared it at some length to my Icon Audio HP8 with my favorite set of NOS tubes in it. I wouldn't say the HP8 gets the better of the Aegis, but it certainly competes with it, and I mean competes on a high level.

Still, the Aegis is a bigger, stronger, more powerful amp. There's no getting around that. It could probably give the Abyss and Tungsten a pretty good ride, something I wouldn't ask my HP8 to do, though it, too, is a powerful tc-tube amp.

If memory serves, in my review I said the HP8 gets you 95% of the way torward the Aegis. That's pretty remarkable, given the different in size, weight, price, and tube count. I was sorely tempted to buy the Aegis (love that sound), but it just wasn't practical because of size, weight, and the potential cost of rolling all this NOS tubes. So I passed that loaner on, but was/am greatly comforted by how great the HP8 continues to be. I didn't lose a thing ... I just stayed with a terrific amp.

 

[theveterans]

Very well said.

I'll add this, as I struggle to put into words my thoughts and preferences, it may seem as if I view the Aegis negatively. That's not the case at all, it's still an endgame level amp to me. But as theveterans says, preferences are paramount at this level, and the DNA/Icon amps just sound different, better matching my preferences. The Aegis is highly refined, highly nuanced and expressive. That comes across as more delicate and ethereal to me, for lack of a better description. Still end game, I admit. But i like the DNA presentation which is more forward, lively, and powerful sounding. More extroverted, again, for lack of a better descriptor.

And we're talking subtleties here, not huge night and day differences. If the DNA is 99-100% there for me, the Aegis is 97-98%. In the end I'm trying to maximize my enjoyment, so that slight 1-2% difference can be enough to sway me one way or another. It's why I go through amps like water, i'm trying to find that final 1-2% that make me stop and say ok, this is enough. The Stratus does that, hence why everything I try will eventually have to be compared to it. The Stratus is my home amp, and i'm done looking for a home amp. The Aegis, Starlett, and Icon are all my attempts to get as close as possible to the Stratus at work. That's why i'm still buying when I already own my "this is enough" amp, it's to have that at work too. Space dictates a smaller profile, hence me not buying another Stratus.

So long winded way of me saying I do think the Aegis is a wonderful amp, a truly end game amp in general. It's just not hitting all my preferences as much as others do. I won't apologize for that.

We all know we love to chase that last 1% right hehe

Nothing wrong with that, preferences differ. Who knows, maybe even I would prefer the Stratus to the Aegis. I hope to find out one day. But I have to say, there is an awful lot of potential in tube rolling on the Aegis.

DNA amps are wired differently on the tubes even on rectifier. You can't just swap a bunch of rectifiers and expect them to work properly like the way they do on Aegis and ampsandsound

 

[G8torbyte]

In my review of the Aegis with stock tubes (which I absolutely loved), I compared it at some length to my Icon Audio HP8 with my favorite set of NOS tubes in it. I wouldn't say the HP8 gets the better of the Aegis, but it certainly competes with it, and I mean competes on a high level.

Still, the Aegis is a bigger, stronger, more powerful amp. There's no getting around that. It could probably give the Abyss and Tungsten a pretty good ride, something I wouldn't ask my HP8 to do, though it, too, is a powerful tc-tube amp.

If memory serves, in my review I said the HP8 gets you 95% of the way torward the Aegis. That's pretty remarkable, given the different in size, weight, price, and tube count. I was sorely tempted to buy the Aegis (love that sound), but it just wasn't practical because of size, weight, and the potential cost of rolling all this NOS tubes. So I passed that loaner on, but was/am greatly comforted by how great the HP8 continues to be. I didn't lose a thing ... I just stayed with a terrific amp.

The Aegis is impressive in sound and glorious to behold. I enjoy visiting with it at the CanJams in the ZMF room. After reading the excellent reviews including yours:
https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/zmfheadphones-aegis-amplifier.27206/reviews#review-33771,
I was pleased to know that the HP8 is a good performer too that has similar character. Likewise the Aegis is not practical for me due to space but maybe one day I'll have more room and when my son can help me move around a 50lb hoss of an amp.

 

[Pharmaboy]

when my son can help me move around a 50lb hoss of an amp

Brilliant of you to think years ahead and father a son!

 

[timbrehead]

Want to see where and how your much coveted NOS Mullard Blackburn valves were made?
While looking around for Mullard and Brimar information I happened upon this video:


Amazing the sophisticated automation used 60-70 years ago in making those Nos Mullard/Blackburn Ecc82/12au7a/red tips/long Plates you wish you were listening to right now.

Friends, just noticed that Upscale Audio has rare NOS Mullard and Brimar 12au7/ECC82 tubes in stock.

Mullard ECC82 / 12AU7 Special Low-Microphony with U-Shaped Support Rod​

Here: https://upscaleaudio.com/products/m...h-u-shaped-support-rod?variant=43197326262456

Brimar CV4003 / 12AU7​

Here: https://upscaleaudio.com/products/b...os=1&_sid=7353b54ab&_ss=r&variant=21831850821

Guess who is now happy he sat out the last ZMF drop ! !

 

[FLXI]

I found 32-ohm to be the absolute sweet spot when I had the CC on loan. I was running it from my Bigger Ben v2 (9-pin front-end).

Below that was still really nice so I don’t think you can go wrong there, just not as much tonal richness, and above that really smeared the treble response. So personally I would stay below 32.

Perfect, thank you!

 

[FLXI]

Anyone with Caldera and Hugo TT2 that tried using a 4pin Y-Splitter and taking the pre-out fron Hugo? I know this is a popular thing with peope who are using headphones that are hard to drive such as Susvara, but would there be benefits doing this with Caldera as well?

 

[theveterans]

Anyone with Caldera and Hugo TT2 that tried using a 4pin Y-Splitter and taking the pre-out fron Hugo? I know this is a popular thing with peope who are using headphones that are hard to drive such as Susvara, but would there be benefits doing this with Caldera as well?

Get the 2x XLR to 4 Pin that colors the sound so that the sound would be more lush than the front headphone out. Both 3 pin xlrs and the 6.3mm out for for Hugo TT2 are actually the same, it's the influence of the adapter that can alter the sound when you switch to the 3 pin xlr outs

 

[FLXI]

Get the 2x XLR to 4 Pin that colors the sound so that the sound would be more lush than the front headphone out. Both 3 pin xlrs and the 6.3mm out for for Hugo TT2 are actually the same, it's the influence of the adapter that can alter the sound when you switch to the 3 pin xlr outs

I’m in general a fan of SE connection and i do think that the bal thing is more of a gimmick, i don’t understand why people focus so much on it. In almost all cases I’ve preferred se connection between source and pre. In some cases I found bal better from pre to amp, I did a lot of testing.

But what I’m after here is if there is more power coming from the bal pre out and if that might give an other sonically impression. I wouldn’t mind a bit more base and punch.

 

[thingwfeathers]

I’m in general a fan of SE connection and i do think that the bal thing is more of a gimmick, i don’t understand why people focus so much on it. In almost all cases I’ve preferred se connection between source and pre. In some cases I found bal better from pre to amp, I did a lot of testing.

But what I’m after here is if there is more power coming from the bal pre out and if that might give an other sonically impression. I wouldn’t mind a bit more base and punch.

It comes down to the implementation. I have had some gear where the device is built with SE or balanced connections in mind and the other is thrown on for convenience. If done well, there shouldn't really be any difference but this is not always the case.

The biggest offender that I can think of is the SE output on the older Yggy.

 

[betula]

I’m in general a fan of SE connection and i do think that the bal thing is more of a gimmick, i don’t understand why people focus so much on it. In almost all cases I’ve preferred se connection between source and pre. In some cases I found bal better from pre to amp, I did a lot of testing.

But what I’m after here is if there is more power coming from the bal pre out and if that might give an other sonically impression. I wouldn’t mind a bit more base and punch.

It is all about the implementation and not about SE or BAL out. Judging an amplifier based on SE or BAL out feels like judging an Egyptian faraoh thomb based on the entrance. It depends on what you find inside.

 

[AnyDave]

It is all about the implementation and not about SE or BAL out. Judging an amplifier based on SE or BAL out feels like judging an Egyptian faraoh thomb based on the entrance. It depends on what you find inside.

Now you tell me. I wonder how many amazing Pharaoh tombs I've missed out on over the years.