[smodtactical]

I think V281 is the best amp under $2K. It is so good for the price and pairs well w/ every headphone.

What other amps have you heard ?

 

[Fegefeuer]

Does this amp produce live remixes due to all that cabling? Abysmal workmanship and wiring.

 

[apollogreed]

Has anyone here picked up and experimented with aftermarket power cords for their V281?

 

[Pharmaboy]

I sorta/kinda did. Just due to component confusion on desktop, pretty sure the V281's stock cable is plugged into something else now, and a Magic Power cable (by Signal Cable) is plugged into the V281. I never noticed any difference.

Then again, the V281 is so over-engineered & -built that it may be more impervious to subtle power cable distinctions than other audio gear.

 

[Fegefeuer]

You have "trash" lines running through your house, building and suddenly a power cable should make a difference? How is that supposed to happen?

If you want better, cleaner power then try power conditioning. Helped in my case for instance and made a difference. Not for the V281 but for the GumBy.

 

[Cobold]

Has anyone here picked up and experimented with aftermarket power cords for their V281?

I use Isotek Aquarius with Isotek Elite cable.
For me this shows the quality of V281 even better.

 

[Fegefeuer]

Heard a lot of good things about the Isotek but it surely has its price. Separate filters for each connector is mandatory.

I'm using the Furman AC-210 El Cheapo method and it worked. However I recommend only one device per Furman. Two devices go through the same filtration (since it's shared) and ultimately suffer.

 

[Cobold]

I recently had the chance to try the Pass HPA-1 in my chain.
To make it short. Fairly disappointing to my ears.
I did the comparision to V281 with different headphones but always the V281 showed more dynamics more clarity more subtleties in the music.
This was absolutely not what I expected.
V281 has remote control, balanced in and output and the lower price tag.
I really expected more from the big name Pass.

 

[koven]

I recently had the chance to try the Pass HPA-1 in my chain.
To make it short. Fairly disappointing to my ears.
I did the comparision to V281 with different headphones but always the V281 showed more dynamics more clarity more subtleties in the music.
This was absolutely not what I expected.
V281 has remote control, balanced in and output and the lower price tag.
I really expected more from the big name Pass.

I had a similar experience.. except it was with the Moon 430HA instead of HPA-1. V281 is a bargain, superb bang for buck.

 

[jlbrach]

agreed,the 281 is as good as it gets unless you spend far more money...i use it with my dave/blu2 combo and my susvara and occasionally my abyss phi

 

[sahmen]

agreed,the 281 is as good as it gets unless you spend far more money...i use it with my dave/blu2 combo and my susvara and occasionally my abyss phi

Nice to hear... Do you consider the V281 to be optimal, or near-to-optimal for the Susvara and the Abyss Phi, as compared to other amps you're familiar with?

 

[jlbrach]

I had moon 430 and the 281 is better. The 281 is the equal of anything I have heard less than 5k. Others may disagree

 

[sahmen]

Good to know... I have both the Susvara and the Abyss Phi on my wishlist, so it encouraging to know I wouldn't need to go amp-hunting were I to acquire one of those two eventually.

 

[Badas]

I had moon 430 and the 281 is better. The 281 is the equal of anything I have heard less than 5k. Others may disagree

I found the 430 was seriously rolled off. I could hear hiss recording tape on the V281 and it wasn't there on the 430. Hell I could hear the hiss of the tape even on my tube amp. So the 430 was seriously scrubbing off treble detail. Not good for a SS amp.

 

[Badas]

I had moon 430 and the 281 is better. The 281 is the equal of anything I have heard less than 5k. Others may disagree

I found the 430 was seriously rolled off. I could hear hiss recording tape on the V281 and it wasn't there on the 430. Hell I could hear the hiss of the tape even on my tube amp. So the 430 was seriously scrubbing off treble detail. Not good for a SS amp.