[hifixman]

I admit I’m a big fat liar especially I just announced that I’m out of this hobby after having my end game system yesterday.

But why the * a local dealer approaching me today, so I pulled the trigger for 845, my second Viva…because my guts telling me it would be perfect with Mytek Empire… as I did find one weakness of Empire that I think Viva could fix.

I know SUS has two sides: it could be trained as a dynamic monster planar as Abyss but it could also sound as a delicate electrostatic like headphone… in particular it seems as I couldn’t find an electrostatic can that up to my standard. Therefore I’m going to have an electrostatic like planar system.

In its preamp bypass mode, the addition of a dedicated preamp must give more power and dynamics to drive Susvara. I would be very concerned of using any Viva speaker amp to drive SUS due to its famous noise as well as the danger of excessive power. In the worst case, it still is the end game amp for Sennheiser hd800…

Gosh my rack will be a crazy headphone show…

 

[Axel]

But why the * a local dealer approaching me today, so I pulled the trigger for 845, my second Viva

Congrats!

… in particular it seems as I couldn’t find an electrostatic can that up to my standard.

Did you try the CRBN? I've just received mine, and so far, I highly enjoy it. It has a planar-like sound but with some perks of electrostatics.

 

[Ragnar-BY]

I know SUS has two sides: it could be trained as a dynamic monster planar as Abyss

That’s interesting Would you be so kind to give an example of such system?

 

[hifixman]

SUS is my fave. It has the membrane and coating thin and light as TOTL electrostatic cans which is less than a millionth of a meter and extremely low mass while dynamic enough with the stealth magnet planar design. So it is natural that it shares features of the best in both worlds, with the potentials of various sonic presentations.

A. SUS with abyss like presentation:
Woo Wa23 Luna headphone stand alone
or
Woo Wa23 Luna Pre + Riviera AFC Power Amp ( my current amp configuration)
or
Wells Audio Headtrip III Mono Blocks
( For the Woo W234 Mono Blocks with pre war 300B tube, I haven’t listened myself YET so I prefer not to comment)

B. SUS with electrostatic like presentation:

Headamp GS Mark2!!!!!!!!!

Viva 845 + Mytek Empire


( The third system I am building, waiting to be experimented)

I have actually heard electrostatic like trebles and high extensions even with Riviera stand alone with Dana Sapphire interconnect cable as well as DH labs Red Wave power cable. Well Audio Headtrip II also have the clarity and electrostatic like trebles with Susvara. I even got some electrostatic vibes tonight after just switching a different power cable on my pre amp in my current system. Again it is also dependent on how do you define electrostatic like sound.

The most electrostatic amp configuration in my opinion must be Headamp GS Mark II!

If speed, fast transients, clarity, and high extensions are the priority factors for electrostatic trait, Solid state amp Headamp GS mark II is the most electrostatic like headphone amp which can give you that best speed, clarity, air, headroom on top of stunning high extensions and trebles similar to electrostatic sonic features. That amp has been the one most underestimated in my opinion due to lack of marketing @justin w. especially considering how well it could also be paired up with the source af the highest ceiling as MSB DACs.

Personal speaking, maybe I’m just insatiable as I always always wonder the what if… even I know Viva 845 headphone amp will be much less likely to catch up with my current system. I believe even for someone who heard everything which is hard to exist, there could still be surprises and potentials unexpected with a different combination, therefore I just have to try myself by owning it instead of purely assuming or imagining. One thing I’m sure is that I like TOTL amp designs! Plus I still haven’t found a 300B amp good enough to me and my SUS.

 

[hifixman]

845 in the house!

 

[donato]

845 in the house!

Congrats! I'll be interested to hear about your impressions with Susvara. 845 definitely benefits from tube rolling.

 

[hifixman]

Congrats! I'll be interested to hear about your impressions with Susvara. 845 definitely benefits from tube rolling.

Any recommendations please? Normally I’m not a tube rolling guy yet I agree with you in this case that viva needs some tube colorization lol

 

[donato]

Any recommendations please? Normally I’m not a tube rolling guy yet I agree with you in this case that viva needs some tube colorization lol

I'm currently using the Acme 845 which i liked better than the stock or the T-series. I haven't yet tried Elrog, although I would like to at some point. On the input side, I'm using a Melz 1578 (don't remember the vintage offhand).

 

[hifixman]

 

[hifixman]

The Grimm MU1 pairs so well with Viva 845, giving it better 3D spatial presentation with enhanced mid bass. It made me believe Viva 845 will also pair stunningly with the Linn Selekt Streamer.

845 owners, What source do you use with your Viva?

 

[nivram51]

The Grimm MU1 pairs so well with Viva 845, giving it better 3D spatial presentation with enhanced mid bass. It made me believe Viva 845 will also pair stunningly with the Linn Selekt Streamer.

845 owners, What source do you use with your Viva?

I use a MacBook Usb via Chord MScaler and TT2, or a A&K SP3000 line out. Now I added a Hiby RS8, I'm pretty happy with this last one

 

[hifixman]

I use a MacBook Usb via Chord MScaler and TT2, or a A&K SP3000 line out

Makes sense

 

[hifixman]

Sharing the same source, I was listening to my electrostatic system in the first half of night. Being immersed in music so much so that I thought I was still listening to the electrostatic setup even after switching to Viva& HD800s.
Crazy…
OG TOTL amps match best with OG cans.

 

[donato]

New fire bottles

 

[saturdayboy]

New fire bottles

Whoa!! how do they sound?