Why no love for PPA?

[kramer5150]

I'm really enjoying mine, with the bass boost too. Seems to add air, separation and a sense of detail to a lot of my tunes.

It doesn't seem too popular.

????

 

[supermite]

People just follow the moment's fashion. Why not create a new one

 

[Epicurean]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kramer5150 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Seems to add air, separation and a sense of detail to a lot of my tunes.

...and very tight, punchy bass and is overall very musically satisfying. In fact, I find it hard to find any faults in it at all. It definately deserves more attention. With senns, it is a match made in heaven.

 

[Jam_Master_J]

I too liked the PPA I auditioned, seems like a solid amp.

 

[tbonner1]

I liked the PPA as it brightened up the Senn 650's a bit. I seem to remember the V2 version was replaced by the M3 as the DIY flavor of the month which I preferred to the PPA.

These amps sold for around $300 by a few Headfi builders depending on the parts used. They seem to have been replaced by a flood of good chinese products for less money.

 

[en480c4]

IMO the PPA v2 is an amazing amp, especially when paired with a STEPS & the 637/627 opamps. It has great synergy with the Senns and really brings them to life. It has a very well-balanced presentation with excellent bass extension and detail, smooth and detailed highs and a full midrange. I had both the M^3 and PPA v2 for a while and I definitely preferred the PPA with the 580/600/650. I only sold mine because I found myself listening to my HF-1 more and couldn't justify keeping it once I sold my 650s.

I'm guessing it's not more popular for a number of reasons. It's definitely not the newest thing out there, which puts it off of a lot of people's radar. And it's not a cheap build, so people are more willing to spend the same amount of money on what would be an inferior commercial offering. It's also a difficult amp to troubleshoot. The onboard diamond buffers have a lot of components to check if there are any issues, and the board is very tight, so assembly isn't easy. But it's a great amp and one that should provide an amazing performance to price ratio.

 

[supermite]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tbonner1 /img/forum/go_quote.gif They seem to have been replaced by a flood of good chinese products for less money.

That's a good point.

 

[ecclesand]

Other than the FS forum, how can someone get ahold of a PPA amp...other than building it? I should be getting my Headsave Classic amp (with the AD8620/8610 op-amps) that I bought from a fellow head-fier soon, but I've been curious about the PPA....

 

[Solitary1]

Two or 3 years ago it was the thing, it's been replaced by the new thing. These days it's the Heed CanAmp.

 

[supermite]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solitary1 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Two or 3 years ago it was the thing, it's been replaced by the new thing. These days it's the Heed CanAmp.

C'mon, that doesn't make it no-thing.

 

[Solitary1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by supermite /img/forum/go_quote.gif C'mon, that doesn't make it no-thing.

Was that funny?

 

[socrates63]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kramer5150 /img/forum/go_quote.gif It doesn't seem too popular.

It's too bad DIY amps are not more popular. I got turned on to DIY designs after my experience with the PINT. My current main amp is a Rockhopper M^3. I've always been interested in the PPA, and now that I have repurchased a HD600, I hope I have the chance to listen to a PPA.

Probably more than anything else, marketing is the problem. No one actively markets these amps. We all know the success of RSA, Headroom and Singlepower and how active they are in terms of marketing. These days, it seems everyone is making great gear, so marketing and distribution are what will separate one amp from another.

And speaking of distribution, unless you're in the know, it can be a mystery to acquire a new DIY amp without building one yourself -- case in point, ecclesand.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ecclesand /img/forum/go_quote.gif Other than the FS forum, how can someone get ahold of a PPA amp...other than building it? I should be getting my Headsave Classic amp (with the AD8620/8610 op-amps) that I bought from a fellow head-fier soon, but I've been curious about the PPA....

ecclesand, start with Mister X. He's the only commercial builder that I am aware of at the moment. I'm sure there are others.

 

[ecclesand]

Quote:

Originally Posted by socrates63 /img/forum/go_quote.gif It's too bad DIY amps are not more popular. I got turned on to DIY designs after my experience with the PINT. My current main amp is a Rockhopper M^3. I've always been interested in the PPA, and now that I have repurchased a HD600, I hope I have the chance to listen to a PPA. Probably more than anything else, marketing is the problem. No one actively markets these amps. We all know the success of RSA, Headroom and Singlepower and how active they are in terms of marketing. These days, it seems everyone is making great gear, so marketing and distribution are what will separate one amp from another. And speaking of distribution, unless you're in the know, it can be a mystery to acquire a new DIY amp without building one yourself -- case in point, ecclesand. ecclesand, start with Mister X. He's the only commercial builder that I am aware of at the moment. I'm sure there are others.

Thank you kindly!

 

[supermite]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solitary1 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Was that funny?

Sorry if it was unclear. I'd say it was 75% funny, 15% no.

 

[chesebert]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tbonner1 /img/forum/go_quote.gif They seem to have been replaced by a flood of good chinese products for less money.

Like what?