[plumpudding2]

I love the HM1 as a preamp so not having it kills a lot of my interest. Granted I paid for the full HM1 so wouldn't get it anyways.

Sonically it is amazing and the tone + stereo base controls make it a great and unique preamp, but I really value being able to set the preamp gain in decibels as it allows for volume consistency and level matching.
I've resorted to using HQPlayer digital volume control with the HM1 preamp turned all the way up, which works well enough.

 

[Nkam]

Sonically it is amazing and the tone + stereo base controls make it a great and unique preamp, but I really value being able to set the preamp gain in decibels as it allows for volume consistency and level matching.
I've resorted to using HQPlayer digital volume control with the HM1 preamp turned all the way up, which works well enough.

How good can a headphone amp get?

Legit question.

Is there a noticeable difference let’s say between the RME headphone amp and the ZAHL?
Could you pass a blind test?

Not trying to be snarky. I never tried such an expensive headphone amp.
I do have benchmark gear but not the HPA4. I have the LA4 and it’s amazing

Also I see you have the Ifi zen can. How does that compare ? It can’t sound 10 times less.

Cheers

 

[plumpudding2]

How good can a headphone amp get?

Is there a noticeable difference let’s say between the RME headphone amp and the ZAHL?
Could you pass a blind test?

Also I see you have the Ifi zen can. How does that compare ? It can’t sound 10 times less.

You ask some difficult to answer questions so you get a long slightly off-topic answer haha.

I have not done a blind test but I am not sure I would pass it. I very quickly get switching fatigue and everything sounds the same. The brain quickly adapts to a given standard so I feel like the most honest impression happens the first few songs after switching from a setup you've been using a while.
While visually switching from 4k 120hz to a 720p 60hz screen is jarring and horrible, I've found the brain is much more forgiving when switching audio gear.

Often if i'm visiting my parents and i've been listening to the RME for a weekend (it's so nice and portable!) I miss nothing in the sound, it sounds great. I've often thought: is my big stack at home really better than this? Then the moment I'm home again and put on the first song I get a big smile on my face.
The main difference for me between HM1 and the RME amp is that the HM1 makes me want to keep listening. It makes me head-bang, toe tap and air strum and everything sounds good, correct and not fatiguing.

The Zen Can certainly doesn't sound 10 times less. The Zen Can is a great little amplifier, but I wanted the best and according to a lot of trusted ears the HM1 was it. Cost me a year worth of savings but it brings me joy every day

 

[Nkam]

You ask some difficult to answer questions so you get a long slightly off-topic answer haha.

I have not done a blind test but I am not sure I would pass it. I very quickly get switching fatigue and everything sounds the same. The brain quickly adapts to a given standard so I feel like the most honest impression happens the first few songs after switching from a setup you've been using a while.
While visually switching from 4k 120hz to a 720p 60hz screen is jarring and horrible, I've found the brain is much more forgiving when switching audio gear.

Often if i'm visiting my parents and i've been listening to the RME for a weekend (it's so nice and portable!) I miss nothing in the sound, it sounds great. I've often thought: is my big stack at home really better than this? Then the moment I'm home again and put on the first song I get a big smile on my face.
The main difference for me between HM1 and the RME amp is that the HM1 makes me want to keep listening. It makes me head-bang, toe tap and air strum and everything sounds good, correct and not fatiguing.

The Zen Can certainly doesn't sound 10 times less. The Zen Can is a great little amplifier, but I wanted the best and according to a lot of trusted ears the HM1 was it. Cost me a year worth of savings but it brings me joy every day

Ha, thanks man!

Ok that makes more sense to me now.
I agree that the ears are much more odd than eyes. More quirky but sophisticated.

I was wondering since listening for differences between a headphone amp that doesn’t measure that well vs one that does is easier.
But listening to two which measure very well must be more difficult.
Funny thing is that I had the RME here for awhile and didn’t like it nearly as much as the Zen Can Sig I just bought. But that also could be for a number of factors. Who knows. Of course for most of everything the Zen Can measures very very well. Except for crosstalk. But that is mostly inaudible they say.

I was just wondering. How good can it get if two measure very well? If that makes sense. Like is the soundstage bigger on one? But that would mean somehow one is enhancing it.
Anyway, I think you know what I mean.
Tubes of course do sound different most of the time.

I guess it depends on topology of the amp.

Thanks man. 90% of my money goes to my speaker system, so I am trying to understand more of headphone stuff including amplifiers.

Cheers!

 

[hasnath]

I had a question about the balance control of the HM1, does it work if using the HM1 as a preamp and through the line out? I know the tone controls work but the Servo/Class A mode does not affect the line out signal, not sure if the balance control does either.

 

[Bkido]

I had a question about the balance control of the HM1, does it work if using the HM1 as a preamp and through the line out? I know the tone controls work but the Servo/Class A mode does not affect the line out signal, not sure if the balance control does either.

Yes the balance control also carries over to the pre outs.

 

[Frankie D]

Ha, thanks man!

Ok that makes more sense to me now.
I agree that the ears are much more odd than eyes. More quirky but sophisticated.

I was wondering since listening for differences between a headphone amp that doesn’t measure that well vs one that does is easier.
But listening to two which measure very well must be more difficult.
Funny thing is that I had the RME here for awhile and didn’t like it nearly as much as the Zen Can Sig I just bought. But that also could be for a number of factors. Who knows. Of course for most of everything the Zen Can measures very very well. Except for crosstalk. But that is mostly inaudible they say.

I was just wondering. How good can it get if two measure very well? If that makes sense. Like is the soundstage bigger on one? But that would mean somehow one is enhancing it.
Anyway, I think you know what I mean.
Tubes of course do sound different most of the time.

I guess it depends on topology of the amp.

Thanks man. 90% of my money goes to my speaker system, so I am trying to understand more of headphone stuff including amplifiers.

Cheers!

There are differences in amplifiers though typically not as great as some make them out to be. Obviously if you like a caramel colored tube sound, that will be very different from a more neutral amp which can be tube or solid state. I usually hear the biggest difference in the bass, but there are also different levels of warmth while still what I would call neutral ( here neutral encompasses a zone to me with width allowing for something neutral but brighter and something neutral but warmer). With the description I just mentioned, some might call the HM-1 ( still waiting on my own by the way ) more toward center neutral, though it can be adjusted to a degree and be both incisively neutral or have a touch of warmth. Now a Bliss would have a touch of warmth and the MK-465 a bit more warmth but still in the neutral zone. I also hear a bit more sustain on bass notes from the MK-465 vs the Bliss when using a Susvara. I cannot always hear this difference, but on some tracks I can. These are usually bass heavy tracks, but not necessarily. Sometimes I can hear a slight bit of added warmth or sweetening to a female voice. These are very slight, but can be something both heard in A-B comparisons and over time. With top amps these are just hair differences, but as audiophile we search for them.

 

[Nkam]

There are differences in amplifiers though typically not as great as some make them out to be. Obviously if you like a caramel colored tube sound, that will be very different from a more neutral amp which can be tube or solid state. I usually hear the biggest difference in the bass, but there are also different levels of warmth while still what I would call neutral ( here neutral encompasses a zone to me with width allowing for something neutral but brighter and something neutral but warmer). With the description I just mentioned, some might call the HM-1 ( still waiting on my own by the way ) more toward center neutral, though it can be adjusted to a degree and be both incisively neutral or have a touch of warmth. Now a Bliss would have a touch of warmth and the MK-465 a bit more warmth but still in the neutral zone. I also hear a bit more sustain on bass notes from the MK-465 vs the Bliss when using a Susvara. I cannot always hear this difference, but on some tracks I can. These are usually bass heavy tracks, but not necessarily. Sometimes I can hear a slight bit of added warmth or sweetening to a female voice. These are very slight, but can be something both heard in A-B comparisons and over time. With top amps these are just hair differences, but as audiophile we search for them.

Yeah I often wonder how different the sound is compared with let’s say a benchmark HPA-4 or even the headphone amp in the DAC3 which is supposed to measure super well also for a bunch of different impedance headphones.
Comparing those two to the Zahl that is.

 

[Frankie D]

Yeah I often wonder how different the sound is compared with let’s say a benchmark HPA-4 or even the headphone amp in the DAC3 which is supposed to measure super well also for a bunch of different impedance headphones.
Comparing those two to the Zahl that is.

Unfortunately I do not have an HPA-4 to test that for you. If you can get to the SoCal CanJam you can probably hear both for yourself. Obviously bring your HP if choice.

 

[unfitstew]

HM1 is more musical than hpa4 in my opinion. Hpa4 is on the cold side. I personally don't care for it. While HM1 is neutral but still on slightly musical side of neutral. I prefer it over the Bliss but if you do want more warmth than HM1 gives that is a good option. Bliss doesn't have the sheer grip over the drivers HM1has though.