Hopstretch Posted September 19, 2016 Report Share Posted September 19, 2016 Yes yes, but which portable amp should I get to power my new Utopias -- the minifartZ XT2.2 or the Happystyle Pooku Yay? Opinions appear to differ on HF. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skullguise Posted September 19, 2016 Report Share Posted September 19, 2016 All amps sound the same, you could go Happy or Fart...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purk Posted September 19, 2016 Report Share Posted September 19, 2016 (edited) 3 hours ago, skullguise said: All amps sound the same, you could go Happy or Fart...... According to Tyll, they are within 5% of one another. Between amps not Fart. Edited September 19, 2016 by purk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dusty Chalk Posted September 19, 2016 Report Share Posted September 19, 2016 6 hours ago, Hopstretch said: Yes yes, but which portable amp should I get to power my new Utopias -- the minifartZ XT2.2 or the Happystyle Pooku Yay? Opinions appear to differ on HF. Happystyle Pooku Yay just for the delightful name. I mean, just think about "presentation" -- you'll be smiling before you even put them on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpelg Posted September 20, 2016 Report Share Posted September 20, 2016 In all seriousness, I always wonder what headphone makers use as amplification (and source(s)) during the development of TOTL reference cans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EdipisReks1 Posted September 20, 2016 Report Share Posted September 20, 2016 7 minutes ago, jpelg said: In all seriousness, I always wonder what headphone makers use as amplification (and source(s)) during the development of TOTL reference cans. Me too, this is an excellent question. Amplification and source. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stax fart Posted September 20, 2016 Report Share Posted September 20, 2016 (edited) Knowing Focal, probably Naim DAC-V1 (Focal and Naim merged in 2011, and Focal always use Naim gear to demo their speakers) Edited September 20, 2016 by stax fart 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wink Posted September 20, 2016 Report Share Posted September 20, 2016 6 hours ago, jpelg said: In all seriousness, I always wonder what headphone makers use as amplification (and source(s)) during the development of TOTL reference cans. It would just have to be the Objectiv2 and ODAC. I mean, figures don't lie - do they.......? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RudeWolf Posted September 20, 2016 Report Share Posted September 20, 2016 Only hips don't EVER lie! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig Sawyers Posted September 20, 2016 Report Share Posted September 20, 2016 The guy who is electronics design director at NAIM is called Steve Sells. Way back, I recruited him from University into Cambridge Audio, when he was already a power amplifier designer of some capability. After a short while, we moved that into Wharfedale, where we planned to re-launch the LEAK brand. I asked him to design the best power amp he possibly could, price no compromise. I told him that we had to out-Krell Krell, and if he felt that silver wired mains power transformers were essential, he could have them (he didn't - phew!). This was a superb animal, balanced input, bridged FET output monoblocks that would push 800W into 2 ohms, each with three mains transformers (two huge ones + and - for power transistors, and a single higher voltage one for the input amplifiers). Fast forward three decades, and NAIM told him the same thing, best possible no holds barred - Statement was the result. Not for those with less than seven figure salaries. An awesome audio tour de force. Have a look at this: 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swt61 Posted September 20, 2016 Report Share Posted September 20, 2016 10 hours ago, stax fart said: What's in a Naim? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wink Posted September 20, 2016 Report Share Posted September 20, 2016 An onion by any other naim smells just as volatile 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpelg Posted September 21, 2016 Report Share Posted September 21, 2016 22 hours ago, stax fart said: Knowing Focal, probably Naim DAC-V1 (Focal and Naim merged in 2011, and Focal always use Naim gear to demo their speakers) 17 hours ago, wink said: It would just have to be the Objectiv2 and ODAC. Whatever they use, could one presume that that particular combination yields the ideal sound signature they were striving for? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wink Posted September 21, 2016 Report Share Posted September 21, 2016 A perfect amp and/or transducer would never yield an ideal sound signature to all us imperfect hearers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig Sawyers Posted September 21, 2016 Report Share Posted September 21, 2016 1 hour ago, wink said: to all us imperfect hearers. Pardon? 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dusty Chalk Posted September 21, 2016 Report Share Posted September 21, 2016 1 hour ago, wink said: A perfect amp and/or transducer would never yield an ideal sound signature to all us imperfect hearers. But it would presumably impart their intent, I think was his point. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wink Posted September 21, 2016 Report Share Posted September 21, 2016 At the end of the day the manufacturers produce the "sonic signature" that they believe is either "wire with gain" or of a colour/flavour they think will garner the most sales. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dusty Chalk Posted September 21, 2016 Report Share Posted September 21, 2016 Why even post that? I think we all know that. I think his point was that if you believe in the manufacturer's aural vision , then the best way to achieve it might be to find the same source and amplification. The way you said it takes all the art out of it. Now I don't personally believe that all manufacturers of high end audio are artists, but I think at least several of them succeed. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarlSeibert Posted September 22, 2016 Report Share Posted September 22, 2016 Craig, I got to hear that amp a while back. It is what they say it is. Very, very nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wink Posted September 22, 2016 Report Share Posted September 22, 2016 16 hours ago, Dusty Chalk said: Why even post that? I think we all know that. I think his point was that if you believe in the manufacturer's aural vision , then the best way to achieve it might be to find the same source and amplification. The way you said it takes all the art out of it. Now I don't presonally believe that all manufacturers of high end audio are con-artists, but I think at least several of them succeed. FTFY. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dusty Chalk Posted September 22, 2016 Report Share Posted September 22, 2016 Listen, chaff, blow elsewhere. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig Sawyers Posted September 23, 2016 Report Share Posted September 23, 2016 Oof! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purk Posted September 24, 2016 Report Share Posted September 24, 2016 I don't have the Utopia but do have the Elear on loan. This is a crazy good headphones for rock & roll. Very dynamics, punchy, and powerful. Not the last word on soundstage, transparent, resolving ability. They do a lot right and very little wrong. In a stock form, the bass is a tad much for me but that got tighten a bit after a moon audio silver dragon upgrade. The Elear, to me, is quite a bargain at under grand. I tried them with number of amps including the ECP DSHA-2, Oppo HA-1 and it sounded best out of the SuSy Dynahi for sure. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sherwood Posted October 1, 2016 Report Share Posted October 1, 2016 On 9/25/2016 at 2:11 AM, purk said: Not the last word on soundstage, transparent, resolving ability. Over a decade of dedicated headphone listening, I've decided that these are the things I most care about. In your estimation, what's the last word on transparency and resolving ability among dynamic headphones today? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
n3rdling Posted October 1, 2016 Report Share Posted October 1, 2016 A properly fitted qualia? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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