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Post by schubida on Mar 3, 2012 14:28:14 GMT
The HA10 SE developed by Sean Jacobs of Custom-Hifi-Cables is based on a hybrid design, using a high quality E88CC dual triode valve for the first stage of amplification and then a pair of audiophile-grade MOSFETS for the second stage of amplification, which work in a class A configuration. It arrived this week on Wednesday and now it is in the "burning in phase". Meanwhile, this little beauty with its special British understated appearance reveals a sound quality I have - up to now - never heard! It´s musicality, it´s resolution, it´s imaging, transparency (!!) and headstage is breathtaking and to feed it with my high resolution SACDs makes it fun, fun, fun.... Fast and deep bass attacks, staggered treble, complex symphonic music - no problem - nothing upsets it! I have used it with the AKG K501 and K701 and with the Sennheiser HD 600. Everybody knows that these headphones need very good amps to show their potential. The HA10 SE seems to be designed for them... In a word, Seans first headphone amp is a little masterpiece... Congratulations!! But to show it´s great potential it needs the DC2 linear PSU (also Custom-Hifi-Cables).Using it with a cheap chinese switch PSU (20 EUROs) it is a real bargain, better than the Creek 21SE of my friend or my Musical Fidelity V-can and X-can V2 (modded by Mike, both use the little Pinkies!) but with the DC2 PSU it really shines! It's no comparison to two well-made Lehmann Clones Matrix M-Stage and the Lovely Cube Premium edition biased in class A with OPA627AP... They are missing that special transparency and precision of the HA10 SE sound which is so addictive. It would be interesting to compare its sound quality with that of the first class solid state headphone amps Lehmann Black Cube Linear, the Fidelity-Audio HA200 or the Graham Slee top range. I don´t believe that Sean´s amp doesn´t play in their class...I know the Lehmann! Wilhelm PS: Please excuse my English. It´s not my mother tongue.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 3, 2012 22:04:27 GMT
Hi Wilhelm, I was fortunate enough to be invited to audition the prototype of this amp, as was Ian (Rabbit). I was so enthralled with mine that I bought it. I completely share your enthusiasm for this HP amp, it's a brilliant buy for the money and more good news, it improves with use. You should notice it get significantly better up to around 50 hours use and continue improving even more, but perhaps more slowly, up to around 100 hours, IMHO. I hope Ian will chip in with his opinion as it will be much more meaningful than mine - are you reading this Ian? By the way, you have no need to worry about your English . Cheers, Dave.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 3, 2012 22:36:09 GMT
Hi Wilhelm, I was fortunate enough to be sent the first version that Sean put together and he asked me to be as brutally honest as I could. At first my feelings were - does Sean know what he's letting himself in for with someone who's so OCD. I'd just been listening to the Sunrise and Sean contacted me with regards to this amp. The first version was absolutely top notch. I started writing back to him with all of the things I felt 'iffy' about and Sean was absolutely brilliant. He took everything into consideration and we got into quite lengthy discussions concerning any alterations/mods and Sean's enthusiasm for the changes quite took me by surprise. He supplied it to me with one of his rather stunning power supplies as well as a stock cheapy supply. Even with the criticisms I gave him - quite openly, I still didn't want to send it back. I had it for a couple of months and then he went to work on the revisions. They were pretty extensive and he worked on some sound issues that I mentioned and he's recently written to me to ask if I could listen to the second version. I can't wait to hear it. It is absolutely stunning and I have a feeling I won't want to give him the second one back!! I miss the first if I'm honest. It has lots of extension and a real clout in the bass region. It's not until you return to something else that you realise just how good that amp is. He's done a marvellous job on the construction and I have never, ever known any amp maker like him who takes brutal honesty so well and ACTS on it. He's one of the few suppliers/makers of gear I really would trust. He's good. Really good. As soon as I get the new version here, I'll write it up. I'm not certain what price Sean is selling them for but we discussed marketing extensively as well. Once again, Sean jumped in with options re: power supply and a cheaper version alongside an se version etc in order to try to make it affordable and upgrade-able. I know that I much preferred it with his power supply. Bass slam was almost physical on your head!! If I'm honest, I'd like one, but I can't justify spending more money on yet another amp. I'm starting to look like a shop here. Sean is a really trustworthy guy as well and he's offering real quality. As soon as I hear the final version, I'll do a write up. I know that mark 1 was superb but didn't comment on here until Sean had decided exactly what he was going to do with it. Now you've got me sitting here waiting to hear it!!!!!
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Post by sean on Mar 4, 2012 0:44:32 GMT
Hello everyone, just thought I should introduce myself at this point - i'm Sean, owner and director of Custom HiFi Cables Ltd. First of all, thank you very much Wilhelm for the very enthusiastic review, i'm so glad you're enjoying the HA10 SE so much. And thanks for the kind words from Dave and Ian as well. I was planning on delaying the 'official launch' until I have got my CNC milling machine up and running, as then I will be able to engrave the front panels of my products, but there's no harm in giving people an idea of what is to come!
Just to clarify - Wilhelm bought the SE version of the HA10, along with the DC2 PSU. These do not have engraved front panels, so Wilhelm got the two products at a slightly reduced price from the intended RRPs of the engraved versions. Hopefully, the engraving will be added to all new products (amps and PSUs alike) in around 2-3 weeks time. Dave (and Jerry) both bought some prototype HA10 SEs off of me - which I had upgraded to the most up-to-date versions of the HA10 SE, save for the front panel engraving and the 6v/12V heater voltage selection switch (it can then run with E88CC and E83CC valves alike). Ian (Rabbit) received the original prototype version of the HA10 SE, which in light of his useful feedback was revised in its design, and then evolved into the current version I am selling now with a little further testing by myself.
I will be updating my website with new web pages for both the basic HA10 and the 'Special Edition' HA10 SE. The amps require an offboard PSU to work - this can be done with either of my two DC PSUs that I make, along with a new 'budget' version that I am specifically designing to make the basic HA10 more affordable at the entry level end of the range. An upgrade service to alter the basic HA10 into the HA10 SE will also be made available in the near future.
I will be sending a selection of products to Ian for a review in the near future, once the engraving process is up and running. In the meantime, I will keep the website prices slightly lower than planned, so anyone keen to try one for themselves is not losing out.
If anyone has any questions, please do get in touch with me and i'd be happy to answer any enquiries.
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Post by covenant on Mar 4, 2012 14:11:13 GMT
I am the other lucky recipient of the HA10 prototype. With my current headphones (Superlux 681) I don't feel I can provide any commentary on sound quality but will post a few words when I receive the Orthodynamics I have ordered. What I will say is that Sean is great to deal with and has a very strong technical background. This amp is not just another generic kit, its original and innovative. A big plus point is that it is able to cope with any reasonable headphone impedance. Have a read on the website: www.custom-hifi-cables.co.uk/home
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Post by Deleted on Mar 4, 2012 16:42:11 GMT
Good grief. All these people coming out of the woodwork with the new amp.
Stop it. I'll end up having to get one!!
I compared it directly with a V8 which is also a tube amp. It has the top end sheen of the V8 but offers more clout in the bass region. Because of that, I really preferred it.
It has a lot of punch but a lovely inner clarity as well.
Once Sean has completed the final version, not only will it sound really good but it will also look rather classy as well with the silk screening.
He has two power supplies that are superb. The one I had (along with another cheapo type) is superbly built and quiet as a mouse. If you know me at all, you'd know that I'm really ocd about noises and this supply is stunningly quiet. I've only seen one other big 'un like this and that's Mike's Little Pinkie se. Sean's supply matches the amp I think now as well so the combo will look really good.
I think Sean will also sell supplies with any configuration you need on the end.
It's a nice solid sounding combo and I enjoyed it a great deal.
Sent from my HTC Wildfire S A510e using ProBoards
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Post by UzminiNu on Mar 9, 2012 1:38:00 GMT
I'm sure the tube amp sounds great. Can't see the inside beauty and spec's, whats the design? That's a lot of our hard earned money for less info about the product. And there is no PSU. Know the seller making some good price/performance custom power supplies, that's all. Can't dig the philanthropy having a lite and SE version at the same time with all the additional upgrades. In the end its in the same price category as "the" amp from HifiMan with a PSU. And If we could measure sound quality in gold....
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Post by Deleted on Mar 9, 2012 8:40:29 GMT
The idea is to make it make affordable for people with a lower budget with the option of upgrading parts at a later date.
So for instance, you could buy the cheaper amp and use your own supply (a cheap one) and use a posh supply with more ooomph behind it later.
Equally, you can upgrade the parts later if you want or get it all in one go.
So it offers options for people to get at it, at different levels which isn't a bad thing.
Musical Fidelity do the same, except Mike does it better!!
As far as the description of this one goes:
This headphone amplifier is based on a hybrid design, using a high quality E88CC dual triode valve for the first stage of amplification and then a pair of audiophile-grade MOSFETS for the second stage of amplification, which work in a class A configuration to give the smoothest sound and the minimum of distortion possible.
Is HiFi Man the 'evil twin'? If he is, I'm not sure whether he makes his living from amps or it's a sideline, but with pricing, I guess you also have to consider that the company has to keep going whereas a private individual is happy with 'praise'!!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 9, 2012 10:14:06 GMT
Can't see the inside beauty and spec's, whats the design? That's a lot of our hard earned money for less info about the product. And there is no PSU. Know the seller making some good price/performance custom power supplies, that's all. And how many people inspect the inside of their proposed hi-fi purchase before buying it and of those how many would be able to work out what it sounds like from seeing the 'inside beauty'? To a greater or lesser extent all hi-fi purchases involve an act of faith on the buyers part unless you get an 'x' day audition period in your own listening environment. One of the best ways of getting an idea of how good or otherwise any kit sounds is to hear from someone whose opinion you respect what their opinion is. Anyone who thinks Ian's opinion on such matters can either be 'bought' or isn't worth taking note of has a real problem, IMHO. So far 4 people have posted their opinion of this amp and all are positive - in terms of personal recommendation it couldn't get much better could it?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 9, 2012 13:26:29 GMT
Although Dave, I'm not the oracle or anything!! Got it wrong with the Bravo imo. Basically, that's where looking and measuring helps but it's not the be all and end all.
What surprised me was how a CMoy was driving the K601 so well and I felt a bit odd actually saying it until Frans talked about the ideal load for it, so that accounted for why I felt that way.
We all listen for different things I guess and I know that I'm much more tonally and dynamically aware than perhaps other things. If purity of sound is on your list, maybe I'm not the best although people who focus on purity of sound would say that you can't miss it!!!
I'm not really concerned about what's under the bonnet if it sounds OK. However, some like to have the confirmation of a tech spec and that makes them feel better about their gear.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 9, 2012 15:14:14 GMT
Hi Ian, I hear what you're saying but I don't think it changes anything I said much . Hearing is a puely personal thing and whilst most people would agree that shite sound is shite sound, when someone who earns their living in large part by the accuity of their hearing says something sounds good, I would not expect many others who are capable of recognising good sound to disagree. It seems to me to be a trifle unreasnable to cite the fact that because they don't know what's in the box it might not sound good, that's all . If someone chooses not to buy for that reason alone it's their potential loss, not mine. I'm sure that, as the word spreads, more will be along to confirm existing opinions. I like mine - money well spent IMHO, and as a Yorkshire born and bred pensioner I don't say that very often ;D . Dave.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 9, 2012 15:43:39 GMT
;D ;D Well, Dave .... you are a bit lucky with that amp 'cos I asked Sean which version you had and it turns out that yours is 98% modified as per the new version, so the changes that we were discussing have actually happened on yours except for the screen printing and minor things. So you've done really well. I might ask Sean to scratch one up and sell it to me!!!! ;D Nah - not really, I'm too OCD to look at a scratched up amp. ;D He's sending me the version that's going out on the site to have a listen to and some power supplies as well. (I think) If it's better than the first one, it'll be a Bobby Dazzler. To me, it sounded pretty extended in the treble and had some bombastic whack in the low bottom end. Very nice. I'm also a little bit OCD about minutia with hi fi stuff so it got a nice check over from Sean and a small modification as well. I actually think it's a nice idea to offer a variation on an amp. Trouble with good power supplies is that they're really not cheap and with valve amps, they're kind of very important to the sound. However, guys looking at amps are just as well not to buy one on the recommendation of just one person. It really depends on your own tastes. I tend to trust certain people from experience when I've heard something they're describing and I agree with what they're saying about it. Generally, I agree then with something that they review that I haven't heard and then get it myself. What amazes me is the accuracy that Frans shows when he describes a headphone's sound from a GRAPH!!! Spot on!! Since the amp's new, it is hard to get them out there because they're relatively unknown and it can take a lot of time for them to become established. People would tend to be suspicious I guess. It's pretty much on the same price level as a Slee Solo I think but with lower priced options.
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Post by covenant on Mar 9, 2012 17:02:27 GMT
It would be really good if Frans got to hear the HA10.
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Post by sean on Mar 9, 2012 17:25:33 GMT
Hi Uzmininu, i'd be happy to send you one pic of a vague overview of the internals if you're seriously interested in buying one, I appreciate that people like to see where their money is going - as you can hopefully understand i'm quite protective of the design though, as at the end of the day this is how I make my living (cue violins...) Or better yet, I can send you one on a 30 day demo for you to assess the sound of it for yourself! Just email me or PM me if you (or anyone else) is interested. Please note that you'd have to pay the postage costs, so if you're not in the UK it might get a bit expensive just for a demo. But i'm fairly confident you'd end up keeping it anyway - Wilhelm (the OP) only bought his on a 30 day demo, but the first thing he said to me when it arrived was 'you can't have it back, it's mine now!' Regarding the upgrade path, Ian pretty much nailed it in one - the basic HA10 with the DC0.5 PSU is designed down to a price point without any too-major compromise in components or sound quality, but the 'real' HA10 SE with the DC1 PSU is what I originally designed, and based on Ian's feedback I put together the cheaper amp and PSU options for those with a tighter budget to still enjoy the experience. Sonically, the basic HA10 + DC0.5 is about 80% of the way toward the HA10 SE + DC1 i'd say. Roughly. Cheers, -Sean
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Post by Deleted on Mar 9, 2012 20:00:44 GMT
It would be really good if Frans got to hear the HA10. I am flattered.. my ears can't discern most likely. The most likely thing that would happen though is: a: I would reverse engineer the schematics and post it (Shaun might not like that and since I like the guy I won't). b: I would test it kind-of NwAvGuy style and post the results. (UzminiNu would like that) c: Would look for ways to improve it further (NO design is ideal, nor are mine there is always room to improve when other eyes/minds look at something) d: I would connect it and have a short listen (probably enjoy it as much as my own amps) If I could make an educated quess I think the internal circuit would resemble a Sunrise quite closely but I suspect the LM317 current source is replaced by either a current source made with a MOSFET and transistor (single ended) or would have a push-pull configurated output. The latter would be the most fun though. Perhaps that could become my next iteration of the Sunrise/Horizon now I am thinking of it. I could halve the idle current and thus heat... a High voltage High power version... Chong would buy it immediately. ;D
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Pssst ! Got any spare capacitors ?
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Post by XTRProf on Mar 10, 2012 1:44:11 GMT
High voltage High power version... Chong would buy it immediately. ;D When!
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Post by UzminiNu on Mar 10, 2012 2:13:19 GMT
Thank you Sean for the generous offer to have a listen to the amp.I'm in Scotland.So not too far away.
I understand that you have to protect your designed amp from knock-offs. Only. Were not really inventing the wheel twice. It does the job. I'm a bit of a guy who likes a bit more transparency. Knowing the parts and innards of a device, specs, some pics and schematics are great thing for modding, repair. Even if i'm not a real DIY person. Someone is.
The price of the SE and the standard edition without the PSU its not really a difference. It is for me difficult to understand, then why someone would go for a lesser design for the same product, if its affecting the experience. Your the salesman, you have to know.
And its wonderful when someone explains, what you get in terms of SQ if upgraded fully step by step.
And I never said this designed amp sounds lesser degree than a manufacture produced one.
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Post by mrpharmacist on Mar 10, 2012 7:19:12 GMT
Hi Ian, I hear what you're saying but I don't think it changes anything I said much . Hearing is a puely personal thing and whilst most people would agree that shite sound is shite sound, when someone who earns their living in large part by the accuity of their hearing says something sounds good, I would not expect many others who are capable of recognising good sound to disagree. It seems to me to be a trifle unreasnable to cite the fact that because they don't know what's in the box it might not sound good, that's all . If someone chooses not to buy for that reason alone it's their potential loss, not mine. I'm sure that, as the word spreads, more will be along to confirm existing opinions. I like mine - money well spent IMHO, and as a Yorkshire born and bred pensioner I don't say that very often ;D . Dave. Of course hearing is a personal thing and it stems from the music you want to hear and how you want it presented and whether certain things enrich that, irk or aren't a big deal. If you listen to rock music for example you may be happy with a layered yet coherent sound and favour a thicker, fuller more live feeling presentation. Any sibilance will work against that and make it sound brittle and irritating. For classical music people may want a brighter, more spacious and airy presentation and a thicker or darker presentation just makes it sound muffled and obscured. Horses for courses a bit I guess. But I don't think any system should make any music sound overly muffled, spitty or blobby. If any amp or headphones can't 'deal' with a range of music I feel that's a deficiency. What always gets me about Hi-Fi shop guys and reviewers though is how they often listen to the same music to showcase the equipment...or use the same equipment to showcase the music. Either way. It tends/ tended to be Naim, Linn playing Diana Krall and Ricky lee Jones. It may be "good sound" but it's a limited, cliche way of going about things
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Post by sean on Mar 10, 2012 11:07:57 GMT
I'm a bit of a guy who likes a bit more transparency. Knowing the parts and innards of a device, specs, some pics and schematics are great thing for modding, repair. Even if i'm not a real DIY person. Someone is. The price of the SE and the standard edition without the PSU its not really a difference. It is for me difficult to understand, then why someone would go for a lesser design for the same product, if its affecting the experience. Your the salesman, you have to know. Hi, I do quite a lot of modding of equipment myself, on both a personal and a commercial basis, so i've got a good idea of the more popular mods and upgrades that people might make to my 'standard' design. So I stay one step ahead, and use my modding knowledge to build an amp that already has a lot of minor tweaks incorporated into the design. To that end, the reason why the basic HA10 and the HA10 SE are in similar price bands is because they share a lot of common elements - same PCB, same case, many of the non-critical internal components are the same, same valve supplied with them - and most importantly, they both take me the same amount of time to build. At the end of the day, I make the same amount of money on the amps. Please do note that the units are technically manufactured by Custom HiFi Cables Ltd, it just so happens that I personally build them and carry out the quality control. So you're buying a professionally-produced product of the highest calibre, at a very competitive price compared with other commerical products. I don't believe in putting a massive price tag on the 'SE' edition just because people will blindly buy it, thinking that the high price is an indicator of vastly superior performance. The prices and performances of the two amps are fairly proportional, actually. The difference in the prices between the two amps is purely down to the parts used inside (bearing in mind that the company buys in bulk, so you actually get a lot more for your money by buying the SE rather than buying the basic and then upgrading it yourself). The main upgrades from the basic to the SE include: Input caps, output caps, gold-plated ceramic valve base, volume pot, heater voltage selection feature, upgraded resistors in the signal path, current source implementation, external valve cage, and a few other minor modifications. For brands used, think along the lines of Solen, Nichicon 'Muse', Wima, Takman, Alps, Panasonic - I don't use any cheap crap like a lot of the big manufacturers! P.S. If you ever happen to be down around the Leeds area you're welcome to drop by for a demo of the HA10, and indeed any of my other products.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2012 13:46:45 GMT
I understand that you have to protect your designed amp from knock-offs The price of the SE and the standard edition without the PSU its not really a difference. It is for me difficult to understand, then why someone would go for a lesser design for the same product, if its affecting the experience. Your the salesman, you have to know. And its wonderful when someone explains, what you get in terms of SQ if upgraded fully step by step. I guess that would be partly my fault. Sean sent me the first version and asked me to be as blunt as possible. I didn't mention it on here at the time because it hadn't really been put out commercially. (Although the original appeared on Sean's site) I was my usual 'nit picking self and don't need to talk about what I found because Sean addressed every issue with avengeance. All I can say is that I have not known many amp makers or hi fi gear makers that would take criticisms and nit picking like Sean did. In fact, the only person I know that does the same is Mike actually!!! I sent Mike an amp with a 'hint' of hiss. I mean a suspicion of noise, thinking that he may not hear it and say it was absolutely fine. Mike went to town on it and the hiss ended up completely nobbled!!! I couldn't believe he managed to get it so specifically but he did. People like that immediately go to the top of my list as far as trusting them to do a job as YOU want it, and not them. There are only 4 people I trust with this and Sean is one of them following my listen to his amp. The things that I suggested even included the pricing. I even thought it was a bit cheeky, but Sean really thought about what I was saying and following some suggestions that I came up with, he decided to make a slightly 'cheaper' version with cheaper parts inside. He also looked at power supply options to go with the amp - again at my suggestion. His power supplies are stunning. The only two types I've heard that I reckon are the bees knees are Sean's and Mike's actually. (His metal cased ones are top notch but again, are not cheap - like Sean's) So, he went to work on mods and also looking at an easier way in which would also allow future upgrading to his top amp. (Slee does the same with Novo and Solo actually!!) He is protecting his design because he makes a living from this work (Just like me and piracy of music) and there is a danger of him losing business due to clever guys (like Frans) being able to actually draw the circuit by just looking at it!! (That is frightening as well!!) So, all I can say is before any feelings of suspicion towards Sean goes, there is no need for it. He has worked hard on this design and invested in its look as well (again - partly due to me and my nit picking). I even talked about what it looked like!!! He's now tooled up to make it look less like a 'British' minimalist design. We all know that look of old don't we? He's also tried to cut costs for people on a budget by using less expensive parts. Now, I believe that some people that think less expensive parts make no difference to sound ....... The evil twin types, would buy the cheaper version because their belief is that cheaper parts are just as good as expensive. Not inferior. The cheaper version is the same except for components, I think. Therefore, maybe better value for those that believe this. Some in the know, may well buy the cheaper version and replace the parts themselves, but then Sean is still working on a budget that ensures that he is paid for his work assembling it in the first place. My belief is that caps and parts DO make a difference. If that is not the case, then the cheaper option is the one to go for if you were interested in hearing this amp. Sean has done just that. Cheaper parts because some believe that we can hear no difference between components. So, theoretically, there should be no difference eh? (For some people) I found the discussions with Sean very enlightening and also listening to his amp was a real pleasure. At the moment, I haven't even heard the final version following loads of suggestions. As soon as I hear it, I'll post them on here and put pics etc. All I can say, is that V1 was superb so if this is better (which I suspect it is) then it'll be a real contender that also uses a valve. Again, if you don't like valves because of distortions or whatever, then it's not for you. But, I am very pleased that someone is making such a good sounding amp using the technology that some on here don't like. However, I do and feel that there is something about tube amps that makes them kind of magical for me in terms of sound. Technically, many would put them down straight away due to the fact that they use tubes. This amp is GOOD and I think it deserves an audition before carping about what the design is and how transparent the seller is. Sean is totally up front. I know he is because some of my comments to him were not really anything to do with me and he could have thought that I had a damned cheek. He didn't. He got to work. That is a good manufacturer in my books. When V2 arrives, I'll write a description and Sean is quite willing to put them out on trial before you even buy them. So you get it for 30 days before deciding to buy. Try that with Graham $lee. (Also have a look inside a Solo if you'd like to see value)
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Post by Deleted on Mar 11, 2012 16:04:52 GMT
If any member in the UK who has over 200 posts in RG would like to hear the HA10 for a couple of weeks and then pass it on to the next member, pm me with roughly where you are and I can send it on a route for you to get yer mits on it.
You MUST NOT open the box though. Sean doesn't want people rummaging in there. We must remember, he makes a living from hi fi and so it will be superglued shut to stop reverse engineering. It is the 'se' so has better quality parts inside and the power supply is one of his cheaper ones due to weight and postage.
I'll have it here soon and I'll give it a good listen.
If you'd like to hear it let me know.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 11, 2012 18:44:53 GMT
Ian/Sean, Can I put my name down as no.1 on the list please - don't think anyone would notice then if superglued the lid down on mine and passed that on instead? Relax everyone, just joking ;D I don't want to risk overdoing my support for this amp but anyone seriously interested in a very good VFM headphone amp who doesn't take advantage of this opportunity to audition this piece of kit can't be serious or must be broke (or both ) Just MHO. It would be interesting to have someone who is sceptical and can be trusted not to open it up to have a listen and give their totally independent opinion. Dave.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 11, 2012 20:23:28 GMT
Dave Why ? Assuming it is competently designed hybrid amplifier , and the construction is also first class, then what can a sceptic tell you that your own ears can't tell you about the performance of something inside a sealed case? We aren't talking about a cheap Asian ebay offering here. Alex
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Post by Deleted on Mar 11, 2012 21:07:05 GMT
Alex, I am a big fan of Sean's work and I am a very satisfied customer of several of his products. To be honest, had I more disposable income, I would be an even bigger customer. I have auditioned a silver mains lead of his (but not for long ) and loved it but it had to go back before I really got to like it . When I first heard the prototype HA10 amp I had only just bought Frans' CH Amp (which Sean built for me) but I was so impressed with the HA10 I had to have it (anybody want a nicely run in CH Amp? ) . I was therefore more than happy to post my impressions of the HA10 when the opportunity presented itself. Now to the point: - being a sensitive soul I thought I picked up a sense that others might be thinking that I was so enthusiastic that I must be 'shilling' the product so to counter this possible impression I thought a review by a well respected but mild sceptic might help to counter any such impression. I have learned a lot from this forum and others like it and on rare occasions I can help others as I have been helped. IMHO one of the more important benefits of forum membership is to share experiences and knowledge so that others can gain. My support for this amp is one such occasion. Hope this is not too serious a response . Cheers, Dave.
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Post by rowuk on Mar 11, 2012 21:20:50 GMT
Hmmmmm, Sean,
I do understand the concept of protecting your intellectual property, its just with a hybrid amp (tube and MOSFET), how much can be unique (especially if the PS is external and makes such a big difference)?
We also have CMOYS ranging in price from cheap to the sublime. A peek under the hood DOES show the major differences. Sometimes they are only the price........
When coming to a site well known for HQ DIY, superglue implies something to hide, but not necessarily a new or better idea. At 250 Quid, I think it is legitimate to be suspicious.
What bothers me is that a "high end" amp that costs a decent amount of money will sink or swim based on the external PS. If it were my design, I would not want the possibility for it to sound "bad". There would be enough of the PS in the box to make it ALWAYS sound great - regardless if fed with batteries, a "reasonable" wall wart or killer PS. It is not like a JLH takes up THAT much space..........
In any case, there is some pretty stiff competition for the amp. It will be interesting to read the comments after the honeymoon.
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