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Post by puffin on May 23, 2009 16:21:04 GMT
I have ordered a Blue Jelly as I was having real problems building a simple cmoy. However after messing around this weekend, I finally got the grounding sorted out and have a workign cmoy to compare to the jelly when it arrives. They sound better than they have a right to!
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Post by PinkFloyd on May 23, 2009 19:09:54 GMT
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Post by puffin on Jun 2, 2009 19:45:06 GMT
At the weekend I read an article in HiFi+ which my mate subscribes to. It had an article on the X-Cans v8, not to be used as a headphone amp, but as a pre-amp. Many years ago I used to use my X-Cans v2 as a pre-amp,(using a jack to twin phono socket adaptor on the h/phone out) but after it went a bit funny and made weird screeching noises on power off I shelved it for some years until repairing it recently.
I thought that the X-Cans v2 and the Cmoy might make good partners. Well, I wasn't wrong. Certainly gives it a good kick up the arse and makes a really solid sound. I bought a pair of Sennheiser 595s and this combo is the best sound I have ever had from headphones.
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Post by PinkFloyd on Jun 3, 2009 19:48:25 GMT
By the way Puffin.... nice play on words man "Cmoy baby jive".... very good
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Post by puffin on Jun 3, 2009 20:29:24 GMT
Why thank you. Have you tried the X-Cans as a pre-amp?
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Post by madnanny1 on Feb 5, 2010 19:52:58 GMT
8-)i use a bioscience geek h/phone amp but am curios about a standard cmoy,what do you use as a source . mine is a sony nwz826/828 madnanny1
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toad
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Post by toad on Feb 5, 2010 20:02:48 GMT
Hi madnanny1. I use a Sony NWZ-S639F with my CMoy (LM4562 based) and the result on decent cans is stunning. I have been known to use the CMoy from larger sources like DACs and CDPs too, with impressive results.
Ian
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Post by mingo on Feb 11, 2010 6:15:00 GMT
How about the Cmoy sound quality compared to Compass or Heed CanAmp when using AKG K701 or Superlux HD-681 modified and non-modified?
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Post by Deleted on Feb 11, 2010 6:36:45 GMT
How about the Cmoy sound quality compared to Compass or Heed CanAmp when using AKG K701 or Superlux HD-681 modified and non-modified? mingo I fail to see how a simple opamp circuit with limited drive capabilities due to the opamps themselves, can sound better than a decent HA with higher output drive capabilities. If the impedance of the headphones is considerably higher than the more frequent 32-40 ohm headphone types, then this would be possible. Buffer stages are often added to opamps to improve their drive capabilities into lower impedance loads. SandyK
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toad
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Post by toad on Feb 11, 2010 9:02:43 GMT
Hi Alex,
The sound I get from my CMoy into modified HD681 via a go vibe dac is approaching the SQ I get from my Arcam DV135/Solo/K701. Don't ask me how because I only tried the CMoy out of intertest. The CMoy has now taken the place of my Novo in my work rig. I'm gobsmacked with the SQ TBH. The CMoy drives the HD681s better than my Solo, Novo or Aune. However the CMoy and the K701s are no more than mediocre together.
Non modified HD681s sound pretty good with the CMoy but tend to show their rough edges. i.e slightly boomy bass, slightly recessed mids and a bit of sibilance on the hi end.
Ian
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Post by Deleted on Feb 11, 2010 9:17:59 GMT
Hi Alex, The sound I get from my CMoy into modified HD681 via a go vibe dac is approaching the SQ I get from my Arcam DV135/Solo/K701. Don't ask me how because I only tried the CMoy out of intertest. The CMoy has now taken the place of my Novo in my work rig. I'm gobsmacked with the SQ TBH. The CMoy drives the HD681s better than my Solo, Novo or Aune. However the CMoy and the K701s are no more than mediocre together. Non modified HD681s sound pretty good with the CMoy but tend to show their rough edges. i.e slightly boomy bass, slightly recessed mids and a bit of sibilance on the hi end. Ian Ian Perhaps part of the reason that the CMoy sounds better than Novo and Solo is the engineered roll of at the low end and top end ? This is readily seen in Square Wave responses of Novo. A CMoy with a decent buffer stage would almost certainly sound better than a standard CMoy into lower impedance headphones. Very few popular opamps are happy driving much lower loads than 600 ohms directly. The K701 are notorious for being hard to drive properly. There is another limiting factor with low impedance cans, and that is the meagre current capacity of the 9V batteries commonly used, and their internal resistance. A lower impedance pair of headphones needs more current to drive them, in fact go too low and there may even be instability. Alex
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toad
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Post by toad on Feb 11, 2010 12:26:16 GMT
I'm not sure what it is Alex. TBH my CMoy isn't a match for the Solo or Novo on any of my other full sized cans but there is a synergy with the HD681. Maybe it's because they are so easy to drive?
Ian
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Post by Deleted on Feb 17, 2010 22:35:22 GMT
On Ian`s advice i have purchased and just received a zigis Cmoy from Latvia. Cracking little thing, nicely made, with incredible SQ for a 9v battery powered portable Amp, comes very close to my Bravo, which i love.
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toad
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Post by toad on Feb 17, 2010 22:38:36 GMT
Wait till you get it on a battery pack and it burns in You're going to love it.
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Post by clausdk on Feb 17, 2010 22:48:10 GMT
I have been tempted by that ZIGIS so many times...
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Post by Deleted on Feb 17, 2010 23:07:17 GMT
You wont be disappointed clausdk its very good, seems very well suited to the 681`s, i`m listening to mine now, it has no right sounding this good, on a 9v battery
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Post by JohnnyBlue on Feb 17, 2010 23:30:47 GMT
What's the difference between the Zigis and this, seemingly identically-specified headphone amp? Is this seller (who is not based in Germany) ridiing on the back of Zigis' success?
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Post by Deleted on Feb 17, 2010 23:41:38 GMT
Well put this way!! if its the same guy he certainly gets around a bit. Mine was posted from Latvia, official stamps all over the packaging, they certainly look much the same, and the price range, also much the same, but i bought from Zigis on recommendation, and im very happy with my purchase.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 17, 2010 23:52:44 GMT
LOOOVE IT NOW IAN!!!!
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toad
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Post by toad on Feb 18, 2010 11:13:25 GMT
What's the difference between the Zigis and this, seemingly identically-specified headphone amp? Is this seller (who is not based in Germany) ridiing on the back of Zigis' success? The Zigis Heliharris bought uses a LM4562 op amp which seriously ups the ante on the sound over the OPA2134. Zigis also does a cheaper amp with no DC input jack and an OPA2134 very similar to the amp you've listed, which should sound great by the look of it however I can't recommend the amp you found but I can personally recommend the Zigis as I have two. I bought my first Zigis OPA2134 based amp about three years ago after checking out a multitude of listings and feedback on ebay. I have rolled in several op amps over the years and settled on an LM4562 several months ago. Others have also obviously found this to be an excellent chip as Zigis now offers the LM4562 based amp that Mick found. Micks amp has yet to burn in fully but already it's impressing him. I also have been running my Zigis from a 8 x AA cell battery pack for a a long time now and that adds a huge amount of impact, depth, clarity space and seperation to the music. To give you a rough idea how much I like this amp. My old Zigis which has many hundreds of hours on it sounds better with my modded HD681 cans than either My Solo, Novo or Aune powering the HD681s. It comes very close to the resolution of my AKG K701/Solo/Arcam DV135 home setup. I love it Ian
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Post by JohnnyBlue on Feb 18, 2010 12:47:41 GMT
Thanks for the info, Ian. So I take it you mean this is the model you're commending which is about £14.00 more expensive than the OPA2134 version I was looking at? Would you know why it is so much more expensive with the LM4562 opamp? (He also does a desktop with the same LM4562 chip, but I assume you didn't mean that one?)
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Post by robertkd on Feb 18, 2010 14:01:45 GMT
You realise for less then the 14 pound price difference you could buy an LM4562 and roll it in, just a thought,... ;D
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Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2010 14:02:18 GMT
Yes jonnyblue, that`s the one i have, i also purchased his 8inch extension lead which is top notch quality too, and got free postage on it. I believe the LM4562 is a more expensive opamp than the OPA2134, which i feel is worth the extra, buy the way mine is sounding, i`m sure that Ian will get back to you, as to wether this is the reason its more costly.
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toad
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Post by toad on Feb 18, 2010 14:20:48 GMT
You realise for less then the 14 pound price difference you could buy an LM4562 and roll it in, just a thought,... ;D This is exactly what I done with my first amp Robert but the newer amp has a handy DC in jack and the gain has been knocked back to 2 which means the alps pot spends more time in the sweet spot. I'm hoping when it's burnt in it will sound better than my older Zigis. Ian
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toad
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Post by toad on Feb 18, 2010 14:48:09 GMT
Thanks for the info, Ian. So I take it you mean this is the model you're commending which is about £14.00 more expensive than the OPA2134 version I was looking at? Would you know why it is so much more expensive with the LM4562 opamp? (He also does a desktop with the same LM4562 chip, but I assume you didn't mean that one?) Hi Johnnyblue. You're right, I didn't mean the desktop one although it does look sweet The LM4562 is more expensive but not by a lot. There is a gain difference on the amp and obviously it has the DC jack but as to why it's £14 more I don't know. Maybe there are other minor changes required for the gain change I'd don't know but all I can say is it's still a heck of a bargain. Zigis is a great seller and even gave me a new brass panel FOC to replace the cracked one on my old amp. With service like that I don't mind bunging a few quid extra out. Believe me, the SQ on this thing is worth every penny and then some. Ian
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