So, my current set-up is FLAC > SU-2 > Gumby MB A2 > WA22 mk. 1 plus an array of vintage tubes and decent cables, etc. > HEkse
I saw a Baltic 3 pop up on eBay the other day for sensible money; quite uncommon here in the U.K… I started to read about the Baltic 3 and found a review where the gentleman had a Gungnir MB as his main DAC and went on to describe how he didn’t know what he was missing and couldn’t get rid of the Schiit quick enough. This is when my itch started…
I have been happy with my set-up since getting my WA22 some months ago. However, audiophiles must scratch itches!
So, I reckon I could get £3k out of the Gungnir, WA22, plus all of the vintage tubes and other bits I have lying around… but I’m unsure what I’m now looking for.
I think I wish to stick with HEkse. It does everything I want either fairly well or really well. I prioritise holography and dynamics. Should I start by selling off my kit and aim for a really tasty DAC? Then pick an amp based off of that? Go for a decent Lampi or the like and build it from there? I have an iHA-6 that I always have as my back-up amp, along with a Mojo 1 for a DAC. So I can always fall back on this combo while I build my new chain.
Should I be very particular and plan my chain on paper or just shoot from the hip and buy whatever pops up used that gets my closer to my goal? Amp first? DAC first? I wish to elevate my current set-up, with as few/ideally no missteps…
If your buying used unless you want something specific, make a short list, and watch classifieds in a bunch of places. You want to know what the items go for and decide what your willing to pay.
When I was looking for Amps, I would have a sort list of 3 I wanted, and just buy what showed up.
If the sales are rare as they were in my case, it gives you options.
If they’re common you can wait for something below market, and it gives you option to move on with minimal loss.
I’ve also picked up gear because it was below market, even expecting to dislike it because I know I can move it. I bought my Chord Dave expecting to dislike it (I didn’t) while I was waiting for a GG2 to show up (which ended up being a Pacific).
I think at 3K combined, the Gumby is a good DAC choice, and if you really like the WA22, I wouldn’t be in a rush to change for the sake of changing. My general rule is if your not moving up to something obviously better you should probably wait.
Thanks for the advice. I think, although the itch came from reading that Baltic 3 review, something has been nagging at me lately.
I have upgraded quite a few cables recently, since getting the WA22. I also got what I considered to be a wide selection of tubes with the Woo. I have been swapping different tubes in and out, making notes on my impressions, etc… But I have been doing all of this while working. I haven’t done a dedicated listening session in months, and so the changes I have been making have only been getting part of my attention. I finally sat down last week and listened to a selection of my test tracks and I was underwhelmed.
I think that I have been happy with the tweaks that I have made recently because the sound signature/frequency response is pretty much what I like (the fun side of neutral). Timbre has been great, very punchy, bass satisfying but not overdone, or bloated, etc… But I think it’s the holography that has suffered. I have been trying to figure out what is missing; I read a comment from someone on here comparing the QS and WA22 and they said that the Woo is very thick sounding. When I read this, I realised that I think that’s the problem I have with the WA22. The thickness hurts the imaging; how well defined the images are and how 3D they sound. I think this is a problem for me because I primarily listen to quite busy, heavy rock and metal.
So, although I love everything about the WA22, I am going to sell it. Top of my list, anywhere near what my bank can handle, is a used Holo Bliss; though this is purely based on Golden Sound’s impressions, ‘dynamic and holographic’. It’s good to hear that you regard the Gungir MB as a good choice. This will allow me to focus on amplification. Though, if I’m to create a short list, outside of trawling the Shit List, would you care to recommend anything else, given my loose price guide and garbled sound preferences? Any help appreciated.
I put little to no stock in reviewers opinions of anything short of just broad strokes .
You have to be try to understand what you like about the WA22, it’s been a very long time since I heard one, but I recollect it being quite tubey in the rich midrange sense.
You’ll loose that with almost anything solid state.
Solid State amps will generally give better Bass control, though you MIGHT get perceptively less bass.
The Holo Bliss I haven’t heard, so I can’t comment others here have owned them.
I guess if were looking at a ~2K used headphone amp, I’d be sorely tempted to try the Pass HPA-1 there have been a couple of those go recently for very good prices.
2K is kind of no mans land for tube amps, some of the A&S amps go in that price range used, and while I’m loathed to recommend them, if you’re not using overly sensitive headphones, or can live with the noise floor, they are quite good.
I’m sure others will jump in here with recommendations, I know the Burson amps have a following.
I’m not much of a HP fellow, they are fun and i love the equipment but i put very few hours on them in general simply because i’m able to use a variety of speaker’s which in general is my preference. Having stated this clearly i have enjoyed a variety of equipment and based on the wording you used i can tell you which HP amplifiers gave me the most “holographic” quality output regardless of the variety of equipment i used forward of them.
Eddie Current Studio B and hands down the biggest most holographic presentation was the Radu Tarta Shiny Eyes 300B.
Happy to try and answer questions relating to other pieces of equipment but using my Baltic 3 on a variety of other amps does not necessarily give me what you seem to desire, those 2 amplifiers in particular did though and i have a feeling others of the big DHT variety may have very similar abilities
@Towa uses a B3 & EC combo and i know @Souldriver has experienced both the Radu and EC on HP’s too, maybe they can offer up experience to your questions
Anyone that has not had a similar experience please feel free to share your thoughts and experiences but that was what popped into my head reading your musings @Go-Kart .
Edit to add: The amps mentioned are beyond the price point you indicated of $3k but maybe at least looking for a used DHT based HP amp in the future may be what you focus a bit on.
Holographic sound to me points to tubes. I was underwhelmed by the Bliss and moved on from it quickly.
One of my favorite tube amps under $3K was the LTA MZ3, and it will pair beautifully with your HEKse but it’s probably hard to find overseas.
A DAC that’s been the flavor of the month lately and can fit these budgets is the Holo Cyan 2. I didn’t hear it but from people I trust who have it seems to perform well above its price point.
If you do end up with solid state, the Mass Kobo 433 is a good option for HEKse too.
A few months ago, I did clean installs on all of my PCs. I didn’t have much time to get all of them back to where I had them in terms of functionality, so I just did barebones and left it at that. I listen to music via Foobar, all local WAVs and FLACs from CDs that I have ripped. My barebones installs did not include Foobar, just VLC. This is the player I have been using to listen to music for the past few months. However, I have been ill and off work this week, so I finally got round to installing Foobar…
I’m guessing it could be the lack of WASAPI exclusivity, or just VLC being bad for audio somehow, but my music is suddenly holographic! I have previously experienced holographic audio on lesser gear, which is why I posted the above query - I wanted to get a lot of that back. I was confused as I thought the WA22 was going to take me more in that direction, not less. Well, I feel that I am finally getting the experience I was expecting, and it’s shockingly different to that of a week ago.
My chain, although it sounded great by most metrics, the stage and the images within it sounded 2D/wall of sound. Has anyone here had a similar experience? It appears that VLC/lack of WASAPI exclusivity collapsed the depth of the stage.
My chain now sounds incredible and I’m exploring my library again with a sense of sheer wonder! I’m now in love with this set-up and am not looking to change it any time soon. I still have so many tubes to roll in this thing…
I honestly have never heard a big difference between WSAPI, and properly executed Exclusive Mode, there is some degradation if your using the Windows mixer, because by it’s nature it has to scale and resample sound to mix it.
But if your still playing music off a PC I think the best fix is move to an external streamer as a source.
and hands down the biggest most holographic presentation was the Radu Tarta Shiny Eyes 300B. 