Admin note: edited to include all feliks amps
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I’ve owned this amp for a couple of months now and finally think I can give some initial impressions on it.
This is my first tube amp so I didn’t really know what to expect when I first purchased it and if I’m being honest it was a bit of a bumpy ride at first, but more so because of the learning process that came with tubes and not as much the amp having any issues itself.
The main thing that made this piece of gear confusing for me was just how much tubes have to burn in. I’d say it took maybe 50 hours for the tubes to really start doing their thing, originally it sounded very detailed and smooth but also lacked any amount of actual power delivery and didn’t have any of that tube flavor that I had heard about “Which is no longer the case”.
The whole experience of hearing the tube open up and come alive has made me pretty confused of the various tube swapping videos where people put tubes in and only leave them in for 30 min to an hour and then give their impressions of the tubes then swap them out, From my personal experience here it doesn’t seem like a very valid way to compare tubes in my opinion.
That being said, with the tubes burned in I’m really enjoying this amp. Unfortunately I don’t have experience with other tube amps or amps in this price range in general so I can’t really say if it’s worth the money, But I have been comparing it with the rnhp and I can confidently say that I find it to be a much better amp and a good step up for things like the Auteur and HD6XX. I find the Echo MkII to actually be more detailed than the rnhp while also increasing the overall size of sound almost like the driver in the headphone itself is getting bigger, The soundstage also increases slightly but not an insane amount. In terms of sound signature I actually wouldn’t say its a warm amp as it’s pretty close to neutral to me just with an added bit of lushness, it’s kind of hard to describe but the tonality itself isn’t darker to the rnhp its more like there’s a fuzzy and transparent sounding property to the amp that doesn’t really get in the way of the detail and clarity. Overall it’s more detailed, organic and transparent than the rnhp while still being overall neutral with a very tasteful amount of flavor, it also gives the auteur this cool feeling at times where the cups almost disappear and sound is just happening around you. Another thing I want to mention is the rnhp punches harder than the Echo MkII but I also find the rnhp to punch harder than my previous amps as well.
I also ran my Elex and Argons through this amp and they sounded good and there wasn’t anything inherently wrong with them but I find them more enjoyable through the rnhp overall. The Elex got a bit intense at times and the argons got very warm and chocolatey more so than I prefer but still is fun to listen to sometimes.
One last thing I would like to add is that I am very inexperienced with amps and none of this should be used to help make a purchasing decision. I guarantee if someone with more experience tried this amp they would disagree with the majority of what I said here but I thought I’d post my impressions for fun anyway.
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Somehow I missed that the Envy was transformer-coupled:
Pretty much had to be given the tubes.
It’s a very competitive price point though, it not where my $7+K would go, but they do have a following.
The way they quote the power numbers would make me need to hear it before I’d consider it for a hard to drive headphone like the Susvara.
I considered the Envy before going with the WA33, with the used price and not waiting (will take a few months to get one) it made my decision easier but I’d still very much like to try it one day.
Yeah they are a lot more popular across Europe than in the US. I think I’m right in saying its their first transformer coupled headphone amp, although they also have a power amp of similar design.
Yes it is their first transformer. The headphones show have a nice video interview with one of the family members. I had an offer to get a Envy in two weeks but with tax and everything that’s north of $9K, too much for my wallet
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Has anyone gotten ears on the Envy?
It’s a gorgeous looking amp and seems to be able to power anything.
high on my list to audition at canjam
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Sweet. Looking forward to impressions.
Going to have to add Envy to this topic’s title 
Had a headfier ask me about my experience with the Envy vs the DNA after some tube rolling, so I thought I’d share.
I feel they’re taking a different approach. The DNA has a little more finesse and can be a tad more delicate (I think that’s a 2A3 thing). Depending on the rectifier tube it can be much slower and sweeter or you can add some punch, speed and imo more holographic presentation with something like the EML Mesh 5U4G (loved this tube with the DNA). The stock rectifier tube isn’t that great but even an affordable RCA 5U4G makes a nice difference.
DNA has this vivid imaging thing it can do. Certain tracks and certain parts of the track will be really vivid. A guitar solo may stand out ever so slightly more with the DNA and the right tubes. I think this is the smaller presentation and it being a bit more separated at times. Very good detail retrieval but I think Envy edges it out though. But overall yes, it’s a great pairing for dynamics and even some easy to drive headphones. Supposedly the D8KP is a nice pairing, but yeah I’d agree it’s more for dynamics. I really, really liked the Utopia 22 and my Senns off it. If I had F it money I would have kept it but I try to stay reasonable with this hobby haha.
Some will use a Stratus or Stellaris to drive a Susvara but I don’t think it’s a great match. The dynamics lack and the punch is blunted imo. Some will say it’s great and sounds good, and while I agree, the Susvara may sound good off the Stratus, imo it’s not optimal. The Susvara sounds good off a lot. Hell, I can use my Mojo2 and it’ll sound good, that’s just how it operates. But it needs more current to really open up and to allow the drivers to reach their potential. With the Envy and Bliss, the Susvara opens up the stage, presentation is improved all around, and it slams very well. It doesn’t do that with the DNA, Bryston BHA-1 (had it prior), and Mojo2.
The Envy has a more powerful presence to it. It hits harder (obviously can be tweaked with tubes for taste). The slam is also due to the ss rectifier. It’s fun rolling rectifier tubes in the DNA but I get what I want from the Envy’s rectification (very impactful). It has this grandiose presentation (larger image that feels to me like it fills up the stage better than many amps). Initially I think this can make you feel the separation isn’t that great but to me it’s how it fills up the stage. Comes off more realistic to me. Still has separation but less room between the instruments (depending on recording). The DNA makes it feel like everything is spaced out a little more (smaller presentation of the images but more space between them).
Envy has more weight to it and has really great realism in the mids and highs (never feel these areas are too thick or muddy and better tubes help). Also not saying the DNA has bad weight to it, it’s really nice but Envy has more. Just really solid sounding without being overly done (again with the right tubes)
Side note: I preferred the DNA over the WA33 (with dynamics, with sus it’s not a fair comparison due to power. WA33 was too dry for me though). I think I prefer a warmer and sweeter presentation. I like the Utopia 22 while some like the OG. I like the Diana V2 while some think it’s too warm. I like the Susvara on tubes while some prefer ss.
Back to the Envy. Envy has a nice depth to the stage, and maybe equal with the DNA? Envy has a taller stage on my chain. I think this is the larger image and presentation, very cool. Timbre is really good on both. It’ll come down to preference. I think I like the way the Envy does it more though. A little more weight in the vocals. I also think it has better texture. Guitars up and down the FR 
. Envy does a really great job with its transients. DNA does too but to have the amount of weight behind the notes but still have these traits is impressive to me. The way certain tracks will have amazing low end, powerful notes but still allow these crazy reverbs fly pass your ears is wild to me. Very cool experience. Again amazing transients for the signature it brings. Envy can still be finesse but DNA edges it out if you’re comparing, but it’s a slight trade off I’ll take.
So to wrap up, what sold me on the Envy is how well it plays with dynamics and harder to drive planars. It’s powerful but still delicate enough for my taste. It would be amazing if the DNA could drive the demanding planars, have the Envy’s bass slam and grandiose presentation as well as the DNA traits, but I think that’s damn near impossible haha. So to me I’m happy with the trade offs and I’m happy with the Envy. Much more reasonable to have one tube amp that can push my dynamics and planars to a very enjoyable level. And if I want something a little more leaner, more space around each image, and a bit more neutral, I have the bliss. And it’ll drive all of my headphones as well (Utopia 22 was better on DNA than Bliss)
Another Note: The main comparison was used primarily with the Utopia 22. The Susvara can only be used on the Envy and Bliss because using it on the DNA isn’t really fair 
. Although I did use the Susvara to compare the Envy and Bliss, and a lot of the DNA vs Envy comparisons were similar. More weight, larger presentation, much more holographic (tubes), etc. Though the Bliss is an easy 2nd place with the Susvara, the Utopia on the DNA vs Envy will be a preference thing. This really could go either way for many. And I absolutely have nothing bad to say about DNA amps. Amazing amps!
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Nice impressions!
It sounds like the Envy is an excellent and versatile amp.
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How is the Feliks Audio Euforia Evo?
On sale here for 2299.
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I have the standard and my only criticism is that they have already installed the standard Mundorf caps.
In the AE, clarity caps are fitted to the 6AS7G.
In the new one they have installed the standard Mundorf caps again.
This time they are more accessible than in the standard Euforia, in case you want to replace them.
That’s the positive thing about it and the inner design has been revised again.
I was not convinced by the standard Mundorf caps, which are also the cheap ones, so to speak.
I thought they sounded thin, especially the bass, and I experienced good distortion in the higher frequencies.
And they also sound a bit clinical and cold.
When I fitted the caps with Vcaps TFTF on the 6SN7 socket and Odam on the 6AS7G as well as on the preamp, a lot of things got better and very worthwhile.the price of the caps made me hesitate a little but also quickly forget.
Since it was worth it, even in the second amplifier with CUTF, I am very satisfied.
You don’t necessarily have to use Vcap, but they are the best caps.
Jupiter, Duel and copper, Audionote Copper are definitely steps up from the standard Mundorf.
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