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Any SS head-amp suggestions that will be an upgrade to a Burson Soloist 3X?
It will be fed by a Holo Spring 3. Something with good synergy for ZMF/Focal hedphones under $4000.
Or should I just go tubes at that point? I prefer not to but if I can get the most out of the headphones with tubes then I’ll shift my thinking.
I got a few suggestions of which are Headmp/Violectric/Niimbus, but I’m sure there are more options out there.
Thanks in advance!
Hmmm. What do you like about the soloist, and what would you change?
Depends on what sound you are after, but at this price range there are some killer options. Eddie current studio b, cayin ha300, pathos inpol ear (although hybrid on this one). There’s a lot that isn’t an option here due to being se only though.
There are, but it depends on what you want
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There is a lot of personal preference at that level, Ignoring all the stuff under 1K for the moment, I own 1 decent SS amp and a couple of tube amps, depending on what I’m listening to and with what I am listening my preferences vary.
The first question is are you sold on the headphones, I went through the ZMF headphone thing, owned 3 pairs at one point, still own 1 pair, but in the end there were better options for me.
The reason I ask is because if you spend say 4K on a DNA Stratus right now, and later decide it’s all about difficult to drive high-end planars, you’re stuck with an amp that’s not a great fit you will probably have to sell to move forwards.
Same would apply to a lot of SS choices.
That’s not to say I’m saying buy for what you think you might own, but rather before you start looking to spend 8-10K on electronics, you really want some certainty that you are where you’re going with headphones.
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Yep. The stratus with balanced is going to be fantastic for the verite, but is really going to let you down with a lot of the harder to drive headphones. I do think it can be pretty great with a utopia (sometimes) or amazing with a mysphere, but you are definitely closing yourself in here. Also I didn’t mention the stratus because with balanced that’s going to be above your price point (and extremely hard to find used balanced)
Always good to know. You want to have that nailed down before you go this high
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That’s the difficult part because I’ve been on an op-amp hunt and the sonic changes are noticeably different. But, I guess if I’m using the Stock Vivids using the Spring 3 I find it to be a bit too warm in the upper registers. So, maybe something a bit brighter to offset the smoothness of the Spring. Mids are fine for me. Bass is a bit bloated and uncontrolled so something faster and tighter. Something with wider staging would be great too, but not a priority for me.
I’m pretty set on wanting dynamic driver headphones and do want a Utopia in the future (own a VC/Clear/Aeolus).
Hm, yeah that’s a good point. Totally sound advice.
Yeah it’s very unlikely I’ll be going that route.
How much is the balanced version?
Perhaps consider a mass kobo 433, sparkos aries, gsx mk2, v550, or pathos inpol. Those should all fall within your budget, and synergize well with the spring.
Personally I think the gsx mk2 would be the best match given what you want and what dac you have, having plenty in the upper registers without being offensive (when paired with the spring at least), is much tighter and faster in the low end (although can lack real slam and command), lots of technical ability and a slightly analytical focus without lack of tonal density or too far loss of organicness. Generally a smaller but pretty deep stage. Lots of resolution, good macrodynamics, nice timbre, great speed and separation. This would favor the utopia more
A mass kobo 433 (394 II if you can find one) can be really really impressive, tons of clarity and really neutral while having a hint of sweetness, really impressive speed and separation, great tonal balance although leaner did of things. A bit more intimate but depth tonally makes up for that, tons of resolution. Overall great amp that I think would be a really impressive pairing with both. This being said, I am iffy on the pairing with the spring and might lead to it being a bit hobbled compared to other options with the spring. But absolutely worth consideration still.
The sparkos is somewhat on the path of the gsx, although less intense, a wider slightly more relaxed stage, a bit dryer sounding, more no nonsense. I do think this is a pretty solid pairing although sometimes lacks life, but still good choice considering what you are going for, but it would. Surprisingly good with the verite and nice but not shocking with the utopia
The v550 might kinda be in the middle of the two, although I worry about slightly smoother treble that might not give you as much extension and clarity, although personally to me this isn’t an issue. I think it’s on equal footing with the sparkos but slightly technically behind the gsx technicality wise outside of microdynamics. But still really tight and well controlled, with only a slight bit of warmth. This might favor both equally although not excel at either.
The pathos has a ton of command and control with a very macro focus, lots of clarity and resolving power, and also has a pretty neutral tone on the leaner side too. Generally pretty big stage, great overall technicalities, and while organic does have something slightly off-putting or missing that I can’t put my finger on exactly, might be lacking some low level resolution. This is pretty fun with a utopia, never tried it with a verite, although not my personal fave.
On the tube side of things, I do think you should really consider a studio b (or studio t but that’s out of price range) BUT it might not be the exact signature you are looking for, but you might really enjoy it nonetheless. While it is a bit warmer sweeter leaning, it’s never overwhelming, excellent dynamics, liveliness, timbre, smoothness, and spatial recreation. Still pretty resolving as well. Does really well with both headphones
Not exactly sure here, I do know the non balanced version is around 4.5k, I’d bet a grand or 2 more due to transformer cost
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I’m not sure he even advertises it as an option on the stratus, I know I never even discussed it with him when I bought mine.
it’s a 2K option on the Stellaris, given I’d guess he implements it with input transformers, it could be a similar premium (unlikely to be cheap) on a stratus.
Donald is extremely responsive to email if you were considering it, I’d just hit him up for a quote.
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I think I’ve heard someone mention it could be done, not sure though. I know it is an option for the stellaris though so I bet it could be done
And anyways after what you describe you want, a DNA might not be worthwhile looking into imo @hifiDJ
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Last I heard he wasn’t making any more and is retiring from that. But I can always ask.
Thanks to both @M0N and @Polygonhell! Those were some helpful descriptions/suggestions/advice.
On a side note @M0N, have you tried any other op-amps on the Soloist? I’ve tried Staccato and am considering the Sonic Imagery Labs next. Maybe you know some others I don’t know about?
He might, I hear there could be a new run going lol
Honestly I have only tried sparkos outside of burson opamps in the soloist, so I can’t say much (and I liked the burson ones more than the sparkos in there)
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I definitely can recommend the Studio B, amazing amp that has me 100 percent content atm
the gsx mk2 is also a really nice choice for SS
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He was still making them up untill may, i just got mine that i ordered back in april last month. the word is that if he gets enough interest he will do another run. So if seriously interetsed i’d send him an email, the more people that request one the more likely he will build more. I can say without a doubt this amp is worth it, it’s gonna be real sad when he really does stop making amps alltogether
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Big loss to the amp space for sure
Since I’m a newbie when it comes to tube amps. Are the stock tubes good as is or will they require some tube-rolling?
I know it’s all about preference here and what you want in a tube, but are the stock tubes a good starting point, in other words?
It doesn’t come with the 300b, so you will have to source those yourself. Other tubes in there I wouldn’t change
You basically have to jump right in lol given you have to pick up your own pair of 300b to make it function, which for a good pair will be up there in price. Bare minimum you grab something like gold lion px300b, but I would really suggest spending more
Personally I’d say for a warmer more meaty and smooth sound, eml tubes work pretty well, for something more clarity and nuance focused I enjoy takatsuki with great tightness and extension, for something more overall balanced and more forward I like psvane acme (you might like this one the most given what you are after). Other tubes I’m not sure if you would enjoy as much (like perhaps Sophia electric which do lean more toward delicate and smooth, softer approach)
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There is an element of preference, 300B’s though generally have a “sound”, you’ll find variants with better extension at one end or the other, or are more resolving, but they generally sound like 300B’s.
Get some recommendations, pick one at a reasonable expenditure (<20% of the amps cost). Go with it and forget about rolling. I swapped the tubes in my Stratus recently, from some PSVane, to LinLai but only because I broke one of them when moving the amp (don’t ask). Both tubes were similar in price, and I could have lived with either having heard both.
It’s just not viable for most people to roll 300B/2A3/845/PA4 or any of the other more expensive tubes.
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About the GSX, are they good with ZMFs too?
About the tubes, I’ll keep those both in mind @M0N & @Polygonhell
Yes, but not as good as some of the other mentioned options. I think if you wanted to prioritize the zmf I’d rather go for the sparkos vs the gsx. If you wanted equally good but less impressive for both then the 550 makes sense. Mass kobo would give you the highest performance with both but you are limited by the spring there. I think the studio b would likely favor both and preform to a level more impressive than the gsx, 550, or aries (and slightly better than the mass kobo given it’s synergy mehness with the spring)
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If you go that route, I really love my PSVane Acme 300b. Let me know if you have questions about them.
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