The kits look insanely clean, I havent yet heard a bottlehead but the presentation on elekits is winning me over, very nice recommendation I was really looking for something like this
Can confirm the liquid platinum works well with chord dacs as well. Helps fill out some of the sound well
IIRC You bought a BHC kit and were going to build it, right? If you decide to, you can probably sell it built to break even or for a profit, especially if you got it on sale.
thats the plan mate, if its very good after I sell it I can get another
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This IMO if the sweet spot of audio where if I were to tell people where to start and end if they simply wanted ābetterā.
Itās so easy to hockey stick from here, honestly you almost have to. But for $2k to $2.5k you can get any of these amps, a complementing DAC and cans and really be at a point where audio is truly enjoyable.
Thanks for the write up @M0N this is a copy and share link for sure.
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I wish chord took the dac inside the mojo, slapped rca out on and removed the amp, and it would be sweet at 500 ish bucks
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I could agree with that, itās a way to get a very high performing system without going too deep into the hobby. Although Iād argue the true sweet spot is elsewhere, but thatās only if you are fully dedicating yourself to the hobby.
Well, to other forum members I guess, because it wonāt be accessable to non members lol
What do you think of the Little Dot 1+ as an entry-level hybrid amplifier?
I know that the tubes have a bit of museum quality, but the market is currently still okay for a tube roll.
Apart from that it has the ability to roll op amps when needed.
And for the technically minded it is even possible to change capacitors within minutes.
But purely from the original construction and what it brings from the house.
I find it runs all headphones very well, even on the troublesome Aeon R/T with its 13 Ohm the Little Dot doesnāt mess around and plays on a quite high level.
Iām not sure about the Dac at the moment.
With the Matrix Audio mini 2S I find it a bit too sharp in the treble range and listening fatigue as a combination.
But I donāt want to generalise that itās Ess based.
But on the Akm or Cirrus Logic it is really pleasant to listen to in the pairing.
For people who donāt have a lot of money at the moment, itās actually quite passable, even if itās getting on in years.
I canāt really say since I have not had too much time with it. Iāve had a reasonable amount of time with the little dot mk2 but not the 1+ (but the 1+ is a hybrid where the 2 is a otl, so pretty different). Also thatās more in the budget range of things so it wouldnāt have been something Iād have included here
Thatās generally the problems with the 2 series matrix, I have found the mini 3ās to have corrected that issue and also leaned a bit warmer (but also a bit of a poor value if being used as a dac only). But the general signature of matrix is more clean and forward overall
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@M0N do you have any opinion on Singxer sa-1 considering it is also in that price range.
I have tried one, and while enjoyable it was also unremarkable and I found it to be a bit lower tier than the aforementioned. It was enjoyably tuned, a more neutral warmer smooth, but it did have some dullness, and while stage was wider it lacked depth and accurate placement, resolution was ok but did mask some low level information, and dynamically was good for macro but lacked some micro. Honestly overall a somewhat duller sounding amp. I thought the closer comparisons might be something like the cayin or flux, or actually the g111, those kinda filled the role the singxer would have taken better imo (better technical ability and more life to the sound). This all being said I didnāt try the whatever bypass mod which apparently improves it a fair bit, so perhaps with that mod it would be on the same level as some of the aforementioned, but I didnāt know about that when I had it
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I think this is the case with most chord dacs. Their steadfast determination to have them be Desktop friendly is great but honestlyā¦ I think The TT2 or Dave that was Dac only with no preamp or headamp function would be a good way to get the quality of their offerings for less money
My primary chain right now is a Chord Mojo > RNHP > GH50 and it is the most lifelike and natural timbre Iāve been able to get out of my gear up to this point. Itās a very enjoyable combo IMO. Looking forward to picking up the BF2 or maybe the Ares II in the future to take it a step further.
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If you get the little dot mk1+ please roll that opamp
I would put muses02, a friend put burson v5i in it
only heard it for a small amount of time but it sounds very clean and linear compared to other hybrids in the price range, which tend to sound artificially warm
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@ macdlaw
Thanks for the tip, Iāll have a look.
But I donāt want to spam this thread.
You can definitely still play with the capacitors if you want.
To cut a long story short, I had a defect in the left channel, which was caused by the socket and a capacitor on the power side.
I replaced them in pairs with two Audio Note and also replaced the Elna capacitors with the Nichicon Fg and it seems better with the V5i.
The syrupy sound has receded but is still there a bit, otherwise I have improved in all areas.
So it definitely has room for improvement.
@Mon
Thanks for your review of the Matrix Audio 2S, I can only confirm that. I havenāt heard the 3S, unfortunately, but itās good to know.
The 2S is definitely better on the stereo system, where it is at its best.
I find the Ess Chip quite good for the treble range and the room with the speakers is just right.
It makes a relatively good alarm in the living room when I want it,
.
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@M0N What are your thoughts on the Gilmore Lite Mk2? Its been awhile since i had it, but was enjoyable. Nothing too standoutish though. I had the G111 at the time and I did prefer that over the Mk2.
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Itās aite for modern day, personally I donāt think itās compelling when the studio trio exist at the same price which I think it would have been similar use case/synergy. Brighter clean signature that while resolving lacked depth, macrodynamics, and body at times. I do recall it recently got the option for a pretty beefy looking psu upgrade which could be pretty impactful but it also pushes the price up a fair bit too. But on itās own as normal psu I would rather go for something else
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@M0N thanks for the write up! Does the Lyr 3 have a place as an alternative to the MLP in the powerhouse trio?
Thatās a good question, Iād honestly say itās really different signatures, but the lyr 3 is a quality amp that could be included imo. I just think itās different enough in voicing that it wouldnāt replace something like the plat. I find the lyr 3 to be a bit more on the more clean and dryer side of things where the plan leans more toward a warmer w shaped signature thatās also more relaxed and wide, where the lyr is more forward and depth focused. I do think they might be on a similar technical level although I do favor the plat for most things personally, but it depends on synergy and preference
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@M0N I have a suggestion, maybe add a honorable mentions that did not make it to the list, for example the lyr 3 to powerhouse or the SW51+ to tubes.