For all Viva source gear
Anyone know anything about this?
@M0N ?
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Nope, not really seen anything about that either
Can’t help but wonder if this can be the sub $3K tube amp I was looking for lol
Drive it from the speakers taps, plenty of power with 22wpc
You’d need to impedance match the headphones to the expected impedance with at least a resistor in parallel across the speaker taps.
Tube amps rely on the load to set the load line, so being well outside the 8 Ohm expected it will at least change the sound. It’s unlikely to damage anything, because it should result in reduced current flowing through the output transformer, but Viva isn’t really know for it’s safeties.
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I was thinking one of the custom built speaker boxes can get the trick done, no?
Can’t find almost any info on this amp that’s kinda weird
Yes as long as it contains either a resistor, or a transformer.
Some of them are just wires, and that won’t impedance match, but will work fine for SS amps.
That looks like a promising piece, very promising. Email these guys and ask about a custom converter box to meet your needs and desires specifically to help you reduce noise when using HP’s on the amp. they have a variety of boxes with different features they can make and match them specifically to your amp and needs.
I’m interested to see what you do next. 
Italians make sexy stuff.
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Viva Egoista 845 Headphone Amp impressions
The Viva first came on my radar from M0N’s articles and then I saw it in CanJam where I listened to it briefly on the busy floor but not enough to make a real impression. I wanted something that could drive Susvara, 1266 TC, Utopia and everything else I have with authority in one package without any preamps and I wanted a tube amp.
I was mainly looking to eliminate CFA3 from my chain for Susvara and 1266TC but Viva elevated pretty much every headphone I have, especially in terms of stage on 1266, Atrium and HD800S. It’s interesting that it was the headphones that already had big stage that got more “amplified” (pun intended). The experience of listening to them with Viva is like sitting in a Broadway theater and having the song performed by a full ensemble on a big stage which is pretty cool.
Viva drove the 1266 with ease and authority allowing its well known thunderous bass and slam with excellent detail retrieval and imaging. Viva + SC + Mitch’s filters = Best 1266 I’ve experienced.
Susvara on the the other hand was still gentle but driven effortlessly. Bass is plenty and highly textured, not as slammy as 1266 but much more balanced overall. It doesn’t elevate the stage of Susvara as much as that of 1266 but is still quite open and holographic.
The surprise winner for me with Viva was the Atrium. Among all the headphones I have, Atrium was the most elevated by Viva in terms of pretty much everything. It didn’t get the detail retrieval of Susvara or imaging of Utopia but the stage, decay and drums on Atriums are just so much more fun. In terms of pure macro focus, they have become my favorite headphones with Viva.
Overall I think M0N summarized it quite well so I’ll just quote him here
Super fun and engaging, lots of wow factor
I have put 1266 on and listened doom metal albums with just one song lasting over an hour without even checking the clock and have put on Susvara and listened to a couple of Radiohead albums back to back or put Atriums and listened to 3 hours of jazz without moving from the couch.
Comparison with EC Studio B
The other headphone amp I have on hand is Studio B so I did some side by side comparison on a bunch of my headphones. I actually laid out most of my headphones but a common pattern started emerging out so I cut it short after HD800S, Utopia, GS3000X, and Susvara.
I won’t go into too many details but in summary - Viva has quieter background, much bigger, open and holographic stage; punchier but still well controlled and textured bass (even makes HD800S feels like it has decent bass). Studio B is very dry, Viva is not the most liquid but less dry than EC.
With Utopia specifically, Viva was punchier, had tighter bass, more satisfying kickdrums, better overall separation and dynamics (perhaps due to the quieter background), stage was not necessarily bigger on Viva but more open and holographic.
Susvara was not really a fair match as I don’t think Studio B is really for power hungry planars. I had to go pretty much all the way for volume and it was still struggling. I didn’t bother with 1266.
Summary - I think Studio B is very good for dynamic headphones, especially with Elrogs but Viva is playing at a very different level in most (if not all) respects and that is expected given the difference in price. The only real “con” I can think of Viva is the size.
Test tracks for comparison
- On nature of daylight - Max Richter
- Crawling Kingsnake - Black Keys
- Day of the Lords - Joy Division
- Tom Sawyer - Rush
- Right in Two - Tool
Source chain used in comparison
- Streamer - Rockna WD NET running Roon core with Qobuz
- DAC - Mojo Mystique X SE (DH Labs D-750 coax, Wireworld Silver Eclipse 8 RCA ICs)
- P5 Powerplant - Mix of Audience and DFPC power cables
- Viva - stock tubes
- Studio B - Elrog Mo 300B, Mullard '59 metal base, NOS TungSol 2C51
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Interesting side note - my parents (both over 60) were visiting from India last month and they wanted to listen to all my headphones. I didn’t subject them to all of them but they did audition Susvara, Utopia, Atrium, HD800S and 1266. Needless to say they didn’t like 1266 as I didn’t want to adjust it for them and ruin my adjustment lol
They have always listened to music since before they were married and then their music collection got combined and that’s how I started listening to 60s and 70s hindi music. Even though they are not “audiophiles”, especially my mom was able to articulate things like different parts of frequency response, stage, impact etc. which was quite surprising and pretty cool. All the listening was done on the Viva.
Both of their favorite was Utopia followed by Atrium and then Susvara.
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Initial thoughts after a few hours with the Viva, I normally would hold off for a few more days, but because I’m struggling with what I’m currently hearing, I think it’s an interesting discussion, especially because I think I will change my mind over the next few days.
Using the Unity as the DAC
Mostly using Susvara as a headphone right now.
I put the RCA 5U4G’s in it and I’m using the Ken Rad 6SN7, stock Shuagang 845’s and 6N1P.
I should probably swap back to stock tubes, and will.
Stage is massive MUCH bigger than the WA33 or Studio T.
Grip and Speed are special, which is really the point of these big Triodes.
Resolution is better than the WA33 or Studio T.
Bass is very present more so than the WA33, and it has excellent control.
Timbre I find a bit artificial right now (see below)
The overall result is a very WOW experience, but I find it difficult to just relax and listen to it without continually analyzing what I’m hearing.
Presentation feels a bit off right now, though it was less of an issue at the end of my listening session yesterday than at the start, and yesterday was better than the first hour I put in the day before, which implies I’m getting used to it, or something is changing over time.
I’m having a hard time pin pointing what I’m hearing.
In some material is just feels like the instrument is hanging in the air, incomplete, but when I go listen for the effect in simple recordings I can’t hear it. The texture in the treble sometimes feels a bit forwards, but I don’t hear it in the decay of a cymbal. Whatever it is right now it’s just distracting.
This could just be an artifact of the speed, the recording, and the stage size, and it could be something I get used to.
Or It could also just be the tubes I’m using have been sitting around for a while and need some time.
Or just a bad tube combination.
I’ll probably swap back to stock tubes for this evening as a baseline and listen at least through the weekend with those.
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Fantastic write-up and congrats on buying the Viva Amp 
. Even though I only had a short session in CanJam, I share the same sentiment of the Viva amp being a WOW experience headphone amp. I said it in another forum, but I said this “The Viva 845 tube amp puts a lot of WOW factors that is easy to appreciate right off the gate in your listening session” I also said realistically I could probably could only listen to that amp for like an hour or 2 because its such a high energy amp and I was already feeling some fatigue within 30 minutes. It’s truly a special amp for a special occasion, not sure if it will be a good everyday use amp. I think an amazing genre for the Viva amp you could try is probably busy music with good soundstage, so classical orchestra was a real treat on the Viva amp and maybe one of the best that I have experienced compared to other amps. The headphones I used at the show was a AKG K1000, Mysphere 3.2, Onkyo A800, and Sennheiser HD580 Jubilee. Mysphere 3.2 + Viva Amp + classical orchestra is amazing if you don’t mind classical orchestra music.
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The energy isn’t really my issue with it, the issue I have is it sounds “off”, and that prevents me from relaxing, when I hear it, I jump into a mode where I’m trying to understand why I think it is “off”.
I really wish I could describe better what I’m hearing that I think is an issue, it’s as if the midrange in recessed for some instruments in some mixes sometimes, but listening to other recordings that’s not the case.
My best guess is something needs more time either my brain, or some component that didn’t like being unused for an extended period, or it’s an artifact of the combination of tubes I randomly selected.
I just need to listen more. As I said I suspect my opinion will change over the next week or so, I feel similarly to it as I did to the D8KP when I first heard those, does a lot of good things, but sounds different.
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Swapped back to the stock tubes and it pretty much resolves my issue, to the point I wonder if one of the tubes was problematic. I’ll fiddle with the tubes again later, I’ll leave the stock tubes in through the weekend.
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And another short update.
Did some more controlled tests and some valve swaps, currently using the RCA 5U4GB’s and the New production TungSol 6SN7GTB, I think the bulk of my initial issue was with the 6SN7 in the KenRad Box (looking at it I don’t think it’s an actual KenRad tube), either being defective or just weird.
I’ve had a couple of really nice listening sessions with that combination.
I’ll almost certainly sell the WA33 at this point.
I’ve ordered a pair of Elrog 845’s, should ship this week, probably have them early next.
I’ve also ordered a couple of higher quality new production 6SN7’s to try, and I’ll try and pick up some NOS ones after I hear the Elrog’s, and I have some Idea which way I want to tilt the sound.
All of my initial impressions still apply.
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Did you consider Elrog 284s?
Not really, I’m not going to start rolling power tubes at $2K+ a set, so I had to pick something.
The Elrog 845’s are well respected, and while 284’s are “similar”, they aren’t electrically identical and similar in the world of tubes can hide a plethora of potential issues.
Though it looks like the Elrog 284’s are supposed to just be an 845 with molybdenum plates.
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I was wondering if this was comming. I know we have lretty different prefrences but a lot of what i realy like abour wa33 845 just does beter without but also injects some funk. Im glad you are enjoying it!
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Was the original intent when I bought it. I’ve been technically looking for a WA33 EE for a long time, but when I see them I just never jump. The Viva being so rare was an easier buy it now worry about it later decision. Plus I’ve been enamored with big DHT’s, and I’d probably end up killing myself if I built an 845 amp with 1000+V running around inside it. And it’d be such an embarrassing way to go.
With the RCA regulators and Tung-Sol 6SN7 and stock 845’s it’s very neutral/dry, much like the WA33.
Though it certainly has more DHT in it than the WA33 does.
It’s got a stunningly black background considering the topology
Resolution is probably not better, but it’s similar, the Macro dynamics set it a part.
Much like the WA33, it’s not a very forgiving piece, but that’s never really a consideration for me.
I’m interested in how it takes to the Elrogs.
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