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Dean View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 10 2011 at 03:36
The Little Dot uses a Bipolar Operational Amplifier chip to do all the voltage amplification and bipolar transistors in Class B configuration to do the power drive to the headphones... the valves (tubes) are pentodes in Class A but driving into resistive loads (no matching transformer) so won't display the odd harmonic colouration so loved by Oliver, I guess they will tell you the power is on. Also the mains rectification is done on the same circuit board as the amplifer, which cannot help.
 
However, if you've heard one and like it, all this is irrelevant.
 


Edited by Dean - March 10 2011 at 03:37
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TheClosing View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 10 2011 at 03:48
If you've got a better match for a SR325i at that price then I'm all ears.  
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Dean View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 10 2011 at 03:57
^ no, just pointing out you shouldn't buy it just for the valves, all the hard work is done by transistors, (and that's not a bad thing of course), but it is a hybrid and not a valve amp unlike the Little Dot II and Little Dot III.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 10 2011 at 04:13
Right, but the unlike the 2/3, the 1+ is tailored more towards low impedance headphones, which is what the 325's are (32ohms). I just need to smooth out the harshness and tame the brightness a bit and I'm all set. 
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oliverstoned View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 10 2011 at 04:19
Sonically, if it sounds more "solid state", the match with the Grado may be nice (Grado sounds very warm and analogic).

But i somehow agree with Dean...if this hybrid doesn't sound valve but with all the troubles that come with valves...(replacment, etc...), is it really worth?

Well, what's your goal actually? Are you looking for an amp for indoor listening? If it's the case, the Triad audio Lisa III should be considered as well.

http://www.triadaudio.net/Triad_Audio/Home.html

If you want something really portable as well, then it's
RSA Mustang P51 or Headamp Pico, but of course it has to be powerful enough for the choosed pair of HP.





Edited by oliverstoned - March 10 2011 at 04:21
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 10 2011 at 15:26
They're open cans so indoor. Supposedly the I+ synergizes well with Grados and at the low price point of the amp I don't think tube replacement will be too much of an issue. Although I've been searching high and low for the discontinued Gilmore Lite, which is my first choice. 
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Catcher10 View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 10 2011 at 16:59
Originally posted by oliverstoned oliverstoned wrote:

[QUOTE=Catcher10] I'm sure I will need a sub with whatever I endup with, the room needs it.


I forgot an excellent subwoofer brand: Velodyne

http://www.velodyne.com/[/QUOTE]
 
Yes...I have been looking at a 10" model DQR10 or something like that.........Assuming I go with a bookshelf model speaker......I have been looking at a Klipsch bookshelf, but I need to find one local to go and have a listen first.
 
Still looking....Thanks
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 14 2011 at 13:00


Here's my current system



Edited by oliverstoned - September 14 2011 at 13:03
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Catcher10 View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 14 2011 at 13:21
^ That's pretty cool stuff!! Thanks for sharing the picture....
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oliverstoned View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 14 2011 at 13:24
You're welcome, sorry for the avrage quality pic and not having done the dust before!

The Magnat omega 380 sub is the big dark stuff behind the left speaker
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The T View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 14 2011 at 13:37
My setup right now is 2.1 only. It includes a Marantz receiver with a marantz cd player, v-can headphone amp, ath-w5000 headphones, 2 definitive technology proMonitor 800 speakers and a Definitive technology pro 800 sub. I'm going to replace the two speakers for a pair of Bowers&Wilkins 685s and leave the little ones for when I build my home theater set. This one is mostly for music.
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oliverstoned View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 14 2011 at 13:40
Electronics from bottom to top:

- Valve power amp Prima luna Prologue 4

- Passive preamp Rotel Michi

- D/A converter Goldmund Mimesis 14

- (pure) CD transport Sonic Frontiers SFT-1
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Catcher10 View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 14 2011 at 13:40

Yes I know.....I have decided not to get a sub for my system.....I am still shopping for new speakers. Currently looking at B&W CM1, they have amazing bass response, EPOS and Klipsch all bookshelf models. The problem is not having a store that carries stuff you can audition. Also looking at the NAD C356BEE integrated amp.

My system is old I have an Onkyo Integra TX-870 receiver (20yr old), Sony CDP302 CD deck (25yr old), ADC SS100SL EQ (20yr old), Audio Technica AT-LP120 Direct Drive Turntable (1yr old), Bose Acoustimass speakers (20yr old).....Everything works fine, but now that my kids are grown and we are not spending all our available cash on them....I am looking for new equipment. I am kinda glad I waited since technology has improved so much in the past 10yrs....
 
 


Edited by Catcher10 - September 14 2011 at 13:46
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oliverstoned View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 14 2011 at 13:54
Originally posted by The T The T wrote:

My setup right now is 2.1 only. It includes a Marantz receiver with a marantz cd player, v-can headphone amp, ath-w5000 headphones, 2 definitive technology proMonitor 800 speakers and a Definitive technology pro 800 sub. I'm going to replace the two speakers for a pair of Bowers&Wilkins 685s and leave the little ones for when I build my home theater set. This one is mostly for music.


Among your electronics, the weakest part is the marantz amp
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oliverstoned View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 14 2011 at 13:57
Originally posted by Catcher10 Catcher10 wrote:

Yes I know.....I have decided not to get a sub for my system.....I am still shopping for new speakers. Currently looking at B&W CM1, they have amazing bass response, EPOS and Klipsch all bookshelf models. The problem is not having a store that carries stuff you can audition. Also looking at the NAD C356BEE integrated amp.


My system is old I have an Onkyo Integra TX-870 receiver (20yr old), Sony CDP302 CD deck (25yr old), ADC SS100SL EQ (20yr old), Audio Technica AT-LP120 Direct Drive Turntable (1yr old), Bose Acoustimass speakers (20yr old).....Everything works fine, but now that my kids are grown and we are not spending all our available cash on them....I am looking for new equipment. I am kinda glad I waited since technology has improved so much in the past 10yrs....




The Nad amp and the BW speakers are good musical choices, you'd get a second hand Nad CD (any model, some are for sale at less than 100 dollars) because the Sony will not do justice to your (future) new gear.
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The T View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 14 2011 at 14:35
Originally posted by oliverstoned oliverstoned wrote:

Originally posted by The T The T wrote:

My setup right now is 2.1 only. It includes a Marantz receiver with a marantz cd player, v-can headphone amp, ath-w5000 headphones, 2 definitive technology proMonitor 800 speakers and a Definitive technology pro 800 sub. I'm going to replace the two speakers for a pair of Bowers&Wilkins 685s and leave the little ones for when I build my home theater set. This one is mostly for music.


Among your electronics, the weakest part is the marantz amp
It's quite good actually but nothing state-of-the-art or anything. Eventually I'll replace it for something better for music and keep it for Home theater. I care more about good sound for music than for movies anyway (as I think we all do here )
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oliverstoned View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 14 2011 at 14:39
Of course. Another option is to gather all in on system.
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Catcher10 View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 14 2011 at 14:45
Ohh I agree on the CD player, I forgot to mention I will replace that one too.....I was looking at a NAD or REGA CD player, there are some stores in Seattle that have pretty good used equipment.
....I am 100% a 2.0 channel person, always have been. The older equipment I will give to my kids for their Xbox room so they can use it for gaming audio.
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oliverstoned View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 14 2011 at 14:52
Rega Yes and for rock lover a Naim CD5 is very interesting
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Dean View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 14 2011 at 16:11
Your system appears to lack one vital component Oliver. Confused
What?
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