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Karimk
55
Feb 4, 2019
Hi guys, Could you please make a statement on whether or not a new drop is in the works? There are those of us who'd be happy to go with another option if this isn't going to be available in the forseeable future. Thanks!
Leerock
19
Feb 4, 2019
KarimkYeah I m stuck here with my smsl su-8 dac feeding nothing... I tought a little wait wouldnt be a problem but its been a month now without any info about if or when this drop will be available again.. I m now tempted buying the monoprice one or the sh-8
(Edited)
LeerockI'm kind of in the same boat. I got in on the last SU-8 drop planning to acquire the THX 789 to go with it, but the 789 hasn't dropped again. My SU-8 hasn't come in yet, but when it does I'll be wanting to get a headphone amp for it whether it's this one or a different one. I wish Burson would come out with something balanced.
Leerock
19
Feb 4, 2019
theupandcomingfrom what i ve red , the burson is warm and thick sounding with the stock op's I m more into a not coloring , more lean and detailed sound... as transparent as it could be
(Edited)
inanimated
3
Feb 4, 2019
theupandcomingHaha glad I'm not alone. My SU-8 comes tonight and it'll just be in the box for a while I guess. Would at least like a status update; silence here is one of the worst things Massdrop can maintain.
Marlowe
143
Feb 4, 2019
LeerockIf by "the Monoprice one" you mean the Liquid Platinum (which has recently increased in price from $700 to $770) that's a great option if you are willing to spend more money. TBH, I would prefer it to the THX 789, but I'm retired on a fixed income and went with the THX since it's half the price. The SH-8 is somewhat underpowered (at least compared to the other amps discussed here) and is not in the same class (and is appropriately cheaper). If you really need an amp now and don't wish to wait (perfectly understandable, Massdrop can be frustrating), consider the CTH (I have one, it sounds great, just single ended though it that is a dealbreaker) or the Liquid Carbon (balanced). Both are available now with one day shipping, with or without a built in DAC). Either should pair well with the SU-8, balanced or single ended. (FWIW, I'm currently using a Mimby but will likely pick up an SU-8 soon for the balanced output.)
(Edited)
Leerock
19
Feb 4, 2019
MarloweThe liquid platinum is a tube hybrid thus coloring the sound .. I ve tried the loxjie tube amp for a few days and i didnt like the tube coloring at all.. Also it seems that in that thick warm sound too many details are lost making the sound less engaging Dont know if the same happens with the platinum though... By monoprice one i meant the 788 Seems like the same sound quality as 789 but with less power.. my 58x's are not power hungry anyway.. The su-8 is a nice choice for a balanced dac.. It sounds amazing!
LeerockI don't mind a warmer sound, but i've never run a balanced setup before so i thought i would try that with the SU-8 and THX 789. I've seen the info saying the 789 isn't truly balanced though. I'm currently running a Musical Fidelity V90 DAC into a Burson Soloist and I really like that combo. I have a bunch of different headphones that I cycle through. Sennheiser 58X and 650, Fostex TH-500RP, Grado RS2e, AKG 553, ATH-M50x, etc. I've had my eye on the Burson Conductor V2+ for awhile, but wanted to check out the SU-8 combined with 789 using balanced cables first. I appreciate different sound signatures and hearing the music I like presented in different ways.
(Edited)
Leerock
19
Feb 5, 2019
theupandcomingI really doubt there will be an audible difference between a truly balanced amp and a not fully balanced one.. Most people struggle to find out if there s a difference between balanced and SE on the first place From my experience the balanced connection while it maintains the sound sig , it adds a some openness and a bit more instrument separation
(Edited)
LeerockWow. They ignore everyone chomping at the bit and then drop it again without preamble. Works for me. Joined!
Jimmyblues
52
Feb 5, 2019
LeerockYou might want to try the Loxjie P20 while you're waiting. It's fully balanced, sounds great and costs $89.99 on Amazon shipped (with a $10 coupon).
Leerock
19
Feb 5, 2019
theupandcomingWell well well I think I ve just wet my pants Joined too!!
JimmybluesI bought a Schiit Valhalla 2 and I hated the way it sounded. I tried swapping the tubes out and that definitely changed the sound, but I still wasn't impressed. I ended up selling it. I'm kind of afraid of tubes now or else I would try out the Loxjie P20. Not sure if it was the "tube" characteristics I didn't like or just that particular headphone amp. I have listened to other Schiit products and haven't been impressed (personal preference, not meaning to give offense to anyone who thinks they make the best DACs and headphone amps ever). Maybe I do need to try a tube amp from a different maker.
(Edited)
Jimmyblues
52
Feb 5, 2019
theupandcomingNever owned the Valhalla 2. It really depends on whether you want a headphone amp that colors the sound of the music or you want an amp that's more tonally accurate. Then there's the issue of impedance matching between headphone and headphone amp. If you want accurate the THX 789 is probably the way to go. Very impressive performance at a reasonable cost. The only drawback is the long wait. Based on my experience the Loxjie P20 does sound different depending on the tubes used. It 's not euphonic. It just sounds clean. Excellent soundstaging, wonderful midrange, and enough power with most headphones up to 300 ohms. It 's also built like a tank. The P20 is exceptional for under $100. I'm comparing it to the Magni 3, JDS Labs Atom, and Monolith Liquid Spark; each of which set the standard in this price category.!
Leerock
19
Feb 5, 2019
JimmybluesI ve already tried the loxjie feeded balanced from SU-8, outputting balanced to my 58x and didn t like it at all... I much prefer the fiio q1 mk2 sound.. The fiio sounds much leaner , more neutral with lots more of detail and separation, but it lacks power... The loxjie on the other hand has plenty of power but it sounds so thick and bassy that many details and hidden sounds are lost in that thickness... Since I don t have a lot of experience with amps I m curious of what s producing that thickness.. the tubes or the extra power? If it s the extra power i may not like the thx 789 also.. How does the loxjie compare to JDS Atom in terms of thickness and bass?
LeerockDoes the SU-8 have different sound modes that adjust the EQ?
Leerock
19
Feb 5, 2019
theupandcomingyes it has some sound modes that tweak the coloring a bit.. not by much sometimes you struggle to hear the difference.. although they re pretty interesting I always set it on standard
Jimmyblues
52
Feb 5, 2019
LeerockThe JDS Labs Atom is leaner in the midrange (at least in my opinion).   It also has the blackest background of any headphone amplifier I have ever heard.   Really quiet.   As for bass,  the Atom is fine, but that's  not its forte.   Amplifiers like the Loxjie P20,  JDS Labs Atom,  Monoprice Monolith Liquid Spark and Schiit Magni 3 really excel in the midrange. So much of music playback is subjective that  it is best if possible to be able to listen to an audio component before you purchase it.   Also,  forums are loaded with subjective opinions in regard to what components sound best, when in reality no two people hear things in exactly the same way.   Then there's also the types of music you enjoy,  as well as the quality of the music files you listen to  (if your main source is the Internet).    I listen to quite a bit of instrumental music such as acoustic guitars, violins, cellos, pianos etc.  Lots of solo instrumentals on high quality files.   This is where the headphone amplifiers and headphones that I use are at their best.   I've found far more of a difference sound-wise in the quality of sound  files than I have in the quality of audio components.  That is to say,   a decent headphone amplifier will sound quite good with a high quality audio file,  while a top tier headphone amplifier will sound quite poor with a lower quality file.    In the Hi-Fi Hierarchy,  the source is always more important than the amplification or speaker (headphone) because you can't improve upon it.   Once you have an excellent quality source,   you can then better determine which electronics and headphone you want to pair with it. There's also the point of diminishing returns, which with the ever improving sub $100 headphone market is becoming increasingly pertinent.   It is now possible to purchase an excellent headphone amplifier for under $100 that could last you for a decade or more.    There's tremendous value here.     Of course,  you, yourself must be satisfied with the components you are listening to, so take of much of what you read with a grain of salt. Best of luck to you in your  Hi-Fi endeavors! 
Leerock
19
Feb 6, 2019
JimmybluesThanks bro this is getting really addictive! Good luck to you too!
Jimmyblues
52
Feb 6, 2019
LeerockThanks!
Jimmyblues
52
May 12, 2019
LeerockI've never heard the 58x, however,  it is a lower impedance headphone than the Sennheiser HD650 (6XX) and HD600, so there may be more of an impedance problem when matching it with the P20.  I own the HD 6XX and the HD600, and the  Loxjie P20 does sound quite good with both of  them.   I've found that once you have a decent headphone amplifier and headphones,  the greatest challenge to achieving satisfaction in audio becomes locating high quality uploads.  Most are of mediocre to poor quality.   However,  the best uploads that I've heard so far are truly outstanding.   I've been discovering new artists on YouTube for quite a while now and continue to be amazed at how much talent there is on YouTube competing for viewers.  Some of the best sounding recordings I've heard come from Antoine Dufour, Tommy Emmanuel,  Sungya Jung,   Gabriella Quevedo and Anna Vidovic (just to name a few); all of whom are very talented guitarists.   Their recordings  truly test how good one's  headphone playback system is.
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