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Rectifier
30
Nov 21, 2021
checkVerified Buyer
Good headphone amp for the price.
At the price I couldn't resist giving this one a try. It does have some serious competition with the Singxer SA-1, Flux FA-10, Geshelli E2 & Archel 2.5, Jotunheim 2, Burson Soloist 3XP and the xDuoo TA-20. But those are higher in price. At $160 (when on sale) it is a no brainer. You don't really need the 789. Better to spend the money on associated equipment. I personally prefer the more expensive but natural sounding xDuoo TA-20 which is more musical, satisfying, spacious, engaging and fun when used with the right equipment. All the same, the Linear One is not bad for the price.
To me everything about the build quality is perfect, very solid. I always prefer this kind of basic minimalist design. Best of all, no repulsive bright blue LED laser light. This amp is sensitive to static. This is likely because the One Linear used the ground path of the source component rather than the power supply. I was hearing some rapid pops and clicks and discovered static from my body was traveling through the headphones and into the amp when I would get up from my chair.
Don't think for a minute that you need XLR for excellent sound. Balanced connections are mainly intended for use with very long lengths of cable. Many of the finest audio components ever made use RCA exclusively including some amps from Chord and Pass Labs. On certain components the XLR connection may sound better due to the having poor implementation on the single ended inputs. On other components it can be the other way around with the RCAs sounding better than the XLRs. With components that are single ended only like the Linear One the RCA connections deliver truly excellent results. Also people who switch to XLR are usually using a different cable brand, etc. so they are often comparing apples to oranges.
The cables and other components you use will greatly influence the sound, especially with a highly revealing amp such as the Linear One. I go into much more detail on this subject in my review of the xDuoo TA-20. It is highly recommended reading and will help you to get the best sound from the TA-20 and the Linear One as well. https://drop.com/buy/xduoo-ta-20-balanced-headphone-amp/reviews/2847329
I'm using a Geshelli J2 DAC with this amp. The J2 is very reasonably priced and is one of the best DACs for less than a grand. It pairs very well with this amp. I also use a linear power supply on the J2, an Audioquest Carbon USB cable, and 2 iFi iSilencers (used in parallel on separate USB ports). A premium USB cable is essential to bring out the best and results in a significant sonic improvement. The AQ Carbon USB cable is incredible, very dynamic, airy and open. Even more so with the iSilencers. The detail and soundstaging is astounding, far better than other cables I have heard. I also use a iFi iPower AC Power Filter plugged into the wall outlet. I think a Bifrost 2 DAC or a Chord Qutest would also be a great pairing. Maybe even a Mytek Liberty, Musician Pegasus or Gustard X26. Though these DACS generally should be used with better amps than the Linear One.
I first tried using some budget cables just to see what the result would be. First I tried SKW rca cables from Amazon. SKW cables are VERY well built and inexpensive and look much more expensive than they are. Paired with this particular amp they sounded too bright. The SKW cables I really like and sound great on most other amps, but not the Linear One. Then, I had some BJC LC-1 cables that I never used before and decided to give them a try. A lot of people raving about them on Amazon (blinded by science) that don't know any better. They sounded dull, dry, lifeless... awful. They sucked the life out of the music. Then I tried a pair of classic Audioquest Emerald, one of my all time favs that I still had from the late 80's. Then sonically it all clicked into place. They were just as amazing as I remembered them to be. Now the One amp was flying high. Audioquest should never have stopped making them. The AQ Diamond Hyperlitz x3 is another hall of famer from that era. But the Emeralds are stiff and don't bend very much, so not very practical for my desktop setup.
Update (revised): THX amps are a different beast when it comes to choosing interconnect cables. This amp leans toward brightness and most cables would push it over the top and make the high frequencies sound too aggressive, unless your headphones are lacking in the treble. I tried Audioquest Sydney and they were too thin and bright with this amp. Then I tried Analysis Plus (AP) cables. They nailed it and synergized perfectly with the Linear One (at least in terms of tonality) and are very enjoyable to listen to. I was using the AP "Copper Oval-In" cables. The Analysis Plus cables sound musical with great bass and dynamics, rich seductively smooth tonal balance, including the very affordable Oval One RCA. Even though the tonality is great, they don't have quite as much speed, depth and air as some other cables. They can sound a bit veiled and congested which makes it hard for me to continue recommending them. The AP "Solo Crystal Ovals" are better with more soundstage depth and detail. But are a bit pricey. However, next on my list to try is Cardas Iridium. The Iridium is likely the best match for this amp and a better alternative to Analysis Plus having a full, rich tonality but better sound overall. I will update this review when I get a chance to try them out. In the mean time, I would consider the Cardas a solid recommendation. They have been a leader in the cable industry for decades. The newest line of cables from Cardas are more neutral than their previous cables while retaining the rich musicality that they are known for. Most of all, I want to try the Grover cables from the groverhuffman website. They are said to be the holy grail and are reasonably priced. Until I actually hear them I can't say for sure how well they synergize with this amp. But, they would likely mate well. I don't even think this amp would live up to the full potential that the Grover cables can deliver. At this point I would consider Cardas Iridium, Pangea Premier SE and Grover EX+ interconnects to be the best cable matches for this amp. Keep in mind that many premium cables typically take 100 hrs or longer to break in and sound their best. All the cables I tried on the Linear One amp had night and day different sound from each other, not subtle. With good planar headphones like the Sundara or better, the differences in cables, DACs, amps, etc. become very obvious.
Conclusion (new update): For sure you can spend more and get a better and more musical sounding amp. But, the Linear One is not bad for the price. It has a good amount of clarity and instrument separation. However, nested feedback (THX) amps in general seem to have a bit of a flat soundstage and a less open, sterile presentation. They are not the "wire with gain" that they are often touted to be. The Linear One is sort of a gateway amp in the audiophile journey. The components I have suggested can scale up to be used with better amps. I previously wrote that I felt the Kimber Hero cables didn't match well with this amp. But, I now find they are a good choice for the Linear One. I think the Pangea USB cable I was using at that time was a system mismatch and was masking the Hero's potential with this particular amp. The Heros work well with the Audioquest USB cables. Due to the sonic limitations of this amp, while this amp does benefit from good cables, I would be careful spending to much on interconnect cables like Cardas and other expensive brands unless you have other equipment that you can also use them with or plan on having future component upgrades. As for USB cables they do make a difference. Whether they should or shouldn't is a moot point. The proof is in the hearing. Depending on the system the effect can range from subtle to dramatic. Audioquest has great USB cables. So get the best one in your price range.
For many this 1/4" to XLR adapter would be an essential accessory.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09KQQSX3H
I highly recommend the NewFantasia "silver plated" cables. They are essential to bring out the ultimate clarity and are available for a wide variety of headphones. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0978DVMMZ
(Edited)
Recommends this product? Yes
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