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Little Dot MKIII & MKIII SE Tube Headphone Amps
01 / 07
Little Dot MKIII & MKIII SE Tube Headphone Amps
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Product Description
Instead of a single cheap tube that gives off muddled sound, the Little Dot MKIII features four tubes: two dedicated input tubes and two dedicated output tubes. Letting your left and right audio channels enter through separate RCA ports and pass through channel specific input and output tubes before joining up at the headphone jack, you get a clear signal on both sides with little to no crossover Read More
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keyboard_arrow_downblakean
13
Mar 10, 2018
I've got a buzzing/humming issue in both channels with my Mk III. It's not a ground loop issue (I've tried a cheater plug and a ground loop isolator), and it's not dirty pins because I De-oxited the hell out of them. It's there even when I have nothing connected but headphones. The buzzing gets fainter the higher I turn up the volume but is still unacceptably audible. I've bought some new driver and power tubes and replaced them with no effect.
Does anyone know what this might be and how I might get back to background silence?
blakean
13
Sep 20, 2018
As a last resort a while back, I replaced the capacitors and the buzzing disappeared.
LukeXtreme
8
Sep 20, 2018
blakeanThanks for this.
I have finally got a hi end hum filter device and the noise is gone. There is also no noticable sound quality loss. I have got that - > Omnitronic LH081 Stereo Line Isolator
I have finally got a hi end hum filter device and the noise is gone. There is also no noticable sound quality loss. I have got that - > Omnitronic LH081 Stereo Line Isolator
NJboneless
377
Apr 29, 2017
RoaroftheTiger
27
Feb 23, 2019
NJbonelessI'm glad to see that the Little Dot lll is working out with your Audioengine A5+ active speakers. I've hesitated to do a similar set-up; but with a pair of Kali LP 6 active
monitors. or Other "normal" speaker amplifiers. Since Little Dot's Instruction Manual
warns against using It with " direct-coupled" amplifiers ! Any thoughts on the matter ?
NJboneless
377
Feb 23, 2019
RoaroftheTigerTo be super honest with you I dont have an opinion on that haha. I guess I didnt realize they dont recommend pairing the two up...with that being said I still run the same setup to this day without any issues. I listen to the A5s with the Jotunheim primarily but still fire up the LD once a week. Cheers!
Leszek
41
Jul 6, 2017
Look at this on eBay http://www.ebay.com/itm/201972734689
the same model - 199$
This is straight from the guy who makes them
the same model - 199$
This is straight from the guy who makes them
Mike401
11
May 11, 2016
How is this a deal when you can get it direct from LD for 245 including shipping?
kalieaire
128
May 11, 2016
Mike401This is how I got mine, straight from the workshop for 199 + 45 shipping.
InhailedYeti
47
Dec 17, 2018
I've been doing some blind testing and various A/B tests with this amp using Voicemeter (program for outputting audio to multiple sources I.E Solid state and Tube) and a Little Bear Audio Switcher. Neither myself or 4 of my friends can hear a difference between the Little Dot MKIII and my solid state through multiple headphones, mainly the LCD2C, HD 6XX, AKG K7XX, and Aeon Flow Closed in blind tests. This is with stock tubes and about 30 hours of burn in. I'm starting to wonder where all of these impressions of a warm, tubey sound for this amp are coming from.
I'm curious, has anyone else here done a blind test with the amp and, if so, can you tell a difference between it and a solid state? We sure can't.
Edit: I also tried JAN 5654W power tubes and couldn't hear a difference.
Edit 2: Take everything you read online with a grain of salt, including myself. My test was not a scientifically done test. I just think it's important to set your expectations low and I believe a lot of praise this amp gets is hyperbole and that it isn't making the difference that people claim. I have no doubt this amp measures differently and is making a difference but I do quesiton how much of the difference it makes is audible, especially to an untrained listener. I think that's important to know going in and if you're new to audio or haven't spent a lot of time with critical listening that it's something to consider. Form your own opinions through what you read and what you know, I'm not claiming anything what I've said as fact and audio as a whole is subjective and different from person to person.
Expectation bias and placebo are strong, I've experienced it myself and I think everyone should be aware of that and do testing when possible to make sure they're getting what they want for what they paid.
(Edited)
InhailedYeti
47
Jan 30, 2019
"Right, AB and ABx are different testing methods"
I actually did not know that.
Sorry if I'm getting defensive, I'm used to people assaulting what I've said first thing so my natural response is to get defensive. You're one of the few people who have approached with genuine curiosity. IIRC I also did a blind test without the audio switcher, positioning the two sources as close as posisble but most of them were using the audio switcher, if that's at all relevant. I don't an audio switcher in the signal chain would effect anything but to be sure I did to a test without it.
I used an Audient iD4 interface for blind tests and did comparisons with a Magni 3, used a Modi 2U as my DAC hooked up via USB. Spotify Premium was used as a source, mainly listened to higher quality recordings and well engineered music. I will say the test was flawed, it was my first time really attempting a test like this and it could have been done better in a lot of aspects. I am definitely a minority and I'll edit my intial post to add some skepticism to my own post and to encourage forming your own opinion. I just think it's important to set realistic expectations and it seems like a lot of the effects of this tube amp are a victim of hyperbole. I personally have no doubt there is indeed a difference, especially in measurements, with this tube amp, just how much of that is audible is what I'm questioning.
"But it still sounds like a tube amp IN CONTEXT to an incredibly clean SS amp"
This may be true, I do admit I don't have a high end SS amp to test it with but in my experience I haven't been able to hear much of a difference, if at all, between different amps or DACs. That could be because I haven't heard amps over $600, I don't know.
jaydunndiddit
3262
Feb 1, 2019
InhailedYetiIt's all good, really. I was legitimately just curious as I have done and do AB, ABx, and other multivariate tests for my day job in digital marketing (but my degree is in engineering), so it's just a point of interest in general. You'd be amazed at how much behavior and ethics come into play in both of my backgrounds and the effects it can have on an end result when context is removed or skewed. Not saying you were doing that but it's wild how easy it is to do. (There are many scientific papers on this especially in the "audiophile" and wine community.)
And I'm sure my tone could have easily been misread. This is the internet after all. So really no ill intent from my part whatsoever. I'm always interested in these sorts of tests no matter what, sadly.
If you're curious about the specs of your gear, you can check here : https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/review-and-measurements-of-topping-a30-and-schiit-magni-3-headphone-amps.4024/ and https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/review-measurement-and-comparison-of-schiit-modi-2-uber-and-topping-d30.3207/.
There are other measurements floating out in the wild but unless you're really into the technical jargon, I don't know how much context it would give you. If you're curious, I can drop the links here for you to pour over as I think it's interesting, nonetheless.
I only mentioned the quality of your switcher as I couldn't find specs on it so I didn't know if it was possible to rule out anything going on with it. Wasn't trying to downplay your gear or anything, but was just trying to view this under an objective microscope.
And an expensive amp doesn't mean shit to be frank. Lots of expensive equipment is just that; expensive. Just like cars, watches, clothes, etc. it's easy to sell a brand name to the masses (that is my job, afterall). Still, that doesn't equate to quality. I was trying to refrain from linking to the more subjective arguments of this as it does play a huge role and just muddies the waters more. Sadly, if a person truly believes that expensive X item is better than cheaper Y item, despite X being the exact same product as Y, then nothing will beat what they have conjured in their brain. And, this has been measured quite extensively via brain scans which makes it even more interesting (to me at least). Sorry for the long-winded response, but thanks for not being close-minded and thinking I was shitting on you or anything to that effect.
RayF
22220
Mar 25, 2018
Hate to say it, but after reading the comments below, these things seem to be kind of hit or miss? Lotta a dough for a regular person to put down and then have so many issues and so few solutions!
Of course, I'm f'n loaded--I could just keep ordering them, one after the other, until I got one that worked--no worries for me, but I'm concerned about the rest of you (you know, you little people with limited funds). Sounds like a risky buy for you guys (you know--but not for me, because I'm way rich--did I mention that? Oh, okay night try'n to rub it in okay--just say'n...
I think I'll just order a couple dozen to start with, I out'a get at least one good one out to the bunch ;- )
Of course, I'm f'n loaded--I could just keep ordering them, one after the other, until I got one that worked--no worries for me, but I'm concerned about the rest of you (you know, you little people with limited funds). Sounds like a risky buy for you guys (you know--but not for me, because I'm way rich--did I mention that? Oh, okay night try'n to rub it in okay--just say'n...
I think I'll just order a couple dozen to start with, I out'a get at least one good one out to the bunch ;- )
RojasTKD
375
Mar 25, 2018
RayFYeah, it does seem to be a little hit or miss. I might just save up and get something a little further up the tube Amp food chain.
Or you could send a couple dozen my way and between the two of us we can find a couple of good ones. 😉
Or you could send a couple dozen my way and between the two of us we can find a couple of good ones. 😉
DrewDunn
75
Jan 7, 2016
This may have been beat to death before, but buying from the authorized vendor on Ebay is only $10.00 more than the lowest price on Massdrop (for US customers), if you include shipping. Time is money, right? ;-)
Dr4Bob
30
Mar 22, 2016
I purchased the MkIII from the manufacturer david zhezhe about a year ago. He is excellent to deal with and the unit delivered was flawless. I think some of the units sold by "unauthorized" sources may be B-stock thus without warranty. Spend the extra few dollars.
The_Jniac
322
Mar 24, 2016
Dr4BobI have heard good things of little dot's support. Glad to hear you had a good experience.
Dr.KennethNoisewater
76
Mar 26, 2018
I've had an MKIII for a few years now and I love it. I've rolled in quite a few tubes and now have all non-stock tubes in there to get it sounding just the way I want. The idea of a second one sounds good but I can buy it directly from Littledot for $200. What am I missing that is making it cost $229.99 here?
Dr.KennethNoisewater
76
Mar 28, 2018
Based on that, getting the 1 year warranty from David directly sounds better. :) He will fix his amps for free (parts and labor) outside of the warranty period if you pay the shipping too, or that used to be his policy years ago.
Anyway, I guess none of this really matters for me. I don't even live in the US and getting the amp shipped from China to Canada took a couple of days. I couldn't believe how quick it arrived!
Anyway, I guess none of this really matters for me. I don't even live in the US and getting the amp shipped from China to Canada took a couple of days. I couldn't believe how quick it arrived!
AndyW
8
Mar 29, 2018
Dr.KennethNoisewaterYeah, with the wait and warranty for fairly small savings I decided against this one for now. The Massdrop, not the amp. Thanks everyone for the info.
Calaverasgrande
1486
Mar 26, 2019
hybrid? Why on earth use 4 tubes if you aren't going to commit to a pure all tube signal path. Kind of a waste of time and money. I've owned a lot of tube gear over the years. From guitar and bass amps to mic preamps and open reel tape recorders. One thing that is evident, hybrid designs compromise the benefits of using tubes. I don't think it's anything as esoteric as even vs odd harmonics as some will tell you. Rather that tube electronics run at high voltages and solid state audio electronics do not. So in order to use both in the same audio path, you have to knock down the voltage/current to something that will not cause the transistors to let out the magic smoke. This is easy to do galvanically with an interstage transformer. But that is not a cheap component, even more so if you want good audio specs. More often than not I see companies doing the Aphex trick of running tubes at low voltage and current. Aphex famously even put an LED behind their tubes to simulate the normal glow you would see!
Sure it's possible, but I am skeptical.
petukchele
43
Mar 26, 2019
CalaverasgrandeMKIII uses 4 tubes and is not a hybrid.
MKIII SE uses 2 tubes and is a hybrid
crimsontime
25
Mar 17, 2018
I‘m truly blown away. This is my first tube amp and it sounds divine thru my HD 600s.
crimsontime
25
Sep 17, 2018
BIGGUY4x4It's a completely different experience. The O2 would be for a neutral "reference" sound. The Little Dot is going to give you the tubes experience. I have both because I like to compare, and for some sources I prefer one or the other.
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