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Massdrop x Alex Cavalli Tube Hybrid Amp (CTH)
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Massdrop x Alex Cavalli Tube Hybrid Amp (CTH)
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Product Description
Built from the ground up by Alex Cavalli, a legend in the world of headphone amps, this hybrid amp combines a solid state section, a tube amp section, and an entirely new circuit design. It delivers the current required by planar magnetics, along with the voltage drive that dynamic headphones need to perform their best Read More
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keyboard_arrow_downAllegroMaestoso
113
May 13, 2018
checkVerified Buyer
The Massdrop x Alex Cavalli tube hybrid is my first headphone amplifier, but just by a bit. My brand new Magni 3 arrived a week or two later. Since I use different sources with each amp and can't easily switch sources without moving furniture, this review won't compare the two amps. I will say that the Schitt really delivers the "doing it to me in my ear holes" sound that I crave.
After listening casually to the CTH for a couple of weeks, I got serious about testing. My source is an Onkyo C7030 CD player, and my headphones are 32 ohm Beyerdynamic DT-880 Premiums. Sweet cans that I've had for over a year, but I'm practically wetting my pants with anticipation waiting for the delivery of my Massdrop x Focal Elex phones. No external DAC required for this rig - the Onkyo's DAC is perfectly capable of performance signal processing.
For the first test of the CTH, I listened to three harpsichord suites by Handel, recorded in 1991 by Anthony Newman. I felt that the sound was a bit veiled and slightly distant. This impression was quickly overturned when I bypassed the amp and listened to three more suites from the same disc directly from the Onkyo's headphone output. Without the amp, the harpsichord seemed less distinct, less present, less lively. The second test on the next night (detailed below) supported the amp's ability to clearly define and enhance the sound.
Test two left me with mixed feelings. Tests like these are necessarily highly subjective, and we as listeners are preconditioned to believe that quality equipment will produce vastly improved sound. In short, I was prejudiced to hear amazing results from the CTH. That said, I fell into the trap and fell in love with this amplifier. It's definitely a winner. Going forward, I will undoubtedly have a tough time enjoying headphone listening without an amp.
This test consisted of the following selections, played one after the other through the Onkyo's headphone output, then again through the CTH.
"Weird Al" Yankovic: Craigslist J.S. Bach: Sonata in C, BWV 1033 for flute and continuo, performed by Maxence Larrieu, Rafael Puyana, and Wieland Kuijken in 1967. EMF: Unbelievable - House mix C.M. von Weber: Overture to "Der Freischütz" with Antal Dorati and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, recorded in 1959 Led Zeppelin: Rock and Roll
Actually not much to say about Craigslist. Al to me sounds great pretty much all the time under most conditions.
The flute sonata was a different story. While the flute sounded good both times, Kuijken's viola da gamba was the star with the CTH. Rather than being muddy and melting vaguely into the harpsichord's left hand, with the amp it came forward and was a clear and unique equal in the ensemble. Also of note was the stopped harpsichord's upper register - it was pleasingly bright and clear, with a nice pop.
EMF was the highlight of the program. This was the mind-altering listening experience I have been seeking. The keyboards, percussion, and bass were outstanding. Normally I pay little attention to vocals, but this time they were so clear and natural that they totally grabbed my attention. The best part, though, was the left-right channel oscillation effects that left my head gently and happily spinning.
Dorati's Weber recording suffers from more than the average level of ambient noise. Random rattles and shuffles appear to emanate from the orchestra - loud page turns and other non-scored sounds, possibly horn slides being removed to empty condensation, random tapping of shoes, music stands being moved, etc. The noise is audible with most rigs, but obviously with a performance amp like the CTH, it became extra clear and somewhat of a distraction. Other than that, the significant difference from the first to the second audition was the woodwinds, particularly the oboes. They came forward and participated with more charm and life.
Led Zeppelin's best benefit from the CTH was John Paul Jones's bass playing - the amp really cleaned up the bass line, making it more articulate and musical.
A word on cables - I had ordered an Audioquest RCA-RCA cable to connect the CD player to the amp. When the amp arrived and I hooked things up, I was dismayed to discover an intermittent fault in the cable's left channel. I initially thought I had done something wrong with the tube and removed and reinserted it several times, but no, it was definitely the cable. I had to send back the AQ and swap it for a gimme cable I had lying around. The cheap one works fine, but I would like to upgrade at some point. I do have an AQ that connects my Magni to my FiiO X3 2nd gen, and it is awesome.
A word on burn-in/run-in - I was mildly surprised and amused that this unit ships with burn-in instructions, and that the designer himself goes into detail on the drop page. I'm personally convinced that audio equipment does not magically improve by being used a certain way over a certain period of time. The ONLY things that change are the listener's ears and mind and how they process the sound.
Listening to music -really listening - often requires serious effort. The more one practices, the more the skill becomes second nature. I have found that the CTH eases the burden, making the listening effort easier and the payoff even more rewarding.
After listening casually to the CTH for a couple of weeks, I got serious about testing. My source is an Onkyo C7030 CD player, and my headphones are 32 ohm Beyerdynamic DT-880 Premiums. Sweet cans that I've had for over a year, but I'm practically wetting my pants with anticipation waiting for the delivery of my Massdrop x Focal Elex phones. No external DAC required for this rig - the Onkyo's DAC is perfectly capable of performance signal processing.
For the first test of the CTH, I listened to three harpsichord suites by Handel, recorded in 1991 by Anthony Newman. I felt that the sound was a bit veiled and slightly distant. This impression was quickly overturned when I bypassed the amp and listened to three more suites from the same disc directly from the Onkyo's headphone output. Without the amp, the harpsichord seemed less distinct, less present, less lively. The second test on the next night (detailed below) supported the amp's ability to clearly define and enhance the sound.
Test two left me with mixed feelings. Tests like these are necessarily highly subjective, and we as listeners are preconditioned to believe that quality equipment will produce vastly improved sound. In short, I was prejudiced to hear amazing results from the CTH. That said, I fell into the trap and fell in love with this amplifier. It's definitely a winner. Going forward, I will undoubtedly have a tough time enjoying headphone listening without an amp.
This test consisted of the following selections, played one after the other through the Onkyo's headphone output, then again through the CTH.
"Weird Al" Yankovic: Craigslist J.S. Bach: Sonata in C, BWV 1033 for flute and continuo, performed by Maxence Larrieu, Rafael Puyana, and Wieland Kuijken in 1967. EMF: Unbelievable - House mix C.M. von Weber: Overture to "Der Freischütz" with Antal Dorati and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, recorded in 1959 Led Zeppelin: Rock and Roll
Actually not much to say about Craigslist. Al to me sounds great pretty much all the time under most conditions.
The flute sonata was a different story. While the flute sounded good both times, Kuijken's viola da gamba was the star with the CTH. Rather than being muddy and melting vaguely into the harpsichord's left hand, with the amp it came forward and was a clear and unique equal in the ensemble. Also of note was the stopped harpsichord's upper register - it was pleasingly bright and clear, with a nice pop.
EMF was the highlight of the program. This was the mind-altering listening experience I have been seeking. The keyboards, percussion, and bass were outstanding. Normally I pay little attention to vocals, but this time they were so clear and natural that they totally grabbed my attention. The best part, though, was the left-right channel oscillation effects that left my head gently and happily spinning.
Dorati's Weber recording suffers from more than the average level of ambient noise. Random rattles and shuffles appear to emanate from the orchestra - loud page turns and other non-scored sounds, possibly horn slides being removed to empty condensation, random tapping of shoes, music stands being moved, etc. The noise is audible with most rigs, but obviously with a performance amp like the CTH, it became extra clear and somewhat of a distraction. Other than that, the significant difference from the first to the second audition was the woodwinds, particularly the oboes. They came forward and participated with more charm and life.
Led Zeppelin's best benefit from the CTH was John Paul Jones's bass playing - the amp really cleaned up the bass line, making it more articulate and musical.
A word on cables - I had ordered an Audioquest RCA-RCA cable to connect the CD player to the amp. When the amp arrived and I hooked things up, I was dismayed to discover an intermittent fault in the cable's left channel. I initially thought I had done something wrong with the tube and removed and reinserted it several times, but no, it was definitely the cable. I had to send back the AQ and swap it for a gimme cable I had lying around. The cheap one works fine, but I would like to upgrade at some point. I do have an AQ that connects my Magni to my FiiO X3 2nd gen, and it is awesome.
A word on burn-in/run-in - I was mildly surprised and amused that this unit ships with burn-in instructions, and that the designer himself goes into detail on the drop page. I'm personally convinced that audio equipment does not magically improve by being used a certain way over a certain period of time. The ONLY things that change are the listener's ears and mind and how they process the sound.
Listening to music -really listening - often requires serious effort. The more one practices, the more the skill becomes second nature. I have found that the CTH eases the burden, making the listening effort easier and the payoff even more rewarding.
AllegroMaestoso
113
May 17, 2018
Here's an early comparison. I hope it's helpful!
Since my sources and cables were different, comparing Schiit's Magni 3 to the Cavalli tube hybrid was almost comparing apples and oranges. I did use my DT-880 Pros again for this comparison.
I used the first four tracks from the Play That Funky Music compilation album: Wild Cherry's Play That Funky Music, Brick House from the Commodores, Lady Marmalade by Labelle, and Lipps, Inc.'s Funkytown. First I listened through the Schiit, playing the FLAC versions with the FiiO X3 2nd gen. I then listened to the FiiO directly with no headphone amp. Finally, I played the CD audio versions with my Onkyo CD player connected to the CTH. To be thorough, I should have tried the CD player without the amp, but I was tired and wanted to go to bed.
The risk of repeated listening of the same music on different equipment is that the listener may be conscious of more details on each repetition, essentially "learning" the music and what to listen for.
Having voiced these caveats, my initial impression was that the CTH totally blew away the Magni. This is not extremely surprising, as the CTH gives the sense of being more substantial: heavier, bigger, runs hotter, and most impprtantly, is 2.5 times the price. Again, we are conditioned to believe that pricier equipment is better.
The CTH effortlessly rendered without fatigue full, widely spaced, rich, musically engaging sound. The instrumental separation was outstanding.
The FiiO's output definitely benefitted from the Magni in the strength, depth and width of sound the amp has to offer. Strangely, the Magni actually seemed to mask some of the details, especially in the percussion and low brass - sounds that were more conspicous through the FiiO alone, and were downright attention-grabbing with the CTH. Also problematic was Lady Marmalade - Magni's performance was almost cluttered and jarring, bordering on fatiguing. Even so, no regrets whatsoever about the Schiit. This session with the Beyers was a little shaky, but I still love the way this amp really makes my HE 150Pro earbuds come alive.
Since my sources and cables were different, comparing Schiit's Magni 3 to the Cavalli tube hybrid was almost comparing apples and oranges. I did use my DT-880 Pros again for this comparison.
I used the first four tracks from the Play That Funky Music compilation album: Wild Cherry's Play That Funky Music, Brick House from the Commodores, Lady Marmalade by Labelle, and Lipps, Inc.'s Funkytown. First I listened through the Schiit, playing the FLAC versions with the FiiO X3 2nd gen. I then listened to the FiiO directly with no headphone amp. Finally, I played the CD audio versions with my Onkyo CD player connected to the CTH. To be thorough, I should have tried the CD player without the amp, but I was tired and wanted to go to bed.
The risk of repeated listening of the same music on different equipment is that the listener may be conscious of more details on each repetition, essentially "learning" the music and what to listen for.
Having voiced these caveats, my initial impression was that the CTH totally blew away the Magni. This is not extremely surprising, as the CTH gives the sense of being more substantial: heavier, bigger, runs hotter, and most impprtantly, is 2.5 times the price. Again, we are conditioned to believe that pricier equipment is better.
The CTH effortlessly rendered without fatigue full, widely spaced, rich, musically engaging sound. The instrumental separation was outstanding.
The FiiO's output definitely benefitted from the Magni in the strength, depth and width of sound the amp has to offer. Strangely, the Magni actually seemed to mask some of the details, especially in the percussion and low brass - sounds that were more conspicous through the FiiO alone, and were downright attention-grabbing with the CTH. Also problematic was Lady Marmalade - Magni's performance was almost cluttered and jarring, bordering on fatiguing. Even so, no regrets whatsoever about the Schiit. This session with the Beyers was a little shaky, but I still love the way this amp really makes my HE 150Pro earbuds come alive.
helicopters
2
Jun 24, 2018
AllegroMaestosoYou typed that out forever ago, but thanks for this! Meant to say so before. I ended up getting a CTH and you were spot on, it sounds great.
G3n3r1c
216
May 24, 2018
checkVerified Buyer
I'd give this 5 stars for sound quality. I highly recommend the CTH overall. I'm being picky about the design for possible future revisions.
Strengths: 1. Superb sound quality: extremely clear with a noticeable touch of tube character. Tested with Focal Elex, Sennheiser HD-600, AudoQuest NightHawk Carbon, and Grado SR-80e headphones. The HD-600s in particular have never sounded better. 2. The regularly used controls are on the front (e.g., no blind reach-around for power) 3. Twin headphone jacks are a nice convenience 4. Built like a tank 5. Great shipping box and great out of box experience
Weaknesses: 1. It's huge and flat. It hogs a whole lot of surface space and the input jacks on the back require even more clearance. I'd prefer a 25% reduction in size Left/Right and Front/Back. 2. There is a naked (but fashionable) tube sticking out the top. While definitely eye-catching, this limits stacking options and will make me forever worry about snapping it off. It's particularly sad because many have indicated the CTH doesn't benefit from tube swaps. I'd rather have the tube mounted flat inside the chassis with an access window. I never plan to swap tubes, only replace when the factory tube dies (or when accidentally smashed by my phone or a stacked DAC). 3. The volume knob has only a tiny dent to indicate its position. It totally disappears with any shadows at all. I was forced to put a small piece of tape on the knob -- a permanent solution is a single drop of white paint.
Strengths: 1. Superb sound quality: extremely clear with a noticeable touch of tube character. Tested with Focal Elex, Sennheiser HD-600, AudoQuest NightHawk Carbon, and Grado SR-80e headphones. The HD-600s in particular have never sounded better. 2. The regularly used controls are on the front (e.g., no blind reach-around for power) 3. Twin headphone jacks are a nice convenience 4. Built like a tank 5. Great shipping box and great out of box experience
Weaknesses: 1. It's huge and flat. It hogs a whole lot of surface space and the input jacks on the back require even more clearance. I'd prefer a 25% reduction in size Left/Right and Front/Back. 2. There is a naked (but fashionable) tube sticking out the top. While definitely eye-catching, this limits stacking options and will make me forever worry about snapping it off. It's particularly sad because many have indicated the CTH doesn't benefit from tube swaps. I'd rather have the tube mounted flat inside the chassis with an access window. I never plan to swap tubes, only replace when the factory tube dies (or when accidentally smashed by my phone or a stacked DAC). 3. The volume knob has only a tiny dent to indicate its position. It totally disappears with any shadows at all. I was forced to put a small piece of tape on the knob -- a permanent solution is a single drop of white paint.
timothom
85
May 25, 2018
checkVerified Buyer
This amp is one of the growing number of choices we have these days for a hybrid tube amp, meaning the output stage (the part that interfaces with your headphones/speakers and deals with 100 ohm, 300 ohm, etc) is solid state, and the amplification stage is a tube. A dual-triode tube, one side of the tube for left and right.
Sometimes, you can tell an amp is a hybrid amp when it only has one or two tubes. Amps like this one, and the Schiit Lyr 3 are hybrid amps. Amps like the Dark voice with 2 tubes (kind confusing, it is not solid state), and the little dot and Valhalla 2 have 4 tubes. Amps like these will give you 'more' of the tube sound, more or less. But they are also less consistent than hybrid amps and tube rolling is much more expensive.
I really like the way this amp sounds with my HD 650. It's like Goldilocks of amps, it's JUST right in the amount of warm, blended sound that tubes induce. When I A/B this amp with my Magni 3, the difference is clear. It's less surgical than the solid state. You can especially hear it on heavy guitar/metal songs. The feedback from those loud amps is more resolving and detailed on the Magni 3. Does it sound better? I dunno..maybe. Kind of depends on my mood.
I prefer the way the CTH sounds for almost everything. I listen to my cans most of the day, and the CTH gives a great, non-fatiguing experience. I usually listen at 9:00, and I rarely go past 12:00. The protection does kick in near the top, but I can't even have my HD 650 on my ears at that point it is so dangerously loud.
I think Hybrid tube amps are going to become more prevlant in the future. Cavalli was one of the first on this train with the Liquid Crimsion. People were paying thousands of dollars for the sound this $250 amp makes 5 years ago.
Sometimes, you can tell an amp is a hybrid amp when it only has one or two tubes. Amps like this one, and the Schiit Lyr 3 are hybrid amps. Amps like the Dark voice with 2 tubes (kind confusing, it is not solid state), and the little dot and Valhalla 2 have 4 tubes. Amps like these will give you 'more' of the tube sound, more or less. But they are also less consistent than hybrid amps and tube rolling is much more expensive.
I really like the way this amp sounds with my HD 650. It's like Goldilocks of amps, it's JUST right in the amount of warm, blended sound that tubes induce. When I A/B this amp with my Magni 3, the difference is clear. It's less surgical than the solid state. You can especially hear it on heavy guitar/metal songs. The feedback from those loud amps is more resolving and detailed on the Magni 3. Does it sound better? I dunno..maybe. Kind of depends on my mood.
I prefer the way the CTH sounds for almost everything. I listen to my cans most of the day, and the CTH gives a great, non-fatiguing experience. I usually listen at 9:00, and I rarely go past 12:00. The protection does kick in near the top, but I can't even have my HD 650 on my ears at that point it is so dangerously loud.
I think Hybrid tube amps are going to become more prevlant in the future. Cavalli was one of the first on this train with the Liquid Crimsion. People were paying thousands of dollars for the sound this $250 amp makes 5 years ago.
jerryboysad
13
Jan 3, 2020
checkVerified Buyer
Sad ending to a great product. BUYERS BEWARE.
Bought this wonderful tube amp more than a year ago.
Wall wart died.
Warranty has long gone. ( 1 year )
Drop told me there is no way I can purchase a replacement wall wart. There is no other place to get this unique 28V , 1.25A wall wart. David Q from drop.com said.
"
Thank you for getting back to us! Regrettably, we do not sell individual parts for any of our material. I do again apologize for any inconveniences that this may have caused.
If you have any other questions or concerns I would be happy to assist.
Best Regards,
David
"
So now I am looking at a dead amplifier with no help. I deeply regret it and to those people with a functioning amplifier. Good luck to you and pray it never dies or buy something else which has more common aftermarket replacements.
Recommends this product? No
Mastaboog749
146
Apr 1, 2022
jerryboysadI just got this amp used from mercari and they didn't include the freaking wall wart! Im assuming his crapped out also and he just didn't tell me. I'm overnighting one of these from Amazon that they sell for charging hooverboards I'll post an update tomorrow
Swan86
44
Jul 13, 2018
checkVerified Buyer
Lovely product, using it for my HD6XX and it's as advertised (by the community), delightful sound signature and much more capable of unlocking my HD6XX's potential compared to my portable dac/amp (oppo ha-2se). My current setup is Samsung galaxy S9 -> usb C to micro USB cable -> oppo ha-2se (dac only mode) -> lineout via 3.5mm to RCA -> mCTH -> HD6XX. What a match made in heaven. I feel that the sound is fuller and richer compared to before, and I get a general sense of increased musicality as result. If anything I want to complain about, it is that HD6XX truly is lacking in bass a bit, but it is at no fault of the amp.
I actually deferred my plan to purchase a headphone upgrade (focal elex) simply because the upgrade will be relatively more marginal with my headphone's new found performance.
I'll update this review if I ever try to pair this amp with another headphone in the future.
Edit: I'm now a proud owner of Audeze LCD-X as well as Focal Clear. Here's my two cent on the pairing with mCTH:
LCD-X: Not my cup of tea. This headphone is basically somewhat dark and has extremely good soundstage, with mid sounding a little recessed. Its delightful when paired with my Schiit Jotenheim listening to accoustics and live recordings, the bass also feels very impactful with Jotenheim. However, when paired with mcth the bass becomes relatively less impressive and the already recessed mid becomes even "softer" and warmer, makes it feel like the singer is standing 20 feet away while all instruments are only 10 feet from you. The amazing soundstage and warm sound actually becomes a negative thing.
Focal Clear: Whoa! What a matching!!!! Focal clear by itself has relatively small soundstage and EXTREMELY crisp and clean sound with ridiculous clarity and humble amount of bass. It has a neutral and slightly bright sound signature in my opinion. Pairing with mcth is very delightful as it softens and warms up the sound signature a tad bit which makes the music sound extremely crisp and clear but sweet sounding. It can be extremely revealing of bad recording but if the recording was done well, it is simply superb. In short, it adds musicality just enough that it makes the headphone to hit the sweet spot for me. In contrast when I pair this headphone with Jotenheim, it becomes overly analytical and dry sounding, with relatively little musicality that made it slightly hard to focus on enjoying the music.
I hope this update will be helpful for some of you out there that's considering the above pairings. Cheers!
(Edited)
dm94aq7
0
Aug 28, 2018
checkVerified Buyer
This amp reduces high end fidelity, both volume and transient response.
The frequency response is overall pretty flat with what I perceive as a slight rise in the <100hz bass, which lines up with the (not so great) review and measurements posted on Audio Science Review https://audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/review-and-measurements-of-massdrop-alex-cavalli-tube-hybrid-cth-and-jds-o2-headphone-amps.3928/ - the only realistic/objective review of this amp I've found.
Anecdotally the amp does sound a bit noisy / grainy / distorted, and the above linked measurements show that's noisier than the amp they compare it too. I don't know if this is all in my mind though. The music just feels a little grittier with this amp, but I'm not confident I could say this in a blind A/B test.
More about the high end: The high frequencies are slightly but noticeably lower in volume, and there's a more rolled off transient attack on high end notes, meaning the high end isn't as sharp/crisp/"fast". This is my first tube amp, and apparently this is par for the course with tube amps? I don't know why you'd want an amp that removes audio fidelity ¯\_(ツ)_/¯. Sometimes this can be pleasant for songs that have high frequency drum hits that hurt your ears at high volume, but that just means you're hearing less of the song. You're definitely going to hear fewer snares, cymbals, and very well mastered electronic kick drums that span the whole frequency spectrum. This is especially apparent when comparing to the pictured Samson QH4, which is clear/transparent as day to my ears.
Anecdotally the sound stage seems slightly increased with this amp, compared to more neutral amps, but this is also something I'm not confident I could discern in a blind A/B test.
If you want hearing damage, I'd suggest this amp. If you accidentally unplug any part of the system, audio source > amp, amp > headphone, or as I just learned, bump the tube reaching for something, it will send a very loud distorted signal through. It's really quite scary. None of my other audio equipment has sent such a blast of audio when a component is accidentally disconnected. I now always turn down the volume all the way before doing anything, which is probably good practice anyway for audio equipment.
The build quality of the amp seems good to great, especially considering this is a generic outsourced build. Operating temperature seems fine. Volume knob is satisfying to turn, but it has a very subtle marking, making it difficult to see what volume position the amp is in (which is especially important for the above problem). It looks as sleek as it does in the pictures. It's the biggest amp I own of four, and the tube does reduce stackability, but that's something I expected up front.
I think the more amps I use, the less I believe in them. Amps aren't supposed to change the sound signature, but everyone talks about how they do, as if it's positive. They're supposed to make your cans louder. The cans define the sound signature. Whatever. Maybe tube amp aficionados hear / prefer something I don't!
Compared to all the amps I have in rotation, the Samson QH4, the Fiio E6 (little liquid garbage POS), the Massdrop Objective 2, the C&C BH, and this CTH, I'd say the Massdrop Objective 2 amp is my favorite, even though the build quality of this hybrid amp is much better.
Despite the flaws, I don't regret buying this amplifier. It's my first tube amp (and probably last, frankly) so it has that appeal, it looks great, and it sounds "good enough." It's a true Massdrop item, an impulse buy you don't need, that looks cool. And as mentioned, the reduction in audio fidelity can reduce listening fatigue some songs that have very well produced, crunchy high ends. Even though the QH4 is better in almost every way except looks, I'm still turning to the CTH for some listening.
(Edited)
PhucHPham
15
Aug 29, 2018
dm94aq7regarding the high end, I do agree with you, it is not sharp/harsh/fast as solid state amp; I have magni 3 before getting mcth (my first tube amp also) and I haven't used...magni 3 since then; I found myself enjoy mcth more, especially pairing it with HD58X.
Helpbot
310
Jan 26, 2019
dm94aq7If you want better measurements out of your CTH, Consider getting a linear power supply to replace the one it comes with.
Jiv_au
100
Jun 28, 2018
checkVerified Buyer
I'll keep this short as I am an audio noob...
I was a sceptic after reading John Grandberg's review on InnerFidelity. To me it seemed that he was implying that this mCTH was comparable to the more expensive amps. Really? At this price, how good can it be? C'mon...
Mind. Blown.
It brings music out in a more thicker and meatier way. The power one feels when listening to a live classical orchestra is more there. Didn't think I'd ever say this, but I ENJOY my classical music much more with this gear, with both my HD6XX and HE4XX.
And now the negative... My tube initially didn't seat properly in the socket - it would stick out much more from the body compared to the picture here. So I used a screw driver that was only slightly larger than the tube pins to widen the socket holes, and that fixed the problem.
I was a sceptic after reading John Grandberg's review on InnerFidelity. To me it seemed that he was implying that this mCTH was comparable to the more expensive amps. Really? At this price, how good can it be? C'mon...
Mind. Blown.
It brings music out in a more thicker and meatier way. The power one feels when listening to a live classical orchestra is more there. Didn't think I'd ever say this, but I ENJOY my classical music much more with this gear, with both my HD6XX and HE4XX.
And now the negative... My tube initially didn't seat properly in the socket - it would stick out much more from the body compared to the picture here. So I used a screw driver that was only slightly larger than the tube pins to widen the socket holes, and that fixed the problem.
DarkStarRWB
21
Sep 2, 2020
checkVerified Buyer
Fantastic amplifier, especially at $175.
After 100 hours of burn in and another 150-200 usage hours, I can confidently say that this is a great amplifier. I tested using Tidal HiFi and Master tracks, fed through USB to a Grace SDAC Balanced. Impressions done with Denon D2000 and Sennheiser HD6xx. Benchmark amp is the THX AAA 789.
***THE SOUND OF THIS AMP 100% CHANGES AFTER TUBE BURN IN. DO NOT THINK THE OUT OF THE BOX SOUND IS THE ACTUAL SOUND OF THE AMP***
Treble/highs - Ever so slightly rolled off, yet still definitely "detailed." Very pleasant and not fatiguing, but don't expect this amp to drastically change the sound of any headphones you already have. Smooooooth. You will lose a small amount of detail retrieval, but it may not be noticeable depending on how treble-forward and detailed your cans are.
Mids - Vocals are very nice. The midrange is overall a bit recessed relative to neutral, but not what I would call "recessed." There's a smoothing effect on vocals that's pretty characteristic of tubes, and they feel nicely staged and pushed a bit further out. You will lose out on detail here, but it's not significant or a problem. I'll get more into the soundstage and imaging later. Very good midrange performance.
Bass - Definitely increased in amount, not so much quality. The bass response isn't bad, but can begin to feel bloated and invading into the lower mids depending on the headphones you have. I don't notice an increase in sub-bass. I would actually say that the 789 has noticeably better sub-bass performance with the D2000's. This frequency range for bass response is a great pairing for the HD6xx.
Soundstage/imaging - I think the soundstage and the mids are where the CTH really shines. The imaging is pretty good... I'd call it immersive. It's not incredibly accurate so I wouldn't recommend this amp specifically for competitive gaming, but it's good enough for recreational gaming and certainly for music. Soundstage and presentation are a totally different story though: I keep finding myself coming back to this amp because of the way the music is presented. It's so smooth and pleasant (I know I keep using those words, but there's no better way to describe it) and never gets fatiguing. The 3d tube effect is strong for a hybrid... I can close my eyes and feel a good mix fill the space and surround me. The HD6xx can benefit from this, but also I love the intimacy of the HD6xx and sometimes prefer a tighter soundstage for them. If you have headphones with decent soundstage already, then this amp will certainly bring a satisfying 3d sound to your music. The D2000's pair extremely well with this amp for soundstage.
Overall - A great amp. I highly recommend this amp for $175, and it still gets my recommendation at $250 (it's just no longer a no-brainer). If you're unsure if you want to commit to a fully solid state sound or a fully tube sound and only have room in the budget for one amp, this is a safe choice. It doesn't change your music super drastically, but it does add a bit of butter over the top so it's more forgiving on flawed headphones and mixes than something as clinical as the 789.
TL;DR: SAFE PURCHASE. BUY THIS AMP IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A HYBRID TUBE AMP OR CAN ONLY GET ONE AMP AND DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT FULL TUBE OR FULL SOLID STATE.
Recommends this product? Yes
DarkStarRWB
21
Sep 28, 2020
I don't have any experience or knowledge regarding the Dragonfly but if the general consensus online is that they work well enough as a DAC, then yeah I don't see why you couldn't pair it with this amp. I don't think the DAC makes a big difference in the sound relative to other things in your audio chain (source files, amp, headphones). Over the past few weeks I've left the D2000's plugged into the CTH because I love the way it takes a bit of the harshness out of the trebles and highs that always bugged me about the D2000 as well as elevating the bass quantity for certain genres of music. If you are looking for the "perfect" headphone out of this combo, I don't think I would recommend it. You aren't getting a very detailed or accurate sound, but it is definitely a great sound. I have a couple amps and a few headphones so I'm not too worried about finding "perfect" headphones anymore, but instead a variety of different, great sounding combos. If you aren't concerned with accuracy or neutrality and just want something that sounds good, then I DO recommend this.
Hyde
1119
Sep 28, 2020
DarkStarRWBYeah I'm not someone that care that much about linear response or neutrality. In fact I find neutral sounds boring to me. At the end of the day as long it sounds good then it sounds good.
So this does sound like it could potentially on my future purchase list.
Thank you for your answer and explanation! :)
bfitz
671
Mar 9, 2019
checkVerified Buyer
Having gone through a fair share of audio gear in the past 10 years I can honestly say this is the one purchase(not headphones) I am 100% satisfied with. The sound! I don't know why I never tried tube or hybrid before(co$t/fear of co$st?)
Started with;
> Fiio e11/iPod classic.
> Schiit stack, then Modi+Asgard, ASUS Xonar SC/Asgard.
> Android phone/mojo
> V20(mojo, e11,modi , magni all sold off)
> Enter Shanling M3s.
>Desktop kit limbo for a long while.... Very long time deciding if I want to be chained to desktop or have a comfy chair side listening station. Decided on the latter.
Pulled the trigger and got the CTH, about 35+ hours on it now, being fed from M3s LO mode. Flac 16/44 and 24/96. Favorite combo right now is 4XX with ZMF oval cowhide pads and TO400s 😜.
This is my first bit of Tube gear and I am very happy, almost makes me want to grab HD6xx(only ever heard 650 through SS gear, K701 was preference at that time) and hear them again through this amp.
This is now my go to music source with 4XX zmf oval pads.
Absolute fun!
(Edited)
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Thoughts after burn-in and about 50 hours of use. First of all, this amp destroys the Magni 2 in my subjective listening. I did an informal A/B test with the help of a friend (volume matched, roughly) and I could differentiate between the Magni and CTH 20/20 times. I'll try to avoid the typical audiophile jargon but this amp has pretty dramatically changed the listening experience with my HD600's for the better. Better clarity throughout the range, bass has more kick and depth to it, most music sounds "warmer" which is subjectively better for me (at least compared to the magni). Honestly I was surprised by the difference. This was an impulse purchase and I had every intention to re-sell it after testing it out, but now I don't think I'll be able to let go of this amp. Overall, I'm very happy and don't think I'll be looking at amps for quite a while with this setup.