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luvmusik
120
Dec 26, 2015
Curious how V90 might match with a future pursuit of Sennheiser HD800. There are reports an HD800 engineer from Sennheiser used a Violectric model to tune the HD800 in development. Not sure which model amp, possibly V200. Real expensive amps are often used with HD800, more costly than V200, and often amps cost more than their mated headphones. But even Axel Grell who developed the HD800 says the V100 is one of his favorite amps (headphonia V100 review). Apparently, the V100 and V200 both pair well with the HD800, guys on head-fi post either is a great match. So, wondering if the V90 as next to kin, could get close and also perform well with HD800 ? Reports are G103 and G109 match very well with HD800, so V90 should too. Getting a V90 and a used set of HD800 seems like a real value to enter the big leagues.
socks_OCD
228
Dec 26, 2015
luvmusikI'd say, with first hand experience, that the V181's 1/4" hp out sounds very similar to the V100's 1/4" hp out. Running the V181 fully balanced is where the big difference and magic kicks in. The V100 is/was based on the G109's design.
To quote just a little bit from my other link for reference: "Next are 4-transistor amps per channel which can be found inside G105, G107, G109 and V100. F388, F399, V90 and V181 are made with power op-amps like OPA551 or similar."
To my ear the V100 and V181 perform eerily similar in single ended headphone out use, I imagine that the V90 should also sound pretty similar to both as well. Lol. This is what people refer to as a "house sound" more or less. Even though the approach was different.
The V200 supposedly has a wider stage (if my memory serves me well) with more warmth in the mids/bass region and softer*, more polite highs than the V100 and V181. The V200 is less "neutral". As is the V281 compared to the V181 when I was asking about it before I purchased the V181. Fully balanced though, the V281 pushes that extra warmth to the side and becomes very transparent, yet smooth at the same time. It makes me believe the V281 in fully balanced use is closer to the V100 and V181 in that sense. I'm merely speculating here though to be fair. Annnnnnd I'm a bit off-topic.
In short, none of the Lake People or Violectric amps suck. That's a plus. Fried takes what he learns from each iteration and pushes the design that one step further or so it seems. He had a great starting place; everything after the G103 just keeps getting slight tweaks for the [subjectively] better. I think every Lake People/Violectric amp BEFORE the V200 should sound pretty close to each other. The V200, V220 and V281 are the newest and have strayed the furthest away in terms of how they sound from the amp designs that came before them.
The HD800 likely sounds great on any/all of them. I know first hand it sounds great [to me] through both the stock 1/4" cable and my custom 4 pin XLR cable on the V181.
Now if only they sold something that could banish siblings and ambient noise to somewhere, anywhere else. Lol. I'll be selling my HD800 thanks to my brother making too much noise all too frequently.
The TH900 sounds really good too on the V181; the DT990 also. Really anything that has pronounced treble pairs well with Violectric amps. They (treble tilted or peaky treble headphones) don't sound quite as etched, rough, glassy, glaring or harsh paired with the Violectric amps compared to say my old Schiit Magni, Asgard 2 or FiiO E18. Price difference be damned. I think it has more to do with the approach to the amps design. Unfortunately at this time I'm limited to only what I've heard which is three manufacturers..... even so, jumping from a Schiit solid state amp or the O2 to a Violectric amp SHOULD sound very different! Oh and ummm, darker or more mid-centric headphones will sound just fine too (potentially too dark on the V200) if that's your thing. It's certainly not mine though. Preferences!
Edit: To add to the Axel Grell comment and Sennheiser Engineer using the Violectric V100... I've chatted with Arthur @ Violectric USA before and I swear I remember him mentioning the V181 being paired with the HD800 in fully balanced operation as the other benchmark/testing scenario. He joked about the HD800S including a balanced cable this time around to take advantage of the initial design. Why else would the HDVA 600 and HDVD 800 have balanced I/O and be marketed towards use with their HD800 [amongst other headphones] in fully balanced operation? Lmao. Hard to know when to take a comment like that as underlying sarcasm/joking arounds or as completely serious with a poor choice of tone while being voiced.
coolerking
164
Feb 14, 2016
luvmusikPlease do not take offense to my comment. I think it might be important to straighten this out. : "There are reports an HD800 engineer from Sennheiser used a Violectric model to tune the HD800 in development" Any GOOD lab will have all flavors from all companies for any device that is the same as theirs, and the devices that inter-operate with their device in the chain. Lets say a company is developing an AMP. They will have every competitors amps, every good, or more importantly high volume head-phone. And Every DAC, same types of flavors as headphones. BTW, pre-amps included. A HUGE testing matrix is generated, and test engineers / technicians chug away while developing. Your amp may be specifically optimitzed to a few "De-facto" standard Dacs and Phones and of course your own companies. There really neveris a master plan such as AMP development working best with their brand of phones or dacs. Companies run on, make the best damn AMP period AMP division. F--- the DAC and CAN sales.
There is one company that does not operate this way. Apple, thats why i hate them.
luvmusik
120
Feb 14, 2016
coolerkingHey, no sweat, agreed on your comment. Labs use many different brands & models of gear in the chain to optimize development of their product. They also want to know how gear consumers own will match with their product to reach their goals. The Violectric amps are well liked by Axell Grell, the HD800 developer from Sennheiser; he has noted V100. The HD800 protos were tuned with either V200 or V181, I forget which model was used from Violectric - the info is out there if any are motivated to search. What's interesting now is the new HD800-"S" version.
I like this brand of amps so much I bought 2 models - Lake People G109A and Violectric V100. Needed an amp in 2 locations & wanted same baseline signature, decided 1 of each was right for me. These are fine & powerful amps. Head-Fi site has threads with fellows' reports on using both G109A & V100 with HD800 with great results. Sure, there are extremely expensive ultimate amps that also match HD800 to it's finest performance. And, the V90 is an awesome amp from all reports. Great amp, powerful and at a great price.
ichor
10
Feb 22, 2016
luvmusikI am very curious why none jumped in for this drop yet, given all the great reviews.
Billqs
31
Oct 17, 2016
luvmusikI'm using a a G 103 with the HD800 it sounds incredible.
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