Yes and no. By the time you reach the $200 to $500 Amp/DAC price class you can hear the bulk of the details, flaws, and interference in audio sources. This especially applies to the oft described ‘analytical’ or ‘clinical’ devices from THX, Topping, etc. (I’m guessing that the Modius/Magnius combo would be similar). Higher cost technical equipment (e.g., RME, SPL, Benchmark) may preserve the details and nuances but eliminate or mitigate the negatives. What cost/benefit? How well do they succeed? Hmmmm…
The major technological challenges in audio were understood and addressed long ago. Some solutions to excessive, unwanted, and harsh content include tube amps and equalizers.
That’s a huge issue. Many pop/rock releases during the radio era (ending with the rise of MP3s in the late 1990s) were produced in a lazy fashion by a handful of powerful record companies. They could and did turn anyone into a million record seller because they controlled the market and fed free music to every radio station (plus MTV and related video channels).
As this era was ending the record companies damaged their own product in the misguided Loudness Wars. A high percentage of music released or remastered between the late 1990s and around 2010 (in particular) was brutalized by harsh compression and clipping. It requires tube/EQ to be tolerated at all. More recent mainstream music is also heavily processed and dynamically compressed, but is now easier on the ears.
Given the uniqueness of artists and recordings, the only solution to bad mastering is to pursue the sweet-spot between accuracy and correction. If you want to reach this point quickly, just buy an EQ and mainstream tube hybrid amp (e.g., Lyr 3 & Loki) and be done with it. That’s a 95% solution. If you want to become a hobbyist who is never satisfied and constantly in pursuit of another high, keep on exploring.
The problem with the Glenn OTL, when comparing it to other amps, is that it’s sound is very dependant on the glass it is running. There are so many tube combinations you can plug into it that the sound will probably be very different from one setup to the next.
So, if you’ve heard one Glenn OTL, you’ve heard… one Glenn OTL.
That is also a benefit, for some, in that you can customize the sound near infinitely. If you’re willing to spend the time and $$$ on NOS glass that is.
The only other tube amps I’ve compared the Glenn to was the pendant and mogwai. (About an hour spent comparing, show conditions unfortunately, so grain of salt here…) The pendant was the cleanest sounding of the bunch, the Glenn a bit warmer with a bit more euphony, and the mogwai was a very gooey tube-soup.
Edit - If you are fairly new to tube amps, want excellent sound, and are already willing to wait for a Glenn, I usually advise people to instead look at the DNA Starlett. The glass is cheap, and the sound is 90% of the way there compared to the DNA Stratus.
To be clear to get one, Basically yo IM Glenn on Head-fi, discuss exactly what you want, then you are in effect on a waiting list and some months later you get an amp.
This sounds like DNA, except it isn’t as far as I can tell Glenn treats it less as a business and more of a hobby, he seems to build when he has spare time, and he’s been very busy of late, (he stopped building entirely for a while while he relocated) so the list is long.
His prices are extremely reasonable though if you can deal with the process and the wait.
I’m in the midst of discussing a build with him, but he just goes dark on IM for extended periods, so it’s not a quick process.
@TylersEclectic yea, I’ve been in message limbo for about a month on just getting a second response. No way to demo so I’m wondering if it will best my ampsandsound amps I have.
I’m thinking I’m just going to get into building my own amps as that sounds fun and better valuewise.
@ProfFalkin the problem with DNA is I thought their amps cost about 3x the cost of a good Gotl. Glenn told me with upgrades I can get a bangin amp for about 1,500. That’s easy to come up with vs. 2-3k+
Just interested in the hype and if Glenn’s amp can outgun my ampsandsound amps mainly. If not by a lot I’ll probably not get it.
What I get from your response is that it isn’t better than the pendant but just sonically different correct?
@Polygonhell yea, I’m in limbo hell too lol. But he did post on his thread a few days ago that he is trying to get back at it. It seems a realistic wait time is closer to over a year or more. Maybe not but if you factor in how many people have hit him up over the last few months that he has been busy doing non amp building stuff.
Thanks for your guys responses and I feel that I’m gravitating to learning how to amp build myself! It’s hard to come up with the money for amps and when there seems to be a great deal like Glennotl, it over pours with people trying to get it. I wish there were amp buildomg classes! How cool that would be! I need to find a mentor locally and get some kind of apprenticeship
Thanks, I had some trouble finding prices but saw a used one sold for $1900 so using logic thought it would retail higher to 3k. If they sell for 2k then the diminishing returns are basically non existent!!! Wow that’s awesome!!
How do you think dna compares to ampsandsound Kenzie or Pendant?
Hmmm… Depends on how you look at it. $1500 + $400 to $600 for glass, or $2000 + $150 for glass. So many of the top tubes for GOTL are stinking expensive.
As for the Pendant sounding better or just different, all I can commit to opinion wise is the tonal differences I heard. I didn’t spend enough time with the GOTL to get into the weeds on it’s strengths or weaknesses. On the Verite and Auteur I used with both amps, first impression was that Pendant was the better match. It’s why I own one now.
You bet! I’ve yet to hear the Kenzie or Pendant, but understand that the Pendant is more neutral than the Starlett (using stock tubes). I’ve seen the Kenzie and was surprised by its small footprint.
I just finished an in-home audition of the Starlett and thoroughly enjoyed it. I live in LA near DNA so want to audition the Stratus before making a purchase decision. See Starlett thread here: DNA Starlett - An Attempted Review
I recently bought a LTA MTZ2 and was able to compare it side by side with the Starlett over several days. Upon first listen, the Starlett impresses more - engaging and ear catching, “you are there.” However, over the course of a few days, my ears/brain came to appreciate what the MZ2 offers - purity, finesse, and the ability to peer into the music. Cabernet Sauvignon vs Pinot Noir. While I enjoy both and might prefer one over the other depending on the mood/music, the Starlett is a safer recommendation for most ears, unless they are already on board with the LTA design/sonic philosophy (best of solid state and tube). I bought the MZ2 mainly as a tube preamplifier, and it has exceeded my expectations as a headphone amplifier - NOS tubes are on the way.
That is why I went with ampsandsound amps as zmf is my favorite company and I like their sound a lot. The design also adds to it a lot.
My ampsandsound se84 which is basically a pendant matches wonderfully with my Aeolus.
I’m really interested in having about 3 headphone amps that are sonically dynamic from each other.
So far I have the ampsandsound se84, the kenzie and a lta microzotl2 which are my 3 heavy hitters.
The LTA is super detailed and transparent and hard to think it’s a tube design. It reminds me of a solid state that is smoothed out. Very similar synergy to a solid state amp with a hybrid Ss/tube preamp.
The two ampsandsounds are amazing but I’m thinking of keeping only one although it’s very hard. The se84 has a perfect balance of 3d tubyness and the Kenzie has this vintage tone I’m in love with.
I’m looking for another amp that goes overboard on the soundstage and glowing tube feeling. The sound of a non fatigued syrupy tube amp that is very vivid and 3d like.
Maybe what I have is the best I can get for the 2k retail price in that department or my problem is more a headphone choice?
For detail, the microzotl2 is king in my house! But it lacks the 3d tube glow. I don’t feel like I’m listening to a tube amp with the microzotl2.
But it gets a lot of use in my house as I’m in the mood for that type of sound a lot and takes away all the edgyness some solid state amps do.
I’m mostly interested in the Glenn otl as I like the versatility of it where I can change the sound a lot via tubes. That and people keep on saying it’s soundstage is god tier!
Do they say compared to what? Because if you want an excellent tube amp for soundstage, I’ve yet to hear anything beat the EC ZDS in that regard, to include the pendant, GOTL, T4, BW2, etc.
It’s not a warm amp; very detailed, clear, & resolving.
I guess that’s my point. If they aren’t comparing one thing to something else, there is no baseline and the statement is essentially hype, ya know? If I said the Bugatti Veyron was the world’s fastest car, would you believe me? Maybe it’s kinda true, maybe not.
Yeah, Eddy Current is basically closed now as the owner recently retired. You’ll see their stuff come up for sale occasionally. I think they are still selling stuff as they clean out the shop.
Well, they seem to refuse to post the 0-60 (MPH) or 0-100 (KPH) or standing quarter mile times. I’m not sure that the Bug is still the world’s fastest production car, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it had better 0-60 times than a thrust vehicle.
While not a total novice in the headphone world, compared to the depth of knowledge and interest in this crowd, I feel like one… …at any rate I thought a brief comment was worthy…
1MORE DUAL DRIVER ANC PRO WIRELESS IN-EAR HEADPHONES:
As you can see from the image, pretty much anything was going provide sound quality improvement…but I was uncertain how the noise cancelling would work for my circumstances. Success! I was listening to a news broadcast and enjoying music at a reasonable volume while mowing with a riding mower, and was even able to understand spoken word from a news broadcast while holding the gas weedeater when it was at idle.
I’m VERY satisfied with the positive results while mowing, and was surprised at any functionality while running the weedeater. Also, surprised that I barely noticed the neckband at all. It was much better than an attached wire running under my t-shirt to the phone in my shorts pocket.
…at any rate I thought a brief comment was worthy…