Loxjie P20 Balanced 6N3 Tube Hybrid Amp for under $100

Ah thanks. I guess I stumbled upon the X version, which costs more. I see that the black version is about $80 here in Canada while the white X is $160. Not cheap, but the black one costs less than the amp.

Good review. Have been using my P20 with a pair of Hifiman HE4XX for the past year.
Great match for a peanut’s price. Recently hooked it up in balanced configuration
with a Schiit Modius DAC and like the results very much. The P20 continues to be my
favorite sub $100 headphone amplifier. Fully balanced architecture, tube input stage, stepped volume control, CNC chassis, quality internal components and an affordable price.

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mmmhm, I enjoyed it from Modius quite balanced outputs quite a lot too!

I’d like to able to use it with the Schiit LOKI Mini, however, it has no balanced
outputs. A balanced version of the LOKI mini would be nice. Either in its present
chassis as a SE or balanced configuration or perhaps in the same
chassis as a Modius/Magnius where it would offer both SE and balanced in one
component. Mike, Jason … Any possibility of this happening? :blush:

There was some discussion of a balanced Loki but what I read is that the parts required would make it cost something like $600 so Schiit had no interest. This is from memory and I may be wrong. The impact of a balanced Loki would likely be minimal, as the Loki is placed before the amp.

You can use the unbalanced inputs on the Loxjie and still use the balanced output, there really isn’t much difference between the two inputs (in my opinion).

You could also use an RDL transformer on the output of the Loki to convert it to balanced if you wanted to.

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$600 would definitely be out of many people’s price range - including mine. :slight_smile: I presently run the LOKI
Mini between my Modius Dac and my headphone amplifiers. All but the Loxjie P20 are single ended,
however, it would be nice to have a balanced equalizer to run between the Modius and P20.

I seem to recall Jason talking about the complexity of designing an equalizer with more than
4 bands. And that that is where all the additional expense would come from.

My thought pertains to keeping the equalizer as a 4 band, and just making it balanced.

A few years ago there was no such thing as a fully balanced Dac for under $200 and then Modius
changed all that. Hopefully Mike and Jason will focus their talent into a balanced equalizer
in the future that will complement the Modius and Magnius. And sell for the same price.

Jim

Interesting idea. Do you think the RDL transformer would introduce much distortion?

To be honest, I haven’t really tried one in this situation but I can’t see why it would.

They are completely passive units and we use them in studios and for live events without issue.

I may give it a try. Thanks so much for the quick reply!

Jim

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It would add some noticeable distortion depending on the quality of it. The Jensen 1:1 XLR to RCA I’ve got adds a touch of body and slight roll off on both both ends of the spectrum

Digital EQ would go a long way where Loki cannot in this case imo, but @Jimmyblues if you pick up an RDL Transformer let us know what you think

If I decide to get an RDL transformer I’ll update my experiences with it and the P20. Presently
listening to a Schiit Fulla 2 via a LOKI Mini and then back to the amp section of a Fulla2: making
the Fulla 2 a dac/equalizer/headphone amp. It’s surprisingly good for the money. I can also
bypass the Fulla 2 amp and use another like my Garage1217 Project Starlight or Bravo V2
for a warmer sound. Fun hobby! :blush:

Jim

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Garage 1217 Project Ember II is a fun amp to tinker with, there’s a lot of little tweaks you can get out of it depending on the Tube you use and how you have the Bypasses set!

Still it is a fun hobby! An I look forward to your next update

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Thanks! Yes, the Garage1217 headphone amp’s are really nice. Well made, lots of flexibility, and
Jeremy Helms is very knowledgeable and helpful. It’s the kind of company that really enhances
this hobby.

P20 is currently on sale at Amazon for $85. I picked one up today.

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So it showed up today. Hooked it up to the balanced outs of the bifrost 2.
First impressions, sounds great for the price point. Can’t wait for the GE tubes to arrive.
Really pairs nicely with my Grados, a little muddy with the Ananda’s, think seems a little underpowered for them. I’m using the SE output, probably won’t run the Ananda’s until I get a balanced cable. (On order).
I’d put this amp with a Schiit Modius and a pair of Grado SR125e’s against anything at that price point.
Probably the best 450 bucks you ever spent.

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Happy to hear.

Change the tubes to triple mica reflectors. GE tubes are pretty bright. See logic above. The factory tubes are relatively mediocre.

Those are coming as well, just from Russia, so I bought the GEs to hold me over.

If I really go nuts I’m thinking of getting a couple of ECC88 adapters and a pair of blackburn Mullards

Be aware that the P20 has 47 ohm output impedance while the Ananda is 25 ohms. It may remain bloated and muddy on a balanced cable. However, the balanced output circuit does indeed deliver more power.