Thanks for this clarification! I am getting different answers to this questions depending on where i ask, most say the Quicksilver does not have enough power to drive the Tungsten to its full potential, but my ears strongly disagree so far.
I have a Gumby as my DAC, and i am now experimenting this setup with the Ferrum OOR as a pre-amp for the Quicksilver and with it on high gain i am able to even lower the volume pot on the Quicksilver to 11 o’clock from 12 o’clock, i am looking for any clipping but i heard none so far.
Do you think it is a good idea to use the OOR as a pre-amp in this setup for the Tungsten? I am also getting conflicting opinions on this topic.
It can’t, for example, drive them as loud as they can play (which is not necessarily a loss; that’s louder than is safe anyway). And it might have a higher distortion profile, or other aspects of the performance may vary, at your preferred listening level vs. other options.
Whether that is important, or is audibly discernible, is another matter.
No*.
You’re just adding noise and distortion.
And risking blowing your ears out (and possibly damaging equipment) in the event you accidentally turn-up the level on the OOR.
Also, for a given dB/SPL level at the headphone, the Quicksilver amplifier will be outputting the same amount of power, regardless of where its volume dial is set.
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*Unless your source doesn’t output at normal line-level (Schiit’s DACs do), and you need more gain than your amplifier has, putting another active pre-amp in the chain is usually a bad idea (and if its not active, then it’s not a pre-amp it’s a passive attenuator).
There’s a theoretical benefit if what’s being used as a pre-amp is quieter and lower in distortion than the native attenuation on the amp it feeds AND you run the amp being fed with it’s volume ALL the way UP. Rare it’s a big enough difference to matter.
Wow. I ordered one of these bad boys yesterday. So I guess I’m looking at delivery in the deep dark dead of winter 2025. Not bad, I guess; that’s about the time I need something to brighten spirits.
I do enjoy the Tungstens, but I don’t know if I knew the wait was going to be seven months, that I would have bought them. I can’t really say if the wait is worth it. That’s really going to be something that varies per person.
Resolve’s video & written article are both very helpful. Bending the headband made them so much more comfortable. There’s also a simple washer mod that makes it easy to get an air gap.
Hey is anyone using a Burson Conductor 3xR with their Tungsten’s? I’m considering trying for a DS on the drop tomorrow but I’m a bit scared off by all the reviews talking about amps, power and synergy
I have the 1.5 and took the plunge on the 2 as well. Great on planars. I do prefer OTL’s for ZMF/Senns, but the big thing is my new speakers - BMR Philharmonic Monitors - which are excellent on either Rag, and if one croaks, the other will do the job. I think Schiit may have stopped making them because they wanted to sell more pre-amp and amp combos. Or maybe its the Forkbeard thing. They claim a lot of the current line being stopped and put out for cheap coming up on the 27th.
It’s only $150 off $1K to get the last generation product. I don’t consider that a discount actually. The forkbeard stuff would be much more versatile for a non-headphone setup, and give you the opportunity to say “forkbeard” a lot.
I did end up grabbing a Ragnarok 2. I’ve been doing some A/B against my Mjolnir 3 using my Meze Empyrean 2 while I wait for my Tungsten. So far the only differences I’ve heard go away once I volume match. I may do some more A/B but I won’t get too serious about it until the Tungsten show up since they are the true test.
I’ll be interested what you think of it, and with Tungsten.
I didn’t know you’d ordered one, did you go DS or SS? When did you order it? We’ve got quite a wait, and it’s pretty indeterminant, which is frustrating. I ordered mine in May…
I ordered a DS w/ carbon fiber hex grills in September. Modhouse has been making changes to increase production such as dropping custom colors. That was initially disappointing but reportedly the hex grills sound better and a black chassis matches the carbon fiber, so I’m over it.
I chatted with the Modhouse team at CAF 2024 just a week ago. As I listened to a Tungsten running from a prototype amp in a plastic project box, they were talking about supply issues and the tough decisions that must be made by a small company.
They were all enthusiastic so I’d certainly consider buying one if I was in the market right now. The Tungsten feels very solid (heavy) and high quality in the hand.
I have a Tungsten single sided incoming, from a fellow forum member on Sonusapparatus!
I’m really looking forward to trying it and seeing what it’s all about, I’ll report back with pictures and impressions. I’ll probably get it next week, I think the upcoming holiday will add to travel time and it’s on the opposite coast from me.
Just got my Tungsten DS last week from the February order batch! It was a long wait, but it is a great product, so I’m not complaining. Just wanted to put some info out there on drivability. The WA22 handles this headphone very well up to ear shredding levels. Interestingly, there is no major change to volume with the stronger power tubes 5998 and 7236, but there is a massive increase to volume on the dial (needed to decrease by about 33% of the full dial or 50% of where I was listening) after going to 421a tubes from 5998. That was unexpected, but all of the tubes I tried, including 6080 were plenty strong enough to drive it with authority.
For laughs, I connected to WA2, and predictably that was a non-starter.
Finally, the Violectric V222 can drive it reasonably well, but it is a bit finicky. Pre-gain needs to be set on the amp to make this work. It is being fed by the Geshelli Dayzee via XLR, and I have the Tungsten on the 4-pin XLR output. Under these conditions, +6 dB of pre-gain is loud enough for some music, but some higher dynamic range DSD tracks or PCM tracks of classical or other higher dynamic range music doesn’t get loud enough at max volume. At +18 dB, the tracks that are loud enough at +6 dB distort massively when bass-heavy passages hit. +12 dB seems to be the set it and forget it sweet spot, but I do feel like this amp is being pushed to its limit with the Tungsten. For reference, my pre-gain is usually set to -6 dB when listening with the Focal Clear or Project Omega.
Anyway, just wanted to put some more info out people considering this beast and what might be needed to run it! With the WA22, it really sounds fantastic. Happy listening!
Also just tried with Topping A90 Discrete, and it handles it just fine! Even on low gain, it was working well toward the top of its volume range.
Shockingly, the Woo Audio Tube Mini with the Power Base is able to get to surprisingly high volume with it as well. For soft recordings with high dynamic range, it is just a touch quiet for me, but with most PCM recordings with typical production sensibilities, it is more than loud enough. Though I maxed out the volume for some songs, there was no distortion at all to my ears. This was a big surprise to me… I wouldn’t make it my main amp for these, but I might use it at some point to take the Tungsten outside or to the office…
This arrived Saturday, thanks to a kind forum member who parted with one of his two Tungstens.
I’ve spent a number of hours with it today, and have already noticed what a pleasing, musical tuning and timbre it has. It is very detailed and has almost a delicacy despite being able to hit hard. The only time the treble has gotten a bit crunchy is with some tracks of Tool so far. !
I’ll post more later, so far I’m really enjoying it! I started with the gain on my Violectric V590 at +12, volume frequently in the 1 to nearly 3 o’clock position, switched to +18 I think that’s better. I’m using Schiit Yggdrasil OG/A2/Unison for my DAC. Bass seems to hit harder at the higher gain setting, no distortion or clipping which @Promee reported with V222.
is anyone using a Burson Conductor 3xR with their Tungsten’s? I’m considering trying for a DS on the drop tomorrow but I’m a bit scared off by all the reviews talking about amps, power and synergy 
