FYI, I posed a cable & pads in the classifieds today.
The BE2 pads grew on me and what I currently use.
They were too much of a change in the wrong direction for me.
Understandable, especially if the rest of your chain such as amp/tube roll also leans in the not desired direction.
I’ve been listening to Holo Spring 2 KTE>Eddie Current Aficionado (tubes: Mullard 5AR4, WE 396A, Linlai E-2A3)>VC (stabilized maple burl) which has been the absolutely best VC experience I’ve had in imaging, tonal density, temporal definition, dynamics. Before the Spring 2, I was using a Soekris dac1541 with the same amp (RCA M-R black plates 2A3 tubes, though) and it was good, but not at Spring 2 level (but then I’m a NOS DAC fiend…). Soekris dac2541 has been reviewed as above dac1541, but I’ve not heard it. Other DACs I’ve used with (a different, monkeypod) VC: Sonnet Morpheus, Schiit Yggdrasil A2, with Aficionado or ecp DSHA-3F. Spring 2 KTE bests everything, with any of the amps.
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Yeah I think I’m done in the dac hunt these days. The holo audio with my vérité close to me is a match made in heaven.
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I’m on the dac and amp hunt for my VCs as they are being assembled. Kind of looking for clean, transparent, detailed sound sig to have a neutral flavored VC. I preferred a neutral Aeolus before jumping to the VC. Not really a defined budget. Maybe few packages for following price ranges: 1-1.5k, 2-3k, 2-4k top end if that makes sense?
I’m looking at smsl su-9 for dac based on resolves review saying it’s bang for buck under the matrix Sabre x pro. For amps I’m open to suggestions. I’ve got a 789 for solid state and willing to look at other SS amps (like phonitor x), but looking at jumping into tubes as well. Looking for clarity and detail and not just warmth or soundstage. Haven’t had a tube amp or heard one so it will be a jump for sure.
Tubes I’ve just been looking at based on what I’ve seen from other ZMF threads: crack, Valhalla 2, tuba, echo, Elise, Kenzie, pendant
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I have VCs on order as well. I went through the tube rolling phase and it got too exhausting/expensive.
I’m also interested in the SMSL su-9–help anyone?
Also there’s a SMSL amp that seems to fit well. Again, thoughts?
Best,
Bill
I’ll throw ideas out ther
1-1.5K - Schiit Bifrost 2 and Haggerman Tuba + Tunsgram Tubes or SW51+ - I have both, use the SW51+, but the Tuba is very good once you replace the stock tubes which I do not like. FWIW I consider this good sounding, but limiting what you get from a Verite C, to the point that while this is my secondary setup, I chose to keep the Eikon with this combo rather than use my VC here.
2-3K - Schiit Bifrost 2 and ZMF Pendant (the package deal of VC and Pendant is a pretty killer deal), DNA Starlett if you can wait.
Stock tubes aren’t bad on the Pendant there is more to be had with a decent set of NOS.
3-4K - Schiit Bifrost 2 - and something DNA/used EC/DecWare etc, a lot of good amp options used/new at $3K, I’m in the keep an eye out for what’s listed camp. With this level of amp the Bifrost 2 in my opinion starts to become the weak link in this chain, but IMO you really want to be up with level of amp expenditure before you worry about replacing it and you want a significant jump in what you spend on the DAC to make it worth while.
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@Polygonhell provided a great list of tube amps.
I have a Verite Open, which has a similar signature to the VC, and out of that list, I own both the Bifrost 2 and Pendant, with the NOS tubes that ZMF offers as an upgrade, and for me at least, that combination is audio heaven. The Pendant is clean, fast and has great synergy with ZMF headphones, which is what you’d expect from a ZMF-branded amp. I once talked to Zach about how the Pendant differed from other tube amps and he told me that it has a lot of the same characteristics of a good solid state amp, but with the additional tube ‘magic’. (He’s much too self-deferential to have used the word ‘magic’ for one of his products, so that’s my paraphrase). There are plenty of Pendant reviews on this forum, so I would check out that thread. As @Polygonhell said, if you think you want a Pendantl, email ZMF now and ask if they’ll give you the package deal price for the Pendant, since they’re still building the Verite.
I don’t have any other DACs, so I don’t know how the SMSL would change the sound that I’m hearing from the BF2. From what I’ve read, the BF2 maybe be a touch warmer than the SMSL, but others with more experience would need to confirm that.
If you want a SS alternative, I like the class A Burson Soloist 3XP with both the VO and Aeolus almost as much as the Pendant. It has a neutral sound, and voices and instruments are holographic, very similar to what I hear on the Pendant.
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Good input. I’m pretty much set up for balanced (except my Grado’s…). I connected with Zach and he said the SE Pendant sound overshadows the benefits off balanced.
I have my eye on the Soloist as well. Several have said that a Burson is a good match for ZMF’s. But I was looking at the Burson Conductor 3XR. Thoughts???
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@Tom_Ato is testing the Playmate 2, Conductor 3XR and Soloist 3XP/Composer 3XP combo right now. I’m not sure how far into his test he’s gotten, but he will be a good source of information for the differences between the models.
I asked Burson about the differences between the Conductor and Soloist. They said that technically, the Soloist had a slightly better amp than the Conductor, but not to worry about it, because the audible differences were negligible. I wasn’t looking for a new DAC, so I went with the Soloist because it was cheaper. If I had wanted a DAC, then based on their advice, I would have chosen the Conductor, but I am curious about whether Tom thinks the Soloist/Composer combo is even better.
I will say that Burson’s customer service was very helpful and also honest, answering all my questions, and never trying to up-sell me on more expensive products. And they even sent me a reminder a couple of weeks ago to sign up for the additional year of warranty (which I’d forgotten to do, and had actually missed the deadline, but they didn’t really care about that).
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Wholly agree with this advice. When I first got my Verite Open, I had a Monoprice Liquid Platinum, and I thought I really needed to upgrade my DAC. Well, I eventually upgraded all the way to a Holo Spring Level 3, but didn’t think it made that much of a difference compared to a Schiit Gungnir, which itself wasn’t that much different from the Bifrost 2. Then I finally listened to everyone’s advice in getting a quality tube amp for the Verite, and the sound exponentially improved. Now that I’m at near-TOTL tube amp territory, I’m moving back to upgrading my DAC.
So not really adding much in terms of concrete advice, just another recommendation to “go big” on the amp for these ZMF headphones. They truly scale well with high-level tube amps.
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Those look like some good breakdowns. I have two paths that I’m considering. First would be entryish level to see if tube would be worth pursuing or second, saving for the pendant or maybe another ampsandsound or DNA. The pendant is is going up from 2k to 2.5k with the SE upgrades and seems great from the go without needing to tube roll.
Pendant is definitely on the list. Curious about the Burson options now too. On the SS side I’m looking for balanced outs to go to studio monitors which the Burson’s have, but that’s why I was initially looking at maybe the phonitor x as a SS option due to the I/O plus remote control ability. Got some options to start looking at.
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I agree 100%. SQ changes headphone > amp > dac. I see a lot of recommendations for the BF2 but was looking at the SU-9 for the Sabre chip more analytical presentation to hopefully complement a neutral amp (SS or tube). Another thing the SU-9 has going for it is volume control which I would appreciate for controlling my monitors. But maybe having separate dacs for each setup might be more ideal.
I have an SU-8, I’m sure the SU-9 is better but it’s not where I’d spend my $$.
The Bifrost 2 was a real revelation, it’s really close to the Gungnir in overall quality, at a much lower price point. Other options in that price range I’d consider.
Denafrips Aries 2, Soekris 1541 or replacement.
Soekris is on the leaner side if that’s what your looking for,
I have a Soloist as well and I love it with my aeolus…as a bonus, the soloist is also an outstanding preamp from what I hear. Haven’t tried it out myself yet since I don’t have speakers with balanced in…
Good options offered above. Your desired sound signature seems to suggest the SW51+, Tuba, Pendant, Leeloo, LTA MZ2.
Leaning a bit more warm and tonally rich might be the Starlett/Stratus, Mogwai OG/SE, Euforia, ECP T4.
Even more warm and tonally rich might be the Kenzie, Crack, Echo, Elise.
I’m uncertain where Eddie Current models and generations fall; it seems to vary. I’m also uncertain about Decware.
The above aren’t conclusive, but serves as a starting point, perhaps for others to confirm/update.
I’m quite happy with my Qutest > Mogwai SE > VC chain. My prior chain was the Bifrost 2 > LTA MZ2 > Eikon, which I was also quite happy with. The VC does reward improved electronics.
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Wow, the Glenn OTL with the Verite Closed!! Holy Batman!
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