Diva goya headphone amp review

[ito 0]

Background info-the diva goya amp followed a 2 chasis tube design, based on the 6922/7308/ECC88 or similar 9 pins tubes,it come with a separate power supply. the front panel of the amp only have the the volume pot,so where is the headphone jack?it is behind as of my amp.the power supply unit was Connected to the amp with a grey colour cable which is unknown to me but TS lim promise that the cable is for the sonicification of the amp.the PSU is cased in a black chassic and there is a IEC connection which allow for usage of different powercord in the market if you want to change it.TS lim himself of course once again recommend me to go for his diva mongoose powercord.let move on to the other area of the amp now.

 

setup-diymod>valgrind lod>valgrind sonic cap> valgrind mini to rca>diva goya amp.

headphone used-K601,HFI780 aron mod

 

sound wise-first of all,i am using a low ohms headphone and a K601 which is higher ohms and more difficult to drive,but the diva goya amp can drive both well without any hissing or background noises.i used some tracks in my ipod which ranged from jazz,classical,orchestral music,vocal and chamber music that my small ensemble have play but rest assure they are professional recorded too...haha.

 

first listen when i took over the amp from nofing,damnit it...it is darn reveiling and very very neutral sounding to me..but this is only on the first listen when i completed my whole setup as of now.everything in the audio tracks came out to my ears,the music is smooth.what do i mean by neutral,for example if the headphone i used sound dark/bright..i can really differiate the sound signature of the headphone with this amp seriously as it don't change a single thing ..just now i mention about the music is smoother and i really mean smooth!the flow of the music is crazily good.whatever i was hearing from the amp currently,i just enjoyed it to the max and do not really find any flaw in the music as when i was listening to my portable rig,i tend to listening to the rubbishs more and not relaxing and enjoying the music that i have.

 

secondly,coming from a Solid state amp user which was the travangan white which i owned before,this time i change to a tube amp.i can really tell the differences in how the tube amp add the tube like sound to the whole music that i am listening too..while Solid state always give a colder sounding compared to a tube amp.the bass have a lot of punch for me and the bass is even more deeper sounding that the voyager that i have owned before previously.listen to the jazz that crazyguy send to me,i can clearly hear the decay of the cymbal and what exactly is the cymbal ring sound like and also that i found out that the zz zz sound that i am hearing actually have a rythmes and IT IS NOT DISTORTION OR BACKGROUND NOISES mind you..haha.i was told that the cymbal is to add to the emptiness of some parts of the audio track in jazz.

 

thirdly,i would like to emphasis on this area,we are always able to find a very very good sounding amp,but much much more difficult to find an amp that create music and make the music sound real.just like live music playing in front of us when we are watching a concert,this is the feeling i get from this amp.

 

K601-good for listening to my ensemble's recordings and also for me,it serve me well in classic too,it has a excellent tone in the highs and mids,bass, great soundstaging, the music flow was smooth and this make it enjoyable, over all it have a very enjoyable and balance presentation.it sure need an amp to drive it well.

 

Hfi 780 arron mod- fantastic bass, deepest bass i have ever hear till now i would say, but on some tracks,it sounded darn overwhelm by the bass i am getting, good soundstaging, it have a very fast pace too to the music.i like how jazz and vocal sound on this headphone with the setup as i would feel that each note sung by the artist is like rapped with a glowing sound,the feeling is like it will pull me straight into the music once the first few notes was sung.this headphone does not need an amp to drive it well but with amping,it make the headphone sounded more details,better highs and also lush mids that i am getting from it.

 

Music used-jupiter the Bringer of Jollity

                oasis by dave weckl band

                Suite for Jazz Orchestra No. 2 (Shostakovich) done by ensemble

                Cai Qin - Bu liao Qing

                1812 overture by LSO

                olivia ong- close to you

 

Conclusion-this amp is highly recommended if you like to listen to live music,real music sounding and also if you are a fan of details and neutrality..there is nothing that come close for me in if you want a setup that sound neutral,create a live sounding and also musical too,gave a real music presentation,for those musicians,you will know it for sure.

               

Edited July 11, 2009 by ito

[uberburger101 0]

Good review, thanks.

[nofing 0]

Reading it makes me regret letting the diva go. Good to see you're enjoying it!

[audiodave 0]

That's excellent, I've always been curious about Headphone amps. Good read.