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cmk

Diva Headphone amp

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I've been a long time Diva supporter for his amps. I think they are truely world class products at down to earth prices. I recently found out TS makes a headphone amp and wanted to know what experiences users have with it. I know Charismatic owns one and is happy with it.

 

Just wanted to know which cans anyone else has tried with it, and what feedback with longer term useage?

 

I've also just borrowed it home for a demo. So far tested it driving the AKG 501s and the MS Pros last night. Tonite its the Beyer DT990pro (modded) and the AT W100.

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Do share your thoughts on the amp with us.

How does it compare with the DAC1?

Thanks in advance.

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Prologue

First a bit of background on the Diva headamp. Its a 2 chasis tube design, based on the 6922(x2) tube, with a separate power supply. It comes with a powercoated exterior - you can choose your color - funky yellow anyone? On the front panel, there's only a 1/4" headphone socket and the volume pot (Alps). Connected to the amp is a captive powercord, a thin grey cord which TS uses on his preamps as well, selected for its sonics, so don't go changing this. The power supply is housed in a similar metal case with the power cord direct to the wall socket, no switches for on/off. I had a brief word with TS and of his design, he says he uses the tubes on the input stage, and uses mosfets for voltage amplification (if I recall correctly).

 

Setup

CEC TL2 > Slinkylinks Balanced > Benchmark DAC1 > Slinkylinks single ended > Diva headamp

Headphones used : Alessandro MS Pro, AKG K501/K701, Beyer DT990Pro(modded), Audio Technica W100

 

 

Right, on to the music

So how does it sound? In order to get an idea of its sonics, I used both low impedence and high impedence cans, as well as a range of different music from small chamber music to vocals, to jazz, to full orchestral pieces.

 

Firstly, this amp drives both low and high impedence cans without problems, there isn't any preference for either type. It did not impose any restriction here. One of the other things you notice is the amount of gain this thing has - I could hardly turn the volume control above 9 o'clock. On high efficiency cans like the MS Pro, this meant listening at about 8 o'clock and this was already very loud. I asked TS about this and he said gain is not a problem, just a matter of changing a resistor value. You can tailor the unit to your can, great!

 

Those of you familar with the Benchmark, will know that it is a professional studio monitoring DAC with headphone outputs. It was designed and built for pro use, ie it is ruthlessly reveiling. I like the unit very much due to its utter neutrality. If the music is smooth, it sounds like that. If its bright/dark, it will sound like that. The headphone outputs on it are similar sounding to its line outputs, at least that's what I hear.

 

Now, if I say that the Diva headamp produced an uncanny copy of what I heard from the Benchmark's headphone outputs, that says a lot of the fidelity of the Diva, and it is so. So what's the point of getting Diva if I already have a Benchmark you may ask? Well there are some subtle differences. The Diva adds drive to the music's flow. You just enjoy the music and forget about criticising this and that. There is a subtle tubelike harmonic structure to each note. The bass also gets an added depth and punch, which adds to the music's impact and pace. Vocals are wrapped with glow which gives them a fuller presentation as opposed to a cardboard cutout. Cymbals have that crystalline ring and decay which just hangs in space. Great stuff, seriously!

 

I have to emphasize the word subtle as its not as though the differences are a night/day thing, just that they are there - sometimes hard to discern, but they give the music that sense of flow/swing, whatever you want to call it, that just makes it so enjoyable to listen to.

 

With the Diva, I could easily distinguish the sonic characteristics of each headphone used in this audition. A few short notes about each can are in order.

 

DT990Pro(modded) - fantastic bass, deepest of the lot, but can be overwhelming on certain music, mods clean up the treble region and allow more detail through, good soundstaging, very comfortable, nice laid back presentation. Couldn't say much as it did not excel in many areas, except bass, but did well in practically everything.

 

K501 - best for small chamber music, excellent tone in the high/mids, however bass is somewhat lacking, its there, just that the balance is tilted towards the mids/highs, great soundstaging, never offensive sounding, leans towards audio fidelity, no overhang in the music, high comfort, very enjoyable presentation. Needs a amp, hardest to drive.

 

K701 - great all around can, highly refined & comfortable, excellent low level detail and separation, best soundstage, puts bass back in where the K501 lacked, but highs seems a bit recessed, needs time to warm up(?) else can sound "distanced", perhaps one of the most neutral cans, except for the slightly recessed treble. Demanding of upstream components, get a suitable amp for this.

 

AT W100 - this can is fast, gives an up front presentation, has some added reverb with the wood enclosure, adds a bit of warmth, good detail, excellent with massed strings in large orchestral pieces, the added reverb gives a sense of the concert hall, music flows ever so smoothly with this one, great with vocals.

 

MS Pro - king of detail and "you are there" on the stage presentation, micro & macro dynamics very obvious, yet the highs are not etched, small nuances come through, fastest can, immediate and direct, bass is deep and tuneful, not exaggerated, highly enjoyable on practically all music (except for large orchestra), lightest can, worst for comfort, although it was never really a "pain", can listen for hours without feeling tired due to its wholly musical presentation - current favourite.

 

Music used

Zuill Bailey - Debut recording Delos DE 3326

Jim Tomlinson - Brazilian Sketches Premium PR27813

Ray Brown Trio - Soular Energy Groove Note GRV1015-3

Vienna PO/Kleiber - Beethoven Sym #5/7 DG SACD 471 630-2

Pink Martini - Sympathique Heinz Records HNZ001-2CD

 

Conclusion

Well, I've already ordered a unit for myself if you all are wondering. The current design has the tube lying flat inside the chasis, so I asked TS to change the design to have the tubes glowing outside, making tube access easier. He mentioned that it already sounds good with the current Electro Harmonix 6922s, there isn't any need to do tube rolling, probably also due to the design. With the re-design and his present workload (he's back ordered on his main amps), he can only get to make the amps in 3 months, meanwhile he has kindly left the amp with me.

Edited by cmk

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Hi cmk,

 

Yes, u r right, i have been 'secretly' enjoying the music through the amp. The diva amp gives a more 'real' representation of music, that differentiate it from others.

 

From your review, are u suggesting that k701 don't suit the diva amp?

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OOOOH..

 

i was there today.. and he told me the headphone amp was on home loan to someone already wink.gifwink.gif

 

tube amps goes best with high impedence headphones. high impedance needs high voltage low current, which tube gives.

 

 

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From your review, are u suggesting that k701 don't suit the diva amp?

Hi charismatic

 

Not that the 701 doesn't suit the Diva, it can be used, just that the 701 is more picky of the source. I sort of felt the 701 sounded a bit cold on the first track, then as you got the 2nd/3rd, the music flowed better. It sounds different from the 501, whereas the 501 has its balance tilted to the mids/highs, the 701 trys to level the FR, and gives a more distant perspective of the soundstage.

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in the regions of seven fifty i think

That is the list price, but I believe you can get some discount.

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It's certainly a missed opportunity for not having spent much time in this amp during the last meet. Nonetheless, I look forward to more contributions from cmk. It certainly is an interesting read!

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From your review, are u suggesting that k701 don't suit the diva amp?

Hi charismatic

 

Not that the 701 doesn't suit the Diva, it can be used, just that the 701 is more picky of the source. I sort of felt the 701 sounded a bit cold on the first track, then as you got the 2nd/3rd, the music flowed better. It sounds different from the 501, whereas the 501 has its balance tilted to the mids/highs, the 701 trys to level the FR, and gives a more distant perspective of the soundstage.

 

Hi cmk,

 

After the first hand auditioning of K701/K601 + Diva at Jaben, here my -0.02ct comments.

 

K701

Personally I think that K701 is chosy toward the genre of music and favours good recordings. It has a Biggest headstage from the cans I come across so far, bigger than the OmegaII. You need good amp n source for it. And it's sound characteristic is different from K501 and K601.

 

K601

Interesting, the housing looks the same as k501 except the pad is different. It's retains the charactistics of K501 and with added bass, maybe it should be named as K501i.

 

so how's your home trial of 880? As I said, if in doubt, buy first worry later. tongue.gif

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Hi charismatic

 

Yup, I think you are spot on about the 701. I didn't listen to the 601, so no comment.

 

The 880 is well, interesting. I took it back and tried it out on rock, sounded bright. After burning in (I set the CD on replay) and went for tennis, it sounds much better. Still trying out with other types of music, before I go back to rock/pop. Also noted that the soundstage appears to be smaller with performers in a tightly packed circle, although you can distinguish each one separately. Still needs more burning in.

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