I do not have a rebel amp. I have a Headamp GS-X mini which is a class A amp
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Dragonfly Cobalt, @DDT can attestā¦ itās sounds just overly indulgently wonderful and travels with you anywhere for a DAC/amp. Dragonfly Cobalt (or Red) + Asgard 3 are solid pickās that will give you wonderful sounds youāll enjoy with those headphones cheaper than the Rebel amp. In a pinch, if like everything else take a a look at the Magni 3+ if you want to get a sound signature like the Asgard 3 on the cheap that will still serve you VERY well.
Besides the Dragonfly as a DAC/amp for the HP-3, are there any particular stand-alone DACs youāve used that you feel work nicely? I have been eyeing the Bifrost2 based on the recommendations here on the forum, do you have any experience with that pairing? Would appreciate any additional insight you have!
I have a bifrost 2 and I like it a lot. Itās not the best pairing with this headphone I think. I prefer my Airist R-2R with it more on my GS-X mini. That said, that tells me you want an signal chain with a touch more slam than normal. I would say lean towards some of the Sabre DACs that have a thicker and warmer presentation so I would guess the E30 would work well. For amps I donāt know where to go with this one other than look at the KPH30 thread and if the highās sound off with that headphone they tend to work great for the HP-3.
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I just got a set of HP-3. The first day I tried them I didnāt actually like them very much. But theyāre growing on me. At this time, to me they sound thin, bright, but very detailed. Like somethingās missing in the sound. And slightly aggressive.
At this time, they appear to be very different to my other HPās (TH900 mk2, T50RP mk3, and Fidelio X2).
I personally hated the HP-3 for the first few weeks. The biodynamic drivers take some time to break in and sound unique and not just some over priced Koss headphone. Now that they are broken in properly I do like them a lot more but they just donāt do anything that other headphones I own do betterā¦ Except 1 thingā¦ These headphones are designed to make bad DAC and amps sound better than they are.
If someone spent $100 to $200 on source gear and called that top of the line. I would recommend the HP-3 in a heart beat. Once broken in they sound big and warm sounding.
I bought them used so break in probably isnāt relevant for me.
Well Iāll try them for a few months and if I still donāt get along with them Iāll sell. Also I want to eventually get the T1 and (revised) LCD-2, in terms of HPās.
I thought the same thingā¦ My only setup before the HP3 was a Bifrost 1 multibit -> Lyr with Audeze LCDX & 3ās which I loved. But do to the darker signatures I rolled in tubes that brightened them up a bit. I got the HP3s and hated them on my setup even to the point that I wanted to sell them.
I then proceeded to get a 1266 Phi Tc and purchased a Phonitor E amp to pair with them. Needless to say the 1266ās need more than the Phonitor but it does make the HP3s sound fucking amazing. Literally now I like the Phonitor->HP3 pairing far better than anything I currently pair with my Audeze and even my Abyss. Itās the best setup I currently own!
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Interesting - what DAC/amp are you running? Maybe thatās a contributing factor.
Iāve used them on my A-GD NFB-28.38 and my RME ADI-2 DAC. Iām probably selling the RME because I prefer the A-GD on my HPās and speakers at this time.
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Iām now starting to love my HP-3! I still maintain theyāre quite different from my other HPās.
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Could you share some comments on the HP-3 paired with the ADI-2?
Iāll get back to you. Iām not the most discerning though
I do and I like it with my noob ears. Can compare it just to Klipsch amp but the sound on rebel is cleaner, a bit wider and more controled. I think also that instrument separation and detial is better(just A/B it on Hotel California). With Ananda it might be a bit different. I have only Sundara and when listening to it last week it sounded a bit too steril to me. Prefered Klipsch, but will give it another try.
The sound of the HP-3 to me is thick and palpable. Great separation of instruments. Ample bass, and the sub-bass images very well. Somewhat narrow presentation but with excellent imaging within. That being said a lot of sounds simply seem to come out of nowhere. So, focused, but with some sounds that are sort of omnipresent. Not offensive: well balanced. In summary, quite special and worth a try. An acquired taste.
On the ADI-2 DAC it sounds like this.
On my NFB-28.38 it sounds the same but somewhat more detailed, more exciting, and more open - despite the narrowness aforementioned.
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I couldnāt agree moreā¦ I have stopped listening to all my other hps and only have been listening to the HP3s.
The first two weeks I wanted to sell it and now Iām thinking about selling my LCD3s instead.
I personally still enjoy my LCD X more thank the HP-3. But Iāll admit, Dragonfly Cobalt + HP-3 is a combination that I canāt list any other way of āguilty pleasureā. A USB stick and HP-3 still invalidates other parts of my setups when I want what I assume a tube would provide.
Thanks for your impressions, seems like the HP-3 and ADI-2 donāt have any major issues together.
Although, the Dragonfly Cobalt seems to also be a good match at just around a third the price.
Iāll probably be getting the ADI-2 since I want to use it with some other headphones as well, but will definitely try to see if I can demo the HP-3 with a Cobalt somewhere!
OK now Iāve had them for 2-3 weeks, I can say the HP-3 sounds absolutely amazing.
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