After more time A/Bing I think I’m just drawn to the tube -ishness. MJ2 is solid and presents really well…to the point were I wasn’t enjoying poor recordings quite as much. I mean this is apples to pinapples - Hybrid MJ2 Vs OTL Echo2.
The potential buyer I had lined up was really eager for the MJ2 and ended up coaxing me into a sale by offering bit above my initial asking. However I sat down with the two (bifrost 2 and gung) and ran them ~ 1.5 hrs today to A/B off Feliks Echo 2…Bifrost 2 is easily at 95%…staggeringly so… I’d argue 97-98.5% of Gmby.
So my home rig now has a few different flavors to mix and match:
Bifrost 2
V
→ Jot 2 (solid state)/ Built in 4490 → Verite Closed
→ Feliks Echo 2 (OTL) → Sash Tres
→ Lyr 3 (Hybrid)/ Built-in Multibit → Focal Clears
Not sure…Lyr 3 is on its way with 3 or four tubes to test. Have a Liquid Plat in states I’m curious to compare with ( and have plenty of tubes for - thanks MJ2) Pretty stoked with current config. Its impressive how fast Schiit can iterate and match their older top tier gear. The Jot 2 is a beast and sounds great to me. The idea with the Lyr was playing with powerful hybrid for the Sash Tres and if I ever grab some power sucking cans …which is unlikely but you never know.
Also not drawing out all the fucking energy just to heat my apt. That part of the MJ2 and Gumby pissed me off a bit…Jot has been running 2 hrs and is warm…even Echo 2 doesn’t seem to get as warm as the previous stack of Schiit.
Not positive but I believe the only difference between mk1 and mk2 is the output switcher for the rca’s. I have owned the Feliks echo for awhile now and really enjoy my ZMF’s on it.
EDIT as far s I see the espressivo 2
is still available
Ah ok, they are a distributor so possibly some remaining stock (especially with the sales price). Espressivo disappeared from Felik’s own site in the EU
And I believe the Echo Mk 1 was priced at 679USD, whereas the Mk 2 now is a lot closer to the MSRP of the Espressivo. So there’s possibly an improvement in sound quality. Anyway, I might just shoot them an email but I don’t expect anything other than a vague response
I know haha, I really liked my Atticus on the Echo, but I do feel the BHC with a more linear tube has a tad better technical performance in terms of resolution, speed and separation. So I was hoping one day I could get a similarly tuned but better performers Feliks amp, but I’m definitely not curious enough to spend 1k (and its a lot more expensive in UK/EU)
Just came across this conversation whilst web browsing. Looking forward to receiving your Gumby & MJ2 (hopefully this week). I have Mrspeakers Alpha Primes which will really sing with Gumby & MJ2 with a pair of Amperex Orange Globe (A-frame) tubes.
Like you, I am enjoying the tube sound with Echo Mk1. I just stuck in a couple of Amperex Bugle Boys on Echo & it has improved on every aspect of the sound. Even more Euphonic than stock, with more low down grunt (better textured) and gorgeous mids. The stock tubes are flat/dull/linear sounding by comparison.
I recommend you grabbing a matched pair of Bugle Boys, I think you’ll really enjoy them.
Already have a set…was running on MJ2…have a few other sets (8 + pairs ) to try as well. Thanks for the tip. Already had them on…tube comparability was one reason went with Echo over others…can reuse the collection. Hope you get the MJ2 without incidence.
@M0N Could we get an official thread for the Feliks Echo mkII, I might do a basic impressions on it in a couple of days and it might be nice to have a place for it to be talked about and have info shared as its become a fairly popular option in its price range.