I have a few amps. But I’m getting some very nice headphones in like the Focal Utopia and ZMF VC, Arya and 8XX. So im thinking maybe I should upgrade my amp too. I have a A90, Singxer SA1, Liquid Platinum and RNHP. So whats the next amp to upgrade to? @M0N
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How much are you looking to spend and what DAC are you working with?
The Utopia in particular, the ceiling on electronics is quite high if you are so inclined.
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I’d like to keep it to around 2000$. I have a Bifrost but looking to get a Holo Spring soon
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Looks like you’ve got your solid state and hybrid covered. I’d definitely get some tubes if you’re getting a VC, 8XX and Utopia. They will all synergise well with three of those headphones.
I’d start looking at Amps and Sound tube amps can’t go wrong.
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At that price point with those headphones I’d be very tempted buy a used Pass HPA-1, they used to hover around $2200 used, often initially listed higher than that.
Tubes are an option, used A&S Pendant, though my experience with A&S amps is they can have issues with environmental noise which can be both annoying and difficult to address.
Possibly DNA Starlett, if you can live with the wait, probably won’t work well with the Arya.
But a lot depends on what your looking for.
My general policy at higher price points, is look at what’s available in the price range used and do some research.
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Does Utopia work well with tubes?
Also don’t most tube amps use SE connections? so you would probably need a DAC with solid SE output (and iirc the Spring is better balanced)
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With the right tube amp yes, but your not going to want o plug it into a Dark Voice or BHC.
~$2000 is where you start to have options to drive more difficult loads with tube amps, though they don’t really open up until you hit $3000-3500.
Yes but the BF2 is fine SE, and I’m assuming he’s not married to the Spring as his only choice.
My general rule is buy for what you have, not for what you might buy.
Preferences change, you hear things, deals turn up…
I disliked every planar I heard before I got to TOTL level headphones, there is no way I could have predicted what my current top 3 headphones are even 12 months ago.
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Maybe I could use a XLR to SE converter?
You probably can, but I don’t know how much that degrades the sound quality
A lot of people have been recommending the GSX Mini, also the Feliks Elise. What do you think of those?
The GSX Mini isn’t really to my tastes, but it’s not a bad match with the Spring, it’s a bit on the clinical side for me. But if that’s what you want could be a good choice for you.
I haven’t heard the Feliks. The Elise is a high end OTL amp, and I know some people like the Feliks with the Utopia, and I’m aware with Focal demoing with the Euforia, but I’ve not had good experiences with Focal’s and OTL amps. It would be something I’d want to hear before recommending, because what some people seem to like from Amps with Focals and what I think works seem to be different.
Would probably work well with the HD8XX, and VC though.
Quick sidebar: What do you think of the Singxer compared to those other amps? I’ve owned the LP and RNHP, haven’t heard the A90 (but I don’t really think it’d be for me). I currently have a Deckard and a Magni 3+, and I have an A3 on the way (owned previously).
If you’re referring to the above mentioned amps I got the impression that the Singxer is not at the same level
Not in the same level good? Or, not on the same level bad?
Sorry I’m slightly confused, were you asking Singxer SA1 vs RNHP/MLP or GS-X mini?
Vs the RNHP/LP.
I’ve only got an RNHP and have read about the Singxer here. You can check M0N’s impressions if it helps. Only thing I’d add is in terms of technicalities the RNHP seems to be slightly higher tier, provided you run efficient cans. If you run planars then the extra on the Singxer is gonna be more beneficial.
The A90 seems a little rough sometimes. Sometimes it seems grainy to me. I love the A90 cause it reveals the headphones to me. And I get to hear what they really sound like. It sounds more detailed but thats cause its a little compressed. Still I prefer the Arya, my best headphone right now, on it.
The Singxer SA1 is a better amp than the A90 imo. But its darker. Which bugs me. Its better with soundstage. Better with dynamics. But SA1 sounds dark. And I cant even use it to tone down bright headphones. For some reason it doesn’t work like that.
The RNHP is special. Its a sweet amp. Everything sounds good on it but its not very powerful. It sounds great with Focals though. IDK if you could call it warm. But treble is a little rolled off. Not as bad as the Singxer, but I can use it to control bright headphones.
The LP is one of those awesome amps that sounds great. but its a little bright. So you could put dark warm tubes on it one after another and it just isn’t effected lol. So I put bright tubes on it and use it for warm/dark headphones lol.
So i’m stuck with a amp I use my best headphones on and I use to judge other headphones, but doesn’t sound that great, the A90.
A amp that sounds dark to me and i dont want to use anything on it. The Singxer SA1.
A amp thats sounds great but I lack confidence in its power and its SE and i dont want to switch cables out. so I rarely use it, the RNHP.
And a amp that sounds too bright for a lot of my headphones. The LP
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Thank you,
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The Soloist 3XP I think 
Its even on par with Violectric V281. Worth give it a look