This evening, I am thoroughly enjoying Liquid Platinum driving Grado GS3000x!
For some change, CD playback is by Oppo BDP-105D (with dual ESS 9018 Sabre DAC). Happily, the XLR output voltage is lower than that of my usual DAC - I can turn the LP volume knob further clockwise. Kudos also to RFT ECC82 'foil getter' tubes !!
I bought two. I really like the Spark. I use the Spark as a headamp and as a preamp for my radio/tuner system. Absolutely a great product. The Spark has a lot of the LP sound quality for very little cost.
I bought two. I really like the Spark. I use the Spark as a headamp and as a preamp for my radio/tuner system. Absolutely a great product. The Spark has a lot of the LP sound quality for very little cost.
The Spark arrived today, and what an amazingly good amp it is. It can power my cans louder than the A3, distortion is non-existent, and the A3 comes across as a little airier / laid back / not as full sounding. And I love how small it is, but to be fair, it has a chonky PSU. Great amp for someone with desk constraints.
As compared with the Liquid Platinum, I do get better channel separation with the LP, but they do share the same House Sound, and impactful presentation. So I dub thee Liquid Mini-Me! (the DT-1990 still benefit from the LP tube love)
EDIT: it can drive my DT-1990 250ohm with Elite Velours, tho I can max out the vol pot on High Gain and not blow out my ears doing so, but it is a little uncomfortable at that loudness. But I have to admit, this is probably the best sound I've gotten out of them.
The Spark arrived today, and what an amazingly good amp it is. It can power my cans louder than the A3, distortion is non-existent, and the A3 comes across as a little airier / laid back / not as full sounding. And I love how small it is, but to be fair, it has a chonky PSU. Great amp for someone with desk constraints.
As compared with the Liquid Platinum, I do get better channel separation with the LP**, but they do share the same House Sound, and impactful presentation. So I dub thee Liquid Mini-Me! (the DT-1990 still benefit from the LP tube love)
EDIT: it can drive my DT-1990 250ohm with Elite Velours, tho I can max out the vol pot on High Gain and not blow out my ears doing so, but it is a little uncomfortable at that loudness. But I have to admit, this is probably the best sound I've gotten out of them.
I've got a question about input sources to the LP - I recently sold mine and the fellow who bought it is driving it with an iPhone, I think using a typical lightning-1/8" adapter and a Y splitter, which I wouldn't think to be a very good source. Problem is, the LP stopped working after a couple hours. Is this because the iPhone isn't putting out enough voltage, or is a mismatch in some other way? I guess if it had phono inputs like some of the amps I've had back in the day it might work, but it's not working out the way he has it set up. Any ideas would be appreciated.
I've got a question about input sources to the LP - I recently sold mine and the fellow who bought it is driving it with an iPhone, I think using a typical lightning-1/8" adapter and a Y splitter, which I wouldn't think to be a very good source. Problem is, the LP stopped working after a couple hours. Is this because the iPhone isn't putting out enough voltage, or is a mismatch in some other way? I guess if it had phono inputs like some of the amps I've had back in the day it might work, but it's not working out the way he has it set up. Any ideas would be appreciated.
First, LP was designed to run in balanced mode - using XLR 'ins' (rear) and XLR 'out' (front). The SE headphone jack is offered for 'convenience' (as stated in LP manual). Also, everything needs to be plugged in before the LP power button is pushed. Taking out / replugging headphones from / in the SE socket while LP is on is usually problematic.
First, LP was designed to run in balanced mode - using XLR 'ins' (rear) and XLR 'out' (front). The SE headphone jack is offered for 'convenience' (as stated in LP manual). Also, everything needs to be plugged in before the LP power button is pushed. Taking out / replugging headphones from / in the SE socket while LP is on is usually problematic.
Well that's how I always ran it, but it should work fine using the RCAs and SE jack, maybe just not as high an output or SQ. I'm just wondering if it's even possible to run the amp directly from a phone with a simple Apple dongle without more of a voltage source like an actual DAC.
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!!
(I bought one to use as my carry amp)
