You know that feeling when you wake up in the morning and you can smell the coffee (Columbian, beautiful like their women), bagels (plain but fresh no manager specials) being toasted and birds singing (bunch of them in perfect harmony). It's the feeling of life just being right and problems being thing of past. That's how I feel today so I thought let's write a long overdue review of this little wonder called Objective2 headphone amp. There are many reviews with detailed numbers and measurements but my review is just my opinion based on many hours of listening all type of music with different headphones.
My unit was purchased used for only $55 shipped here at head-fi few months ago. This is my second O2 amp first one was a JDS my current one is Massdrop made in China. Don't let the price tag fool you this little amp can't be beat for the money spent compared to amps costing much more. I had amps up to $2000 and unless your trying to power Hifiman 6 or certain planars your search can end right here right now. Do not waste your money do not fall for the hype because only hype real is the Objective 2 hype and that hype is real backed by measurements and cult like following over past few years.
What makes O2 special is that it's a neutral amp (wire with gain as we call it) and it does not change the flavor of the sound . That is exactly how amps should be and rest of the gear so you can enjoy the soundtrack the way it was recorded in the studio and listen to headphones the way they were designed with their own sound signature. This little Tarzan has good power and is able to make most headphones sing including HD600, HD650, Beyer T1 (600ohm but fairly efficient).
Now is there a better amp out there? Yes, of course but requires you to spend at least six times of O2 price tag. While powerful, this little Tarzan could use slightly more power since I find some of my headphones slightly lacking in the lower frequencies but we are talking about very small improvements that takes good ear to evaluate.
For money O2 is a slam dunk and one of most popular amps of all time for a good and well deserved reason. If you are trying to get your feet wet or just trying to find your final amp O2 will not disappoint most of audiophiles.
Now back to last sip of coffee.... refill time. Let's load up on some more bagels. Oh snap, I'm out of cream cheese.
If you find my review informative and fun please take quick moment and sub to my youtube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/user/masterfuu
My unit was purchased used for only $55 shipped here at head-fi few months ago. This is my second O2 amp first one was a JDS my current one is Massdrop made in China. Don't let the price tag fool you this little amp can't be beat for the money spent compared to amps costing much more. I had amps up to $2000 and unless your trying to power Hifiman 6 or certain planars your search can end right here right now. Do not waste your money do not fall for the hype because only hype real is the Objective 2 hype and that hype is real backed by measurements and cult like following over past few years.
What makes O2 special is that it's a neutral amp (wire with gain as we call it) and it does not change the flavor of the sound . That is exactly how amps should be and rest of the gear so you can enjoy the soundtrack the way it was recorded in the studio and listen to headphones the way they were designed with their own sound signature. This little Tarzan has good power and is able to make most headphones sing including HD600, HD650, Beyer T1 (600ohm but fairly efficient).
Now is there a better amp out there? Yes, of course but requires you to spend at least six times of O2 price tag. While powerful, this little Tarzan could use slightly more power since I find some of my headphones slightly lacking in the lower frequencies but we are talking about very small improvements that takes good ear to evaluate.
For money O2 is a slam dunk and one of most popular amps of all time for a good and well deserved reason. If you are trying to get your feet wet or just trying to find your final amp O2 will not disappoint most of audiophiles.
Now back to last sip of coffee.... refill time. Let's load up on some more bagels. Oh snap, I'm out of cream cheese.
If you find my review informative and fun please take quick moment and sub to my youtube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/user/masterfuu