Feliks Audio Elise
Fuer
Elise: Beethoven Would Be Impressed
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INTRODUCTION
The Right Stuff
Roll credits. Well, not exactly -but the point is that the Feliks Audio Elise is a darned good piece of equipment. And with its recent update, this cult favorite has only gotten better. The 2017 Elise features reduced background noise and a new three-year warranty, two very welcome changes to an already excellent product. Those who have read my reviews in the past will know that this isn’t my first encounter with Feliks Audio. This Polish audio company previously impressed with a budget tube offering in the form of the Espressivo, a smaller 6N5P/6N1P tube setup that predates the Elise. Featuring a musical and dynamic sound with good punch, the Espressivo offers an immediately entertaining house sound that was quite captivating. Needless to say, the Espressivo made a big impression at its then $349.00 USD price point (currently retails at $449.00 USD) and received deserved praise. There were several points of note though. The Espressivo’s sometimes hot upper range, mediocre detail retrieval (and smallish soundstage) were limiting characteristics. The Sennheiser HD 800 pairing, as some mentioned, was not particularly noteworthy -partially due to the fact that the Espressivo failed to realize some of the headphone’s key qualities. In this sense, there was room for improvement.
First released in late 2014, the Elise is a single-ended, OTL tube amp successor to the Espressivo, featuring a better stock setup of 6AS7G(6N13S)/ 6SN7 tubes and an upgraded transformer. It has amassed a dedicated community following (which can be found at this most recent thread). The thread contains exhaustive notes on tube-rolling and modifications, as well as links to past threads/ collections of information. The Elise also has the rather unique distinction of being hailed as one of the best-pairing amplifiers with the Beyerdynamic T1 headphones. The latter point is of particular interest to me, as I am indeed a fan of the Beyerdynamic T1 Gen. 1 (21,000+ serial). My thoughts are surmised in the confident conclusion that this is one of best T1 pairings I’ve heard to date. Before proceeding with this review, it is worth mentioning that failing to use a recommended tube combination can lead to damage to the amplifier, which may void its corresponding warranty. The Elise is currently available at $849.00 USD with the standard Tung Sol Drivers or at $999.00 USD with the upgraded Psvane tubes, with both options being offered directly by Feliks Audio. It will take 4-6 weeks for a typical order to be fulfilled (lead time will vary, from my understanding). Shipping is handled via EMS. Poczta Polska in Poland, and local carrier upon arrival. Email communication is responsive and helpful, so feel free to contact Feliks Audio before making your order.
Disclaimer
As with the Espressivo, the Feliks Audio Elise was provided directly from Lukasz @ Feliks Audio for the purposes of this review. I have once again been told that I can keep it, and have now had it on hand for over a month. Some technical issues delayed the release of this review, and the folks over at Feliks Audio have been very patient imdeed! I do apologize to those whom have been waiting for this review to come out -it’s been a while in the making. As always, I am neither a paid affiliate nor an employee of Feliks Audio. In addition, I do reserve the rights to the media used in the review, so do contact me if you wish to reproduce any part of the writing or photography seen here. Apart from that, I thoroughly enjoyed this amplifier, and hope that you will come away from this review with a sense of what the Elise can do. Do feel free to comment below - I try to stay updated, but if for some reason you cannot reach me, just shoot me a PM and I will try my very best to answer your questions. Sometimes things get lost/ I accidentally miss emails, so following up never hurts.
PACKAGING AND ACCESSORIES
The Elise arrived in a heavy cardboard box, once again sealed with black tape bearing the company logo and name. Opening the box will reveal the amplifier encased in Styrofoam and loose marshmallow bits, with tubes stowed away in the hollow center area. The tubes are wrapped individually in Styrofoam and none of mine were damaged during the shipping process. There was just a slight bit of oxidation on one of the tubes, which was fairly quickly resolved with a good old eraser. There is also a small hand-signed card to add a personal touch, and a short manual to get started with. Overall, nothing too complex and the amplifier should be up and running within a matter of minutes. A power cord is included.
Feliks Audio Elise Manual - Quick Setup, Long Burn-In
BUILD AND DESIGN
The Feliks Audio Elise is a great looking headphone amplifier. Cutting a svelte figure in black, the Elise tucks away nicely in almost any setup. Whether it’s meant to operate in the background as a pre-amplifier, or as a centerpiece in a headphone-based chain, the Elise looks suitably great in almost all situations. It’s an understated but nonetheless elegant look that simply works. Starting from the top, users will find a chrome plaque featuring the Feliks Audio logo and name. It is an improvement over the brass one found on earlier iterations of the amplifier, as it now matches the reflective portions of the upgrade Psvane tubes for greater aesthetic continuity. The transformer enclosure stands at 9.00 cm tall with an associated cross-sectional area of 10.5 cm (width) x 17.5 cm (length). Corners are slightly rounded with smooth leading edges. At the base of the transformer enclose are a set of six 3.70 cm x 2 mm slits, paired in three groups of two and evenly spaced apart. The depth of these slits also indicated that the aluminum enclosure was about 1 mm thick. The first row of tubes (positions 2 and 3, manual) should be equipped with the power tubes, and the second row (positions 1 and 4, front) with the driver tubes. Driver sockets are secure without excessive amounts of play. The face plate is 1.00 cm thick. Appropriately balanced and far from being gratuitous. On the front is a single headphone output (quarter-inch) and the volume pot. Operation is indicated via a single blue LED, and the model name/ Feliks logo can be found engraved as well. The rear of the unit features a single set of RCA inputs, a single set of RCA line outputs, and a power switch/ fuse socket for AC power connection. Overall weight is 4.5 kg, and general dimensions are 31.0 cm x 20.5 cm x 17.0 cm. The unit is elevated by a set of polished metal feet, and flipping the unit over reveals a ventilation cut-out in the shape of the Feliks Audio logo.
Overall the aluminum chassis on the Elise is a great improvement over that found on the Espressivo. Gone is the odd font and slightly quirky design of the Espressivo and in its place, a more mature looking amplifier. There are no glaring problems on my unit -but there are quibbles. The volume pot is scuffed (perhaps a B-stock unit), and rotating it does cause it to rub against the face plate at times. The latter point does not produce an unacceptable amount of friction though, and it does not seem to permanently scratch the faceplate. On the topic of the faceplate, the block is a bit of a fingerprint magnet, and because it seems to have been finished slightly differently from the rest of the chassis, this does become apparent after a while. Feature wise, noticeably absent on the Elise is the option to have multiple inputs. Granted, this hasn’t been a major issue for me personally, but for those using multiple DACs, switching inputs will be a little bit of a hassle. I'm hoping to see this feature perhaps reintroduced in future iterations/ models.TECH AND SPECIFICATIONS
The first order of business here was to determine the output impedance, since this specification isn’t stated on the website. In comparing the voltage output unloaded/ loaded for given signal, I found that the output impedance of the Elise ranges in the 54-ohm region. Previously mentioned output impedance numbers on community forums have been 40 ohms/ 50 ohms, which is generally in line with initial expecatations. This isn’t an entirely surprising finding, considering that this is a single-ended OTL tube amplifier. As name suggests, output transformerless amplifiers lack an output transformer. The design philosophy here being that forgoing the output transformer will result in lower distortion. One of the considerations then is impedance matching and the effect of dampening factor, especially for dynamic driver headphones that can at times seem visible (and audible) FR changes as a result.
The Elise is a rather efficient amplifier from my understanding, and will drive low impedance loads as needed. I had mixed success using low impedance headphones/ earphones, and I’m sure that given the large inventory of headphones most users here have, it’ll be up to the individual to determine what works and what doesn’t. I tend to stick to the1/8th rule for simplicity’s sake (headphone impedance should safely be 8 x the output impedance), so both the Audio-Technica R70X and Beyerdynamic T1 come away squarely in this sense (FR isn’t visibly affected for either of these headphones). For the record, none of my impressions will be based off of IEMs/ low impedance headphones -doing so doesn’t accurately portray the Elise’s intended design goals in my mind. I’ve seen reviews/ posts where IEMs like the Noble K10s were plugged into this amplifier. Not my intention to be contrary -but this does not constitute a wholly fair evaluation of a great piece of equipment in my opinion. For those who are indeed curious about my general thoughts regarding the use of IEMs with this amplifier – noise floor may be an issue for the more sensitive ones, and what seems like transformer hum can be heard softly in the background. Listening subjectively – I found some pairings to be oddly tizzy and harsh, with sub-bass roll off and a lack of general cohesiveness. No such issues persisted with the higher impedance headphones.
I’ve done some basic RMAA measurements as well, nothing too surprising here. RMAA results are only as good as the equipment used to perform the tests, and there has been a decent amount of coverage on its limitations and weaknesses. Currently, I am utilizing an Asus Xonar U7 external sound card (line-in mode). The ADC is a Cirrus Logic CS5361-KZZ that is capable of 24/192 w/ a 114 dB dynamic range. It uses a 5th order MBT Delta-Sigma Modulator, and attains low levels of noise and distortion. For those curious, the DAC is the equally capable CS4398-CZZ. Please find my results below. The 32 ohm load is the Samson Z55, 470 ohm load is the Audio-Technica R70X, and the 600 ohm load is the Beyerdynamic T1.
- Input Impedance: 100 kOhm
- Frequency response: 10 Hz - 60 Khz +/- 3 dB (300 ohm)
- Power output: 200mW
- Pre-amp Gain: 20dB
- THD: 0.4 % (300 ohm, 20 mW)
- Supported headphones impedance: 32 - 600 ohm
- Improved noise cancelling construction
- Headphones output: Jack 6.3mm
- AC: 230V/120V (power cord included)
- Dimensions: 310x205x170 [mm]
- 3 years warranty
Psvane Tubes, No Load (Nice!)
Psvane Tubes (32 Ohm Load) - Not So Good
Psvane Tubes (470 Ohm Load)
Psvane Tubes (600 Ohm Load)
SOUND
At A Glance
I plugged the Beyerdynamic T1 in with high expectations (and a certain degree of impatience). In fact, I recall the tubes still tingling slightly when I gave the Elise its first go (not recommended). Needless to say, I was quite immediately impressed -the hype had delivered. Tempering my initial excitement, I sat myself in a chair and listened. And listened. A hundred album playthroughs later, my original impressions came through mostly intact. The Elise is an incredibly pleasant amplifier with an easily likable house sound. It carries a touch of warmth, especially through the midrange, with well-extended highs (tad bit of sparkle) and a solid lower frequency performance. This isn't a sloppy tube amplifier - in fact, it does rival my LC in terms of speed (though the difference becomes more apparent with balanced output). Staging is excellent, and this is an amplifier that I believe would pair very nicely with a lot of different pieces of kit. Headphone recommendation wise – it worked splendidly with the Beyerdynamic T1 (and I imagine the HD800 wouldn’t be too far behind either). Lending a pinch of warmth to the midrange and more depth to the lower-end makes for a great combination. Upper frequencies a tad softer than my usual preference. The Audio-Technica R70X, which has quite a markedly different tonality than the T1, also worked very nicely, a further indication that this was a generally balanced amplifier. Once again, the midrange was delivered upon, but the bass was a touch slow. Apart from that, it was still a very respectable pairing. I did also notice that the Schiit Bifrost Multibit was well represented with this amplifier. The somewhat exaggerated staging of the multibit DAC became better connected through the Elise. The image is “continuous” and cohesive, and the general soundstage is wide with good depth. This stands in contrast with other pairings, especially with the iFi iCAN, where the sound was occasionally presented as coming from the extreme sides with a strong but nonetheless singular center image. As far as tube-rolling goes, there have been simply too many variations and experiments conducted thus far to be easily surmised. If you’re planning on getting an Elise look to the thread linked in the introduction for a jumping off point.
I'm sorry for the gratuitously long photo, but it's just too pretty.
Soundstage And ImagingUnlike the Espressivo that preceded it, the Elise has a comfortably large soundstage with good width and depth. This is a significant improvement over the Espressivo, and reason enough to consider entertaining the notion of an upgrade. Returning to Vangelis’ "The Tao of Love", the panning sequences are well-executed and provide a great sense of height as well. There was no clipping in terms of width, which comes as a great relief. Synthesized melodies aside, more traditional orchestral standards such as Bizet’s "Carmen, Act 1 (Prelude)" performed by the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra put on display the capabilities of the Elise. Separation between the respective sections is excellent and imaging is good. Even in the more difficult sections, the Elise was able to discern between sonic components as needed. This is more or less due to the Elise’s respectable levels of detail retrieval, which is a clear improvement over that of the Espressivo. Macrodynamics on the Elise are however are not as pronounced as on the Elise, most like owing to the softer bass and less sparkly highs. This is an acceptable trade-off and one that comes out in favor of the Elise for most situations.
Bass
The Feliks Audio Elise has a reliable and predictable bass section. It definitely has more mid/upper-bass emphasis than sub-bass, and qualitatively tends toward being a little softer. With the T1, this adds a bit more heft in the lower frequencies, which is a welcome addition to the otherwise tight and resolving sound. Bossa Nova tracks like "Wave" by Antonio Carlos Jobim felt adequately presented and engaging, and Sebastiao Neto’s bass lines are heard clearly through the rest of the composition. Sub-bass extension is okay, but not breathtaking. While spending time with Jean-Efflam Bavouzet’s excellent interpretation of "La cathédrale engloutie" (Debussy), I noticed that the sonore sans Dureté was not as visceral as I would’ve liked. It was by no means poor, but having explored this section in great depth in the past (especially via the TH-900/ Z1R), I knew there was more information that could be conveyed with greater presence. Textural quality in the sub-bass region was correspondingly normal.
Midrange
The Elise really starts to shine in the midrange. I think a term that has been used before by users is “euphonic”, and I have to agree. The sound is liquid, with slight warmth and good body. It’s overwhelmingly pleasant, and quite addictive. Starting with the lower midrange, I began my evaluation with several tracks from Tony O’ Malley’s Audiophile Selection. Before I endure the collective wrath of music enthusiasts, I will clarify that I did not get this album simply because it said audiophile on the front but rather because I felt that it would make for some great evaluation standards, and also because I appreciate Tony O’ Malley’s rougher, guttural voice. It is a smooth listen, though certain textural cues aren’t as emphasized as I would like. It has a slightly rounded taste, though by no means does it have the “Z1R treatment”. Female vocals are a simple joy with the Elise. Once again returning to Antonio Carlos Jobim’s "Aguas de Marco", I am utterly impressed by the energy of the sound, and the Elise’s ability to maintain good levels of clarity while delivering a smooth sound. It leaves an impactful and lasting impression. The way Jobim’s breathy timbre contrasts with the almost glossy, unified sound of the vocal support is a positive indication of the Elise’s rendering capabilities. Norah Jones entered and exited with grace, in what could only be described as one of the most soothing listening sessions I've had.
HighsThe highs on the Elise have a touch of sparkle, but never come off as being hot. This point is important when considering the on the Espressivo (especially with certain choices of tubes). The opening of Paradise City is a head-banging experience. The guitars have a nice electrical sheen and Axl Roses’ distinctive falsetto/full-voice combination (not going to open up that can of worms) powers through the track. This kind of flexibility in the Elise is very much welcome, especially for people like myself who tend to listen to a wide variety of music. Looking into other genres, violins such as those found in Schubert’s String Quintet in C Major have good bite, and do convey an aggressiveness fitting for the piece. The bow lifts are choppy and abrupt, but positively so as the piece does indeed call for this style of playing. In general, the Elise delivers on sparkles as needed without becoming tiring. There is a nice amount of air at any rate, and the amplifier certainly does not suffer from congestion and resulting incoherence.
And What Am I Listening To?
This isn't necessarily reflective of the albums that I find to be best suited for this amplifier. It's more of an eclectic mix of whatever I find queued up in my playlist at the time of writing. I certainly found it entertaining to write about at any rate. It's a candid look at just what high-performance audio gear is being used for (for better or for worse).
Antonio Carlos Jobim - Stone Flower
This is one of the best ACJ albums in my opinion, and an excellent demonstration of Jobim’s breadth as an artist. In a carefully reinventive fashion, Jobim brought Bossa Nova into the modern era with a polished production featuring trombones, saxophones, acoustic guitars, and that ever-present bass. It is a combination that would have fit right into a chic 70's cocktail party replete with odd fashions and strange drinks. Not to mention a nonstop whirlpool of classy cigarette smoke. I’m happy to have been able to secure a Blu-Spec CD release from the CTI Supreme Collection while in Japan -it is the best version I have come across thus far. This album is a great way to enjoy the Elise in my opinion. The opening track “Tereza My Love” is rendered excellently with the amplifier’s staging coming into play as the interestingly mixed instruments come into play. "Brazil" is a simple joy as the T1/ Elise combination powers through with fluidity (and resolution).
The rest of the pieces fall into place as the amplifier traversed through with smooth ease and good weight. Arcade Fire - Reflektor
The incredibly successful art rock album from the well-regarded Arcade Fire is an example that rock is still alive (maybe not so well) in this day and age. The imaging and soundstage work to the amplifier’s benefit on title track “Reflektor”, with the vocal panning being hauntingly well done. The Haitian rara influences are present and definitely accounted for, and the fairly complex composition has been done justice via the Elise, which doesn't fail to handle complex sections. If there was one complaint, it would be that the tracks could use just a little more edge, with more impact in the lower frequencies. The Elise's euphonic qualities aren't exactly optimized for this genre of music. “We Exist” was a certain blast – I had a great time picking my way through the guitars, vocals, piano -all while being able to appreciate the melody as a whole. It's simply good.
Calvin Harris - Motion
Yes, I listen to Calvin Harris as well. What? Crappy recording quality (which for the record, isn’t all that bad)? Not audiophile enough? Go away, this guy churns out summer anthems faster than an audiophile can switch gear. And fairly good ones, too - if their generic nature can be discounted. My favorite track from this album has to be “Pray To God”, featuring HAIM. The Elise definitely did not disappoint -the drop has weight and decent intensity. For house that is. Okay, trance and dubstep fans can stop laughing and excuse themselves now. The weight of this judgement is getting to be oppressive. The vocals have nice presence and the work of the Haim sisters certainly isn't going unnoticed. “Faith” is another nice track coming from Harris himself. It has a little bit of edge, but then again any respectable amped-up EDM album needs a semi-reflective piece doesn't it? And we certainly couldn't conclude without mentioning that Ellie Goulding is still "Outside". Quick, someone open the door! I should also mention that the R70X-Elise combination on this album is really lots of fun.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The Elise is a great amplifier. At its current price for both the base and upgraded versions, it really is hard to find something that does so much right. The build quality on the Elise is excellent, and the well finished and machined chassis makes for a great talking piece. The current tube setup opens up serious rolling options, and near endless modding opportunities (proceed at your own risk!) Perhaps the greatest draw for me has been the well-executed Feliks house sound, which is pleasant and well-balanced with a touch of warmth. It's a clear step up over the Espressivo, providing obvious improvements in key areas such as the treble, soundstage, and general resolution. I will conclude by saying that if you've a Beyerdynamic T1, it would be absolutely criminal to not give this amplifier a try!
Thank you