grizzlybeast
My name is grizzlybeast and I'm an audioholic.
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I was at NYC CaJam and did not know about this amp before.
I did not know about mostmost other new amps either,
And was quite surprised of all the new tube headphone amps there...
Yet only two amps stood out to me at this event.
The first was the Viva 845 amp there(forgot name),
And then this amp.
Visually it looks better than pics, so I was expecting a price like the Viva amp.
$4k may not be cheap, but for what I saw and heard I preferred it over all the other amps at Canjam.
The amp had no problem making the Susvara sound well balanced, which is usually not the case.
Weaker amps would make the Susvara sound a bit laid back.
Very important to me is the Soundstage as well,
Because other amps therr were also powerfull, but less "large" sounding.
This Cayin just had a wonderful Soundstage.
It just sounded right.
there were other resolving tube amps I heard, Wich did all have excellent resolution,
but had other issues which to me would not make them desirable for a keeper.
Issues like a bit too:
Slightly lean
Slightly Rich
Slightly dark
Slightly lifeless
Slightly forward
I fully believe in system synergy and that they all could have been matched better or used better tubes or different bias points in their design.
Anyways this Cayin really step up the headphone amp game, handling the Abyss Phi, Diana and Susvara really well with stock tubes and I was very impressed.
Last NY CanJam I thought the woo waa33 was most impressive, but this time around I have to say this Cayin HA-300 was the jewel of the show.
What's funny is that I would never have heard just how good this amp is if not for Canjam.
Mogwai is another incredible value, and the main difference I would say is the difference that is always said about DHT vs indirect heated tubes.
Between both amps,
Driver tube linearity is similar as they both having similar driver tubes.
It boils down to both output tube, and output transformer sound.
The 300b tube type sonic characteristics has always been a desirable one,
but the 6L6GC is also one of most desirable indirect tube types.
For you it would be incredibly difficult to decide, especially when you can perform upgrades on the Mogwai...
But in the long run in this hobby, it is usually DHT amps that are usually chosen as end game.
I have noticed that there has been a lacking market in tube headohone amps,
And these new amps are a breath of fresh air,
Because in the past you basically had to go DIY to have a great tube headphone amp.
I love tube amps and I think the Mogwai is really sweet.
Yet I could not imagine an amp like this Cayin for this price.
Hats off to them.
Stay updated on Cayin at their sponsor profile on Head-Fi.
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will this be my endgame. I really like my Mogwai SE
Thanks. My Mogwai SE sounds even better than the Mogwai. Id love to hear this thing one day. It looks gorgeous as is to be expected.
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Not really as I did not mention about the appearance.This is definitely the most detail impression of HA-300 in CanJam NYC 2018, thank you very much for visiting our demo room and writing up this informative sharing of our new headphone amplifier.
You can see all the surfaces and the metal surface has like a glossy type coating or finish.Looks like a worthy WA5 competitor... but I'm not a fan of the reflective finish. Hopefully it can be offered with a matte or black finish instead.
Resolution was on par...The Viva Egoista 845 is a gorgeous headphone amplifier and it sounds amazingly to my ears, it was my show stopper when I first come across it at Munich High-end show 2016. When you said the Viva Egoista 845 and Cayin HA-300 are the only two headphone amplifiers stood out in this event, we are truly flattered.
definitely, actually I am happy with my amp and do not have 4K right a way. But if I did have 4K right now of undedicated funds there is no question where it would be going to the HA300BI heard the Mogwai but not the SE in previous CanJam, they are best bang for the buck at their price range, and I love their retro design. There is not urgent upgrade need when you have a beautiful ampsandsound amp. on your table, but I certainly want to read the impression of HA-300 from a old friend who understand our house sound and headphone amplifiers inside out.
Looks like a worthy WA5 competitor... but I'm not a fan of the reflective finish. Hopefully it can be offered with a matte or black finish instead.
Not really as I did not mention about the appearance.
You can see all the surfaces and the metal surface has like a glossy type coating or finish.
I am under-stating that this is the most expensive looking finish I have seen at the CanJam.
I have seen the other amps there with nice thick paint, or dry metal look, or thin looking metal, or aluminum look, or black look, or wood trim and even leather surfaces.
Hands down the fit and finish of this Cayin amp looks the most richly expensive and gorgeous.
You have to see it in person.
I realize this have nothing to do with sound, and why I didn't mention it,
But it is hands down a most luxurious and gorgeous finish compared to the rest.
Hats off to them.
Stay updated on Cayin at their sponsor profile on Head-Fi.
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Resolution was on par...
Egoista had more taught dynamic hit and airy treble while the HA-300 had a richer bass and more substantial sparkle,
so the Egoista was somewhat more lean and powerful in comparison.
Personally I don't think the 845 tube is as musical as the 300b tube,
so maybe why I preferred the HA-300,
but thats a personal preference.
I did hear similar level of resolution with wa33 (which use ouput 2a3 tube) and also the modwright amp (which by coincidence has the same model number HA300) using 300b also but using different driver tube which you cannot roll.
I would say stock tube choice on the Cayin was very well done also so you don't feel a need to roll tubes.
Stay updated on Cayin at their sponsor profile on Head-Fi.
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Will Cayin have this amp at Axpona? I see that they're listed as one of the exhibitors.
Stay updated on Cayin at their sponsor profile on Head-Fi.
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Stay updated on Cayin at their sponsor profile on Head-Fi.
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300b seems like a good choice,Our assessment also suggested that 300B, when implemented correctly, is strong enough to handle even the most difficult headphones, and that's why we selected the 300B as the base of our reference product.