AudioDuck
Headphoneus Supremus
Received my Echo a couple of days ago (with stock tubes), which I purchased from @U2Edge (who, by the way, is a great guy!).
I have it connected to a Furman power conditioner via a Wireworld Aurora power cord, and it is very quiet indeed.
The Echo’s source is a Schiit Gungnir MB with a Harmonic Tech Truth-Link, a fairly ordinary but high-quality copper interconnect (Ohno cast, so very smooth yet detailed-sounding).
I’ve tried the Echo with jazz, rock, pop, and acoustic guitar music so far, and am really impressed. I had no idea tubes could provide such slam and textured bass! The “elasticity” of drums- literally hearing more texture and the drum skins rebounding- was not audible via my Violectric V200 or my prior solid state amp, the SPL Auditor. Daaaaaang. This is VERY noticeable with LCD-XCs, which excel at bass detail and clarity
The highs are softer and more recessed, which was my hope as I am a bit treble-averse.
Mids are great, but not miles ahead of the V200. They have a bit more body and delicacy, however. Overall, the Echo + LCD-XCs are a great pairing for jazz/folk/acoustic music (I have not tried large-scale orchestral music yet).
This is the end game amp for me, and barring any oddities in the next couple of days, my V200 will be in the classifieds soon. It’s a phenomenal amp, but the Echo is just right for my ears.
I have it connected to a Furman power conditioner via a Wireworld Aurora power cord, and it is very quiet indeed.
The Echo’s source is a Schiit Gungnir MB with a Harmonic Tech Truth-Link, a fairly ordinary but high-quality copper interconnect (Ohno cast, so very smooth yet detailed-sounding).
I’ve tried the Echo with jazz, rock, pop, and acoustic guitar music so far, and am really impressed. I had no idea tubes could provide such slam and textured bass! The “elasticity” of drums- literally hearing more texture and the drum skins rebounding- was not audible via my Violectric V200 or my prior solid state amp, the SPL Auditor. Daaaaaang. This is VERY noticeable with LCD-XCs, which excel at bass detail and clarity
The highs are softer and more recessed, which was my hope as I am a bit treble-averse.
Mids are great, but not miles ahead of the V200. They have a bit more body and delicacy, however. Overall, the Echo + LCD-XCs are a great pairing for jazz/folk/acoustic music (I have not tried large-scale orchestral music yet).
This is the end game amp for me, and barring any oddities in the next couple of days, my V200 will be in the classifieds soon. It’s a phenomenal amp, but the Echo is just right for my ears.