[arielext]

Then if you could wait, try it balanced first with the stock tubes. If that offer for the tubes is not going to last: buy them

 

[bilboda]

Those tubes may be overkill for the amp but that's a nice price. Purists may weep at their use as they can do so much more in certain hi-end amps.
Google this amp. You will find a ton of info and some eye opening measurements.

 

[CADCAM]

Just got this in a few days ago and I'm impressed even with the stock tubes. I tried my DT990's and didn't feel it. Tried my Superlux's and it sounded much better, listening to the DT880 now and it's really very good. I'm running it straight from my Oppo. Clean sounding...initial impressions are very good even using RCA's.

 

[GravityEyelids]

UPDATE - Things havent been sounding right and after swapping components around for hours, i have narrowed down that actually the 1/4" adapter that came with the 6XX has been faulty, along with the other 1/4" i have, which only let though one channel (what are the damn chances of that??? ).

I fixed the issue and now this amp and setup sounds incredible to me. Wow. I don't ever remember having a setup that sounds so pleasing and presents my favorite music the way I've always thought that it "should" sound. It just sounds effortless. I don't know how else to describe it. I should note that I've previously really only owned portable cans and never really owned a decently high end over ear that benefits from amping.

 

[rrg123]

GravityEyelids, great job on clearing up your issues.

Good to learn that I am not the only one who really enjoys the amp.
Per your idea and what you mentioned in the original post. I ordered the xlr to RCA 1ft cable that will attach to my DAC.
It's on a slow boat from over seas so no time soon but I am looking to see what happens with that.

For now happy getting more time with the current unbalanced setup.
I'm just enjoying the slow ride to better audio.

 

[CADCAM]

Anyone else thinking about getting the SMSL SU-8 balanced DAC off Massdrop to try with this??
It's 200 bucks right now with free shipping...

 

[bgtip]

Okay so there is really not much out there on the Loxjie P20. There's a few out there that have given really high regards to this thing, and i feel like it deserves a good discussion. (TL;DR: just read the bold stuff)

The main thing i want to know is regarding the balanced in/out. I DON'T want this to descend into a balanced argument thing. The point is that nearly every reviewer has mentioned how the balanced is noticeably better on this thing. I personally don't care about balanced - it's not something i need or care about. HOWEVER. It seems like the circuitry/electronics/whatever in this specific amp is somehow better than the unbalanced.

What i want to know is this - can i still take advantage of this "better" balanced sound by simply using something like RCA --> XLR adapters and running them into the Loxjie P20 inputs? The balanced output thing is relatively cheap/easy, but i'm definitely not spending balanced DAC money anytime soon. Is it just the balanced OUTPUT that gives this benefit? Do i need to even run balanced into it to benefit?

Question 2: [Loxjie P20 owners ONLY] - does this make a good first real amp for the HD6xx? I know that a JDS Atom is a "safer" choice, but i kind of want something interesting and different, which leads me to...

Will this still give me SOME amount of the benefit of tube despite being hybrid? The warmness, light distortion, and soundstage/reverb type of effect that people talk about? Reviewers seem to think that it.

It would also give me an upgrade path if i DID want to eventually buy a balanced DAC.

On your questions:
1. Yes, I run 3.5mm to XLR cable from FiiO K3 to the balanced input of P20.
2. It made huge difference with my HD 660S. The sound stage went from -.- to --.--
3. No, it doesn't sound tubey. I used Russian tubes 6Н3П-ЕВ military, and one similar pair. I liked the original Chinese tubes also. All of them sound different in regard to imaging and detail resolve. None of them sonded warmer or reverberating. My Little Bear P2 sounds tubey, with all those characteristics present, P20 doesn't.

 

[GravityEyelids]

GravityEyelids, great job on clearing up your issues.

Good to learn that I am not the only one who really enjoys the amp.
Per your idea and what you mentioned in the original post. I ordered the xlr to RCA 1ft cable that will attach to my DAC.
It's on a slow boat from over seas so no time soon but I am looking to see what happens with that.

For now happy getting more time with the current unbalanced setup.
I'm just enjoying the slow ride to better audio.

I've got a 3.5mm to XLR breakout cable coming tomorrow so I'll let you know. From what I've heard the balanced outputs may make a bigger difference but once I build an XLR cable for the 6XX I'll be running full "balanced" (kind of fake balance in) and can just sit back and enjoy - not that I'm not heavily enjoying them already.

 

[turbomustang84]

I have not bought the P20 yet I got the Geshelli Enog2 Balanced Dac and am awaiting my XLR cables then illI order the P20.
Until my P20 gets here I've got a Geshelli Archel Pro amplifier and connected via XLR to 3.5mm cable LOL .

By the way if you need some good cables

Those are 7" RCAs and I ordered the XLRs 1ft like these

I am actually very pleased with the quality from ghentaudio
http://www.ghentaudio.com/part/a01.html

 

[Shane D]

I got P20 today. Really surprised that they ship with the tubes in.
Should one tube be higher than the other? Facing the front, the tube on the right is higher????

Any input?

Shane D

 

[Shane D]

One more pic...




Shane D

 

[GravityEyelids]

My tubes look just like that. They have pretty large pins i think so it won't really matter if they're leaning a little.

 

[Shane D]

My tubes look just like that. They have pretty large pins i think so it won't really matter if they're leaning a little.

How about the lighting? Looks very dim...
Shane D

 

[CADCAM]

Mine were a little loose and leaning, I just re-seated them and they look fine now.

 

[Shane D]

Mine were a little loose and leaning, I just re-seated them and they look fine now.

I pressed all the way in and one is still higher. However the coating on the higher one comes down to meet the other one. Also, the inner layer is even with the platform on both.

Just tried it out. Not much power at all. Can't make a snap judgement. Will give it a lot more time tomorrow.

Shane D