glitch39
1000+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Mar 28, 2008
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So I took the plunge….
I was very happy with my Extreme but I could just not get the thought of going balanced out of my head. My cans are HD650, which everyone says respond nicely to balanced configuration. My DAC already has true balanced output. So I figured “why not?”….
First a quick background…. Why the LD VI and not other balanced amps:
First, I’m tube guy. So that basically eliminates SS amps.
Second is the tube complement and overall design. I have heard EL84, miniature 9-pin and 6080-type tube amps. True, it’s all dependent on the design and execution, but overall, my experience is best with 6080-type amps. See Skylab’s review …. Also, the LD VI looks great from all the pics and reviews that I have read.
Third is price. It is undeniably very attractive at $700 (plus shipping based on location).
Fourth is customer service. LD has one of the best in the industry, local companies included. Great communication ALWAYS. There have been concerns from others with sending the amp back. Fortunately for me, the issues have been almost zero. On occasions where there was an issue, David has contacted a local outfit for me to check out the amp. Keep in my mind that this is my 4th amp from David so we go way back. Plus, I’ve always asked David nicely…
Build and QA
Out of the box, this thing is HEAVY. Very solid and the majority of the weight is coming from the transformers – a very good thing in my book. All connectors, switch and knob seem to be in good shape. It was well packed. I opened the bottom cover to verify the gain setting, which was correctly set to low. All solder look intact and well made. The bias meters work. Fit and finish is very professional, as good as Woo and SP in my opinion. If I am to make a guess, it’s made from a different factory than the rest of the LD line, just because of the impressive QA and detail given to it.
The amp that I got is the latest rev so it has the quiet fan, updated transformer to handle 120v lines in the US and additional heatsink. See stock pic below.
Score : 9/10. As with most scoring standards, you’ve got to leave some room for improvement. Otherwise, this category would have been perfect.
Start-up Impressions
Checked and double checked all connections. Turned on the amp and waited for the amp to pre-heat the tubes and after a minute or so, both bias gauges are now lit and showed equal readings.
The updated Glacial-Tech fans are very quiet. A very small mechanical sound from the fans can be heard in a quiet room if I place my ears 6 inches or less from amp. I listen a few feet from the amp so noise is non-existent. Plus I would not dare come that close to the amp when the tubes are lit – they generate a lot heat.
The amp chassis gets warm during use but not much. I can certainly touch it without concern about burning myself.
I like the 4-pin XLR headphone connection. It’s easier to handle the connector and more lightweight overall as opposed to two 3-pin XLRs.
Others have noted that they would not buy and amp that has active cooling. IMO, active cooling keeps the overall interior of the amp cooler which will improve the life of internal components. As long as the active cooling system does not get in the way of enjoying the music at any volume, I’m all for it.
Score: 8/10. Perhaps LD can put a fan speed control switch so when ambient temps are really low (like during winter), I can put the fans’ RPMs even lower.
Initial Sound Impressions
My setup: Transport to a zapfiltered Zhaolu then to rewired HD650’s. The zapfilter board has true balanced outputs and I added XLR connectors to my Zhaolu case. I used stock Sennheiser cable rewired for 4-pin XLR.
As noted by other users before me: only by having a fully balanced source can you get the most out of a balanced amplifier. Balanced configuration does not disappoint. I expected huge soundstage and got it. Excellent instrument separation and layering are a good terms to describe the sound. I can clearly distinguish instrument placements within the well-defined soundstage. With classical music, it just blows me away.
Score: 9/10. If there is one word to describe this amp it’s NEUTRAL. No bloomy syrupy sound nor booming bass.
Overall, I am very satisfied with this amp. Starting with the great sales experience, good build and satisfying sound, I am hooked.
However, I cannot leave things well alone enough so tube rolling begins….
I was very happy with my Extreme but I could just not get the thought of going balanced out of my head. My cans are HD650, which everyone says respond nicely to balanced configuration. My DAC already has true balanced output. So I figured “why not?”….
First a quick background…. Why the LD VI and not other balanced amps:
First, I’m tube guy. So that basically eliminates SS amps.
Second is the tube complement and overall design. I have heard EL84, miniature 9-pin and 6080-type tube amps. True, it’s all dependent on the design and execution, but overall, my experience is best with 6080-type amps. See Skylab’s review …. Also, the LD VI looks great from all the pics and reviews that I have read.
Third is price. It is undeniably very attractive at $700 (plus shipping based on location).
Fourth is customer service. LD has one of the best in the industry, local companies included. Great communication ALWAYS. There have been concerns from others with sending the amp back. Fortunately for me, the issues have been almost zero. On occasions where there was an issue, David has contacted a local outfit for me to check out the amp. Keep in my mind that this is my 4th amp from David so we go way back. Plus, I’ve always asked David nicely…
Build and QA
Out of the box, this thing is HEAVY. Very solid and the majority of the weight is coming from the transformers – a very good thing in my book. All connectors, switch and knob seem to be in good shape. It was well packed. I opened the bottom cover to verify the gain setting, which was correctly set to low. All solder look intact and well made. The bias meters work. Fit and finish is very professional, as good as Woo and SP in my opinion. If I am to make a guess, it’s made from a different factory than the rest of the LD line, just because of the impressive QA and detail given to it.
The amp that I got is the latest rev so it has the quiet fan, updated transformer to handle 120v lines in the US and additional heatsink. See stock pic below.
Score : 9/10. As with most scoring standards, you’ve got to leave some room for improvement. Otherwise, this category would have been perfect.
Start-up Impressions
Checked and double checked all connections. Turned on the amp and waited for the amp to pre-heat the tubes and after a minute or so, both bias gauges are now lit and showed equal readings.
The updated Glacial-Tech fans are very quiet. A very small mechanical sound from the fans can be heard in a quiet room if I place my ears 6 inches or less from amp. I listen a few feet from the amp so noise is non-existent. Plus I would not dare come that close to the amp when the tubes are lit – they generate a lot heat.
The amp chassis gets warm during use but not much. I can certainly touch it without concern about burning myself.
I like the 4-pin XLR headphone connection. It’s easier to handle the connector and more lightweight overall as opposed to two 3-pin XLRs.
Others have noted that they would not buy and amp that has active cooling. IMO, active cooling keeps the overall interior of the amp cooler which will improve the life of internal components. As long as the active cooling system does not get in the way of enjoying the music at any volume, I’m all for it.
Score: 8/10. Perhaps LD can put a fan speed control switch so when ambient temps are really low (like during winter), I can put the fans’ RPMs even lower.
Initial Sound Impressions
My setup: Transport to a zapfiltered Zhaolu then to rewired HD650’s. The zapfilter board has true balanced outputs and I added XLR connectors to my Zhaolu case. I used stock Sennheiser cable rewired for 4-pin XLR.
As noted by other users before me: only by having a fully balanced source can you get the most out of a balanced amplifier. Balanced configuration does not disappoint. I expected huge soundstage and got it. Excellent instrument separation and layering are a good terms to describe the sound. I can clearly distinguish instrument placements within the well-defined soundstage. With classical music, it just blows me away.
Score: 9/10. If there is one word to describe this amp it’s NEUTRAL. No bloomy syrupy sound nor booming bass.
Overall, I am very satisfied with this amp. Starting with the great sales experience, good build and satisfying sound, I am hooked.
However, I cannot leave things well alone enough so tube rolling begins….
