LSA Voyager GAN Amplifier

@mapman That is not obvious given what I stated last night. Put in the AHB2 and no hiss with my CS3.7. Put the CODA #8 or Voyager in place and have hiss. All other upstream gear stayed the same. That is a pretty clear conclusion for me.

I have now put on the KEF LS50 and replaced the Thiel CS3.7. The same hiss with the right speaker a little worse. This is promising since this tells me my Thiel is fine. I tried unplugging the CODA 07x and retrying. Same thing.

I now put the super quiet Topping pre90 and took off the CODA 07x preamp, The Voyager stays along with the KEF LS50. The hiss level goes down a ton. Really need to put the ear to the speaker to hear anything. The RIGHT speaker is still a bit noisier (what the heck is that maybe the DAC).  

I replaced the 15 foot Benchmark XLR's between the preamp and amp with a second set of the same XLR. Same level of hiss.

I am going to talk with Doug Dale on the CODA 07x. I had a loose wire from shipping that I fixed to get rid of a lot of gremlins I had with this preamp. Maybe something still wrong or maybe not. It sounds great and maybe this bit of hiss is normal at the gain levels I have set (default).

************************* NEW Voyager observation ***************************
On my Thiel CS3.7, the Topping pre90 and Voyager sounds much better than the CODA #8 and Topping pre90. The Voyager sounds louder with the Topping, must be a gain thing. However, the impedance match must be better because it does not sound lifeless as with the CODA #8. So 2 different types of SS preamps sound good with the Voyager

I am not saying this sounds better than the CODA 07x and Voyager or CODA #8. It sounds more like the AHB2 with more grunt. However, the Voyager is not as super clear as the AHB2 which I think most people prefer (the Voyager).

Actually this $599 Topping preamp and Voyager sounds great. I am using the Benchmark DAC3B at the moment. Which is not a warm DAC. Wow, is my reaction to this combo. The Voyager seems to have the power needed by the Thiel CS3.7.  Non-fatiguing combo too.

Damn, I knew this Topping pre90 was great. This Voyager is also on a path to greatness for me. So nice with the RAAL and now really starting to sound great with the Thiel. I am on a BEE GEES bender at the moment but once that subsides I will start listening to my RUSH albums that I normally use to evaluate gear.

BTW - I noticed the other day that one of the Stereophile reviewers is using the Topping pre90 with 2 Benchmark AHB2. Same as me in my living room. This guy, Kalman R., must know a ton more about audio gear than me. So do not let that $599 price fool you.

Only problem with the Topping and Voyager combo is that the gain between the 2 is too much. Do not care since this is going to get discounted and moved downstairs soon.

Listening to Moving Pictures by RUSH now with the Topping pre90 + Voyager + Thiel CS3.7 + DAC3B. The album I have heard more than anything else in my life. The Voyager sounds great with it. Maybe a little harshness over the CODA #8, which is also great on this album. The Voyager only has 20 hours on it.

I would like to know from other Voyager owners. Does this amp feel fast to you. Man, I am bobbing my head and tapping my toes like mad.

Keep it coming, YYZ - you have 2 amps that I've been interested in for a while (Benchmark and Coda), and possibly now a third with the LSA.   I'm considering to move to separates from my integrated.

I appreciate your feedback.  A very interesting comparison.

@veroguy If you are interested I will add one more comment. I was wrong to state that the Topping pre90 and Voyager play nice. In a narrow volume range it was great better than the CODA #8 and Topping pre90. However, there is an gain mismatch between the 2 and the volume is not that granular. There was an impedance mismatch between the CODA #8 and the Topping pre90. Looks like there is no free lunch with the Topping pre90. The Toppng pre90 does work nicely with the AHB2s.

The CODA 07x is now back on the system and the Topping pre90 is going downstairs.

I am also going to disconnect everything later today. Once I get my actual work done and see if this hiss issue, that is now bugging me, is related to the wires touching each other. I just realized that putting my KRELL K-300i with the Thiels should help me figure out this hiss issue. That should be delivered later today.

I am starting to think that the Voyager sonically is a bit of a mix between the AHB2 and CODA #8. The AHB2 and CODA #8 are not that similar. One is warmer and the other is clearer with more detail. The Voyager seems in-between the 2. Though there is a lot more hours to put into the Voyager to say for certain.

I love the AHB2 and the COIDA #8 Long term keepers. Do not want to say that yet about the Voyager but I cannot fault it for anything. It is sounding better quicker than most new gear I have recently bought.

With all this modding talk.....he he.....LSA now states on their website they will offer an input and output wire upgrade for another $175....starting 8-16. Don’t bother.....my wires are better and I will be eliminating the sound of the binding post by using my binding post bypass system......also way better AC wires, IEC input jack....elimination of one fuse, option for better input jack, etc......and this is just the beginning. Should be fun, cannot wait to listen and tweak. Yes, the modded amp will be way more detailed......and more musical (sounding more like real instruments).

I hope those that are evaluating the amp will listen to some serious 2 mic recordings of natural unamplified or moderately amplified instruments in natural space. This way you can hear depth, air, decay, the wood on an instrument, the breathiness in a voice....separation of instruments.......the sound of the room, etc. Most of my evaluations are done with Chesky, Clarity Recordings, and Mapleshade recordings because they are so natural and detailed. Rush is fun, but you are not going to get subtle details of real instruments or the sound of the room, etc. I want to hear what brand of string someone is playing. When they pick up a different guitar.....I want to go....wow....what just happened?  How does an amp handle mass strings?  Does the string quartet sound like its in the room.....do they make you cry?  Just was watching a Utube video of Stevie Ray and Albert King jamming together......man, that Stevie could play!  See, I like to rock out too!