I have not appreciated the grain in the sound of my Voyager amp before mods. In fact, the amp, to my ears, has crystalline clarity. So the grainy description is hard to wrap my head around.
LSA Voyager GAN Amplifier
Just got mine last week. After 24 hours of play all I can say is that this is not your father's class D amplifier. There is not one thing about its sound that reminds me of the class D gremlins that I do not like. The low end filled in and now has deep impact, the midrange is the love child of a beautiful tube and clean hybrid amp - just gorgeous. Highs are very clean and extended. Spatial cues are top notch. My system has had some damn good tube and solid state amps in it before and it has never sounded this good. I am blown away with the quality of sound coming from class D amplification at this price point.
This 300 wpc amplifier is a real winner.....
This 300 wpc amplifier is a real winner.....
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- 1033 posts total
Like I said I was comparing it to my AHB2. Everything else I own sounds a little more grainy than the AHB2. The difference in the Voyager mod vs stock is like the comparison I did yesterday with the CODA #8 and the CODA #16 (with respect to a grainy sound). When you hear the #16 you can tell what the #8 is adding. Even previously, I knew the #8 was adding something because I had compared it to my AHB2. The pre-modded Voyager was also not as clean sounding as the AHB2. I think the modded Voyager is now closer to the AHB2, though I have not compared. When you get the mod done on the Voyager it becomes clearer sounding. However, take what I have wrote today with some skepticism because I have decided to sell the Voyager today to buy the amp in this photo. The amp in the far right. Raal Ribbon Headphones - SRH1A | Page 302 | Headphone Reviews and Discussion - Head-Fi.org I have not heard this amp yet, will do so relatively soon. However, after speaking with the amp builder today, I was convinced to go with this tube amp. I have heard his older model, which was excellent, but this new one is supposed to be much better. The Voyager was going to be my headphone amp since it is not as good as the CODA #16 |
yyz, Thanks. Sorry, I don't understand what you mean by "grainy." The stock Voyager was warm compared to the AHB2. Since the modded V has more clarity than stock, is it also less warm than stock? When you have the time to A/B the modded V with the AHB2, see if you can note whether the warmth of the V is lessening, to approach the neutrality of the AHB2. The modded V should be an interesting shootout with my Rouge. |
Maybe my audiophile terms are not correct. When I say grainy, you can consider the analogy of a window. With the CODA #8 and pre-modded Voyager I felt that the window was a little dirty, the view had some obstruction. With the AHB2 I think the window is crystal clean. I think the CODA #16 is also like that but I need more time with it at home to be certain it is at that level. The modded Voyager was more cleaner window than the pre-modded Voyager and CODA #8. It is not as good as the CODA #16 in a few ways, bass, clarity, and the size of the soundstage. The modded Voyager is comparable to the 2x more expensive CODA #8. Each as some positives over the other. The CODA #16 overall seems to be the best amp I would own (if I get the money). I can see that as my last amp, though the price is back breaking. Since the modded V has more clarity than stock, is it also less warm than stock?No, do not think so. |
Thanks for your clarification. I do like your window analogy. I'll go further and ask how thick are the dirty films for the 3 best amps--AHB2, Coda #16, modded Voyager? 0-1 microns, 2-3, 5 respectively? More listening will tell. Is the Coda #16 warmer than AHB2? I can see ricevs rolling his eyes and saying I am too analytical and I need to love more, LOL. |
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