Hi Lachlan. Tom here. I did get to CanJam Dallas and had a great time. Unfortunately T+A was a no show after being listed on the presenter list. Not sure what happened. On the positive side I did spend a lot of time with Martin from Warwick. After our discussion he seemed very interested in contacting you and forwarding a Bravura unit for your review. I gave him your information. They seemed interested in expanding their presence in Australia as well.
Lachlan, Thank you for your thoughtful and detailed reviews that meet viewers whereever they are in the decision process. I have read great things about the Enleum on Head-fi and your review is in agreement with most of those. I have followed your reviews closely for the past couple of years, am ordering an Yggdrasil after listening to your reviews that touched on it (having previously planned to purchase a Holo Spring 3 KTE) , and was about to order my Burson Soloist 3X GT to replace my 3XP to pair with that. After watching this review, and learning that the Enleum now will be your reference setup, not the 3xGT or the Chord TT2, I realized that there will always be another newer and better dac or amp coming down the pike and if I am happy with my audio chain and how it pairs with my headphones, it's OK to say "not for me, this time" -- otherwise, if I keep trading up and up and up expense-wise, I will end up chasing sonic ghosts, losing my marriage and retirement savings etc. - what benefit will that be? Happiness is also knowing when it's time to get off the bus.
So glad I've been able to help, Joe! Yes, there's always something better out there it seems, but I also think there's a point you can reach where you really don't need to worry about upgrading further. Unless you enjoy chasing sonic ghosts (I like that saying) then the Yggy is a brilliant DAC and as much as most people would ever need. As for amps, I've recently got my hands on the Phonitor XE from SPL which is a bit cheaper than the Soloist GT and it's as good or better IMO. It's got a built-in DAC, but the Yggy is comfortably better. A combination like the Yggy and Phonitor XE or Soloist GT would easily be enough to reach audio bliss (Enleum is overkill in some ways even though it's glorious) so maybe consider that as an achievable endgame chain if that's of interest. 🙂
@@PassionforSound thanks so much. I have looked at the Phonitor but I cannot figure out it’s power specs they are very odd- it appears that it’s single-ended output is more than its balanced and power output maxes at 120 ohms and is less for headphones above and below that. I am seeking an amp to pair with Susvara, so the GT seems a better pairing in terms of power output (I do believe the myths, sorry). Also GT has 2 pairs of analog inputs and analog pre-outs whereas Phonitor has only 1 set of inputs and no pre-outs so it’s the GT I will go for.
The GT is definitely brilliant! I haven't looked into the specs of the Phonitor so I can't clarify that as yet. There's an upgraded GT now with a better power supply design (according to Burson). I'll be reviewing it in a live review next week some time.
Thanks for this Lachlan, I also agree with your point regarding highlighting component costs. But all other head amps are toys compared to the Mass Kobo 465 but that price & scarcity… DAMN!!!
I owned the 13r and found it to be one of my favorite solid state amps. It had some idiosyncrasies but the sq made up for it. I only sold it because I purchased my end game amp (Woo Audio wa33 elite w/jps) and it was even better.
Great review, thank you for making the effort. I was one of those that felt the GoldenSound review completely missed multiple points on the 23R, particularly its utility as a speaker amp. I use mine in both a speaker and headphone configuration and there I would take (mild) objection to your stance that it is really suited more to small rooms and desktop near field audio. I disagree - 25W@8Ω & 40W@4Ω are more than adequate to drive higher sensitivity speakers in large rooms. I use my 13R with a pair of Fleetwood Devilles (94db) and rarely make it past 11 o'clock on the dial. Owners of horns, Klipsch, Zu and many other makes would have absolutely zero issues even in cavernous spaces. With capabilities in two completely different arenas, there's nothing like the Enleum.
That's great to hear. Thanks both for sharing your experiences. I'm so used to hearing people talk about needing 100s of watts for full size speakers that I accidentally assumed this wouldn't be appropriate without testing. That's a bit of a whoopsie on my part - sorry!
Awesome review man, was super pumped you got your hands on one. I want this amp for both speakers and my elites. I think the aesthetics are beautiful. Only thing I hate and has stopped me from buying is the price 😢😢.
Thank you for your in depth review on this amplifier. If you are looking at the Harbeth P3, you have to also look at the Falcon Ls3/5a Gold Label and the new Rogers Ls3/5a. Both of these are the original BBC 15 ohm designs and adhering to the original birch ply construction etc. The Harbeth, on the other hand, is a modern rendition using MDF in the construction and a conventional crossover. The Falcon, in particular, has been designed and constructed with in house built drivers by the original design engineer from KEF who supplied the originals. All three retail for close to the same price. Thank you once again for your work and attention to detail....best regards, John
I have had this amp for about two months now. I have it paired with susvara's and a DCS Lina Dac, and it is absolutely phenomenal. It's like a separate event with each new track regardless of how many times I have heard the track before on other equipment. With regard to the cost, I completely agree that the price of materials used is completely irrelevant. It is very obvious that what you are paying for in equipment like this is the sound quality that it produces, and this stuff is so good that I consider it a privilege to have it in my home. It is truly on another level and for me worth every penny.
Hi Victor, I am interested in a dac at the Lina level/cost.. Can you share how you picked it over the competition like Molo Molo, Holo, Chord etc. TIA.
@Tom Walker HI Tom, The Lina dac has a richness to the sound that I have not heard in other dac's. I also like the synergy of the Lina with the Susvara's and the Enleum. The chord dac's are a bit too analytical for me in comparison to the Lina, but you may feel differently than I do depending on the music that you prefer. I listen to a lot of smooth jazz, blues, and R&B.
Ignoring the respective prices and just focusing on the sound quality, especially in light of how impressed you were with the Hifiman Prelude amp - are these two on a similar level or at least not too far apart or clearly in different leagues? Thanks
No, they're in very different leagues, I'm afraid. I still have the Prelude here because I do love it, but I never listen to it with the Enleum and Burson Voyager in house.
Nice so excited for the harbeth review the p3esr are fantastic in a desktop or nearfield environment. The mids are to die for in tone and texture. Something about female vocals on hartbeth that are mesmerizing. Album recommendation on them would be the cranberries “something else”.
I've got a friend and patron who owns the Riviera. Maybe I'll be able to borrow it... Thanks for suggesting the Cranberries for the Harbeths and I agree about their lovely mids
Thanks for the review as usual. By the way I've hated that bill of materials talk for years, people like to use it on things like phones, without mentioning things like the deals that might have been made between the buyer and supplier of parts to reach the final price, let alone considering the licencing involved for certain technologies involved, R&D and distribution deals.
Well said, Tai Dee! I'm always wary of products that don't perform to price, but if a designer can extract more performance from a lower cost, they deserve to make the profit. Imagine if artists were paid by the cost of their canvas and paint!?
Hey Lachlan. First of all. Terrific review. The best yet by far if I may say. 2nd. Can the BNC hook up to Chord DACS? Namely the Qutest? Thanks in advance. 😊
Glad you liked the review! Sadly, the Chord DACs only receive via BNC, they don't transmit/output. Also, the Enleum system is proprietary I believe (as is Chord's dual BNC)
Nice balanced review as usual, subscribed.. I have lusted after the Enleum for quite some time. Perhaps you should look at some more 'affordable' desktop one box amplifier solutions. I use a Burson Funk (class AB) Jay Lee version (has all the options included for the price) at work, and at home use an SMSL VMV A1 (class A' ish). To give a bit of context etc. the the end game Enlium.
Glad you liked it, Andrew and thanks for the sub! I've actually got a Funk coming very soon and will seek out other, similar products too. This one was an unexpected shift into the speaker territory, but one I'm glad to embrace.
The 23R is still slightly better IMO and obviously quite different, but the upgraded Soloist 2023 has definitely closed the gap a bit. The key difference with the 23R is that it provides greater separation and transparency than the Soloist - it feels like you're just a bit more connected to the music.
Wow! Watching you demonstrate how to disagree without being disagreeable with Golden was epic! I took notes. Well done. Questions: 1) Is the mid range good? One analyst said not, but possibly had a defective unit. I listen to a lot of vocals. 2) It runs very hot I understand. That concerns me. Do I need to keep the 23R on at all times? 3) I do not want to spend the money on the TT2 and waste the amp if I also buy the 23R. Can you recommend an alternative DAC? Is the TT2 with M-scaler so good that I should just go with them. PS: I will be using the 23R for speakers and headphones. TIA
Thanks Tom! Here are some answers: 1) if you compare the A23R to something likea Zaehl HM-1, the A23R doesn't have some of the upper midrange texture of the HM-1, but it's different rather than one being good and the other bad. I love the midrange quality from the A23R (I love everything about its sound) so I don't get why people say the mids are bad. Not to their personal tastes? Sure, but it's doing nothing wrong per se. 2) yes, it runs quite warm, but there's no need to leave it switched on 3) I'd probably look at the Gustard R26 as an alternative, particularly if you can run HQ Player into it. However, TT2 and M-Scaler really is that good and it also means you have two very different flavours of amp that you can use for different headphones/genres/moods should you want to.
@@PassionforSound Thanks Lachlan for your quick response. One follow on question, if I may. I use ZMF Atrium and and Verite CB headphones. Do they pair well with the A23R?
Yes, both pair nicely with the A23R. I personally prefer the LTA MZ3 with the ZMF cans, but the A23R is the better amp in many ways - I just like the slight smoothing of the top end from the MZ3
Long time no speak mate, glad you’re doing well 🐅 Must admit I wasn’t a fan, mid range killed it for me, but my goodness is the treble region, resolving, detailed and brilliant It’s very unique sounding overall some people absolutely love it The volume is most certainly an issue for me, specially, when it was by no means, gentle, or subtle, . Change in the unit from high to low gain was also an issue. Unfortunately, too, . I will say this, though I should not be justifying design, flaws at $6000 that bother me on a regular basis during the usage of the amplifier, 😁
Doing ok - thanks. Hope you are too! I don't get the midrange criticism. Which headphones are you testing with and what's reference point in terms of an amp you think is getting it "right"? To me, the AMP-23R is more natural through all frequencies than something like the Soloist GT and the SPL Phonitor XE (which gets closer), so even though the GT is extracting a little more detail in the upper mids, it's at the expense of sounding true to life IMO. Is it that lowered upper mid/presence emphasis that you're talking about? As for the pops/cracks, unless there's unit variance, I'm really not hearing the issue. I mean, I hear the sounds, but we're not talking Burson Soloist 3XP in power amp mode type pops here. Of course, if they could produce a sound as transparent and natural AND remove the pops, I'd take that every time, but that would mean messing with the signal path and reducing the extraordinary sense of transparency that I feel the AMP-23R is quite unique for.
@@PassionforSound the unit, Cameron reviewed, was with me first, it was sent via a generous viewer of the channel. Me and him both reviewed the same unit, the V2 variant, the majority of people I have seen who has graphs with both of our reviews. Incidentally, all seem to have v1 or v3. It’s possible highly possible it could have been a faulty unit, that’s why I stated in the review I will be trying to get another unit back in for assessment.. mid range was not only flat lacked dynamics. It was completely out of line with the bass and treble.. susvara utopia, LCD5 d8k pro elite, and a myriad of other headphones that were here at the time during the review process Also, the amplifier has a tendency to be highly problematic with DAC, synergy is a huge problem . All of this obviously pertains to the unit I reviewed And the conclusion I came to, was put up against the following and has reaffirmed my stance with all of the other units that have come in recently. Zahl hm1 holo bliss ferrum OOR Dave M scaler tt2 internal amplification for the latter to units It’s very sad, it was going to be my reference on my desk, but .. would still love to get the 13 and the V3 in for review if possible For me, personally I don’t lightly go on screen and make a statement because it’s not fair to the unit, the company or the product line It would have to be doing exactly what I state on screen, because what I say is basically the blueprint you know and people have to take that away with them and giving a vague response is not fair Anyways, I hope you’re well mate, hopefully we will chat soon, and jump on the Podcast together Right now Warwick Aperio is taking up a large majority of my time, bloody hell, what a system you need to go and have a listen if you haven’t already
That definitely sounds like there's an issue with that unit. I hope you get to try another one because the one I have here is the first amp I would choose exclusively over any other amp I've tried. I'm yet to try the Aperio because there hasn't been local distribution, but hopefully I can give it a try in the future. Thanks for providing the extra details about your AMP-23R review. I don't get much time to watch other people's reviews these days so I haven't seen yours and didn't know the context. Take care mate and best of luck with everything 🙂🙂
Yep. I decided to try pulling out a rung so I could bring the LTA MZ3 down a couple of steps. Actually works a treat! Or are you talking about the one with the red Phonitor XE on top? That's just the smaller version. 🙂
Hi Does this amp with susvara makes the treble a bit dark? I like the V shaped sound profile and i love the sound of the susvara but the vocals are too high sometimes fatiguing I like how hd800s handles vocals by throwing them away By the way am not powering the Susvara correctly am using HDV820 and i don't think it's doing it so am looking for TOTL Amp.
Great review, Thanks! Sacrificial headphones is a new concept and it is taking me a while to digest but I’m definitely not onboard with the clicks and pops. The remote does look very nice though.
I've got a few very old cans that aren't worth selling so those are my sacrificials for testing DIY tube amps, etc. The clicks and pops really are minor on the AMP-23R. I've had some devices in the past where I refuse to use them because of clicks/pops, but the AMP-23R doesn't even get close to that threshold.
Lachlan, commenting as an ex-racer 😂 even Ferrari themselves do not put their cars together well nor proper enough 😂😂😂 and with “less-than-ideal” parts too! 😂😂😂
@@PassionforSound just kidding about picking the Ferrari example, although it’s true of the car. Even their F1 race team has been having under-performing. I beat about 20 Ferraris in my last sprint race before retiring from racing, that was at the Singapore F1 pit straight, I was the champion and FTD (Fasters Time of the Day).
Hey Lachlan, just curious to know if you liked the sound of the Cen.Grand 9i-906 "Silver Fox" (Headphone amp), more than the Enleum 23r. If you did I might sell my enleum and try the silver fox amplifier.
They're both wonderful so it's hard to split them. The AMP-23R produces slightly more sense of space and depth compared to the Silver Fox, but the SF has better tonal balance and the top end is a touch more refined. I like having the four different inputs on the Silver Fox and the ability to tweak the sound with the different settings though so I'm leaning towards the Silver Fox as my preference even though I wouldn't say it's definitively better.
@@PassionforSound How did you feel it compared to the Denafrips Artemis? Actually interested in the sound signature you described in your review of the Artemis.
I've got the A23RM here now and it's very nice, but not quite on the same level as the full size amp I think (this is based on only very early impressions)
I have listened to both and I do find them very similar in music production flavor across the board. The Zahl takes the dub in nearly every category including power, bass, distortion, front control options etc, and As an insane person chasing that bleeding edge, it was not worth the 2.5k$ jump from my 23R to Zahl. I am running TT2-23R-DCA Expanse.
In your Roon screen caps, I noticed the green dot for "good" quality rather than "lossless". What's in your processing chain that is degrading the signal?
It definitely does some things better, but the Phonitor XE is probably more technically neutral. The Phonitor XE is another brilliant amp and I'll be reviewing it soon
I really would like to try this one. I was in the position of needing a speaker headphone combo for my desk setup, but I ended up going with the Cayin 300b Mk ii. It is another good option for an amp that does both. Much larger of course.
As I'm the owner of both Cayin HA-300 (Mk I) and Enelum Amp-23R I'd say that you already have a great amp. I at least enjoy HA-300 more then Enleum as an headphone amp. Bigger soundstage, lovely midrange (more textured then with 23R) and beautiful timbre (especially with R2R DAC like Holo Audio's ones). From the headphones that I have only Abyss 1266 like the Enleum more. With speakers I use 23R more but I'm not a big speaker fan. Nonetheless Cayin is good but it doesn't have as much power as Enleum. In the end HA-300 is more of an headphone amp with ability to drive sensitive speakers. Amp-23R is more of a speaker amp for a bit less sensitive speakers with the ability to drive headphones as good. Of course it has some other benefits - for desktop use it's way smaller and has a remote. So yeah, if you like more to be immerse with the music, to feel like you are in the same room with the musicians then Cayin, in my opinion, is better more musical/magical. At the beginning Enleum's midrange felt to me lifeless.
@@kamiltrocinski2163interesting I am actually contemplating wether to go for the cayin or the enlium to drive the Susvara. Since you own both from your experience which would you recommend?
@@dzemoski45 Well it’s hard to tell because I don’t have Susvaras. I know that many people really like them with Amp 23R. 1266 TC is also very good with this Amp. Cayin in theory was made with Susvaras in mind by it’s designers and still you can tune it by tubes. I have for a week now Holo Audio Bliss and already I like it more then Enleum - midrange, textures of instruments, hit of bass and timbre are better. It gave me a bit different perspective at 23R though. Still I think that HA-300 is better in many ways and feels like it combines both of them in a way. I need to make more comparisons though and wait to see how much it’ll change while burn in (it already feels less dense then it was).
@@kamiltrocinski2163 thank you for all the info, I’m scratching the enleum off my list, I will be attending NYC Canjam in March. So I will demo the cayin and also the feliks audio envy. I hope they will have the holo bliss I’m curious how that will sound with my susvara. Thanks again happy new year 🎆🎈🎊.
Excellent, very detailed review of a product I have been seriously considering for a second listening area. I really appreciate the amps you have chosen to compare - all interesting contenders for me. Thank you!
Very nice and thoughtful review, except you talk so fast I had to engage Closed Captioning and read along as you talked. No worries, I am a fast reader. :)
Did you find issues with Enleum+Elite synergy? I'm referring to what Michael from Director's Garage was pointing out to in his final Enleum episode ("Bakoon 13r Review --- Full Sound Check w/ Hifiman Susvara" 14:27).
Not at all. I haven't heard the Bakoon 13R so I don't know how similar they are. It's worth noting that the AMP-23R (and probably 13R) does not enhance any frequencies from a frequency response point of view (no decent solid state amp does). However, the character of every amp is a little different. I think what Michael is experiencing here is that the smoother overall sound of the 13R (assuming similarities with the 23R) is resulting in the treble being smoother and less aggressive. As a result, how we perceive the frequencies can change. In other words, the end result may well be as he describes (I'm not saying he's wrong), but it's worth clarifying that the changes are not due to the amp boosting bass or rolling off treble. It's also got nothing to do with power as more power does not mean more bass, especially with planars.
Oh, and I actually think the Elites (with Meze SPC cable) are my favourite headphone with the AMP-23R. Other factors like the DAC, interconnects, etc. can all influence this too.
@@PassionforSound Yeah, I shouldn't forget those are not the exact same and make a mental shortcut of their equivalence. I'm not sure about this no-enhancement. Too many people frame it as an amp on the warmer side, including long-term owners. I think it depends on the range of comparison options one has had experience with. But yes, for example note weight isn't the same as elevated bass. Actually I thought there's a high chance Caldera will overtake Elites as your favorite cans, considering it seems to be less polarizingly enjoyed and already Atrium was your #2. Btw. do you also own the new angled alcantara pads? Honestly it's them that made me very much like the Elites. With hybrids, I would probably pick my 78$ ISK HD9999 80% of the time.
Thanks for providing a different perspective. I generally love GoldenSound's content, but I found he was uncecessarily nitpicky about this unit in ways I did not agree. The bill of goods argument did not make sense to me. Its not like Enleum did a white label, copied a design and slapped their name on it like we see in lower end chief products.
An Enleum AMP-23R headphone amp is about 11k$ in Australia and that price I can not justify the amp, however can not deny the seduction and sound quality of this amp from Enleum.
The problem is you called it a "Headphone amp" when it can very well drive some pretty tough to drive speakers (e.g. KEF Ref 1 Meta) in smaller rooms, and also being a glorious headphone amp.
That's a good point, RG - the AMP-23R has been talked about more for headphones than for speakers, but it's equally amazing with both. No need to criticise midori for their choice of words though.
@@PassionforSound The combo was tried by SoundNews. Read his KEF Ref 1 Meta review; in the power section he pairs it with the Enleum and states just that. Also, if you read his Enleum amp23r review, he uses it with his own previous gen Kef Ref 3s and it drives them incredibly well. I have the Amp 23r and thinking of getting either the Ref 1 meta or Ref 3 meta myself. I suspect the power spec of the Amp23r is actually understated. I am sure the power reserve is at double the rated power, or something like that. EDIT: To add to that, I also suspect industry always overstate power requirements of speakers.
It's good to see another way more balanced review of this unit. I'm not in the market for one, and can't afford one but have been following the reviews and of previous iterations. I'm glad you have pointed out the parts cost vs the cost of the amp. One of my biggest pet pieves in audio right up their with folks that believe if it measures great it must sound great crowd. Folks don't honestly get how much time and $$$ is invested into coming up with something novel like this amp. Made by a small company with high quality parts over a long R&D process you have to find a way to recoup yoir investment and pay yoir employees. Perhaps folks that have ran a business would understand. I enjoy golden sounds work but I hesttaste to even call it a review. If I was reviewing such a amp I would definately be in communication with the company or the designer for their thoughts on their designs and choices. As you said, every product is built to certain compromises. Nothing is perfect and neither is this unit. It will come down to what product makes the best compromises that sounds best to you.
Very nice review that covers all the bases. Thanks. With regards to the parts to cost ratio: If I am getting comparable or even better performance from a $6000 amp that could be had from a $60,000 amp, then I am a happy audiophile. I have heard very expensive amps that cost even more whose sound I didn't like but I love the sound of my Enleum 23R. But of course that is my personal experience. Others may disagree. Michael Lavorgna in his Twtter Machine review of the 23R says this: "Imagine you have a job and you ask your boss for a raise who replies, 'It costs you next to nothing to be here so why are we paying you anything above your bus fare?' Go ahead and argue that your time, experience, and expertise has value and before you know it you’ve started reasoning out why it’s silly to use parts cost to gauge the value of hifi gear." So, if you're a high performing employee and you performance gives financial satisfaction to the company do you want to hear that you really aren't worth any more than other employees whose actual performance is less than yours simply because you are all putting in the same 8 hours every day?
Glad you liked it, Tom! I'm yet to spend extended time with the Feliks amps, but tubes always deliver a slightly different experience compared to a solid state (and current mode) design like the A23R so I expect both would have their merits (much like the MZ3 vs A23R). As for the M-Scaler question, no, the M-Scaler is all about getting the original signal more perfectly reconstructed in terms of transient timing. An amp can't influence this because it's after the DAC so each will contribute to sound in their own way.
@@PassionforSound when you reiterated the M-scaler objective is transient management it not only became crystal clear but also jogged my memory that I had heard it before in your casts. Thanks. In addition to the Chord chain I am investigating the T+A HA 200 dac/ amp alternative to a Chord/tube amp set up because of the pendency of quality tube source scarcity. The lead engineer for T+A said it was designed to emulate tubes specifically because of that. To date several retailers have reviewed it but only one respected and well followed audio analyst. He however, has reviewed only the dac but has declared it now his reference vs all the usual suspects. PS on another post I indicated that Rob Watts was working on another Dave for later this year. I saw that in an interview at Can Jam NYC. In retrospect I think he was talking about a new M-scaler for the Dave specifically and it will bring more warmth to the SQ. Separately I just saw another 1 hour interview where he said he is working on a money no object dac. This confirms what I think you expressed in response to my comment. I think he has been working on it for 3 years. From the numbers he was quoting it is way out of my league. Maybe it’s his legacy rather than a commercial initiative.
Yes, it's a DAVE-specific M-Scaler. I remember that now that you mention it. I'd love to try the T+A gear. I'll have to reach out to them again and see if I can get a review unit.
@@PassionforSound I will drop a comment in their promo casts that they should send one to you for your review as you have influence not only in the Continent down under but also here in the States, markets they want to penetrate.E.G. I think they just attended CamJam NYC.
Absolutely first class review! Great to hear a reviewer who has the b@#*s to actually listen with his ears and not follow the herd. Goldensound missed key elements of this amp in his review and misrepresented others, so it's great that you balanced the overall picture. I've had this amp for about 9 months and share your enthusiasm for it. As you noted, for an amp that combines a top of the line speaker amp and headphone amp duty in a compact and classy package, it actually represents reasonable value. It's a quirky amp for sure, but for specific use cases it's mighty impressive. I've been a tube guy for years, and this little amp has essentially replaced two tube amps in my set up....a line magnetic 518ia (speaker duty) and a DNA Stratus headphone amp. No mean feat! I run Tekton perfect set speakers (96 db efficiency) and the Enleum powers them with authority in a medium/large room. I don't think the Enleum is any way limited to near field if you have the right speakers. It has similar power to some of the first watt /pass labs amps.
Glad you liked the review, Stuart. That's a great point about using this in a larger room too if you have suitably efficient speakers. I totally get how it has replaced those two tube amps. It somehow blends the natural fluidity of tubes and the control and resolution of solid state.
I thought audiophiles loved pops and cracks, ain't that why vinyl is so popular? I think I could get over it provided the sound quality is on point but not sure I could justify that pricing for a headphone amp. Value is subjective however so no need to castigate people or companies. I'm sure there are many happy owners with no regrets. Just seems like overkill (drive) or underkill (detail) for A LOT OF MONEY. You could just mainline ZMFs on it though no? Lifetime warranty on the drivers mate 🤘, hakuna matata
Haha. It's not destroying anything so that's not a concern. Definitely only makes sense for those needing speaker and HP amp capabilities at that price, but it's amazing for an all-in-one, speaker/HP combo device (at the top end of things)
Hi Lachlan. Me again. Still searching. If you had one dac, one headphone and the Enleum 23 R what would the dac and headphone be considering jazz, classical, pop and rock genres.? TIA.
Wow. That's a tough one! DAC would be Gustard R26 or TT2 & M-Scaler if budget permits (or actually DAVE and M-Scaler ideally) For the headphone, I think I'd go for either the Elites or Calderas and that's a tough choice. Calderas are more tonally satisfying to me while the Elites do soundstage better. Both are amazing.
@@PassionforSound Using the R26 would you miss the M-Scaler upsampling? Also separately it looks like I will finally be able to demo gear as CanJam is coming to Dallas in November. LTA amps will be with Audeze and of course Chord will be there. I am hoping that T+A will be there so that I can suggest they send you a loaner of their headphone amp. A dealer here in the States said they are doing a very slow roll out in the US so are not very aggressive with marketing outside Europe. Also Zack has one but shipping costs to Australia are prohibitive. If they are there I am going to suggest in person, that they send you a loaner. Also I want to compare the sound of the HA 200 to the TT2. Also interested how the M-Scaler goes with the HA 200. Also thanks to you, I will be searching out the R26. And of course I will be checking out the Elite and Caldera. I hope it’s the Caldera for me as well since it would round out my ZMF collection and there is nobody better to deal with in the industry than Zach.
I would definitely miss the M-Scaler so software like HQPlayer is a good addition with the R26. Thanks for your support in trying to get T+A to send me an amp. I hope you can get all the auditions you need to help make some decisions - it's always tough!
@@PassionforSoundupdate, I have made reservations for CanJam Dallas and T+A WILL be there! Will give you feedback regarding my suggestion to send you a loaner.
Whilst it seems that GoldenSound made some valid points about issues that for some might be deal-breakers, I commend your courage to present the issue in a more balanced way which is not easy given the asking price of this device. However, you're making a valid point about the price of a product at this level of performance (whether it be an audio product or anything else) rarely (or perhaps never?) being in the neighbourhood of the sum of its components. The fact that GoldenSound attacked/criticised the product from this angle makes me think that he either genuinely seriously dislikes its sound or that some of the aforementioned issues annoyed him so much that he thought it necessary to teach the manufacturers a lesson, so to speak. Not that his criticism is unsubstantiated, as mentioned by you as well. What's interesting, though, is that - unless I've somehow missed it - you don't seem to be bothered by this amp's presentation of the midrange which has been criticised by more than one reviewer and which perhaps was the main criticism of this amp's performance in relation to its price tag.
When you say “more than one” reviewer you’re spot on. There was @GoldenSound and his mate @ConvinceMeAudio who, remarkably, pops up in the comments here to have another shot. So, yeah, exactly two reviewers found an issue which no-one else did.
I have zero issues with ANYTHING about the sound of this amp - it's glorious. When chatting to Convince Me Audio in his comment, he said that it's possible the unit he reviewed has a problem. That's the only explanation I can think of and it's the same unit that Golden Sound reviewed.
I really wanted to love the Enleum 23R but I didn’t experience similar when compared it to my LTA MZ3 HP amp…the Enleum was a bland contender in SQ (soundstage and imaging)…the Enleum was sterile (and lifeless) in contrast to the balanced musicality and detail that the MZ3 delivers without any hint of background noise (dead silent in operation). Like the MZ3 it requires highly efficient speakers if you want to use it as an amp…so I found both equal in performance in terms of the capacity to drive speakers which is odd given the Enleum has a much higher wattage rating. In my use case it was paired with Spendor Classics 4/5s which are 84db (less than ideal). However near field…sitting at my desk both amps sound similar with the LTA (again) sounding musical/dynamic over the Enleum by comparison. Footnote: The Hafler 75 HPA/DAC or (75 without the DAC)…is a great performer/value that’s rarely known…& unfortunately appears to be discontinued.
That's very curious that you heard these so differently. Did you try with speakers and headphones? (Not looking to make you wrong, just curious on which variables might be at play). I found with the Harbeths that I'm up to 80+ on the volume of the MZ3 which is a bit much for my comfort.
@@PassionforSound I paired the 23R with the Fostex TR-X00 Ebony & Audeze LCD-2C headphones…& the Spendor 4/5 Classics (monitors). I think it was simply a bad match with the Spendors. I also think the 23R performed best as a power amp without a pre amp in the signal chain. I preferred the soundstage of LTA MZ3 & the Hafler 75 DAC/HP amp above the 23R in terms of performance. The 23R was leaner by my perception. If I had not heard either the MZ3 or the Hafler 75 (headphone out) then I would say the sound quality of the 23R was good. I just didn’t find it to be remarkable. To each his own in this hobby.
I don't know the Spendors, but I think some of what you're hearing/not hearing is due to the headphones. Both of those are nice headphones, but neither will make the most of a pinnacle level amp like the A23R (or the MZ3 for that matter). There'll also be synergy and personal preferences at play so I'm not saying you're wrong about what you enjoy, just that the headphones will be hiding some of the peak performance.
@@PassionforSound Possibly…who knows? I can only speak from my experience…& I’m only noting/sharing it because I was surprised that the synergy wasn’t there with my use case given the rave reviews of the amp. And the HP output was nice but nothing stunning…or revelatory…which was odd to me…given the Hafler 75 and LTA MZ3 outperformed it when paired with the Fostex TR X00 and Audeze LCD2C…particularly given those HP amps aren’t sold at the price point of the Enleum 23R. I did find great synergy for a monitor speaker amp in the SPL 800 Performer and SPL DAC. I have Falcon’s 3/5a monitors…and the pairing with the SPL gear setup is superb (remarkable). Best I’ve heard. So…broad range of experiences in some cases…and similar outcomes in others…as there are hits and misses in this hobby…& synergy is paramount. Enjoy the music!
Professional review. Well done. But I wouldn't say the DC issue is a minor thing. We change volume ALL the time listening to music. Who wants to pay north of 6k to have this amp ruin what should be a pleasant listening session from start to finish. If the issue is inherent in the design, then the design is not fit for purpose. For most. I realize that there are masochists out there... :)
A short, low spike of DC isn't much different from an impulse in music, Rhino. As I said, I've heard far "worse" in music tracks and there's a solid engineering explanation for why it's there. It doesn't mean that everyone has to like it, but saying it's not fit for purpose is extreme and untrue - it's just not to your tastes and that's fine.
@@PassionforSound Thanks for the response. I do think you're missing my point. The sound could be the most beautiful, pleasant bit of female vocals that I enjoy. But I still wouldn't want to hear it 3 times in my currently playing track as I do my usual volume adjustments. As an audiophile I seek a "pure" sound experience that can immerse me in the feeling of the music. We pay a lot to try to avoid external polutants. This amp brings them in every time the volume dial is adjusted. A no go for many.
There's no doubt a very specific type of person (like me) who will find value in the Enleum, but it's an amazing amp without a doubt. I expect the older Bakoon AMP-13R to also sound wonderful
@@PassionforSound my assumption is you used Chord TT2 connected to 23R and Soloist GT, the over analytical of GT you mentioned maybe you can switch to a good R2R dac to tone the GT down a bit?
High noise high distortion amplifier. Sounds exactly like that, muddy cluttered (audiophiles call it full bodied... yeah right) DC @ the output is just a joke. Avoid this if you value hi-fi sound. ps. you also said "it has to perform" - haha exactly unfortunately this amplifier does not perform not at all.
I've heard this amp next to a Holo Bliss and Burson GT and prefer the 23R. I wish it was priced like the others that I mentioned but such is life. Maybe Enleum will release an updated model that fine tunes the volume adjustment. It felt wonky to me but I think I'd get used to it.
Negative feedback is not a bad thing. In fact it is a very good thing and there should be lots of it. A good amp design becomes only better with the addition of NF. It is amps that are not well designed which require high negative feedback just to sound and measure tolerably that are to blame for this misconception; plus marketing people and irresponsible designers who are taking advantage of this and market low feedback or, worse, no feedback as in this case, as a good thing and a thing to shop for. Please do not argue with me about it, argue with Bruno Putzeys who has even published a scientific paper about this, trying, in vain, to destroy this myth.
No-one needs to argue with you despite the breathtaking arrogance. Papers can tell us loads. Ultimately though our ears make the decision. You don’t need to choose the side of for negative feedback or against. You will hear good and bad examples of both. This is clearly a good implementation and no paper is going to refute what people hear.
@@PassionforSound I would suggest for you to refrain from technical descriptions or references, since you clearly do not understand what you are talking about as you readily admit, and limit yourself to your subjective impressions which we can appreciate for what they're worth. You can’t have your pudding and eat it meaning you should not try to give credence to your subjective impressions by technical references you do not have a grasp for.
@@mikehughescq Lol I'm not sure who is arrogant here. I am just quoting a famous current and well respected designer. Hence, I would suggest you are. You think you are clever but you did not get the sense of my post at all. I don't care at all whether you or the reviewer like this amp or not. Your opinion is worth as much as contrarian ones, some of which are by internet reviewers. Liking something does NOT mean it is a good implementation. That is why YOU are arrogant thinking that just liking something makes it a good implementation. But all that was not the point of my comment, my point is attributing one's likes to technical considerations one has no clue about, but again you are too arrogant and simple minded to get it. This amp exhibits considerable distortions whether you like its sound attributes or not, not getting this just exhibits your total ignorance.
@@PassionforSound Just a quote from above referenced Putzeys' paper. You can find the complete paper by looking for 'Putzeys The f-word or why there's no such thing as too much feedback': The effect on the audio trade has been profound. Not only did negative feedback become the ob- ject of suspicion and ridicule, so did really good measured performance because good numbers were tainted by association with “large amounts of feedback”. If you had to use so much feedback to get those numbers, it couldn’t be good. Measurement reports became superfluous, opening the floodgates to claims of sonic excellence that had no support in physics whatsoever. The whole high-end trade standardized on making amplifiers with low amounts of loop gain and hence significant distortion. Of course, these amps all have a “character” of their own, adding an- other layer to the relativism by making any amplifier that sounded different from others worthy of consideration. Some designers became world famous because they managed, more by trial and error than by forethought, to make amplifiers that, in spite of having little or no error control and distortion levels in the 0.1% - 1% range, did not colour the sound excessively. The painstaking sculpting of the distortion spectrum of an amp by mixing and matching different makes of active devices and load conditions became a Zen-like activity that guaranteed guruship. Furthermore with low or no loop gain came bad power supply ripple rejection: it became a mark of competence to overdesign the power supply, even regulating it, and to mix and match esoteric sup- ply capacitors to mitigate their impact on sound. Having to contend with the ones that are actually in the signal path isn’t enough for some. Designers who should know better pay lip service to the ideal of fast amps with moderate feedback, or “local feedback only”. The avoidance of feedback, specifically global feedback, also meant that longer signal chains quickly accumulated distortion products. A relentless drive for minimalist design ensued. If everything one adds to the signal path detracts from the result, only the smallest number of components will do. This resulted in the ludicrous situation where fantastic sounding recordings were made with signal chains numbering up to a hundred amplifying stages and replayed on audiophile systems where even a transparent buffer proved an impossibility. Hi-fi review is a complete shambles. The few magazines that do measure are capable of reprint- ing the most frightening distortion spectra from amplifiers and actually call them good. “Objectiv- ity” got downgraded from “independent of who’s doing the observing” to “not favouring particular brands”. For me personally the affair hit rock bottom when in 2009 two reviewers, one Dutch, one British, independently remarked of the same amplifier (a reasonably priced product with exemplary performance) that it sounded surprisingly musical for an amp with such low distortion. In the 21st century audio engineers build equipment while actively avoiding two of the most powerful tools available to the whole of science and engineering: measurement and error control. The damage to the audio industry and its reputation in the wider engineering world will remain immeasurable until we decide to take control.
