Isabellina HPA LFP-V Edition...
This thing sounds way too good to not put a shout out to Vinnie!
Maybe 30 hours plus. Last night I ran it as a headphone amp with AKG 701s. Best I’ve heard from these phones, but still no match for the Omega Alnico single drivers in my dedicated listening room (nor should they be with a street price of $250). Impressions posted here:
http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/437559/isabellina-hpa-owner-s-thread-and-impressions/285Tonight it was on to the 2ch room, this time as USB DAC with fixed outputs. Stock JJ traded out for 1965 USN-CEP (military grade) Amperex 7308. One round A/B with Wavelength Cosecant V3 Numerator 24/96 DAC, Holland made Amperex under Zenith label, further details unknown. Macbook via USB. Nearfield listening in nicely treated dedicated music room.
If you don’t know the Wavelengh V3 with this chip, it’s a hi-res USB DAC. Retail $3,500. Not too long ago (don’t know year for sure) it came in as Stereophile Class A (great review, too). Excellent review in 6Moons too.
What I hear
The HPA (as a DAC) is the best sound I’ve ever heard from my system. The sonic upgrade is obvious enough that it hit me from the first song.
Comparing the two DACs, the sound in so many ways is very similar. Both have tons of very good attributes. But honestly the HPA has a sense of ease that I just don’t get from the WL.
Oh, anyone interested in a great deal on a Stereophile Class A DAC?
