Hi guys.
Well, truth be told, here's my experience - please note I'm not much of a number guy, I just do and don't consider numbers at the same time so I'm very neutral and indifferent about how things show on paper. I still account for it in my decision making, but I don't want to be myopic about it.
The following is my personal experience - it is exactly, and very clearly what I heard. I'm mostly and EDM listener so consider that I would have tried pretty much across the whole frequency range when testing the Emotiva BasX-A100.
I have the BasX A100. I also have an ifi micro DSD (the non-black one).
Yes, I got it after zeo's raving video. I installed the jumpers too. Yes, I got it in November of 2017, and it was a new purchase, around $230ish I believe.
Funny as it is - and I've used the 6XX and my EMU Teaks and then one odd more cans to compare, just some light comparisons.
At some mid level volume matching, the ifi was much more dead (in the noise-floor department), yet it had more bass dynamics and punch - MORE than the unleashed 50watts a channel monster.
Now don't get me wrong - the emotiva is a fantastic build, feels just underpriced (for the quality and the components used). But given any chance to opt for this or the ifi to be used solely as a headphone amp, I think I would take the ifi.
Yes, the placebo does make you want to use the emotiva - you look at a big arse dial lit up, you can see a big CHUNK of metal where your cans' wire is running into - you pat yourself on the back that you grabbed this monstrosity while it was still the big new thug and the talk of the town, and u know you're controlling a class A nuclear warhead that's sitting right there on your desk when you delicately and fearfully turn that big round knob up, one little pinch at a time - but it's mostly in the mind.
The ifi is simply the better amp. In every way. Such a small footprint in comparison, yet a more COMMANDING sound and control. Mind you, this thing is also bonkers when in turbo mode - and I think it wasn't even turbo but normal mode that I compared the two in.
I will be back with my amps in a few days. I will also be able to compare this with my SMSL SH-9 and have a wider shootout. I will make another post after I have done some more comparisons and tests. But I still stand by my current thoughts and opinions.
But I'm just saying - for purely headphone amps, you can do much, MUCH better, if that is your focus. Even the ifi - even the black labels, aren't the final word in amps anymore. There's prob $150 headphone amps which would be way, WAY cleaner now. There's so much more amps out there now (putting the ifi to shame too) in the standards that they are available today.
I would now be using this primarily with some speakers TBH and just plug in cans on rare occasions for the fun of it. Of course, the BasX ownership alone gives you some bragging rights. You have (on paper), a SpaceX rocket on your hands that you call a headphone amp. I want to feel good about it. I tell myself that. But I also have to be honest with what I'm actually hearing - cuz that's where the buck really stops, doesn't it.
I could probably recommend the emotiva for speakers - and as a dual speaker/headphone amp ONLY if your budget is so tight that you need to kill two birds with one stone.
For everyone else, consider this a speaker amp - and consider your options there too. Headphone amp only? You can do much better.
