westyjeff
Active Member
Purchased Matrix Audio Element X
Already had RME ADI2 DAC
Already had Crown 2502
Sold Airist R2R
Already had RME ADI2 DAC
Already had Crown 2502
Sold Airist R2R
Similar - Benchmark amp would be something to consider based on the review.
Yes, the price is the only thing that's prevented me from getting one. I'm keeping an eye on the Class D Hypex and Purifi-based amps.
Those look interesting too, but also pricey. I can get good sound out of class D now for pennies on the dollar. If and when I upgrade, will be targetting the best measuring amp out there that is unique. Benchmark looks that way - low power class AB (?) that measures better than anything around. Might be worth saving your pennies for it the long run. Hypex and Purefi seem like flybys to me, what's next in class D.
Yes, I agree with you to a large degree - one of the reasons I haven't made a purchase yet is that I'm still not completely certain that it's not worth saving up and just getting the Benchmark. Being fortunate enough to be able to afford a high-quality power amp, $2k vs $3k isn't necessarily a huge issue if one plans on keeping the amp for 10-20 years.
Still, I have no problem with the Class D designs and while the current Hypex and Purifi designs will no doubt advance and get superseded (as some Hypex ones already have), that's not my concern. My concern is that most of @amirm 's measurements seem to show that pre-assembled Hypex and Purifi-based amps seem to fall short in perhaps small but still notable ways from the best DIY units and/or from the Hypex or Purifi spec. The idea of spending $1000 or $1500 or $2000 on a Hypex or Purifi-based amp that has, for example, signal wires running right over the power supply, or a poorly cooled power supply, or sticky-tape wire hold-downs, or an asymmetrical layout for the two channels, is not appealing.
Topping D30 (sold it), Khadas Tone Board and XtremPro X1. Very pleased with the KTB and X1.
Curious to what degree people use ASR reviews and feedback from the ASR community before buying gear.
For me personally I picked up a JDS Atom, a Topping D30 and a MOTU audio interface based on reviews. The newly reviewed Revel speakers look tempting as well, of course I have no need for them whatsoever.
Fiio K5 Pro. Very happy with purchase. I don't trust audio review sites that describe the sound by subjective impressions. For example, describing a DAC that happens to have a Sabre chip as cold and clinical. I call BULLSHIT.