I have never heard something as strong, transparent, detailed & clean. A solid state that can also drive Susvara with no problems, together with speakers or pretty much anything else. Really a piece of art!👍
I have about 5 hours of listening on my new 23R. I have a Chord TT2/mScaler as the dac. I use Roon. I am also deaf so I need lots of power. I’ve listened to about 20 different amps in the past few years. I can sum up my brief experience with the 23R in a few words: powerful, musical, unbelievable imaging, incredible detail, build quality a few notches above Chord stuff. I was taken to the hospital for observation 2 days ago as my wife had to call for an ambulance. I was having an uncontrollable orgasm while listening on a pair of Susvaras to the 23R. I’m better now. Thanks! P.S. On my Susvara I was listening via TT2 in amp mode cranked to +4 fed to a Burson Soloist GT cranked up to 80% of capacity. TT2 is now in dac mode only plugged into 223R. Max volume for me is at 11 o’clock with about 60% left for headroom. The 23R power produces effortless music.
Glad to see this company finally get some publicity and love. Been using the Susvara's with the older version of Enleum (Bakoon Amp-13R). I'm sure the Enleum has made some sonic improvements, but even the Amp-13R are a killer desktop speaker amp and HPA combo. I actually prefer the aesthetics of the 13R more than the new design. It is so sleek and has gorgeous integration of the heatsink feet to house the transformer.
Hey sandu great review as always. BTW when you were testing susvara on this did you connect it using the quarter inch jack or the rear speaker terminals?
Hey mate, it doesn't really matter as the 6.35mm jack is connected directly to its speakers terminals internally. It's 100% the same power output via headphones or speakers and for this reason alone I've used its 6.35mm jack. Hope this helps
Great review, still heard to believe 25W can achieve so much - does it overall outperform the Benchmark AHB2? By the way I have a hot tip for a just released amp: T+A A 200 (125W with Purifi Eigentakt modules).
I was very surprised by its "driveability" and dynamics. I even thought of replacing my two AHB2 with a single AMP-23R. Clearly tot all watts are made the same, as 23R felt more powerful and dynamic versus a single Topping LA90 (which on paper is way more powerful). I will have a look at the T+A unit, thanks for the tip, mate!
Hi mate...simply put 23R is the Absolute Best solid-state headphone or loudspeaker amplifier I've tried with Susvara. I find it as fun as S300, but clearer, more transparent and by a little less grainy sounding in the treble. PS: I would never call S300 "grainy" sounding on its own, but it's that way versus the AMP-23R.
Hey Sandu. You've reviewed V1 of the AMP-23R, you should try V2. According to Soo In: "There are only two versions and you can tell by the speaker connectors. The first production lot with the Cardas speakers were sold out too soon than we initially expected, and there were certain components that were no longer available or required a thousand minimum order quantity. We’ve decided to update/upgrade from the second production that it will get 50% increase in power supply reserve, more optimized/faster input buffer design and better components (WBT connectors and Mundorf wirings). Compared to the first production unit, we and everyone we trust with good ears all prefer the second/current production version." I assume software updates were also addressed and V2 came with the new remote control which is built like a tank as well as the vibration isolation stands as standard issue. There was a proportional price hike from V1 to V2. Although both sound magnificent, V2 would have better results.
Nope.. mass Kobo 394 and 406S along with Oji BDI-DC44B G-Tuned would be there as well. Niimbus uS5+ , wells headtrip 2, and luxman p750 would be up there to.
At the recent 2022 SoCal (Southern California) CAN JAM (which I didn't attend, but I would've liked to, though), most of the attendees picked the AMPSANDSOUND "NAUTILUS" TUBE HEADPHONE AMPLIFIER ($9,200) and the ZAHL HMI REFERENCE DESKTOP HEADPHONE AMPLIFIER (SOLID STATE) ($7,999), as BEST SOUNDING AT SHOW. ------- INTERVIEWS OF SoCaL ATTENDEES on TH-cam videos.
I want it. This amp with some good high efficiency speakers will give you a world class setup, from what I’ve read. They should have named it “ The Ultimate Nullifier” due to its small size:) You have to look that up to know what I mean
Interesting. Before I got the Susvara I had both Amp-23r and Hypsos+Oor for my Diana TC and Meze Empyrean. The Ferrum stack won handily with transparency, depth and width, and bass performance. Enleum was very midrange oriented, slightly rolled off in the treble, somewhat narrow, and lacking the last bit of detail, especially on high res/DSD sources. Great tone color, density, and harmonics, though. Curious if Susvara would change the equation, but my sense was if you have a good DAC, and don't need to add tone color and density, the Ferrum is better in most categories. Enleum sounds more like the electronics rather than the source, even if it is a pleasant/expensive coloration. It doesn't scale to the best DACs and sources resolution in terms of detail and sourcestage, but it will make CD quality sources sound more colorful and musical and works really good for vocal and midrange oriented music.
Yeah, I was scratching my head at this review as well. I have never heard of anyone claiming that the 23R had better bass than two AHB2's, much less the OOR.
It most definitely scales with the source. I can run my Mojo 2 through it, and it sounds just as resolute as the Mojo 2 HP out direct but with added slam & dynamics, control, an overall better presentation. I can then run the Tambaqui through it, and sounds spectacular, a big step up from Mojo 2, bringing out the best of what the unit has to offer and is much better than the HP out of the Tambaqui. Maybe you trialled the AMP23R V1 (which Sandu has in this review); V2 comes with some significant updates. What the AMP 23R can also do, is run my KEF speakers, which the OOR cannot.
Hi John, no yet, should I? Do you find them as "liquid and organic" sounding? There is something about current mode amplifiers that makes them sound that way.
Reading threw the comments I find the complaints comical as usual non of them ever have listened or even attempted to make any arrangements to do so 🤡,….I have the Susvaras and will check out this 23r with them currently I have on dealer loan a WarWick Bravura headphone system consisting of all in one dac , amplifier and headphone . Sandu this $6500 electrostatic system from England is something I most definitely recommend you give a listen too.
I hear it’s a fanatic amp yet I hear the Riviera AIC-10 is far far better than this one but big $$$. Trafomatic Primavera, Viva egoists 845, woo WA33, and the Aries cerat hp amp are generally considered the best of best.
@@nir8924 You could purchase with a payment plan. But you don't have to buy it... or even consider buying it. _Curiosity_ should be enough to at least watch the insightful video.
No need to be negative gents there is a product out there at every budget level. Sandu reviews the most expensive all the way down to low budget. Each product serves a need to their customer and no need to be derogatory to the other.
@@pierregauvin1183 so in which respect? I haven't seen measurementss for the Enleum, but theTopping LA 90 is one of the best measuring amps out there, so I highly doubt the Enleum would surpass it in either measurements or sound.
I have never heard something as strong, transparent, detailed & clean. A solid state that can also drive Susvara with no problems, together with speakers or pretty much anything else. Really a piece of art!👍
strong doesnt mean quality sound
@@Abraxus34 But transparent, detailed & clean does.
I have about 5 hours of listening on my new 23R. I have a Chord TT2/mScaler as the dac. I use Roon. I am also deaf so I need lots of power. I’ve listened to about 20 different amps in the past few years. I can sum up my brief experience with the 23R in a few words: powerful, musical, unbelievable imaging, incredible detail, build quality a few notches above Chord stuff. I was taken to the hospital for observation 2 days ago as my wife had to call for an ambulance. I was having an uncontrollable orgasm while listening on a pair of Susvaras to the 23R. I’m better now. Thanks!
P.S. On my Susvara I was listening via TT2 in amp mode cranked to +4 fed to a Burson Soloist GT cranked up to 80% of capacity. TT2 is now in dac mode only plugged into 223R. Max volume for me is at 11 o’clock with about 60% left for headroom. The 23R power produces effortless music.
😂
Glad to see this company finally get some publicity and love. Been using the Susvara's with the older version of Enleum (Bakoon Amp-13R). I'm sure the Enleum has made some sonic improvements, but even the Amp-13R are a killer desktop speaker amp and HPA combo. I actually prefer the aesthetics of the 13R more than the new design. It is so sleek and has gorgeous integration of the heatsink feet to house the transformer.
Hey sandu great review as always. BTW when you were testing susvara on this did you connect it using the quarter inch jack or the rear speaker terminals?
Hey mate, it doesn't really matter as the 6.35mm jack is connected directly to its speakers terminals internally. It's 100% the same power output via headphones or speakers and for this reason alone I've used its 6.35mm jack. Hope this helps
Hi great video, I was just wondering about damping factor this amplifier has ? Can’t find it anywhere.thanks
Honest question would you choose the 23r or The HP4A and AHB2 combo for both headphones and speakers. Thanks
I would chose the AMP-23R alone, that double-triode like sound is hard to forget.
@@Soundnews thank you.
Great review, still heard to believe 25W can achieve so much - does it overall outperform the Benchmark AHB2? By the way I have a hot tip for a just released amp: T+A A 200 (125W with Purifi Eigentakt modules).
I was very surprised by its "driveability" and dynamics. I even thought of replacing my two AHB2 with a single AMP-23R. Clearly tot all watts are made the same, as 23R felt more powerful and dynamic versus a single Topping LA90 (which on paper is way more powerful). I will have a look at the T+A unit, thanks for the tip, mate!
Awesome review as usual!!! How does the 23-R stack up to the Keces S300 with the Susvara??
Hi mate...simply put 23R is the Absolute Best solid-state headphone or loudspeaker amplifier I've tried with Susvara. I find it as fun as S300, but clearer, more transparent and by a little less grainy sounding in the treble. PS: I would never call S300 "grainy" sounding on its own, but it's that way versus the AMP-23R.
Hey Sandu. You've reviewed V1 of the AMP-23R, you should try V2.
According to Soo In:
"There are only two versions and you can tell by the speaker connectors. The first production lot with the Cardas speakers were sold out too soon than we initially expected, and there were certain components that were no longer available or required a thousand minimum order quantity. We’ve decided to update/upgrade from the second production that it will get 50% increase in power supply reserve, more optimized/faster input buffer design and better components (WBT connectors and Mundorf wirings). Compared to the first production unit, we and everyone we trust with good ears all prefer the second/current production version."
I assume software updates were also addressed and V2 came with the new remote control which is built like a tank as well as the vibration isolation stands as standard issue.
There was a proportional price hike from V1 to V2. Although both sound magnificent, V2 would have better results.
Great, great review 👌👍! Can you recommend this amp with the new KEF Reference 1? Best regard from the Netherlands.
So basically the best solid state headphone amp out there. Interesting.
Pretty much...YES! I never heard the Lcd-4 as clean, transparent and effortless. Amazing!
Nope.. mass Kobo 394 and 406S along with Oji BDI-DC44B G-Tuned would be there as well. Niimbus uS5+ , wells headtrip 2, and luxman p750 would be up there to.
@@aceofspades6667 Those look kinda hard to get your hands on. Mass Kobo seems to be on order only. Have you had a chance to listen them?
I dont think it is necessarily the best. It narrowly beat my Formula S+ Powerman, but I sold it for the more transparent and resolving Ferrum stack.
At the recent 2022 SoCal (Southern California) CAN JAM (which I didn't attend, but I would've liked to, though), most of the attendees picked the AMPSANDSOUND "NAUTILUS" TUBE HEADPHONE AMPLIFIER ($9,200) and the ZAHL HMI REFERENCE DESKTOP HEADPHONE AMPLIFIER (SOLID STATE) ($7,999), as BEST SOUNDING AT SHOW. ------- INTERVIEWS OF SoCaL ATTENDEES on TH-cam videos.
In a performance view, how do yo compare this with keces S300? Thanks.
I want it. This amp with some good high efficiency speakers will give you a world class setup, from what I’ve read. They should have named it “ The Ultimate Nullifier” due to its small size:)
You have to look that up to know what I mean
Interesting. Before I got the Susvara I had both Amp-23r and Hypsos+Oor for my Diana TC and Meze Empyrean. The Ferrum stack won handily with transparency, depth and width, and bass performance. Enleum was very midrange oriented, slightly rolled off in the treble, somewhat narrow, and lacking the last bit of detail, especially on high res/DSD sources. Great tone color, density, and harmonics, though.
Curious if Susvara would change the equation, but my sense was if you have a good DAC, and don't need to add tone color and density, the Ferrum is better in most categories. Enleum sounds more like the electronics rather than the source, even if it is a pleasant/expensive coloration. It doesn't scale to the best DACs and sources resolution in terms of detail and sourcestage, but it will make CD quality sources sound more colorful and musical and works really good for vocal and midrange oriented music.
Yeah, I was scratching my head at this review as well. I have never heard of anyone claiming that the 23R had better bass than two AHB2's, much less the OOR.
Wow intersting. Im interested in ferrum but I hear alot of early issues with the stack
@@soisaid9004FWIW, I haven't had any issues with mine.
It most definitely scales with the source. I can run my Mojo 2 through it, and it sounds just as resolute as the Mojo 2 HP out direct but with added slam & dynamics, control, an overall better presentation. I can then run the Tambaqui through it, and sounds spectacular, a big step up from Mojo 2, bringing out the best of what the unit has to offer and is much better than the HP out of the Tambaqui. Maybe you trialled the AMP23R V1 (which Sandu has in this review); V2 comes with some significant updates. What the AMP 23R can also do, is run my KEF speakers, which the OOR cannot.
How does this compare to the oor+hypnosis?
The 23R adds a touch of warmth. Mostly neutral but not as clinical as my TT2 or my Burson Soloist GT.
what is your current benchmark dac? also, have you ever reviewed the Primavera? I completely missed that video if so
Pass labs, can you compare it,thanks
Have you reviewed a Damion amplifier with a sati circuit?
Hi John, no yet, should I? Do you find them as "liquid and organic" sounding? There is something about current mode amplifiers that makes them sound that way.
Reading threw the comments I find the complaints comical as usual non of them ever have listened or even attempted to make any arrangements to do so 🤡,….I have the Susvaras and will check out this 23r with them currently I have on dealer loan a WarWick Bravura headphone system consisting of all in one dac , amplifier and headphone .
Sandu this $6500 electrostatic system from England is something I most definitely recommend you give a listen too.
I hear it’s a fanatic amp yet I hear the Riviera AIC-10 is far far better than this one but big $$$. Trafomatic Primavera, Viva egoists 845, woo WA33, and the Aries cerat hp amp are generally considered the best of best.
when you got more money than objective judgement
once you said 6000 dollares I stopped watching your review....
Aspire to greatness!
@@mattrismatt before aspiring to this greatness I have to aspire to learn how to live without food for year or two 😂
@@nir8924 You could purchase with a payment plan. But you don't have to buy it... or even consider buying it. _Curiosity_ should be enough to at least watch the insightful video.
No need to be negative gents there is a product out there at every budget level. Sandu reviews the most expensive all the way down to low budget. Each product serves a need to their customer and no need to be derogatory to the other.
@@aceofspades6667 So for this is rich customer ?
Toppings $800 LA 90 beats it easily.
no it does not..i have both
@@pierregauvin1183 so in which respect? I haven't seen measurementss for the Enleum, but theTopping LA 90 is one of the best measuring amps out there, so I highly doubt the Enleum would surpass it in either measurements or sound.