Comments on: Impressions: The Ayon Audio HA-3 SET Headphone Amplifier and the Focal Utopia Headphones

By: Robinson's Positive Feedback Brutus Awards for 2018, Part the SecondPositive Feedback Brutus Awards 2018Robinson's Positive Feedback Brutus Awards for 2018, Part the Second - Positive Feedback

Fri, 21 Dec 2018 08:44:03 +0000

[…] SET headphone amplifier and the Focal Utopia headphones, reviewed elsewhere in Issue 100, over HERE. Read that for my more detailed […]

By: Rushton

Rushton — Tue, 04 Dec 2018 14:48:00 +0000

In reply to David W. Robinson. Yes, this is excellent news, David. I could find no mention of these plans at their website. So, once again, you are a font of very useful information!

By: David W. Robinson

David W. Robinson — Mon, 03 Dec 2018 23:56:00 +0000

In reply to Rushton. Hi Rush...good to hear from you again. Yes, synergy is such a vital element that I work hard to find combinations that shine. It's as important with headphones and headphone amps as it is with separate components and loudspeakers in a listening room. I'm glad that my comments were helpful for you. I'm surprised to hear that 2L had the plug on its online store pulled by its aggregator. I see that they plan to have their own online store system going in early 2019...I guess that we can wait a few months for them to sort this out. I don't think that Morten Lindberg and 2L have really gotten too much behind downloadable DXD/DSD. Their distribution has mainly been DXD on Blu Ray discs, and Single DSD on SACD, which is the only resolution that SACD supports, of course. I'd like to see more DXD taken to Quad DSD by 2L, but Morten is pretty evangelical about DXD. I love their recordings, though, and so am willing to be pleased, regardless. It is a hopeful sign that they are seeking to have their own download store in early 2019. We'll wait and see what comes of it, eh?

By: David W. Robinson

David W. Robinson — Mon, 03 Dec 2018 23:44:00 +0000

In reply to Adamn. I can't say, amigo, since I've never heard the Cayin HA-300. Makes comparisons difficult, eh? ;-)

By: Adamn

Adamn — Mon, 03 Dec 2018 03:22:00 +0000

So, the question is now, which sound better?
The Ayon Audio HA-3 SET Headphone Amplifier (44lb) or chinese made
Cayin HA-300 Headphone Amplifier (64lb) Price is roughly the same.

By: Rushton

Rushton — Fri, 30 Nov 2018 06:24:00 +0000

Another excellent review, David. I'm glad to see you matching components and then assessing the combination. Synergy is such a critical factor when seeking excellence in playback. Thank you! On another topic, the review references 2L's SACD of the Grieg Piano Concerto. I went to look for a high resolution download of this recording at the 2L website and find that they no longer have a store for downloads. And I cannot find anyone offering their DXD or QuadDSD releases that were available from their own store. I can find the 24-192 download of the Grieg at highresaudio.com (presumably a higher resolution file for this recording is not available given its 2008/9 recording date). But in looking for other albums by 2L, their DXD or DSD256 offerings are not available. Does anyone know of an outlet where these higher resolution files are still available from 2L's catalog?