Crispy
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Madrigal music is playing - Voices can faintly be heard, "Please leave this patient undisturbed."
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Post by Crispy on Sept 24, 2015 15:28:10 GMT
Hi Chris  All is fine, Polaris was delivered and the package was in good conditions. I will compare it with my Ember soon, just waiting to have some spare time to play with  Hi Nicola, just wondering how you were getting on with comparing the Ember & Polaris? |
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Post by jhelms on Sept 28, 2015 14:15:31 GMT
Jeremy is planning to make an 'add-on' in G1217 style that can take Kameleon modules. It is fed from Garage 1217 amps and simply goes between the source and amplifier. Knowing Jeremy it may take another year before he even starts on it. Have been thinking about designing it myself but in a Kameleon enclosure. Working as fast as quality and time allows Sorry I have not been that active on the forum - things have been hectic at work, 2nd work and with family. Also pumped out several goodies that I was working on like the B&K stuff, adapters and so forth. Still pushing hard and have just two priorities to get out at the moment, the filter setup being a TOP priority. So in short, HELLO FRIENDS! I am here! |
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Post by tunkejazz on Oct 31, 2015 19:41:18 GMT
Got Fran's Polaris from Nicola on Monday. I have been listening to it the whole week, right next to my Ember.
I am not going to go into non-sense wording, but this is the FIRST SS headphone amp that I listen that does not have any hardness in the upper mids (I am very sensitive to that). Sounds remarkable with my HE400i :-)
My first impressions in short:
Ember (with a Reflektor 6N23P SW '74): more bass quantity slightly less subbass definition (not meaning that it is lacking!). Better 3D feeling, I guess tubes do that. I prefer the mids in the Ember.
Polaris: very quiet background, great sub-bass definition, noticeably flatter frequency response. A lot of fun for a SS amp :-)
It may sound as if I prefer the Ember, but actually I am not sure!
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Oct 31, 2015 19:54:30 GMT
I can't choose between them either. The Ember is a great deal of fun but the Polaris seems more sensible in the way that the frequency response seems slightly calmer and flatter sounding with a flavour of tubes added for good measure. It's a good match with the HD 650, but then again so is the Ember.
I tend to use the Polaris more often though. I'm not exactly sure why but I naturally tend to go for that sound more so than the Ember I think.
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Crispy
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Madrigal music is playing - Voices can faintly be heard, "Please leave this patient undisturbed."
Posts: 779
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Post by Crispy on Oct 31, 2015 20:21:28 GMT
I can't choose between them either. The Ember is a great deal of fun but the Polaris seems more sensible in the way that the frequency response seems slightly calmer and flatter sounding with a flavour of tubes added for good measure. It's a good match with the HD 650, but then again so is the Ember. I tend to use the Polaris more often though. I'm not exactly sure why but I naturally tend to go for that sound more so than the Ember I think. Got to agree with you Ian, I could not choose between the two either, they are both fantastic amps and the logical way to choose is if you want to experiment with tube swapping which is ridiculously easy on the Ember, if not the tubey warmth of the Polaris is a no brainer. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 31, 2015 21:38:09 GMT
I also wouldn't like to say which is best. In the end I went for the Ember because I can tune the sound to my taste. I've quite possibly ended up with a tube that sounds a lot like the Polaris.  |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 1, 2015 1:12:03 GMT
I have a sneaky suspicion that the Polaris will be my next desktop amp. Mojo is fine for low impendance 'phones but I find myself hankering for something that will give the K712 the kick up the ass it needs.
Not keen on SS amps that are brash or shouty so a flatter sounding amp with just a hint of tube smoothness sounds exactly what I'm after.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 1, 2015 2:43:56 GMT
The Polaris is an excellent amp and in my opinion it's the best looking G1217 amp there is.
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Nov 1, 2015 8:45:34 GMT
I use the K712 with mine, Mark. The headphone feels like a portable driven from the Polaris. Although it's a lower impedance headphone, it does take some driving. I find it a lot smoother than any of the other AKG's in any case and to me, it's really Senn like on the Polaris. Just a fraction more at the top end. Nice combo.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 3, 2015 0:13:05 GMT
Cheers Ian. I've found the same in terms of driving the AKGs I've had too (K612, K7XX and now K712). Generally getting them loud enough isn't too big a problem but I find with some amps they have a tendency to sound a bit lacklustre, thin and a touch harsh if not driven well. It's not 'til you plug them into something like the Ember that you realise what the fuss is about....if it sounds Senn-like then you are amping them properly is my rule of thumb  Listened to the K712 with the Mojo some more and it really isn't a bad pairing at all. Smooth and composed and with the K712 I prefer it to the iCAN. Going on my experience with the K7XX I suspect the Ember (and most likely Polaris) would be a step up in terms of quality. Talking of the K7XX I do find it very similar to the K712. Going on memory alone (K7XX now gone) I think the K712 perhaps has a little bit more treble presence and air and the bass may also be a bit tighter, but really there's not a lot in it...perhaps no difference at all as memory is a funny thing. Going to resist the temptation of a Polaris 'til after Xmas but once that's out the way all bets are off....I think I've already subconsciously reserved a spot on my desktop. |
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Post by tunkejazz on Nov 12, 2015 19:50:59 GMT
I forgot to mention that I ordered the polaris that Jeremy had on clereance! <--- EDIT: blablabla :-)
Frans' Polaris has got me in love!
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Post by Deleted on Nov 12, 2015 21:03:53 GMT
He does clearance units?? I will need to keep a close eye on the Garage1217 site in that case!
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Post by whitenoise on Nov 12, 2015 21:45:18 GMT
Since you guys do not want to say which is better (Ember or Polaris) I will do it for you; Ember. I too have both amps and the Ember gets all of my time. They both sound sameish though so it really comes down to the more holographic sound of the Ember with the right tube. For me of course. |
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Post by tunkejazz on Nov 12, 2015 21:46:36 GMT
He does clearance units?? I will need to keep a close eye on the Garage1217 site in that case! Sorry, I wrote that one from the phone with a kid hanging on my leg :-P Now that I read my previous post I am not sure I understand it either! But yes, I ordered a "used" Polaris from Jeremy a few days ago. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 12, 2015 22:46:37 GMT
I hope it was your kid! Gordon forwarded an e-mail on to me which made things a bit clearer. Not a bad deal you got there. Enjoy the Polaris |
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