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Post by gulfcoastmike on Sept 29, 2014 18:42:59 GMT
I have this amp under consideration along with the Garage1217 Project Polaris. Does anyone have any experience with this amp either as a kit or pre-built?
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oldson
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Post by oldson on Sept 29, 2014 18:49:34 GMT
I have this amp under consideration along with the Garage1217 Project Polaris. Does anyone have any experience with this amp either as a kit or pre-built? i have not had the GS novo, but have had the solo srg and ultra. both good amps. have not heard Polaris, but love my Project Ember. in my un-educated personal opinion if i had to choose between the 2 you mention i would go with the Polaris as i believe it offers more value for the money. |
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solderdude
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Post by solderdude on Sept 29, 2014 19:08:42 GMT
Welcome to the forum gulfcoastmike. These amps aren't very comparable. The Garage 1217 is open frame while the Novo is closed and all metal. The Novo has an RCA input and output connected together (so you can daisy chain). The Polaris has RCA inputs and RCA output but via the amp so the Polaris can also be used as a pre-amp, the Novo can not. The output power is also quite different: Novo Output: 150mW rms into 32 Ohms, 40mW rms into 600 Ohms Polaris Output: 1300mW into 32 Ohms, 400mW into 600 Ohms which is 10dB more SPL/headroom. Novo Frequency Response: 38Hz to 27kHz (-1dB), 20Hz to 50kHz (-3dB) Polaris Frequency Response: 6Hz to 100kHz (-0.5dB), 2Hz to 290kHz (-3dB) The Novo is cheaper though. The Polaris has 3 selectable output resistances, the Novo only one and isn't specified The Polaris has different gain settings, the Novo is fixed. The Polaris has 3 bandwidth settings and the middle one is similar to the Novo's bandwidth. The amp is quite new so there aren't that many owners yet, the Novo is already a well known design. I designed the schematics for it about a year ago though. More info talk about the Polaris here: www.head-fi.org/t/725896/new-from-garage1217-the-solid-state-project-polariswww.head-fi.org/products/garage1217-project-polaris/reviews/11612diyah.boards.net/thread/681/project-polaris |
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Post by gulfcoastmike on Sept 29, 2014 19:12:15 GMT
I will say you get your money's worth with the Polaris! Every part in there is high quality. The additional flexibility has to be considered a plus as well.
As I understand, there are no special parts in the Novo. Purely on a sound basis I wonder if there is any comparison in sound quality for these two at a roughly similar price.
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solderdude
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Post by solderdude on Sept 29, 2014 19:24:20 GMT
That will be hard to say and totally depends on which headphones are used and at what listening levels.
When the Polaris is set to middle bandwidth and driven at the same level as the Novo I think it will be very difficult to tell them apart.
The Novo is a very 'basic' transistor design very similar to Philips amplifiers of old.
The Polaris has a J-FET input stage, set to mimic tube distortion, and a solid state high voltage/current output stage.
The Novo has a single layer PCB without any ground planes and on cheap standard PCB material.
The Polaris has a very thick 2-layer goldwash PCB with top and bottom ground planes
As the Polaris can be configured in bandwidth and output resistance it can be a better 'match' with more headphones.
The chance of having a headphone sounding better/more optimal on other settings than those that compare to the Novo is a lot higher.
Headphones that sound better on high output resistances (Beyerdynamics and some AKG's for instance) will likely sound better on the Polaris.
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Sept 29, 2014 19:55:29 GMT
If you are using MP3 or a poor source, you won't hear much difference between the Novo and the Polaris. However, with a good recording that has real detail on it, the Polaris will take off. It's streets ahead of the Novo.
It has way more power than the Novo, so headroom has the potential to be massive as long as the headroom is captured on the recording. It has a big, tube like sound so it's warm and punchy.
The added configuration is pure genius and allows you to match all kinds of headphones so that you get the best for what you are using with it.
If you have a source that isn't all that, (say a dap, unless it has higher resolutions) then you wouldn't hear much in it. Put on a decent recording and it takes off. I've heard the Ember with masters, and it is absolutely awesome as far as headroom and depth go.
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Post by gulfcoastmike on Sept 29, 2014 20:40:59 GMT
My only source for the moment is the Sony SCD-XA5400ES Super Audio CD Player. It's my only move into the 21st century. I've invested so much in my CD collection the last 30 years, I'm not greatly interested in another format until I have no choice.
I have no idea how to load or operate an iPod whatsoever. I will admit that a devise that could hold all of my CDs and not compromise the quality would be interesting.
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Sept 29, 2014 20:52:13 GMT
Go Polaris. It'll give a better dynamic range than the Novo.
I'm about to receive a Fiio X1 to review. On the face of it, it looks like a robust, high quality player and given that you can swap memory cards, you could do your whole collection in high definition rips!! Just change cards, which is easier than an IPod with the horrible Itunes software and less fuss.
If you're feeling flush, x3 even better with more power available!!!
Or save your money and buy 9 cd's ......... The price of the X1.
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Post by gulfcoastmike on Sept 29, 2014 22:15:15 GMT
Holy Moley!
I just took a peek at the reviews for the Fiio X3 on Amazon. The price is right. Portability, while acceptable, is not an absolute requirement.
One review made me think I have to go back to college for a more major degree to use the thing! If the Space Shuttle were still flying I would rather take a chance on landing it successfully.
I would have never thought a ( < I> ) button to play would ever be so attractive.
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solderdude
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Post by solderdude on Sept 30, 2014 13:55:53 GMT
The user interfaces of the FiiO's are known to be very awkward. My X3 sometimes hangs. Sound quality is excellent though and it can be used as an extrenal DAC. Price/quality ratio is quite high IMO Despite its flaws and annoying interface I still like it a lot. diyah.boards.net/thread/307/fiio-x3 |
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