Project Ember Supercharged Impressions

Headphones used: Sony SA5000, Grado HP2, Sennheiser HD800
DAC - Yggy

Tubes (included only)
Preferred the GE tube over the RCA. The RCA was warmer but gritty, too soft, diffuse and bloomy for me. The GE is more clear, incisive and articulate yet still maintained a grit to the sound. Makes me suspect its part of the hybrid design somewhere. The Russian tube (Sovtek?) was simply too unrefined and underwhelming compared to the other tubes.

Note-I was unable to test the Ember with any of my 6SN7 or 7N7 stock as they were all out on loan to another pyrate along with all my capacitors.

Sound
Overall, I had noticed a tad notable solid state metallic signature with a slightly unrefined grain or etch up top. However, this is helped immensely by the older NOS tubes compared to the new production Russian tube, but it never completely goes away. I heard Ron’s version of the amp at Wikia and it also had the same character. It was thought maybe high gain was the source of the problem. His amp had a lowered overall setting however. In this instance I used low gain on this particular unit as I did find high gain to produce a notable noise floor that was also present in low gain, but quite less so.

On the plus side, there is a nice clarity, sense of air and openness to this amp. However, Imaging was not razor sharp and locked in like I’m used to, but it was not overly diffuse or blurred beyond reproach to the point of distraction. The Ember has a good sense of speed and engagement. Although it would be said to be a little on the clinical side of things (based on my tube preference above) it is toe tapping and involving to listen to. I liked the micro and macro dynamic balance that gets you immersed in the music, and it’s rare for a DIY type amp or most amps in this price range to do that for me. I also noticed a decent amount of resolution that would not leave most users wanting.

As stated earlier, despite the vocals sounding nice and clear, they also have a bit of grit which is a pet peeve of mine for vocals. I prefer a touch of wet and more fluid sound to proper vocal stylings, but not so much as an obvious coloration that unnaturally imposes itself over the recorded master. There is a nice sense of organic tone coming from the tubes that sort of overlays over this solid state grit to ease the effect, but it is always there if you are used to listening for this effect and can not easily be unheard. Most may never notice such things, but it’s a characteristic I tend to hone in on personally. Reminds me a bit of the XSabre and some other DACs (even Bricasti) that try to mask this grit with a smoothness. It’s a coherence issue with the overall signature. As if you can tell an amp is using tubes to smooth out a rougher solid state output stage, or a DAC is using tubes and/or capacitors to smooth out a poorly implemented Sabre or Delta Sigma DAC. Again, most may never notice this unless pointed out to them.

Conclusion
Overall, it does a lot of things I like in an amp. It resolves well, has good clarity, and good micro and macro-dynamics which provide satisfying engagement. My only problem is the underlying lack of refinement to the overall tone with that touch of grit, and the lack of razor sharp and holographic imaging. For the price I find it a compelling option and prefer it to something like the Bottlehead Crack+Speedball for my tastes with the HD800. Others will prefer the lusher and smoother refined sound of the BHC as they prioritize that over resolution and various technicalities, but I don’t consider them real HD800 type listeners anyway, which is okay.

While not a ToTL performer for our references here on this site, it easily bests some of what would be considered ToTL or sacred DIY cows on other sites. As far as hybrids go, you get quite a bit for the money as long as its signature is what you are looking for. Would I take it over the Liquid Crimson? No, that is a better sounding amp in most ways, but not by too much. The price differential of course is significant by a factor of an entire decimal point I believe. Suffice to say, it's nice to have options.

Like Liquid Glass? If so, then yes. That was my favorite Cavalli amp.

That was a good read @Anaxilus. It's a pity you didn't get a chance to hear it with a 6SN7 though as they take away that hardness you describe. My Sylvania 6SN7GTA is smooooth.

Try the GE. I wonder if your telefunken is a more colored tube?