So… I’ve been holding off the impressions and feedback because I honestly didn’t want to sound like the typical melodramatic, hype-train that is Head-Fi. On first listen, I was amazed with the Dynahi. I couldn’t stop grinning because this thing just sounded clearly better than any SS amp I’d heard before. I really don’t like to be gushy about audio equipment and like to stay grounded and hold my enthusiasm in check. So I took a step back and told myself “wait for the Rag and see where you are at then”. It really didn’t matter who made the amp: Schiit, Bryston, etc. The amount of hype around this amp was real and not only by those talking heads on Head-Fi but also Marv and co.

I have never seen Marv so giddy about something since I’ve known him. His comments and enthusiasm about this amp was really hard to resist. I told myself at the beginning that I was going to hold-off and wait for one of these to go up for sale (used) so that I can snatch it at a cheaper price, but with all the hype I had to preorder.

Dynahi:

Typically, my first impressions are pretty solid. Not to sound arrogant or anything like that, but usually it takes me a good hour of listening to get a solid grasp on how said product performs to my ears and preferences. After some time, I add on to what I’d thought in my first impressions. As if I had a gun held to my head and someone asking me to describe this amp in a nutshell. That is how my first impressions are formed. Afterwards, with more listening, I can break down what I said. Be less general and explain my scribbles.

I wouldn’t say I’ve heard every “good” SS amp available but after thinking about it, I actually have. Krell Klone, Audio-gd Master 9, GS-X mk2, Mjolnir and even quite a few others: Burson Conductor, Soloist, Violectric, etc. All of those aren’t perfect to me, some more problematic than others.

So how does it sound? Clean, precise, delineated, and fast but somehow not sounding clinical or analytical. There is a certain smoothness to the sound, especially from the bass to the mids. One of the first things I picked up listening to the Dynahi was just how hard hitting this thing is. Nothing… I mean nothing has the same “kick in the pants” type authority this amp has. To me, this amp is almost perfect (nothing will ever be perfect in my eyes) for planars. Transients are quick and agile, nothing sounds flat or blunted. Staging is wide but somewhat upfront in terms of depth. Dynamics are sublime towers over most competition. Nothing really about the sound is disappointing.





Ragnarok vs. SuSy Dynahi

So why do I feel the Ragnarok is “better”? Mainly my preferences speaking I suppose. The Ragnarok has this small amount of warmth and is just flat out more engaging. It emphasizes those emotional areas of the frequency such as the lower-mid bass and the upper-mids. It is just sweet bliss listening to it. In terms of tonal response the Dynahi is actually more neutral to me ears, more balanced. But the Rag has this seduction that is hard to shake. I crave listening to it for its semi-aggressive sound.
 
It also seems to work better with the HD800 which is a huge plus. When I’m serious about listening, no other headphone has given me more chills then the HD800. It’s the only headphone that has remained in my stable since year one of my adventure into personal audio. Finding an SS amp that is delicate enough to handle this face tweeter is impressive. The Dynahi/HD800 combo is nice, but the pairing is fatiguing. Flat out, no BS… the amp migh t be too neutral. I’ve come to realize that of the KG amps that I’ve heard all have exhibited this slight sense of rawness to the treble response. It is slightly brittle and my ears are sensitive to it. It isn’t noticed at all using the Code-X (HE-5 modded), LCD-3, HE-6, or Paradox Slants. It isn’t even noticed with the HD600. But with such a detailed and honestly… bright sounding headphone like the HD800, the pairing is just not for me. It isn’t bad by any means. Plenty of detail, soundstage is right, the sound is clean without any grain or grit top to bottom, but that slightly hard sounding treble does it in. It is possible that with the Anax mod, the combo could be just right.



Unfortunately, my headphone stable consists of only one planar at the moment, the Paradox Slants. That combo is great, but it doesn’t justify keeping the Dynahi around. Bottom line: The Rag just ticks more boxes. More resolving (slightly), slight sweetness (good for the HD800 to combat that clinical presentation), and most importantly just fucking engaging. That is probably what I like about the Ragnarok the most. It has the ability (magic?) to get my toe-tapping, my head bobbing, and my hairs standing up. For what it is worth the Dynahi is not bested by the Ragnarok. Technically it is a draw; both seem to have their strengths and weaknesses. Tonally, the Dynahi is actually more accurate and precise. Detail and resolve, the Rag takes the upper hand but not by much at all.







More to come..