MOST POWER! // LEAST MONEY! // Drop + SMSL HO150x

[@ZReviews]

🟥Get Yo Ho150x ---- hifiguides.page.link/DROPHO150x ⚔www.SubscribeStar.com/Zeos -- Help on Subscribe Star 🥇www.Patreon.com/Zeos -- Or Check out the Patreon

[@cottage_pie]

I've got cotton and cheese in my minge hole 😳

[@cottage_pie]

Smells like rotten cabbage 😮

[@cottage_pie]

Daddy 😢

[@samafshar]

My love affair didn't ruin my marriage, but Zeos did.

[@psychopopdesign]

This totally happened I bet, not

[@davidcoons89]

Zeos ruined my life.

[@christopherviers8302]

These are great times for music lovers...!!! You don't have to decide between putting new tires on the car or buying that stereo equipment you can't get out of your head...!!! Now you can have both without breakin' the bank...!!! Price to Performance these days is off the charts compared to the 70's and 80's...!!! Woo-Hoo...!!!

[@elemthenbee]

"Alright! So, what if I told you there was an amplifier, right?" should have been the entirety of the video. That's all we needed.

[@ZReviews]

Sounds like a YT short format

[@KimmoJaskari]

All that power sounds great (no pun intended). Personally, I want an USB DAC built in so I can just plug it into a computer, though.

[@blobfish7159]

Bruh if you need that much power to drive your headphones you definitely have enough money to buy a good cheap dac, or should really just have other dacs already

[@E_o_D]

Looks nice, I might check it ou-- Wow, wait. Harmonicdyne Zeus ultra/elite? Alright, looking forward to that!

[@ruttabl1]

Mr Z what pads are on those DT 880's? This looks like the amp upgrade I've needed, using those trapezoid SMSL amps/dacs for a long time now and they sadly don't do the 880's justice.

[@TheSynrgy1987]

Should do hifi gear temperature measurements in Kelvin.

[@Jaytiss]

How is this different than the SMSL 8h-8s? seems expensive

[@ernestomontiel3982]

I have the Sennheiser PXC 550 Wireless I been with them for 6 years already and I love them but I really want an upgrade now, could you please recommend a step up headphones for Metal music, please :)

[@fcpchop88]

I currently own a first gen E30/L30 stack, powering Senn HD600s and Sundara headphones. Sometimes on low gain I feel like I could use more power, but on high gain it feels thin to me. Do you think upgrading to the 150x would be beneficial?

[@Alfatross]

For a starter looking for a 1 and done amp, would you recommend this or saving up and going for an A90d?

[@robertopistolesi2735]

Hi Zeos, I know this is probably a nonsensical question: I am a musician and I own an audio interface Audient EVO 8, which has a d/a converter and two pairs of classic balanced outputs for monitors. Would it be a very stupid idea using the conversion of that little box and connect the line outputs to the ho150x? The aim is to use a pair of HD6XX or HD600 for critical listening and mixing. Some of the specs of the EVO are THD+N @ -1dBFS (1kHz):

[@mohitomish]

How can i connect this to PS5 and still get the tempest 3d audio?

[@lowercasegoat]

How does it compare to the SMSL SH-8s? That’s another non-THX SMSL with 6 watts per channel at 16 ohms, but it has balanced out (and what I use currently for solid state). Speaking of power, I use the Bellari HA540 MK2 for tube amp- any chance you’d ever review that one? (Tons of American-built power at a relatively low price.)I really like it. Use it with my Fiio FT3.

[@ZReviews]

OOO That Bellari looks amazing. Need to get on that train. I think this has better control over the power then the older SH models. But again this isn't real balanced but again that may not matter.

[@lowercasegoat]

@@ZReviews I only turn the dial to about 9 o’clock on the Bellari with the FT3. Maybe a tiny bit past. I was surprised at how much power there was. I’ve only used the stock tube with it, but I really liked the sound.

[@majewskibr]

Hello there Z, hopefully you'll see this: your comments about how warm the HO150x gets gave me pause. But then I wondered: since my HO100 also gets warm (though not in an alarming way), does the HO150x get significantly warmer than the HO100? Or do both units get similarly warm? Also, I don't remember you comparing the 100 to the 150x. If one has a HO100, is it worth it to purchase an HO150x? Would it provide a noticeable upgrade in sound quality? Curious to know. Thanks.

[@bjornsmasher66]

that red devices case art looks like one of those open mouth soyjak things on fire

[@ronniethornton8548]

When opening my thieaudio ghost headphone one of the wires became unattached need to be soldered back together but audio still sounds perfect what should I do?

[@ZReviews]

Id fix that myself. You just need to find someone who can solder or get REAL lucky with a microtorch.

[@ronniethornton8548]

@@ZReviews thank you

[@Truly-Not-Human]

hopefully someone help me: I've The DT 880 600ohm, what do I need with HO150x to play and power the DT800? cables, DAC..etc

[@micclev]

Hey Z im new to a DAC/AMP setup. I was wondering can I plug this amp directly into my PC and plug headphones into the amp. Or do I need to run the pc to a dac then dac to amp, then to headphones?

[@Ancient88Wisdom]

Yes you need a DAC

[@XennialZ]

The Fiio K7 exists though for $30 more...truly balanced, DAC/amp combo. Less power, but more than needed for 99.8% of headphones. Am I wrong?

[@alexlazenby]

V true. Depends what floats your boat. I like seperate components so I can swap in something different/better in future. Depends on your needs I guess.

[@ZReviews]

yes it does. But that being a combo it is sort of locking you into that dac and not GOBS of power. You can mix and match this with a ton of stuff

[@sidethan]

@@ZReviews You can ignore the dac on the k7 if you plug in an analog signal coming from another dac. That's the reason why fiio designed the k7 with analog inputs, so you could use other dacs with the amp of the k7 if you prefer it that way.

[@OfficialLeoEdits]

I’d kill for that price.. the K7 is almost $400 where I live

[@ncc74656m]

Just to be clear, I still need a DAC for this, right? I have REALLY wanted the Argons since I saw your review and this would be pretty killer. I have a set of Focal Elegias too, and I'm just starting my collection. Any appropriately paired recommendations for a DAC?

[@ZReviews]

Yes and the SMSL SU-1 is adorable and good enough.

[@ncc74656m]

@@ZReviews Thanks Z! You're awesome. 💜

[@Pizza____God]

i cant picture the warmth, will it be ok to stack a dac on it?

[@ZReviews]

So long as you leave SOME space above it you should be OK

[@flamespire2235]

Would you recommend this badboy or the Ifi dac amp v2?

[@ZReviews]

Well one needs the other. Could get the ifii and use this off its dac output for ALL the watts

[@kellanmackenzie5230]

This or Topping L50? Very similarly priced. I was just about to pull the trigger on the L50 but now......idk

[@ZReviews]

L50 still a banger. And you will get it faster than this. Do you NEED 6wpc?

[@kellanmackenzie5230]

@@ZReviews probably not, I'm getting a set of Aeon Xs pretty sure they are 16 ohm

[@sheep7255]

A little thing you can do, to maybe get better comfort for some oval headphones: Rotate the pads so they're not (for the lack of a better word) in sync with the actual headphone cup. This means you get a little extra space horizontally, and you don't loose that much space vertically

[@twotontim322]

How well does it run dt 880 600ohms?

[@kabir0418]

4:40 man i hate where he placed that mug

[@ZReviews]

Jesus will protect it

[@00000Carlson00000]

Link for the mouse pad?

[@ZReviews]

It is down there. Near the bottom of the links DRIFT DRIFT DeskPAD -- amzn.to/3Hiek1r

[@joakimholboll6810]

So How did it do with the dt-880 600ohm?

[@ZReviews]

Powered them fine. I think I am wanting more flavor for those particular cans however.

[@BC_CARS]

Fuck man he really just what on my SMSL SP200😭🤣🤣. Great upgrade from my Magni heresy that blew up and has now fucked my Sundaras up. Looking on getting a pair of 990 600ohms.

[@matthewwesley4320]

Wow if Harmonicdyne just tweaked the Zeus tuning and just gave it a better build I think people would definitely be interested.

[@andreasjensen8451]

I love my Zeus elite. An ultra would be interesting

[@justintoso]

6 WHATS and not truly balanced? Sounds like it is the SMSL SP-200

[@justinwalsh5521]

So it’s a chifi op amp version of an Asgard basically but cheaper and without modularity. Cool! That probably fills a pretty specific niche

[@justinwalsh5521]

I prefer my Asgard (I’ve had smsl before and prefer the Schiit sound to smsl) but that amp may make some folks happy and that’s good

[@ZReviews]

@@justinwalsh5521 SMSL Sound really isn't a thing. They are always trying new methods. Feel like Schiit has a house sound for sure.

[@LSDScreen]

But will it power Tungsten?

[@ZReviews]

It gets Close. But the Tungsten isn't about power.. Its about VOLTAGE

[@SpirallingOut]

@@ZReviews Would the Tungsten, powered by the Fosi V3, sound better with the 48v power supply over the 32v or would that be too much voltage?

[@BixxPlays]

the noise thing about balanced amps is currently a myth. the real reason to go full balanced is because it improves channel separation. the extra separation is verry noticeable on my setup.

[@cxmxc]

I want it I’ll get it I’ll face the consequences later

[@SecretAgentSuperDragon]

Another amp with no pre-amp toggle switch. It's 2023, we can put vehicles on Mars but we can't add toggle switches to amps?

[@morris7025]

I find the term "BALANCED" and how it's used in the Headphone World is not the same as what i think of when referring to Stereo Hi-Fi circuits... it's very confusing. Your point about Single Ended headphone amps sounding great these days is a good observation though. Reminds us not to let technical issues get in the way of good sound for a lot less money. And isn't that the raison d'être of Z Reviews??? : )

[@ZReviews]

Yep, just see the REBEL AMP which lives in single-ended forever. Or JDS labs stuff.

[@beezlebub3955]

Down here in the below like ooooooooaahhhhhhhhh

[@Celestial-Lia]

Too much distortion. If it's any higher than 0.00006% I'm not interested ;)

[@flonga1]

HEHEHEHE

[@JTB--]

Geshelli could take over the market if they made custom Amp and DAC cases like that A3 Pro on the table. So tired of the same old bland, boring look of these black and grey Amps and DACS. Why do you think Z puts stickers on all his stuff? To spice up the boring AF look of 90% of audio gear.

[@davidbailey6350]

About $10.51 a year at 24hrs a day…

[@ZReviews]

Thanks for the Math

[@dangerzone007]

It looks like Zeos has given up on speakers until he finds out how they actually work.

[@ZReviews]

speakers are a special treat on this channel. They are big, bulky and expensive to ship. Also take far longer to assess then a headphone and certainly more then something like a simple headphone amp or Dac

[@dangerzone007]

@@ZReviews You don't have any room treatment so unless you're going to test them like Erin's audio corner does I don't know why you bother.

[@arthurhaywood2184]

Yes, it’s pushing 6 watts but it Class D. While Class D amps have gotten to the point of being decent, they still don’t beat a Class AB or A amplifier in my personal opinion. I was considering picking this up until I found out that it was Class D. I will say that now they need to offer a matching DAC!

[@ZReviews]

At lower power a class D will outperform AB and A for accuracy. USUALLY AB is superior when at the limit but these new Class D are so powerful you never get to their limits.

[@arthurhaywood2184]

@@ZReviews Numerically, yes. A class D will look better on paper but to me, they don’t “sound” better. There’s always something sterile about class D. Yes, I use class D amps for some applications like tv and portable use but I prefer not for serious listening. They seem to be devoid of some “soul”. I get their use for cheap, efficient power though. Fortunately their development has reached the point where they are a viable option.

[@milfordtrethowan2474]

Puts stickers on equipment like a 8th grade school boy 🤡

[@ZReviews]

I mean don't say that to car guys.

[@milfordtrethowan2474]

​@@ZReviewsDon't mind me grumpy old fart with O.C.D.So true about powering your headphones properly...

[@masterazlan6999]

Na... U've got the fairy tales really fakes.. Balanced is 2 saparated current Towards ur ears N most of em 2..a pair of ears.. In mono Then goes stereo.. IF 1 ears enough 4u Y still usin a pair of ears.. Butter.. Peace!

[@Nick_4i]

what

[@masterazlan6999]

Who the f...