What Gear Is My Gear? Part 2: Violectric HPA-V281 Headphone Amplifier

Join me for part 2 of a series where I explain what audio gear I use as personal references for both personal enjoyment and "professional" review work. Today it's the Vioelectric HPA-V281 headphone amp!
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Part 1 of the series (Berkeley Alpha S2 DAC): • What Gear is My Gear? ...
My Hearing Quirks: • WaveTheory Reviews Wav...
Timestamps...
00:00 Intro
01:13 Shameless Self Promotion
01:41 What is the V281?
06:08 Power Output and why that matters
11:05 Sound
14:55 DAC Pairings
17:30 Dynamics & Headphone Pairings
20:05 Final Thoughts

[@hdsarma]

Great review👍was looking forward to it for a long time, a comparison with the V550 Pro and Holo Bliss in a future video will be great!

[@scottlowell493]

That looks like military test equipment.

[@willjohnson2722]

I got mine. Great amp.

[@timothyfreeseha4056]

I do like the sound of step attenuator!

[@EvgeniyRC]

This amplifier has served you faithfully for a long time and well, but time is running out. I have listened to many amps over the years, including this one. He is really good. But my journey as an explorer ended with the purchase of the Trafomatic Head 2. It completely changed my understanding of amplifiers. I still can't figure out how he does it... You just have to listen to it. It is amazing. I recommend that you take it for listening and review from the manufacturer. Perhaps he will become your constant friend for a long time. If it is necessary for a complete understanding. My chain has the following components HE1000SE / Susvara -- Trafomatic Head 2-- Gustard R26 -- Gustard U18 --

[@marcob.7801]

Great review (as always), I too own and venerate A V281 and favor the HiFiman sound. I currently have it paired with an HEKV2 (non stealth) and the combination NEVER seems to disappoint unless, of course the source material does. I have it paired with a Sabre DAC 32 and have had many other cans through it as well with nothing but praise! I just love your straight up, no-nonsense approach to all of your videos. I have been a subscriber and avid follower of your lending great weight to my audio purchases. I was indeed thrilled to find that you favor the Violectric as much as I did. I went through too many amps before finally finding my V281 (on the used market) and, in point of fact, Arthur of Power Holdings has given me a contact to a technician who apparently will have no problem fixing and/or maintaining it should she ever need it! Thanks again and kudos! Please keep them coming!

[@nomad9098]

7 year V281 owner here, V281 excels on pairing with Bright sources and/or Headphones. Would not pair it with super dark headphones such as Audezes. Hifiman HEK and Susvara can... but there's the weird planar fuziness that is present(but is absent when paired with Hifiman amps)

[@marcob.7801]

@@nomad9098 That is curious that you say that as a friend told me he experienced the same thing! I love the V81 with the HEK V2 and don't experience "fuzziness" but on many recordings it IS far TOO bright and bass is sorely lacking! On most "modern" recordings, those made within the last 8 or so years; the pairing can often bring a tear to the eye! May i ask what you pair your V281 with?

[@nomad9098]

@@marcob.7801 I use the Lake People RS06 Dac with it powering either my HD600 or HD800S. The RS06 has tapered off mid treble but extended high treble, giving it a very "spacious" and "airy" characteristic. This pairing further acentuates the "wide" and "spacy" characteristic of the V281 at the expense of having less warmth. It actually gave the HD600 soundstage which is quite shocking. HEK is alright, there's a version however that's considered shouty, not sure which one but in my limited experience with them, I don't find them that bright. Might have something to do with the recording you are listening to. EDIT: It was HEKV1... Funny that the V2 supposed to fix the "shoutiness" of the V1.

[@marcob.7801]

@@nomad9098 I am not certain of what "fuzziness" you refer to??

[@nomad9098]

@@marcob.7801 Mid range (200hz-1khz) is not smooth

[@joseluishernandezseptien]

Thank you for this review! What a nice amp! Can’t wait for the Susvara review, I thought you were using the HE1000v2 non stealth as main headphone.

[@wavetheorysound]

It was. But since Hekse and Susvara are here I traded it for a Utopia.

[@joseluishernandezseptien]

@@wavetheorysound oh! So your new reference will be Utopia? Utopia 2022?

[@wavetheorysound]

@@joseluishernandezseptien As this reviewing enterprise has grown I've been able to move to having multiple reference headphones. Susvara, Hekse, and Utopia (mine is OG) are my current hi-end/totl references. They will each get a video in this series. Stay tuned!

[@joseluishernandezseptien]

@@wavetheorysound That’s awesome! Thank you for everything you do! Your reviews are great!

[@MrRosscoz]

I love the Violectric house sound. I’m torn between the DHA 222 now it’s released with an analytical dac, or spend the same amount on HPA v380… hate these decisions lol. You can still buy the v281 new in Australia, but much the same price as the 550, interesting to see a comparison between those two.. you’d get 50k views lol

[@delta9k]

I did really enjoy my v281 mated with a Soekris 1521 it was a great combo with HEX v2 and then the HE1K v2 also Fostex TH909. I would not have sold that amp except I upgraded to the v550, which I'm also very fond of.

[@SIZLL]

How would you say the v550 sounds compared to the v281

[@Michael_mki233]

Where's a V550 that you could get your hands on for a while? That'd make for a good comparison video. Even better if you could get one of the 300 line in as well.

[@fabriziosiano7210]

Can’t wait for an appropriate v550 bs v281 review! Heard the V550 has a midrange weakness.

[@hdsarma]

​​@@fabriziosiano7210 Interesting, though never heard elsewhere the V550 has a midrange weakness, i went through the entire head-fi thread and other reviews not a single mention of it, on the other hand the Enelum 23R is said to have a midrange issue from all the impressions i read.

[@SIZLL]

I have a quick question, If you don't mess with the gain switches on the back how do get more leeway when using the volume dial. do you control your audio from the dac???

[@wavetheorysound]

Basically yes. The only other way is to use a dac with variable output level or a Preamp.

[@aceofspades6667]

so if this is the buick when are we going to get the Caddy review ? 😉

[@taidee]

I just like the look of that unit man.

[@nothingelse1520]

I'm debating getting this or another higher end Violectric amp to pair with me RME ADI-2 DAC FS. I heard an HE-6 at a meetup and my RME or SMSL SP200 didn't put out enough power to make the HE-6 loud.

[@levinste2750]

did you pair your RME ADI 2 DAC FS with some Violectric amp?

[@nothingelse1520]

No. I got into estats. Got a KGSSHV Carbon​@@levinste2750

[@eobet]

Both headphones mentioned in the middle of this video were around 50ohms. What happens if you try an 20ohm planar on this?

[@wavetheorysound]

V281 handled LCD-5 and LCD-X quite well.

[@atom631]

how does this amp pair with the HD800s?

[@viorgu]

Hello. Did you listen to v281 with Audeze LCD3? If not, do you consider it a good match?

[@wavetheorysound]

I've never heard the two together, no. I don't see why the pair would be a problem, however.

[@viorgu]

@@wavetheorysound Got it. Thanks

[@mrt6349]

How is this one compared to the Violectric HPA V550 i have a possibilty to buy the v281 but its the same price as the 550. And yes i know itsa very old post but i might be lucky :)

[@wavetheorysound]

A V550 just came in a few days ago. I have limited time with it so a review will be coming quickly. A direct comp with the V281 will be included.

[@lextr3110]

There is a problem when you use your dac and amp to fix what is missing in your headphones

[@wavetheorysound]

Yes and no. No headphone is going to be 100% perfect for every piece of music on anyone's head. It is definitely true that some source gear controls some headphones better than others. Knowing that reality, there's no problem with leveraging it our advantage. I also greatly prefer using hardware to do a slight bit of what is basically EQ over using more traditional EQ. It's much more ergonomically friendly to do it that way.

[@FabioKasper]

That looks like a tank man.

[@marcob.7801]

IT is built like one. Ve make zem gut in Deutchland , Ja??!!