Headphone amplifiers as good as the Solo are few and far between. The Solo MKIII headphone amplifier is properly designed and doesn't need to resort to dodges like bass-boost and cross-feed that mediocre headphone amplifier designs use to impress the listener. The bass is powerful as it is, but is also incredibly detailed and natural. The stereo image has all the hallmarks of a high quality speaker set-up and even with the low cost Grado SR60's can project an image well beyond the earpieces.
The dynamics of this audiophile headphone amplifier have to be heard to be believed. When auditioned "blind", listeners have removed open back headphones because they think that speakers are reinforcing the performance - they are not even connected! When the Solo amp is revealed there are looks of disbelief, the expectation being a valve amp or a "monster" looking solid state "beast".
This is the performance you get from properly designed audio electronics.
The quality of this headphone amplifier will enhance the performance of even the best audiophile dynamic headphones. Headphones like the Grado RS1 and Senheiser HD650 will benefit from being driven by the Solo.
TechnicalThe Solo design is based around the IEC recommendation that stipulates a current drive rather than a voltage drive to the headphones and thus drives them as intended.
Many other so called "audiophile" headphone amplifiers use class A outputs. Many are based on a push-pull output stage and the claim "class A" is therefore strictly untrue. Such output stages are class B operating with a high quiescent current to overcome the audible effect of intrinsic emitter resistance of the output transistors. The Solo's current drive output reduces this intrinsic emitter resistance to the point of being of no consequence, and hence the Solo sounds as if it is class A.
Earlier versions of the Solo headphone amplifier housed in the same enclosure as shown can now be factory upgraded to the SRGII version.
The Solo SRGII headphone amplifier factory upgrade involves fitting a completely new fully tested PCB assembly. It is in fact like getting a brand new Solo SRGII but reusing your existing case.
An op-amp socket is used on the PCB so that any future op-amp upgrade can be easily accomodated.
How to order
To order, first purchase the Upgrade Card below and follow the purchase instructions. Once purchased we will email you to confirm. Then carefully parcel up your Solo (we don't need your power supply) and send it to us so that we can fit the upgrade card for you.