First Listen: Cavalli Audio Liquid Fire Hybrid Headphone Amplifier
First, the Cavalli is very quiet and extremely transparent. In this respect, it reminds me of some of the finest amps I’ve heard in this class.
Second, the Cavalli offers terrific dynamic snap, making transients come alive, yet without etching, overshoot, or exaggeration. I take this to be an expression of the “Fire” part of the Liquid Fire’s name.
Third, and unlike some amps known for their see-through transparency, the Cavalli has an uncanny ability to convey the smoothness, richness, and warmth of well recorded music, yet without in any way blunting the edges of fast-rising transient sounds or smearing low-level transients. Consider this an expression of the “Liquid” part of the Liquid Fire’s name.
I’ll stop now, but with the hope that these snapshot impressions provide adequate impetus for you to give the Cavalli Audio Liquid Fire the careful audition it deserves.
For more information, visit: www.cavalliaudio.com
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Comments
Thanks for the blog post and the heads up on the introductory price. Nice to (possibly) be able to save a few shekels.
What headphones are your initial impressions based on?
How much warmth is there due to the tubes in this amp? Is it warmer than the Woo 22 you guys recently reviewed?
Thanks
Hi David,
For purposes of creating my blog, listening was done through the following headphones: Audeze LCD2, HiFiMan HE-5LE, HiFiMan HE-6, and Sennheiser HD800.
We'll have to wait for Tom Martin's review to get input on the Woo WA 22 question, since I did not have a chance to hear the Woo during its stay with us.
Best, Chris Martens
Chris Martens
Editor, Avguide.com/Playback/The Perfect Vision
Wow, what a beauty.
Anyone know what the Liquid Fire uses for a volume control?
USAudio,
I don't know the answer on the volume control just yet, but expect to be talking to Dr. Cavalli in the next few days. I'll let you know what he says.
The Liquid Fire is quite a looker, isn't it? And, though my photos don't really show this, it's even better looking when you see it powered up in a darkened room (there are small red LED "running lights" located at the bases of the tubes).
Best, Chris Martens
Chris Martens
Editor, Avguide.com/Playback/The Perfect Vision
Hello gentlemen. Although I hope to talk with Chris in the next couple of days, as he noted, I thought I'd save him the trouble of an extra post. :)
The stock vol pot is a TKD 2CP-2511 50k pot. These are excellent pots and they have very smooth action.
This should be an excellent sounding amp. I have an Antique Sound Labs hybrid headphone amp with minor mods, and have preferred it to many others that were more expensive ($1000 to $1500). A good hybrid amp has no background noise, and gives the qualities of both tubes and solid state circuits. The Liquid Fire should be a logical step up from my ASL hybrid.
I just listened to this amp at 32 Ohm Audio. It is incredible! I put my name in to reserve a place to buy one. Its sound is exactlly as chris martens describes here. I listened to both hi rez files and standard cd quality songs I am familiar with. What struck me was how musical and energetic it sounded. Great extension with fast grippy transients. Very transparent but equally smooth. If i had to choose one word it would be "energy" which is what i love about vinyl. I switched back and forth between liquid fire and red wine amp. No contest. The liquid fire had much better detail, musicality, punch/drive/timing/pace, and gave me front to back staging in my head which has never occurred before with headphones for me. I havelistened to 7-8 high end headphone amps. This is in a league of its own. My only complaint is the footers look cheap relative how rock solid rest of unit is. And volume control is beautiful - silky smooth precise deliberate.
Hi podeschi,
Do you know/remember what the source chain was when you listened at 32 Ohm Audio?
Also, the one at 32 Ohm Audio might have been a prototype, so the footers might have changed.
Did it look like this? http://cavalliaudio.com/products/liquid-fire-amp/
Thanks!
Yes, they had a Gateway computer running digital files into the Red Wine Audio's Isabellina LFP-V Edition HPA's internal DAC with RCA outputs going straight into Liquid Fire. I auditioned multiple cans including new Audeze LCD2s, some ultrasones and Beyerdynamics. I noticed a really beefy power cord plugged into the Liquid Fire.
The unit they had was production I believe and looked like the picture in your link. I'm sure the feet are functional and fine, but I was comparing them to rest of the Liquid Fire, which was beautiful and begged for more elegant footers (but that is a pure nit pick on my part, and where I was sitting my line of sight was even with the bottom of unit so was staring at the feet.).
A few hours later, and I'm missing the sound a lot...I've rarely longed after a component after hearing it. This one had the magic. I think I've listened to about half a dozen amps in 32 Ohm's store, and this is the only one when I heard it that made me think "I have to have it" By the way, all the pictures I saw online don't do justice to how striking the unit is. I appreciate a designer who builds a product that sounds and looks great. I will always opt for the best sounding regardless of aesthetic, but nice to have both.
My listening preferences: speed, transparency, layering, micro/macro dynamics, organic non-fatiguing sound, and an analogue sound. I found the Liquid Fire to (by a wide margin) remove all digital glare/haze and vibrantly put the music out there. I think the energy and excitement of the sound was a great alleviation to the "in my head" issues I typically have with headphone listening.
The next product forthcoming from Cavalli might be his solid-state "Liquid Gold" ... it will be interesting to see how it compares to the hybrid Liquid Fire ...
Is tube-rolling encouraged for the Liquid Fire? Or does the designer feel the provided JJ Tesla 6922 tubes provide the ideal listening experience?
Based on the chassis design, with the tubes inside the enclosure, I'm assuming the latter?
Thanks!