• Already a member?
All Drops

Massdrop Objective 2 (O2) Headphone Amplifier

All Drops

Massdrop Objective 2 (O2) Headphone Amplifier

You are currently viewing a single conversation. Return to Full Discussion

Typhoon85984follow
4w
By far the worst sounding amp I own. If you can afford this, you can afford the FiiO amps, starting with the E10K and above.

At first I couldn't figure out how this could be (what I will later describe), but it's as if (possibly actually the case) nwavguy cheated in however he designed the circuit to result in such a low distortion and generally such good/high specs/benchmarks. What I mean is, to achieve such low distortion (on paper), it's not just the integrity of the circuit that was maintained through careful design and component selection, but the actual source coming in is also affected where whatever effects of the circuit are attempted to be negated (having not analyzed the circuit myself, couldn't tell you whether it's playing with phase/polarity or what it could be). I derive this from the fact that the sound is like that of no other low, mid, or high-end amp I've ever experienced. It literally sucks the life out of the music coming in. as an audio engineer, I can tell you that when it's recorded (by any means), set no stage does it EVER sound like that. This is particularly more apparent with transparent, neutral, and otherwise sensitive headphones (like the Brainwavz HM5's for instance) and with full-range frequency content like Metal music.

In his fight against tube amps, "audiophile" views on whatever kinds of technologies, and perhaps whatever forms of overpriced snakeoil (which I side with him on even if not entirely the perspective from which he builds his conclusions), he managed to prove them right. I have heard plenty of horrible sounding solid state amps, creating this unpleasant odd-ordered distortion, particularly in the higher frequencies, forcing you to keep the music at clinically low levels as instead of getting fuller, it would just get more unpleasant as it got louder, but that's not entirely the claim people would often make. People would often say that solid state amps have a "cold" or "digital" sound to them - no liveliness to them. Well, whatever that means, the O2 amp would certainly fit such a description. I am quite honestly embarrassed for having fallen into the hype myself and used it as an example of greatness in debates in the past before even having heard it myself.

While I am highly analytical and into objective measurements of things (not just in audio), I don't think we're there in our tools to accurately reflect the psychoacoustic phenomenon and other aspects of human hearing to accurately label what or how a piece of equipment is relative to our real-world perception. I can definitely say that this amp is not neutral and it imprints a definitive signature on most any song which almost like adds distortion in the opposite direction - removing harmonics and other characteristics which places you in the context of what you're listening to. Nothing in nature or in the recording process otherwise gives sound this sort of signature.
thumb_up0replyReply
share Share
more_horiz

Other Drops

Massdrop x HiFiMAN HE-350 Audiophile Headphones

Massdrop x HiFiMAN HE-350 Audiophile Headphones

  • 10,407purchased
10,407
sold
5.7k comments
3h left
Massdrop x Alex Cavalli Tube Hybrid Amp (CTH)

Massdrop x Alex Cavalli Tube Hybrid Amp (CTH)

  • 1,313purchased
1,313
sold
1.5k comments
3h left
Massdrop x MEE Audio Pinnacle PX IEMs

Massdrop x MEE Audio Pinnacle PX IEMs

  • 1,808purchased
1,808
sold
980 comments
3h left
Massdrop x Koss Porta Pro X Headphones

Massdrop x Koss Porta Pro X Headphones

  • 3,386purchased
3,386
sold
719 comments
3h left
Massdrop x AKG K7XX Red Edition

Massdrop x AKG K7XX Red Edition

  • 5,781purchased
5,781
sold
3.5k comments
4h left
Massdrop x AKG M220 Pro Headphones

Massdrop x AKG M220 Pro Headphones

  • 2,675purchased
2,675
sold
602 comments
4h left
Massdrop x E-MU Purpleheart Headphones

Massdrop x E-MU Purpleheart Headphones

  • 1,227purchased
1,227
sold
545 comments
4h left
Massdrop x Sennheiser PC37X Gaming Headset

Massdrop x Sennheiser PC37X Gaming Headset

  • 9,676purchased
9,676
sold
2.3k comments
4h left
Related Brands
Related Links
Akg K81dj Akg Closed Back Folding Dj HeadphoneSennheiser Hd 449 Headphones64 Audio IemLg Bd 370 Network Blu Ray Disc PlayerSony Mdr Xb920 Extra Bass Stereo HeadphoneSteelseries Siberia 51016 Headphones WhitePhilips She 3900Samsung Oem Hs330Audeze Lcd1Sennheiser Adidas Omx 680i Sports HeadsetPhilips Adjustable Earhook Headsphones Shs4842 28 PurpleSennheiser Pmx70Klipsch Image S4i Ii Black In Ear Headphones With MicrophoneSony Mdr Ex57lp BlkPanasonic SealedYamaha Wx 030 Musiccast Wireless Speaker WhiteSony Mz R700pc Minidisc PlayerAkg Open Ear HeadphonesSony Amp MenuUltimate Ears Iem
  • About
  • Careers
  • Help
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Sitemap
  • · · ·
    Privacy
    Terms
    Site Map