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Edit: Pretty darn good looking piece of equipment though.
Massdrop x Alex Cavalli Tube Hybrid Amp (CTH)
01 / 11
Massdrop x Alex Cavalli Tube Hybrid Amp (CTH)
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2.9k Sold
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Product Description
Built from the ground up by Alex Cavalli, a legend in the world of headphone amps, this hybrid amp combines a solid state section, a tube amp section, and an entirely new circuit design. It delivers the current required by planar magnetics, along with the voltage drive that dynamic headphones need to perform their best Read More
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keyboard_arrow_downCEE_TEE
3480
Aug 11, 2017
Oh boy... Where do I start?? The journey, the designer, or the amp?
As an enthusiast myself, the coolest thing at Massdrop is getting to work with and know the people who make our favorite stuff. I’ve had the privilege of being able to speak with and learn from Alex Cavalli over the past year while working on this new amp with him. I understand more about the design decisions in amplifiers and what’s possible given different goals and constraints. (Though Alex would probably half-joke that “it still isn’t much”.)
Entry-level End-game Amp? Is that a category?
This project started out as a conversation to take a community-favorite DIY amp engineered by a community-favorite designer and make it accessible at an entry-level pricepoint. But when the prototype arrived, it had been completely re-worked by Alex. In comparison to the original Compact Tube Hybrid, it was a whole new amp. Sticking to the original vision, we worked toward the most accessible pricepoint possible while keeping the high-end sound that Alex passed down from his more expensive and more powerful amps. The amp needed to be audiophile-approved, more affordable, and simple to use. It also deserved a nice chassis, one that has some room in it and some stackability…
I’m sure there will be a lot more discussion these next few weeks. We’re working with Alex to have some information for those interested regarding the differences between the Compact Tube Hybrid and the Cavalli Tube Hybrid. Alex happens to have some travel during the drop so we may have a Q&A session where we’ll collect questions and Alex will answer them during the second half of the drop.
This is an important step for Massdrop, it marks the evolution of our ability to work with the best partners and designers to bring you the best versions of products for our communities. Each one of these collaborations is the result of our coming together to keep growing and moving our hobby forward.
Thanks for your participation!
EDIT 8/12/17: Here is a link if you are interested in the differences between the original COMPACT Tube Hybrid and the new CAVALLI Tube Hybrid. https://www.massdrop.com/talk/2167/the-massdrop-x-alex-cavalli-tube-hybrid-in-with-the-new
As an enthusiast myself, the coolest thing at Massdrop is getting to work with and know the people who make our favorite stuff. I’ve had the privilege of being able to speak with and learn from Alex Cavalli over the past year while working on this new amp with him. I understand more about the design decisions in amplifiers and what’s possible given different goals and constraints. (Though Alex would probably half-joke that “it still isn’t much”.)
Entry-level End-game Amp? Is that a category?
This project started out as a conversation to take a community-favorite DIY amp engineered by a community-favorite designer and make it accessible at an entry-level pricepoint. But when the prototype arrived, it had been completely re-worked by Alex. In comparison to the original Compact Tube Hybrid, it was a whole new amp. Sticking to the original vision, we worked toward the most accessible pricepoint possible while keeping the high-end sound that Alex passed down from his more expensive and more powerful amps. The amp needed to be audiophile-approved, more affordable, and simple to use. It also deserved a nice chassis, one that has some room in it and some stackability…
I’m sure there will be a lot more discussion these next few weeks. We’re working with Alex to have some information for those interested regarding the differences between the Compact Tube Hybrid and the Cavalli Tube Hybrid. Alex happens to have some travel during the drop so we may have a Q&A session where we’ll collect questions and Alex will answer them during the second half of the drop.
This is an important step for Massdrop, it marks the evolution of our ability to work with the best partners and designers to bring you the best versions of products for our communities. Each one of these collaborations is the result of our coming together to keep growing and moving our hobby forward.
Thanks for your participation!
EDIT 8/12/17: Here is a link if you are interested in the differences between the original COMPACT Tube Hybrid and the new CAVALLI Tube Hybrid. https://www.massdrop.com/talk/2167/the-massdrop-x-alex-cavalli-tube-hybrid-in-with-the-new
bfitz
671
Jun 2, 2019
pshanks01I have never had any issues using the EH tube, it was just very easily seated and removed.
The Matsushita, however required some effort on my part to get seated. I suspect that if I tried to lift the amp by the tube, the EH would just pull right out of the socket and the M would allow me to lift the amp off the stand it's on before it loosed from the socket. Something I am not willing to put to practice.
I am glad for your reply though and will post pics of both tubes side by side for a visual comparison of their pins.
If it does make any difference, the M is a Platinum grade, cryo treated tube. Not sure if that would be something to consider, in terms of how securely the tube is seated.
Sythrix
302
Aug 14, 2017
Can someone tell me why this is selling so fast? Who is this person and what's special about this AMP? Is it the power output at the price? SNR?
It doesn't have balanced output, so that's not it. The ship date is quite far so I'd like to know how this thing is "the bee's knees" so to speak. I was hoping it was balanced so I could have one for future endeavors, but now I don't know if there's any reason for me to get it.
Thanks
It doesn't have balanced output, so that's not it. The ship date is quite far so I'd like to know how this thing is "the bee's knees" so to speak. I was hoping it was balanced so I could have one for future endeavors, but now I don't know if there's any reason for me to get it.
Thanks
Hamrobes
72
Aug 16, 2017
They could google Cavalli and find out he makes some really expensive, good products. This is a new, cheaper product. There are lots of $250 amps available, so it makes sense for people to ask what makes this product better? And no, just because it's made by Cavalli doesn't automatically make it better than all other $250 amps. More info is needed.
I think it's lazy to assume a product is worth getting just because of the name on the product. So it you're worried about people being lazy, consider that perspective.
I think it's lazy to assume a product is worth getting just because of the name on the product. So it you're worried about people being lazy, consider that perspective.
koolpep
929
Aug 18, 2017
SythrixDr. Alex Cavalli design amps. People who bought them (like me) are very passionate about how good they sound. Hence a reputation starts to build over the years. And that’s where we are now.
AlexCavalli
293
Cavalli Audio
Feb 24, 2018
Hey folks. Here's a post I made at headfi. In case it's useful.
I see that many of you have or are about get your CTHs. Since I happen to have Serial #00001 I thought I might make a few comments on break in. First, the amp sounds pretty good out of the box, at least to me. But, as we all know tubes take about 50 hours to clear out the impurities still clinging to the various internal parts and SS portions do need some time. I don't think it's necessary to do a marathon break in session for 10,000 hours before listening. My experience has been that after about 25 hours playing music the amp begins to take on its full character. And then after that it evolves into is inherent sound signature. For me, I was able to listen fairly happily even with no hours, noticing the changes at about 25 hours and then better over time. I still have less than 100 hours on the amp. YMMV some. I hope you all like it. It has a long history from a popular and very compact DIY project to a much more sophisticated amp.
I see that many of you have or are about get your CTHs. Since I happen to have Serial #00001 I thought I might make a few comments on break in. First, the amp sounds pretty good out of the box, at least to me. But, as we all know tubes take about 50 hours to clear out the impurities still clinging to the various internal parts and SS portions do need some time. I don't think it's necessary to do a marathon break in session for 10,000 hours before listening. My experience has been that after about 25 hours playing music the amp begins to take on its full character. And then after that it evolves into is inherent sound signature. For me, I was able to listen fairly happily even with no hours, noticing the changes at about 25 hours and then better over time. I still have less than 100 hours on the amp. YMMV some. I hope you all like it. It has a long history from a popular and very compact DIY project to a much more sophisticated amp.
Dogfaceriley
1
Nov 27, 2018
AlexCavalliHello,
Love the amp! Would listening to the hard to drive HE6 cans at moderate levels be likely to trip the protection circuitry of the amp and shut it down, or would the CTH amp be likely to run out of gain before moderate levels were reached? HE6 sensitivity 82db, The amp has no problem with my HE5 cans which are 87db sensitivity; terrific sounding as well.
AlexCavalli
293
Cavalli Audio
Nov 28, 2018
DogfacerileyThe max output power is a little over 1W per channel. You might find this ok, but often not enough to satisfy with power sucking headphones like HE6.
bigjim
162
Aug 13, 2017
Doesn't "Hybrid Tube Amp" mean that the actual amplification of the signal is done by solid state op-amps?
bigjim
162
Aug 13, 2017
Thank you so much for taking the time for this conversation. Much appreciated! Endless? Maybe.
So, would you say that the massdrop-x-alex-cavalli-cth-tube-hybrid-amp has a sound of its own? If so, in what ways you say it deviates from 100% transparency? What are the characteristics of this "sound?" Which kinds of headphones (load type) would this "sound" best complement? Can this "sound" be described as a function of variations in frequency response (or distortion characteristics) with load type?
I know that I am hyper-curious. Hope you don't mind. Thanks!
Sorry... one more thing. Do you think that you could achieve the same "sound" with an all solid state design? Why or why not? (Remember the Bob Carver - Stereophile challenge of 1987?)
So, would you say that the massdrop-x-alex-cavalli-cth-tube-hybrid-amp has a sound of its own? If so, in what ways you say it deviates from 100% transparency? What are the characteristics of this "sound?" Which kinds of headphones (load type) would this "sound" best complement? Can this "sound" be described as a function of variations in frequency response (or distortion characteristics) with load type?
I know that I am hyper-curious. Hope you don't mind. Thanks!
Sorry... one more thing. Do you think that you could achieve the same "sound" with an all solid state design? Why or why not? (Remember the Bob Carver - Stereophile challenge of 1987?)
Morphenox
14
Jan 25, 2018
bigjim Wow these are some great questions and are really helpful . The answers from Alex are also really informative.
naderpug
33
Aug 15, 2017
I purchased one and want to mention how nice it is to see such rigorous conversation here! I've been lucky to have been involved in high end hi-fi for quite some time (Audio Research, Bryston, Sonus Faber, Manley Labs, Rega etc.) and thought to give new breed innovative developers such as Massdrop/Cavalli a go with this headphone amp unit. :)
Thought to mention that high end (some new school peeps refer to that as "end game - definitely not "entry level") is all about sound signature and the products ability to reproduce beautiful sonics. I believe there is a trend to exaggerate those facets here on this site to people that may still be finding their way.
This unit really needs to be judged by the sound it creates - the price is only relevant to that and its production quality. The hyperbole is terribly inefficient and I recommend Massdrop provide customers realistic expectations and produce review units for analysis for comparison to other similar items. The wait time is long, the unit cannot be tested by the masses, and there is potential for that to end badly for Massdrop.
The best high end items speak for themselves. I'm not sure this is Cavalli high end like people may be thinking it is. Massdrop - release units for people to hear.
Thought to mention that high end (some new school peeps refer to that as "end game - definitely not "entry level") is all about sound signature and the products ability to reproduce beautiful sonics. I believe there is a trend to exaggerate those facets here on this site to people that may still be finding their way.
This unit really needs to be judged by the sound it creates - the price is only relevant to that and its production quality. The hyperbole is terribly inefficient and I recommend Massdrop provide customers realistic expectations and produce review units for analysis for comparison to other similar items. The wait time is long, the unit cannot be tested by the masses, and there is potential for that to end badly for Massdrop.
The best high end items speak for themselves. I'm not sure this is Cavalli high end like people may be thinking it is. Massdrop - release units for people to hear.
Levvy
78
Jan 24, 2018
That’s usually the perks for most if not all reviewers. That’s why I take what reviewers say with a gigantic load of salt.
WOLFGANG420
20
Jan 25, 2018
LevvyGOOD POINT. But i joined this one hoping for the best. I also got the hd6xx and not really not impressed with the fit so.
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Rodmunch
179
Aug 14, 2017
dharkharmaI was really interested until I saw that ship date too. :/ Gonna pass probably and get a Schiit tube amp in the next month or 2.
Nearfielding
35
Aug 14, 2017
dharkharmaNot a fan of the Pay Now, Listen Later, Much Later MD biz model. But, it works for them. Just not for me.
NRNR
6
Aug 12, 2017
Can someone explain to me why they'd want a colored tube headphone amp?
Yes, it colors the signal in a (usually) pleasant way, but why do you want extra coloration/"a touch of tube character" at all? The musicians and producers already know the amount of tube that sounds good in the track. Then it's the signal path's responsibility to be clean, not dirty on purpose. Slapping tube on everything you hear seems unintuitive
Yes, it colors the signal in a (usually) pleasant way, but why do you want extra coloration/"a touch of tube character" at all? The musicians and producers already know the amount of tube that sounds good in the track. Then it's the signal path's responsibility to be clean, not dirty on purpose. Slapping tube on everything you hear seems unintuitive
smile17
69
Aug 12, 2017
Well, if you are a music producer, then I totally understand where you come from with your perspective. I actually respect that. I prefer my music to be as close to the producers' preference as possible so I have the option to listen to it critically with no coloration...or to add tubey sounds to it when my moods call for it. It's always good to have a clean plate to start with.
bigjim
162
Aug 20, 2017
Mr. Cavalli said that in this design, the tube has little effect on the SQ. He said that tube rolling will not make much difference in sound presentation with this amp. This, of course, assumes that you have a decent tube installed in the first place.
AveryC
1571
Feb 15, 2018
Hi Everyone,
The Massdrop x Alex Cavalli Tube Hybrid Amps are on their way to our warehouse in New Jersey! Once they arrive they will go through receiving and quality control checks. We are on track to meet our estimated ship date of February 27.
We are looking forward to everyone receiving the first production of the Massdrop x Alex Cavalli Tube Hybrid Amp!
EniGmA1987
614
Feb 16, 2018
AveryCAre the Carbon X's also on the same boat since the ship date is basically the same?
Jmunandar
176
Mar 3, 2018
Edit: Pretty darn good looking piece of equipment though.
RayF
22216
Mar 21, 2018
Could be, but I'm not allowed to buy any more amps until my Jotonheim gets here--you're on you own!
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