Sound – Headphones
I have selected 5 different types of headphones for this test:
- Meze Audio Empyrean – Planar Magnetic Driver – 32Ohm – 100dB
- HEDDphone – AMT Driver – 42Ohm – 87dB
- Hifiman HE6SE – Planar Magnetic Driver – 50Ohm – 82.5dB
- Beyerdynamic DT1990 PRO – Tesla Driver – 250Ohm – 102dB
- AKG K7XX – Dynamic Driver – 62Ohm – 105dB
The Meze Audio Empyrean is fairly easy to drive and the LD H1 makes it sound good. The Empyrean is high end headphone with a warmer and smoother tuning and it is very full bodied.
In balanced mode, the bass presence is quite enhanced on the Empyrean and it for me with this headphone is a little too big. Switching to the single ended output does wonders here. With both the balanced and the single ended you get a smooth and warm sound which is really musical. The treble section is soft and very easygoing with this combo. For me the bass of the SE output is ideal, but I prefer the spaciousness, musicality and naturalness of the balanced output most.
The HEDD Audio HEDDphone is harder to drive than the Empyrean and the volume goes up quite a bit.
I really like the HEDD with the LD H1 both in balanced and in single ended configuration. Bass is good in detail and it has just the right amount of body for my preference, call it musically neutral. Bass for me isn’t too powerful, not even in balanced mode. The spaciousness and naturalness in this combo are really impressive and the vocals are incredibly good. What I also like here is the depth and layering, the HEDDphone is so good in these areas even if it aren’t the LD’s strongest points. The mids are spacious, detailed and musical and the HEDDphone just is an excellent overall performer, also with the LD H1. The treble section is extends far enough but I know that the AMT driver inside the HEDDphone is capable of “more”. All-in-all a really exciting and pleasant combo to listen to.
The Hifiman HE-6SE isn’t always the easiest headphone to drive and get right, but the synergy between the LD amp and this headphone is quite good. A lovely wide and spacious sound stage is what you notice first, and that’s so typical of the HE-6SE. I was afraid the LD H1 would limit the HE-6SE too much in this regard but it actually works out.
The spaciousness and the extension really are other things you notice here, as well as the treble extension. There is less presence of body here in this neutral sounding combo, and you get a lighter yet fast and very precise sound. Bass here is more about quality than it is about quality, though there is plenty for me. If you like technically strong bass, the HE-6SE is a headphone to check out. The same goes for the mids for me: they sit just right in regards to fulness and presence and the balance, spaciousness, separation, and layering is simply gorgeous. Note decay and note timbre in the mids is also very impressive.
The Beyerdynamic DT1990 PRO in single ended mode, is very clean and clear sounding from the LD H1. The amount of body is lighter in bass and mids, though bass still has a nice kick and punch. You get a lighter, lively presentation where the vocals are more to the front.
To me this combination isn’t the very best and I’ve heard the DT1990 Pro sound quite a bit better on different type of amps. What I’m missing here is a bit of musicality and naturalness. I’m a fan of the Beyer, but this combo to me doesn’t sound engaging.
The AKG K7XX (or K701) isn’t a headphone I particularly like, but many people do. To be honest I didn’t expect to like this setup (single ended) but it turns out I do. What I am missing in the DT1990PRO in regards to musicality and engagement, is present here. The excellent stereo image is also something that strikes me here and the magic between the amp and headphone just is there. I have to say this is one of the very first times I have really enjoyed listening to this headphone. Great sound stage, spaciousness and detail mixed up with a good amount of body, engaging bass, mid smoothness and lively treble. Yep, I like it.
Conclusion
Little Dot by most audiophiles in the US and EU isn’t immediately looked at as a high end brand, but it’s only by listening to their gear that you can decide for yourself.
I myself (mea culpa) didn’t expect a lot of the LD H1 upfront, and the amp’s looks for me didn’t help either. But forget about the exterior design and hook up your favorite DAC and headphones to it and you will be very pleasantly surprised.
The hybrid Little Dot LD H1 amplifier will probably never win a prize in a beauty contest but the sound it delivers is quite impressive. With the 6SN7/6SL7GT tubes it makes a lot of tube rolling possible and it sound-wise will impress with it’s fully balanced design and XLR output.
If a unit after the review goes in storage you know it wasn’t very impressive, but the LD H1 is sitting right next to me in my upstairs office, on top of the Hifiman Jade 2 and Solaris amp. It’s in good company.
