Heed amplifiers?

[JohnVF]

I'm beginning to contemplate small solid state integrated amps since my Leben CS-300x is such a pain in the **s to match speakers to. Does anybody here have an opinion on Heed integrated amps? They look like exactly what I want, but I haven't heard one.

 

[fiddlefye]

I'm beginning to contemplate small solid state integrated amps since my Leben CS-300x is such a pain in the **s to match speakers to. Does anybody here have an opinion on Heed integrated amps? They look like exactly what I want, but I haven't heard one.

Erik and I were just talking about Heed recently. I think Glen has some and am hoping to hear one very soon if things work out. I've been haunting their website the past few days trying to glean more info.

 

[JohnVF]

I was reminded of them while watching a youtube video of the Royd Mistrels that I just bought, as they were connected to one of the Heed predecessors. I know, its YouTube but it got me intrigued. Small form factor, can add a bigger power supply later... simple, clean, signal path.

 

[prime minister]

@MikeO has the predecessor of the Heed Obelisk, and I thought it sounded lovely.

 

[fiddlefye]

The small-form-factor integrateds come in two flavours - Elixir and Obelisk. Glen tells me he likes both, but thinks the Obelisk is better, which it ought to be at nearly twice the price. I'd have to hear both to have any idea. I do have to say I find the look of the Elixir a titch off-putting, reminds me a bit of a cable TV box. I'm probably just an old fuddy-duddy.

 

[JohnVF]

The small-form-factor integrateds come in two flavours - Elixir and Obelisk. Glen tells me he likes both, but thinks the Obelisk is better, which it ought to be at nearly twice the price. I'd have to hear both to have any idea. I do have to say I find the look of the Elixir a titch off-putting, reminds me a bit of a cable TV box. I'm probably just an old fuddy-duddy.

No, you're right. That thing is UGLY.

 

[Opa1]

Someone here had the Elixir. Not sure. It was for sale a while back.

 

[Thermionics]

I'm beginning to contemplate small solid state integrated amps since my Leben CS-300x is such a pain in the **s to match speakers to. Does anybody here have an opinion on Heed integrated amps? They look like exactly what I want, but I haven't heard one.

How is the Leben a PITA? Is it the 15WPC, or is it the voicing? If the former, there's plenty of efficient speakers out there to choose from. If the latter, then I totally understand.

-D

 

[fiddlefye]

No, you're right. That thing is UGLY.

I hate to be shallow about this sort of thing, but - yeah. UGLY - whatever-were-they-thinking ugly. Not that every piece of gear I own is a thing of beauty, but.... The Obelisk is nicer looking, though still not in the Sugden A-21 range of attractive (which it seems it has closest sonic relationship to perhaps).

 

[MikeO]

I have the Ion Obelisk 2 which is a predecessor of the Heed Obelisk. My understanding based on internet research is that the history of the design goes back to the designer Richard Hay who worked at Radford then created Nytech, and then Ion Systems. Both of these firms had a great number of fans and years later Heed approached Richard Hay to develop a new version of the amp. I love the Obelisk 2 and would suspect that the Heed is even better although I have not had an opportunity to hear it, nor could I raise the funds to purchase it if I wanted one. Here is an obituary for the designer:

https://www.whathifi.com/news/obituary-richard-hay-1944-2012

 

[StevenZ]

I had the Elixir for a while. Great little amp that always seemed to wow me with it's quick footedness and rythmic drive. Not the last word in resolution but lots of fun to listen to.

 

[prime minister]

I had the Elixir for a while. Great little amp that always seemed to wow me with it's quick footedness and rythmic drive. Not the last word in resolution but lots of fun to listen to.

That's the best kind of amp. A fun one

 

[fiddlefye]

Well, we heard one yesterday fairly extensively, an Elixir (paired with a wide range of speakers) and it was very good. Amazing that one little box handled whatever was thrown at it with such aplomb, really. I would have liked to hear the Obelisk as well, but that will be for another day!

 

[JohnVF]

Yeah that little amp was phenomenal. Too bad it looks like a cable box! Those couple of hours listening to it sure put the higher-up Obelisk on the radar for any future solid state integrated needs. The Leben is working out wonderfully with the Royd speakers, so I find myself not needing an amp.. but maybe I could play around with a much more affordable Ion Obelisk just for fun sometime.

 

[ICTWoody]

This echos my experience as well. I had an Elixir for a few months and it was seriously enjoyable. I would have kept it, but I just didn’t have a place for it.

- Woody

I had the Elixir for a while. Great little amp that always seemed to wow me with it's quick footedness and rythmic drive. Not the last word in resolution but lots of fun to listen to.

 

[rogerfederer]

https://www.stereophile.com/content/heed-audio-elixir-integrated-amplifier