Hi, been lurking for a while, and enjoying the posts....
The LSA Warp One uses the TPA3255 chip, with proper power supply can do 300wpc. But it also doesn’t measure quite as well as some of the other tech (especially Purifi and GaN).
I have enjoyed playing around with a lot of inexpensive amps using various chips. I have also owned Ric’s EVS1200 (and 4 other of his products), a few amps (DIY and one from VTV) using Purifi modules, as well as the Orchard Audio GaN mono’s and Stereo Ultra.
I WILL say that a cheap ($60 w/o brick PS) 3255-based ChiFi amp I got sounds quite nice for that cheap $; this and several others are indeed bargains, but would certainly be bettered by better implementations of likely better chips. None of the amps I have tried get to the level of the EVS1200, Purifi, or GaN amps I have or had. But they get a decent % for TINY money!
If what LSA does is greatly improve the pieces around the 3255 chip, then the Warp One may still be worth it. But I think it may be a bit too pricey, and my belief is that the Voyager will be better enough to warrant saving up for it. Or....look at some other slightly less expensive GaN options that Ric had mentioned previously (I am definitely a fan of Orchard products). [EDIT: looked at some of the design notes and specs on LSA page, and it IS impressive. I still believe that the GaN will sound even better though]
To me: a well-modded Purifi-based amp, or well-implemented GaN-based amp, are the best I’ve heard. Makes me miss tubes and Class A not one bit.
The LSA Warp One uses the TPA3255 chip, with proper power supply can do 300wpc. But it also doesn’t measure quite as well as some of the other tech (especially Purifi and GaN).
I have enjoyed playing around with a lot of inexpensive amps using various chips. I have also owned Ric’s EVS1200 (and 4 other of his products), a few amps (DIY and one from VTV) using Purifi modules, as well as the Orchard Audio GaN mono’s and Stereo Ultra.
I WILL say that a cheap ($60 w/o brick PS) 3255-based ChiFi amp I got sounds quite nice for that cheap $; this and several others are indeed bargains, but would certainly be bettered by better implementations of likely better chips. None of the amps I have tried get to the level of the EVS1200, Purifi, or GaN amps I have or had. But they get a decent % for TINY money!
If what LSA does is greatly improve the pieces around the 3255 chip, then the Warp One may still be worth it. But I think it may be a bit too pricey, and my belief is that the Voyager will be better enough to warrant saving up for it. Or....look at some other slightly less expensive GaN options that Ric had mentioned previously (I am definitely a fan of Orchard products). [EDIT: looked at some of the design notes and specs on LSA page, and it IS impressive. I still believe that the GaN will sound even better though]
To me: a well-modded Purifi-based amp, or well-implemented GaN-based amp, are the best I’ve heard. Makes me miss tubes and Class A not one bit.