Heaven 11 Billie amplifier: great SOUND, smart FEATURES, compact SIZE
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- Опубликовано: 22 апр 2023
- Correction: I messed up, the Billie remote IS metal, it's aluminum!
The Audiophiliac listens to the Heaven 11 Billie Mk II integrated amplifier with KEF LS50 META, Magnepan LRS+, Zu DW6, and Pure Audio Project Duet 15 speakers. And compares the Billie with Schiit electronics. This is a very special little amplifier.
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I messed up, the Billie remote IS metal, it's aluminum!
One thing about many Audio Review journalists across the years is that they never ... really ... had the product in their room, just a number of photos around which they'd make an article that included everything that ... the manufacturer wanted ... to say about their product. So ... yeah, they never listened to it (or you know held the remote control but the photo looked liked plastic, even although it was actually aluminum) but these (you know clowns) gave a review as if they'd very carefully, done all the work by themselves, of course, the main point of the Billie is its claimed match with Magneplan LRS Plus and we only need to find a demonstration place of the two products to see if they do measure up, and they will.
It's still incredibly cheap looking....like an Apple TV remote that costs 20 bucks. Thinks like that are a deal breaker for me.
@@robertbrody4032 No we get flashy remote controls that learn from the cheap handset output frequencies and they control our whole system, not just the amplifier. This cheap control is just you know, for programing these 'learning remote controls'.
@steveguttenbergaudiophiliac Would you recommend the Billie amp paired with the Klipsch RP-600M. Trying to put together my first stereo set up.
Imagine the pressure of playing live to a vinyl being written in real time with no room for error, these guys must have been playing for many years together.
You can book a session to do just that at Third Man Records in Detroit.
My tiny mind overheated when I saw this was designed & built in Quebec-- it gives me hope for the future. It's an attractive, highly original design at a great price, no? Oui! And I'm a vacuum tube fan for sure.
Class D amps get a bad rap sometimes (and often deservingly), but everyone who I know that has heard this amp, just raves about it! This was a great, detailed review on this. As always, thanks Steve!
Class D does sound dry and sterile, but you can fix that with tubes. 😉
@@seanb3303 not in this case
@@jackfalco5351 you find the Billie sterile even with the tubes?
@@seanb3303 well, sounds like a class d amp.
Well, Steve reckons it works best with Magneplan LRS Plus and using the ECC99 (that was made to work as a driver with 300B tubes). The 12BH7 is an old ... surplus television component but made in the tube era, when superior materials make it sound better than the modern ECC99.
Finally you reviewed the BILLIE AMP. I truly love this gem 💎
I fell in love with this amp through your review. Thank you for the great video, as always ❤
Thank you for another thoughtful review. You just help added another amp in my system when it is available again. :)
Mambo Nassau is a gem wowza and also, thanks for bringing headphones into the review mix. Hope you might consider doing that more often and adding to the audiophile mixology / synergy experience.
Great review, I absolutely love mine!
Great review...!!! Other than your equipment reviews, I appreciate your eclectic taste/knowledge of different music forms and thoroughly enjoy researching and playing these new-found artists/albums that you have presented during your reviews...!!! Thanks a lot for turning me on to the new music...!!! Much appreciated...!!!
Thank you so much, you got a try new music to keep it fresh.😊
Unfortunately, Billie is not for my actual budget, but I need to say that love your review. It is so personal and maybe just because of that, has such a great level of credibility, that is a joy to watch. On top of everything I love you mentioning the artists you used to listen to in your audition and review of the equipment. That is something special and I always go to search about them, when do not know the musicians. Please keep doing such a memorable and special review. My best wishes. Thank you!!
Excellent build and finish. Timeless styling.
Awesome review! Thank you! I love the content of this video.
Cheers.
Love the featured system of the day! Congrats!
Great presentation once again Steve and welcome back from Axpona. You know I am really digging all your attention to the LRS + speakers and EVERYONE on so many audio channels cannot stop raving on these "little guys" with tremendous presence. And nobody actually can answer why they blow away speakers 40 to 50 times it's price and yet the Billie can make them sing. Defies all logic.
Magic
Its great to see products like this (in the below $2K range) that provide "VERY GOOD" listening enjoyment/ pleasure
Thanks Steve for another great music recommendation. That Larry McNeely LP is on its way to my collection.
Great review Steve. This seems like a better sounding, more boutique take on some of the earlier peach tree integrated amps. Another nice tube preamp / SS power amp combo that gives you tube warmth and thickness and SS power, you can try Schiit Valhalla + Vidar. It's definitely limited in that you don't get multiple inputs or a remote but it sure sounds good. If you need remote control and multiple inputs you could use the Schiit Saga S as a front end followed by the Valhalla. Way more tube influence than just using the Saga +. It's a bit unorthodox and a lot of boxes but it's fun and affordable.
Have had mine for several years as part of a go fund me. Have it driving Tekton M-lores with a Fluance turn table. It sounds so lovely. More than enough power.
wait till you try some vintage glass on it. jj's and modern tubes in general were never considered the best at anything ,no matter what your taste is ,there is a vintage tube that will sound a lot better .i like using old mullards brimars ge's and siemens tubes but each has a specific tone, they will also last longer. enjoy
You mustn't have this Billie, it hasn't been around for several years, you must have the first version
@@crazyprayingmantis5596 yep. I have Gen 1.
@@yaniv-nos-tubes va-jay-jay sounds better than the NOS in this amp
It is so good on your channel Steve that you let us know the price one of the many great things you do when you make the videos thank you
I have a bunch of those Sheffield recordings sitting in storage because I don't own a turntable any more. My favourite of the bunch by far is Dave Gruisin Discovered Again, I wish I had the Larry McNeely but blue grass had a bit of a stigma for me back in those days (not any more). There's also one with Tower of Power which is pretty good, but many of them are more "demo" type records for showing off your system, a lot of HiFi stores had them on hand.
Excellent review Steve!
This sounds like a very good one box solution to driving some of my favourite speakers.
I use a Musical Paradise MP 701mk2 valve preamp/Bryston with my LRS.
The pre allows myriad valve and capacitor rolling options, including the ones you used here.
I hope you can review it.
Less than $1000 with v-caps...but it can turn into a money pit with all the available tuning options
😅
Currently running Mundorf SGO EVO supreme caps, rca a Sylvania 12sn7 & two12au7 with a big TAD 5u4g rectifier valve.
(The supplied valves should be replaced quickly ;-)
🎵🎶😊🎶🎵
Seeing that Dayton amp in the background; I’m looking forward to seeing the review on that one. Been looking at it for a while for a spare system in our guest room. Would love to hear it combined with RP600ms.
Love that Adcom 545 amp in the viewer system. Had one back in the day and wish I still had it.
Confederation is one great LP! As real as they get! Used to listen with my Belles and Quicksilver prototype monos. Just so 'you are there' sound....One of the best...Good show Steve
I have one and use it with Wathen cryotone tubes. Absolutely love it.
A beautiful product.
Nice. Thanks Steve.
"It has more soul..." Sold. This and some Harbeth P3ESR's sounds like a winning combination...
Steve is way too busy to read old posts but I found my experience to be similar and wanted to share. 11 months later, another utube + more research done, I decided to try it out. Have not had an integrated in over 20 and found all that is good about evolved class D with that tube shimmer via the gold JJ tubes. I prefer it with an R2R DAC though the headphone & phono inputs were a pleasant surprise and had me returning for more. I have it running with LS 50 metas, Buchardt 400mk2’z and a Relt5x at present though, also used it as just a pre-amp; just to see it perform with another set up used mostly for home theater and non critical listening. Built like a tank and the silver with marble is 🎯✨. A keeper for me.
Thanks for the review. I bought one based on your review (and a few other reviews) and on my experience using an Elekit TU-8500 tube preamp with a Hypex NC502MP Class D power amp. So far, a bit underwhelmed compared to the Elekit/Hypex combo. Speaking of Elekit, the Billie's design resembles the discontinued Elekit EKF-01, though the latter suffered from low power output.
It's a no brainer! Have to listen to Billie Strings on the 11 Billie amp Seriously Billy Strings is an amazing new blue grass performer and is just burning it up! I think he's won a Grammy already A must listen
Looks like the future of integrated amps to me.
Sounds like an Amp that I would really enjoy! THANKS for all the music! 👍🏼😀👍🏼
Would love to hear your thoughts on the Vincent hybrid amps
Beautiful amp.
Mambo Nassau. Love that album
I was pleased to see the tubes were JJ. Electronics ! I am slowly rolling a change over to ALL JJ. Electronics tubes in my Willsenton R8. Got the EL-34 and preamp tubes changed so far. WOW! These tubes are made by the original Tesla Co. NOT Russian NOT Chinese. Made in the Slovak Republic. Thank you Steve 🙂
This looks like a fine upgrade in power from my AmpCampAmp monoblocks that are feeding my PAP Trio 10
Steve is the best! Great content
Thanks for the review. Issue I’ve had is customer service. Good luck getting them to sticking to their warranty promises if something goes wrong. I know they haven’t with me.
Rogue sphinx mk2 or 3 (can’t remember the latest) would be a cool comp. But this looks like one heck of an amp.
I have the sphinx v3 paired with LRS and would like to know how this compares.
I like it , cool !!!!! Surf trip to Bali more priority, same price , hahaha. Great presentation !!!!! Aloha
I keep getting ads for this damn thing. I MIGHT have been more interested rather than annoyed if i had any reason for more than 20w. I really like the aesthetic. dgaf about remotes. But I do appreciate that it's not a 1million and 1 button like the one for my Cary that can only change the volume. It's been in the box for the past three years, no point having it out.
When I was in the market for a new amp I really wanted one of these - they had no stock for months and months......and months. I gave up went a different route
Dig the user system - simple, private, personal. 🖖
they should offer a marble remote option
They do
I wish you would have mentioned how the remote volume responded. Most manufacturers, if they use a motor to turn the volume knob (via remote) have the speed set too high/fast, making it difficult to make slight, precise volume adjustments. Like most reviews, no mention at all of that issue.
You're right, but I found the ramp up, ramp down volume speed just right.
great review. this amp can sound a lot better with nos tubes. ive just retubed my rogue rp 1 preamp with vintage mullards and it sounds a lot better than with stock tubes.
Have you heard this with nos tubes?
Sounds best with gold pin jjs ecc99
@@jackfalco5351 No ... gold pin were a British ... military tube thing but you know, home tube amplifier users are able to clean up the standard pins regularly with some fine emery paper, ground glass paper. The gold pin was only to preserve the connection in hard to reach service places.
@@keplermission ? Heaven 11 sells gold pin ecc99. My experience is this sound better than N OS tubes in this unit.
@@jackfalco5351 Yeah but ... Steve already said that, you know, we don't add something Steve already put in. You know ... 'N OS tubes', ... I'm an 'old cowhand from the Rio Grand' (like Herb Reichert) and you know, N OS tubes that aren't modern ... have tolerance issues. You know they all sound different until ... you get a service tech to change your under-chassis elements to best match any particular N OS tubes. But as Nelson Pass would say, 'under the same conditions' you know N OS tubes would sound the same. But 'tube rolling' does apply to some tubes like EF86, but most are a tolerance/ 'transfer characteristic' issue.
this is such a good one box solution for the living room system, but at this price how much more would it cost to add a HDMI arc input? I'll save my pennies for the next revision i guess...am i the only person who uses their stereo for TV duty as well? i mean if I can play the lrs+ from this tiny box and the beautiful look of those tubes🤩
also this is made in Canada and yet the prices are quated in every other currency except Canadian🙄
thank you Mr. Guttenberg😈
The name is a bit much really . Thanks Steve 😉👍
Hi Steve, love your channel! I am ready to order this amp but want to pair it with the Zu Dirty Weekend Six. You seem to like the combo in this video. Should I go ahead and order? Thanks!
I ordered DW6 after falling in love with the sound at a bar/breakfast spot near Petco park in San Diego. They were being driven by a McIntosh MAC6700 and sounded amazing. In a bar! Looking for something to drive them and this looks like it fits the bill. Did you get one?
Hi Steve
Great video. I just think it worth mentioning that apart from all the gear we could hear, it all comes down to how the music is served up to you, either digitally or as analogue. Having upgraded my CD player lately, I've enjoyed better sounding music, that is until I treated myself to a remastered CD , namely, Signals by Rush. It sounded deeper but also a little dull. The original 1982 vinyl is more clear and airy. So, my point is that what comes through our speakers may be a faithful representation of what is there, but if someone in this modern digital era has sabotaged a favourite album, then thank God, you kept the vinyl!
Steve I would love to hear your review of Rogue audio Pharoah integrated or Dragon power amps . They are hybrid tube/ class D and step up from the Sphinx. I am curious if they reach the level of organic tubiness which you heard in Billie. It’s a real shame about the Billie remote though!
I like your secularism opinion about amplifier and how it sounds , very diplomatic , After a while in your channel I can read between lines now
Thanks for another amazing review, Steve. I want to ask if I can run my Dynaudio Contour 20is in a small/medium room?
Sure!
Been waiting for this review, Steve. Thank you.
I’m considering the Zu DW6 and Billie mkii combo. Can you comment on the noise floor. Did you notice any audible amp noise on these sensitive speakers?
Thank you again!
There is some noise/hiss audible. A very small amount. If you want dead silence better stick with solid-state. I certainly didn't find it intrusive
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac thanks Steve! Rock on.
Thanks Much !
Thanks for the really good evaluation. I am considering the Billie with my Dynaudio Special 40s but since the speakers are more neutral to slightly warm as opposed to bright will a tube sound amp soften the dynamics. I'm not familiar with tubes so asking from a solid state point of view.
TRY a 5814A RCA .......( when lukcky you could find a triple mica /black plate ) .........sounding great, full , warm and very dimensional like in a great sounding concerthall .
IF you like more up and go and energy of the music, try a 12BH7A GE ............
And if you listen trough the cleanest window with a inequaled transparancy and fine " timbre " ( tone) ..........choose a ECC82 Telefunken flat plate.......
The last choice in tubes being my personal experience and taste are those current production tubes include the JJ tubes......I live, work,build, repair and listen with tubes for more than Sixtie years.
Have a nice day..................this amp may sound ( very ) good and give you listening pleasure for some years but ..........not for decades..
Currently just a Magnavox 8802, PAS-M Preamp, and pair of Altec 604-8g's.
I'm sure it sounds great.
Steve, your commentary on the phono stage seemed to cut off. I agree with what you’ve said several times that most integrated phono stages are included for convenience and aren’t great. How did this stack up to something like the Mani2?
System of the Day: It would be great to only see the electrical sound machinery and also hear what music the people listen with their system.
The design is understated. I’m not sure on the class D part. I’m so used with an AB amp.
If you used to AB, like I am, you may be disappointed with this amp. But the preamp with my amp was a good combination.
Great review Steve! How do you think this would compare to the rogue cronus magnum iii with KEF LS50 metas?
Do you like your ear level listening height to be even with the tweeter? How do you do that with a short speaker like the dirty weekends? If you do
Steve, I noticed that the Billie web site recommends against using a high impedance speaker and specifically mentioned the DW6! Interesting as you liked the sound. I wonder if long term use is not good for the amp? Think I'll call them as I was thinking about using it with a pair of DWX.
That's not true of all DW6s, pretty sure the one I have is 8 ohms. too high impedance is not at all likely to harm an amplifier. Too lowl, pushed really hard, that would be a problem.
Hello Steve would you say the Billie would be one of your favourite amps for the Maggies?
When you used Qobuz did you stream with Bluetooth? I am 100% Tidal user and I am afraid if streamer in amp is good or if I would need a dedicated streamer. Thanks
Yuja Wang Is a pianists pianist. I don't think there's anyone in this world who could play as fast and precise as her. She is totally off-the-wall incredible.
...and off the wall gorgeous! ❤
She's indeed passionate and powerful, but in terms of precision, I'd say she's not that precise/accurate, the end of certain notes could arguably seems rushing / slightly short. (not saying she's not good, just purely from technical perspective per se) In this regard, Alexander Malofeev has done better in precision (with speed) for the same pieces.
Understanding that one must pair the amp to an appropriate speaker, in the event that is accomplished, which sound do you prefer - the Decware Sarah or the Billie? Why?
Bummer. I was hoping Steve would use this with his Elac Uni-fi Reference speakers.
Go Canada. 🇨🇦
I have a true High-End "Tube-stereo" in my bedroom. A powerful Philips MCM906
My current amplifier has a mono button... Is there a way to get the most out of my mono records with this amp? I'm sure one could make the argument that by using a stereo cartridge and a mono button on my amplifier I am already not getting the most out of said records, but how do mono records sound/work with an integrated stereo tube amp like this one?
How do you think it would compare to the Schiit Freya + with tubes on and a Schiit amp, like the Vidar or Aegir?
Hello again from Florida, Hmm,
My neighbour is Steven King the writer !
He wrote a small book on Writing where he suggests to NEVER use words that end in "ly".
I'm only mentioning this ( to you ) because you are one of the very few Audio Writers with "high integrity" and whose frequent words ending in ly dilute intended meanings. I'm suggesting that your comments without the word "really" build a stronger statement.
You share insightful and important discoveries, why dilute the message ( unless it's intended ? ).
Steven King's Book on Writing is briliant !
Thank you for your Show journalisms, You, Herb & Tyll are the giants of the diminishing world of HighEnd Audio.
Tony in SW Florida
😂 😂 wow. Really?!?
Have you reviewed the McIntosh MA252 integrated hybrid amplifier?
Steve, how does the Billie compare with the NAD M23 amp? Really hoping to hear your valuable comments. Thanks.
Hi Steve, would you recommend the Heaven 11 with the OHM WALSH 1000?
Hello, Steve! 🙋♂️👐👋
Tubes make everything better…freya + with vidar 2 would be a fairer fight
Seems like the Rogue Sphinx would have been a better item for a comparison to the Billie than the Schiit stuff.
Gooo Canada WHOAAA
Holfi also had wood knobs
Billies knob feel? Am I on the right channel?
Any comments on the noise floor of this amp using sensitive speakers? I have heard reports of this amp having a higher noise floor.
With high sensitivity Zu speakers here is an acceptable amount of hiss. Not audible when music is playing.
v3; Ditch the dac and phono and swap out ice for purifi?
How would the Vandersteen 2Ce Signature 3 speakers work with the Billie? A good match? LRS Maggies better?
may i ask when the review of the gato monoblocks is coming ? im already pretty hyped
Within a month or so, I am waiting for two sets of power-hungry speakers to use in that review.
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac nice, i can't wait
I have amps,what's a good tube pre amp 🤔
What about the DAC? Please complete the review...
Steve, which ECC99 did you use: the red or the gold?
Gold
The Heaven 11 Billie website says they do not recommend Zu DW6 speakers with the Billie amp. Why would that be?
How would this compare to the Rogue Sphinx hybrid amp?
On the Billie mk2, how do you switch the PRE/LINE output so that you either get a fixed LINE level signal or be able to adjust the volume with the volume control knob (to use with a sub or powered monitors)? Is there a switch somewhere or do you have to use the remote? Also, does the headphone jack deactivate the speakers and/or the PRE/LINE output?
You press and hold the source knob while on standby to make the switch between the two
@@jackfalco5351 Ah! Super. Thanks for your reply. 👍🏻
Hi Steve would you review Rega elex mk4 integrated amplifer?
If you have one, how about some feedback please. Thanks.
Did you try the Billie as a preamp into the Schiit?
Preamp best part of this unit
From my experience, tubes need some burn-in time before they really open up. I wonder if the other tube choices wouldn’t give you a different presentation after a few hours of burn-in. Might change your opinion.
I had them all 24 hours before I listened to them.
Maybe noob question but can we use this integrated amp with the freya + ?
No
Hi Steve I’m Nick in Michigan, I have pair of lrs, driving them with Hegel h360 , how does the Billie 11 compare? Better worse tubes make it better? I’m very interested in your thoughts please respond thankyou so much Nick
Well, since I've never repeat your amplifier I have no idea. Sorry
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac ok how about compared to the Hegel h95 or h90 I believe you reviewed on of them I think
The Hegel especially the 360 is on a different level all together. Hegel has huge dampening factor which is great for driving inefficient speakers. As far as the 90 or 95, I’d also say it’s on another level. The 95 You get a lot more options, streamer, much better dac class A/B which 99.9% always sounds better than class D. If you wanted a hybrid, I’d look at Pathos which sounds better than Hegel and the Billie. If you care where stuff is made in, Pathos is 100% made in Italy. Built like a tank, gorgeous to look at and gorgeous sound. Hegel China, Billie made in Canada. Pathos for sound quality, Hegel for an all in one unit.