I Was Wrong! THIS is the audiophile amplifier EVERYONE wants (for home audio)

Affordable Audiophile Amplifier under $2000 for speakers at home is hard to come by but the Heaven11 Billie Amp Mk2 may just be one of the best under $2000 integrated amp I've heard.

Gear Mentioned in this video:

ANK Mentor Pre-Amplifier: TBD

link: No Longer Available

Speakers mentioned in this video:

Joseph Crowe No. 1680: Video Coming Soon

0:00 Introducing The Billie Amp Mk2
5:47 Billie Amp Mk2 Sound Review
9:08 Billie Amp Mk2 VS GanFet Amplifiers

#hifi #audiophile #homeaudio

[Jayiyagi]

*Thanks for stopping by!*


Gear Mentioned in this video:




ANK Mentor Pre-Amplifier: TBD

link: No Longer Available

Speakers mentioned in this video:





Joseph Crowe No. 1680: Video Coming Soon




0:00 Introducing The Billie Amp Mk2
5:47 Billie Amp Mk2 Sound Review
9:08 Billie Amp Mk2 VS GanFet Amplifiers

[carreras]

I have the first version and its excellent sounding! Tubes with a good class d amp is a match made in heaven!

[redstarwraith]

I'm glad you got around to reviewing this piece because I do remember how well you liked the original Billie.
Everyone I know who has reviewed this piece seems to really like its sound.

[williamcampbell]

This is from the Black Man O.G. music loving audiophile, (my full title!🤣). That is one low-key, gorgeous looking piece of high end audio!! Considering its descripted sound and customizable options it could be the integrated that could pull me away from my separates! I can see this being many peoples endgame for sure.The price is truly fantastic for what one gets. I love the equipment I have but I'm going to keep a lookout for this company. They seem like a great bunch of people to produce such a glorious piece. I'm blown away by its looks alone man!, WOW!

[abxaudiophiles]

😊 Great rundown Jay! Such a beautiful piece of kit

[gerhardreinecke]

As the pre-amp seems to be the star, it would be interesting to connect Ganfet AGD Audion MkIII's via the pre outputs on the Billy as a pre-amp only and compare the sound to the internal Ice outputs.

[foldspacenavigator]

Thanks Jay. I have a separates rig too and this is my first integrated in 20 years. Been driving my Buchardt 400mk2z and KEFls50metas (w/sub) with the Billie2 + an Ares2 DAC. Using the additional gold tube option and have been really enjoying the synergy & performance.

[robh]

Interesting to hear you speak so positively of an ICE module based amp!

[middleearthltd]

My biggest disappointment with integrated amplifiers, and this is exhibit A, is the seemingly irresistible inclusion of DACs, phono stages, streamers, etc.
The only component I have owned that does everything good/great is the Technics SU-GX70-K Network Audio Amplifier
It is a digital amplifier that converts analog to digital and back again at the output level and it is excellent with digital sources as well l so I don’t use my stand-alone DACs
As I understand it, it is not Class A or B or D
It has a nice streamer built in
It does some room correction
It has an excellent MM phono stage which is no surprise for Technics
The black unit goes for $1, 500
Not a lot of power 80/40 watts but all my speakers can be run off low power SE tube amplification so it is a lot of power for me
Not trying to push in on the Billie, but I would like to get it for $1, 500 or less as a power amplifier and eliminate crap “features”

[mortimersnerd]

Has anyone swapped out the tubes for 12AU7's? I looked up the ECC99 tube online and JJ are the only ones making these. However, on the Heaven 11 website, under the specs listing, it states that you can use 12BH7 or 12AU7 tubes. I just so happen to have 12AU7 tubes in my possession, so it made me wonder how the unit would sound compared to the ECC99 tubes?

[hubert]

Hi Jay, how about recommending top 3 speakers that pair well with the Billie, and are appropriate for this amp. I do value your experience. Thanks

[jikim]

It would been better if it was omitted Built In DAC (Digital Inputs) and focus on Analog In only and reduce the price and let the buyer put the money saved onto separate DAC. Great design and concept though. Maybe next version would be the one. :)

[riccitone]

Great review, and great to see such sweet combinations of a tube pre and class d power section. Kind of a side note, but would love your impressions of the latest Hypex offerings. In particular the Nilai. Probably not the same echelon as Starkrimson, but is supposed to be a VERY special amp 🙏🏼

[slowestrider]

What make you pick the Heaven 11 Mk2 over the Vicent SV 267 Mk2 that you picked as integrated amp of the year for 2022 if the difference in price is closer than $2000 vs $3000?

[pavelmarchev]

I would love to see you review Unison Research Unico hybrid amplifiers and compare them to this one (and others), since they are in similar price range! Zero Fidelity reviewed the Unico Primo and he only said good things about it, so I believe they will compete. Also, there is the newer Unico Due, so I believe you should give that one a try! Unico amplifiers don't have much reviews online, so that would be beneficial.

[jackfalco]

Absolutely correct regarding the dac in this unit

[KTgs]

This amp is the future of hifi, the combination of class D and Tubes, i had in the past a Bel Canto class D amp with a Icon audio tube pre-amp, the best sound i ever had.

[tee-jaythestereo-bargainph]

I need to compare Billy Badass vs Schiit Combo Freya Plus /vidar2 !! I been buying amps from $500-3kU.S. since 1989 and i spent lots of time with those amps from 70s era until today ! ! Thanks Jay 🇺🇸 vs 🇨🇦 Lets go !!

[baycchief]

Very nice. If you were to choose between this and the Willsenton R800i, which one? Or for more tube preamp sound, what would better this? Thanks

[luckyguliver]

I guess I was ahead of time because I got myself (just before COVID) D power amp build on Ice modules and added decent tube pre amp. Then I quickly came to the conclusion that this combo is a keeper.