Feliks Audio Envy Susvara Edition Headphone Amplifier

A high-power edition with a number of upgrades resulting in performance that's close to the 25th Anniversary Edition

Feliks Audio's flagship, the Envy, was released in 2021, and it was quickly apparent that it was a match made in heaven for the HiFiMAN Susvara, one of the most demanding pairs of headphones on the market.

The original Envy became one of the headphone community's favorite amplifiers and both Feliks and HiFiMAN knew there was a market for an official pairing. The Envy Susvara Edition sits above the Envy Performance, and its many upgrades bring it very close to the level of the Envy 25th Anniversary Edition.

Increased Power Output

The most important change is the increase in power output to ably handle the Susvara's lightning-fast demands. The Susvara Edition sports new gain settings:  Low, High, and Susvara. The latter provides up to a 12% increase in power output. The Susvara Edition outputs up to 9 watts of power, a significant step-up compared to the Envy Performance. Thanks to that, the Susvara Edition can power any headphones on the market, harnessing every ounce of your headphones’ potential.

Another improvement is the use of new amorphous-core output transformers. The Envy 25th Anniversary Edition taught Feliks how much difference this type of transformer can make, so using it in the most powerful Envy edition to date was obvious. These custom-made components provide ultra-low noise and superior dynamics compared to other amplifiers in the summit-fi class. Another advantage of amorphous-core transformers is the incredible extension of the frequency response, absolutely essential in an endgame headphone amplifier.

The Finest Tubes

The Envy Susvara Edition comes with some of the finest 300B tubes available: the Stradi S300B. This carefully matched premium 300B tube set provides great frequency response and a precise, detailed, and airy sound signature. This arrangement results in the most technical and detailed presentation achievable with your favorite headphones. Envy Susvara Edition is compatible with any 300B power tubes that have a standard filament voltage of 5 Volts, allowing you to tailor the amplifier’s sound to your specific needs.

Apart from the power tubes and transformers, several signal-critical components, such as capacitors and resistors, have been upgraded, matching the Envy 25th Anniversary Edition. Using high-precision components from brands such as Jantzen, Vishay, Nichicon, or Dale, Feliks is able to maximize signal clarity and fidelity. A number of modifications to signal wiring have resulted in better noise reduction.

Additional improvements include tweaks to better stabilize tube parameters and enhance protection in case of tube failure. The preamp output has also been modified and optimized to reduce noise levels and better handle the higher signal levels. 

The Finish

The Envy Susvara Edition has a similar design to the Envy Anniversary Edition, but celebrates the solid wood over using a black piano finish. This luxurious, richly grained finish is available in wenge, but other finish options are available on request.

In The Box

• Envy Susvara Edition Headphone Amplifier
• 2 x Stradi S300B tubes
• 2 x PsVane CV-181 Mk. 2 tubes
• AC Power Cord
• User Manual
• Warranty Card

Specifications

Inputs: 2 x unbalanced RCA (IN1, IN2); 1 x balanced XLR (IN3)

Input Sensitivity: 1 V RMS

Input Impedance: IN1 and IN2 (RCA): 100 kΩ; IN3 (XLR): 10 kΩ

Pre-Amplifier Outputs: 1 x pair RCA; 1 x pair XLR

Maximum Output Voltage: 5 V RMS

Output Impedance: 600 Ω

Maximum Output Power: 9 W

Amplifier Output Impedance: LO at 32 Ω load: 3.8 Ω; HI at 600 Ω load: 20 Ω; SUSVARA at 600 Ω load: 22 Ω

Headphone Outputs: 6.3 mm, 4-pin XLR

Power Consumption: 110 VA

Dimensions (WHD): 13.78" x 7.28" x 13" (35 x 18.5 x 33 cm)

Weight: 33.29 lb. (15.1 kg)