Feliks Audio Envy (Performance Edition) Review

If you’ve been following along recently, you know we’ve taken a dive into high end tube amplifiers. We had Fezz Audio’s Omega Lupi in for review a couple weeks ago and now we have another one. This time, it’s the Feliks Audio Envy Performance Edition. Clocking in with a grand total of $8,795 for Oak, or $8,995 for American Walnut, this amp is no joke. I couldn’t wait to plug this in and get a sense of what top of the line tube audio can do. I tried it with several headphones and got surprising results. But you’ll have to keep on reading to hear more. 

What’s in the Box:

• Matched pair of driver tubes CV-181(6SN7)
• Matched pair of power tubes 300B
• AC cord
• User Manual
• Warranty Card

Build:

The Envy features a robust metal chassis, providing a solid and durable foundation. This sturdy structure meets a natural, high-quality oiled wood finish, offering an elegant and timeless aesthetic. The front panel features both balanced XLR and unbalanced 6.3mm headphone outputs, along with a touch-sensitive stand-by button with an LED indicator, a volume control knob, an impedance selector, and an audio source selector.

On the back, you get a physical power switch located near the AC connector on the rear panel. The back panel also houses RCA pre-amplifier outputs and XLR connectors for balanced preamplifier output, with the output voltage regulated via the volume knob.

Design:

The Envy utilizes point-to-point wiring technology with custom-made single crystal copper (UPOCC) with Teflon insulation for all connections. Driving your volume control is an Alps RK27 potentiometer, which is known for its precision. As for tubes, it uses a two-stage preamplifier featuring CV-181 tubes and high-end coupling capacitors, and directly heated 300B tubes for the power stage. 

The Envy’s gain selection feature ensures compatibility with various headphone types through three distinct settings: Low Gain, ideal for dynamic headphones with impedance from 16 to 60 Ohms; Middle Gain, suited for headphones with impedance from 60 to 300 Ohms, including most planar magnetic headphones; and High Gain, designed for demanding planar magnetic headphones and dynamic headphones with impedance from 300 to 600 Ohms. When set to “Mid,” stereo speakers with a recommended sensitivity of over 94 dB can be connected to the 6.3mm headphone output, delivering approximately 5 Watts of output power.

Overall, the Envy can give you 5 watts of power at 16 ohms on middle gain. 

Sound Impressions:

How does the Envy sound? I tested it with various headphones, including the Final Audio D8000 Pro, Abyss Diana MR, and Sennheiser HD800S. The Envy produces some of the most refined, lush audio I’ve ever experienced. Let’s dive into the specifics for each headphone pairing.

D8000 Pro:

The Envy delivers an expansive sense of space with the D8000 Pro headphones, providing ample headroom and intricate soundscapes. Tracks like David Bowie’s “Blackstar” and “Lazarus” showcased the amplifier’s ability to convey intricate details and textures. Bass was well-controlled with a warm midbass bloom, while mids were crystal clear, delivering pristine vocals with a touch of tube sweetness. The highs were clear and crisp, creating a perfect blend of high-fidelity sound with a musical presentation.

Abyss Diana MR:

The Envy paired with the Diana MR offers an expansive soundstage, making vocals sound warm and lush without being overly colored. The mid-range dynamics were impressive, revealing subtle changes in strumming intensity on the guitar. The sense of space was so pronounced it felt like listening through an OLED TV, in that parts of the driver seemed almost inactive when not creating sound. This effect enhanced detail perception, especially in the midrange, uncovering nuances like vocal echoes in tracks such as “Bambina” by Vampire Weekend. In other words, it’s almost as if you can hear the absence of an instrument in the mix. While the bass extension was present, it was less pronounced than with the D8000 Pro, allowing other frequencies to shine.

Sennheiser HD800S:

Testing the Envy with the HD800S dynamic driver headphones yielded results similar to the D8000 Pro. The HD800S scaled beautifully with this amplifier, offering a warm, lush, and detailed sound. The soundstage was wide, and the bass response was more pronounced, creating a relaxed sound. This synergy between the amp and the headphone resulted in an unparalleled auditory experience.

Final Thoughts:

Evaluating an amp like the Envy can be challenging, but for those who prioritize sound quality over price, this is an excellent choice. It’s hard to find competitors that match its features and sound quality. If you’re in the market for a high-end tube amplifier, I highly recommend the Feliks Audio Envy Performance Edition.

The Feliks Envy (Performance Edition) is available at Audio46.