A wide range of output voltage, easily adjustable with an accuracy of up to 0.1 V, a simple, user-friendly interface and setup, attractive, original design – all these inherent features of the Ferrum HYPSOS are just a prelude to the significant impact on the sound this device brings to the table. After all the listening sessions in multiple configurations, even though I had been a little bit skeptical at first, ultimately I had to admit that combining these two technologies, the linear and switching mode power supplies, gave excellent results. The sound improvement was significant and repeatable (in terms of character, differing in scale) regardless of the application. Using it ensured audible results in a form of more resolving, clearer, more transparent sound, that at the same time was beautifully smooth, coherent, fluid and natural. The dynamics were excellent, both in the small (micro) and large (macro) scale. The sound of the components powered with the Ferrum seemed particularly effortless, relaxed, non-digital and open. It also gained in terms of the spaciousness and imaging quality. The modification of this, already excellent in its original version, device proposed by the Metrum Lab, deepened the “HYPSOS effect” in many respects. The IFE technology focused on “organizing the movement of electrons” thus reducing the noise level, translated in the real life into an even more spatial sound, more precise imaging, and even better insight into all, even the tiniest details and subtleties of any recordings, without emphasizing them. The final result being an even more natural sound.

Conclusion

Horns high, a cigar in its mouth, strong spirit in its glass and smelling bad attitude from afar is how Ferrum OOR and Hypsos appeared to me. Dynamics and fun factor are its second names and this is really what makes them so unique sounding together. If you’re already saving for the OOR, then please consider adding the Hypsos down the road, as it’s The One that made it muscular and visceral sounding in the first place. It got a fantastic set of features, great connectivity, an amazing industrial design, a high-quality craftsmanship and it’s hard finding a needle in the haystack, when your body is filled with goose bumps. Although it has an eye watering price tag, no matter from what angle I’m looking, it just delivered every single time I pressed play and if you’re looking for a no-compromise solid-state amplifier, then you definitely came to the right place.

There is a lot of power to spare, you can drive anything out there and its noise floor was always in check. I didn’t spot compromises on their PCB boards, nor when music started playing and if you hunting for one of the best amps of the personal audio world, then please add the OOR and Hypsos to your short must-audition list. I’m extremely happy that headphone amplifier makers finally acknowledged our needs in driving the most sensitive and the hardest loads with a single component and this is where OOR and Hypsos are fitting in like a glove.

Considering its immaculate technicalities, its feature set and unique approach to music reproduction, it’s my pleasure awarding it our prestigious Gold Award. This is the second headphone amplifier to receive such an award and the only thing remaining to do is congratulating the Ferrum Audio team!