Re: 100TB (True balanced) [Text courtesy Aroma audio, 13.August.2021]
A100 TB true balanced is an innovative and evolved version of A100. On the premise of improving the overall sound quality of A100TB, the internal circuit and many parts have been rebuilt. Under this premise, A100TB only supports 4.4mm input and output. There are two pairs of single op amps inside. Players can still change the op amps according to their personal tastes.
Compared with the A100, the thrust of the A100TB is significantly improved, the sound will be purer, more powerful, more three-dimensional, and the image will be more clear and moving.
Specs:
320mW - 16 Ω
530mW - 32 Ω
860mW - 100 Ω
310mW - 300 Ω
160mW - 600 Ω
S/N ratio: 115dB @ 800mW 100Ω 1KHz
THD+N:0.0006% @ 800mW 100Ω 1KHz
My trusty ole' M0 just updated its FW to 3.6 - the would be Transport
Cannot do this on the M0, only SE, but can make the VO fixed, so it works as a LO as well.
Next, will be queries to my fav. shop re: custom Totem 4.4 balance interconnects.
Have to make a 1 end dummy 4.4 coming from the 3.5 SE
Re: Form factor
It's not that huge. I have finally come to terms w/ going back to stack
for the best SQ, in an acceptable portable set. Instead of chasing a dap, that I know, a source and an amp will always be better, regardless of brand of dap.
All this, after the Chinese new year.
Hopefully this'll happen sooner than later...
Re: Form factor
It's not that huge. I have finally come to terms w/ going back to stack
for the best SQ, in an acceptable portable set. Instead of chasing a dap, that I know, a source and an amp will always be better, regardless of brand of dap.
It's my doubt, spend a lot of money on a better dap or chose an amp?
I'm pretty sure an external amp can have better quality on paper because has huge power supply that a dap cant have inside, but a friend told me he much prefer a Fiio M17 over RS6+C9 and C9 isn't a cheap amp...
Dimensions are very similar with my dap, make a sense pairs them.
Aroma A100TB 121x69x30mm
Hiby RS6 130x73x15mm
Here, I uncast my doubt. A source + an amp IS the way to go, for the best, most efficient SQ.
The DX312 is a superlative dap SQ ui wise and all of it in a single package, no doubt. But when hooked up to the TR amp, head scratching time, lol.
How come the Earmen sounded better?
I'm pretty sure an external amp can have better quality on paper because has huge power supply that a dap cant have inside, but a friend told me he much prefer a Fiio M17 over RS6+C9 and C9 isn't a cheap amp...
Did any of you guys get the A100TB yet? I demoed (and bought) it yesterday with the Aroma Jewel and was quite blown away by it, especially with the PS100 (got this too) jacked in, on my HM1000 Quad. Improving the resolution, separation and flaunting micro details across frequencies, effortlessly driving the Jewel with headroom to spare. I've tested the Cayin C9 and Phatlab Chimera, and granted there are a lot more features but for pure power bang for the buck, the A100TB+PS100 is a hard act to beat. Anyone shopping for a good solid balanced amp needs no looking further. This is it. Heh, unless it blows up. I'll share more experiences after I've had a chance to use it for a while...
Did any of you guys get the A100TB yet? I demoed (and bought) it yesterday with the Aroma Jewel and was quite blown away by it, especially with the PS100 (got this too) jacked in, on my HM1000 Quad. Improving the resolution, separation and flaunting micro details across frequencies, effortlessly driving the Jewel with headroom to spare. I've tested the Cayin C9 and Phatlab Chimera, and granted there are a lot more features but for pure power bang for the buck, the A100TB+PS100 is a hard act to beat. Anyone shopping for a good solid balanced amp needs no looking further. This is it. Heh, unless it blows up. I'll share more experiences after I've had a chance to use it for a while...
Nothing unexpected with the LO, in this case, off the balanced 4.4mm port. Worked flawlessly, and as expected the HM1K needed the extra juice to scale up wonderfully. My intention was to amp the HM1K on the go, which makes the size an important point. I considered many amps at an acceptable form factor and didn’t find any balanced option available. The A100TB easily passed the form factor criterion, as you can see below.
The light, compact and versatile HM1K is my travel DAP; I could stream using my iphone/ipod, which also controls the music playback off the SD card. To justify the extra mass of the A100TB was not too difficult -- a credit to the vast SQ improvement. But stacking the PS100 too would be a brick too far for on-the-move listening within reason or sanity. Although, I will likely bring the PS100 along to listen in the hotel room, well, at least on the next trip I will.
The Phatlab Chimera is quite similar to the Cayin C9 in almost every way. They are both very good and ladened with many cool features but unfortunately, neither amp fits what I was looking for to pair the HM1K with. Right away, the form factor was out -- it's a complete mismatch and ruins the elegance and portability of the HM1K altogether. Plus I didn't need or want the DAC and the dual timbre option (SS and Tube) was a novelty that I also didn't need so before the listening even begun, it had already lost many points.
When I did finally listen, I was relieved that the synergy just wasn't there. Yes, I heard the extra power but for some reason, the HM1K lost some of that special refinement that R2R DACs were known for and with that, so went the musicality and I did not enjoy it at all. I must admit that my assessment could very possibly have been skewed by the poor physical match, but fact is, it certainly did not impress me enough to overcome any bias I may have harbored.
With the A100TB, the revelation was quite serendipitous. I was so intent on listening to the Jewel that I forgot I even had it amping the HM1K throughout the audition. It was when I unplugged that A100TB at the end, then wanted to listen to another track I missed that I realised how much the HM1K was missing the A100TB! Ok ok, granted that the HM1K was never going to be able to drive the Jewel on its own, but I can say the difference was quite night and day. Additionally, as a bonus, the PS100 added even more enhancement, though incremental, to the experience.
If you didn't already know, both the Chimera and C9 cost more than double that of the A100TB. And even with the PS100 and the Aroma OCC Litz 4.4-to-4.4 interconnect thrown in, the package still cost less. All in all, to say I am very pleased is an understatement.
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