[DigitalFreak]

Taken directly from the ALO Audio site
 
 
Quote:

The International is the newest balanced headphone amplifier and high resolution DAC from ALO audio. 
Designed to connect all parts of your audio world; portable and desktop, digital and analog, balanced and single-ended. 
Powerful enought to drive the most challenging headphones, sensitive enought to pair with your favorite IEMs and small enough to take anywhere the music takes you.
 
High Resolution 24 Bit / 96 kHz DAC
Utilizing the top of the line Cirius Logic CS4398 DAC chip The International sounds exactly what'd you'd expect from ALO audio.  Full, rich and detailed; the chip found in many high-end SACD and CD players in now in a compact and portable amplifier.
 
 
Balanced Inputs and Outputs
The International is designed to be balanced from the start. Regardless of the input, single-ended or balanced, you can take advantage of the balanced circuit design featuring the high perormance Burr Brown DRV134 balanced line driver chips for dramatic and dynamic musical swings.
 
Fits In The Palm of Your Hand
The powerful balanced headphone amplifier and high resolution DAC are excellent on their own, but combined into this small package, they are not to be missed.  
Powerful enought to drive the most demanding headphones on the market and at the same time the right match for even the most sensitive IEMs.
 
 

Picture Gallery
 

 

 
 
 

 
Specs
 
Battery: 1600 mAh Lithium-Polymer
Dimensions: 71.5 mm x 85 mm x 25.5 mm
Battery Play Time: 14-16 hours (Amplifier) 8-10 Hours (Amplifier + DAC)
Battery Recharge Time: 3 hours
Frequency Response : +/- 1 dB:10-25,000 Hz
(?)
Output Power - Balanced:

1. 
    130 mW into 32 Ohms
2. 
    200 mW into 50 Ohms
3. 
    330 mW int 600 Ohms
4. 
    660 mW into 300 Ohms

Input Impedance: 10KOhms
(?)
Output Power - Unbalanced:

1. 
    130 mW into 32 Ohms
2. 
    160 mW into 300 Ohms
3. 
    200 mW into 50 Ohms
4. 
    83 mW into 600 Ohms

 
Pricing for this little beauty is $599.00 USD. I did a quick look around on Head-Fi and found no information so I took it upon myself to start a thread in hopes the community would get real world feedback from owners who have had time to give this new product a listen. I open the thread up to further discussion.

 

[seeteeyou]

.

 

[gidion27]

Looks great,
 
Although the v3 also is a great offering seems that ALO is on fire

 

[dryvadeum]

Great review here

http://audio-head.com/the-international-headphone-ampdac-by-alo-audio


No luck with Samsung Galaxy S III via USB, though.


Otherwise, that could be a really sweet balanced amp + DAC for $599.


It would be great if someone were able to try that with other mobile devices with USB OTG.


Thank you.

It does work with the S3 if you use usb audio recorder app. Although the app is quite annoying to use.

 

[AJHeadfi]

Look out HiFi-M8! So what is the output impedance, every IEM'er on Head-fi will want to hunt that down. 

 
ADD: Double the power output if you use balanced. As expressed on the ALO site.

 

[ariesq]

Just need some clarifications. 
 
By looking at the pics (AK100 + International), how would you use IEM with low gain (unbalanced). I see the cable from the line-out of the AK100 connected to the low gain headphone out (unbalanced) of the International. If I wanted to use low gain unbalanced IEM, how would I plug it in?
 
Would the international even be worth it if I plan to use it unbalanced?
 
And just for clarification, that setup in the pics above would only override the AMP on the AK100, it would not override the DAC?
 
How does the AMP on the International compare to say the Continental V3? I favor the international mainly due to its size.
 
Sorry for my newbness. Still learning.
 
Thanks!

 

[DigitalFreak]

No need to apologize those are all very good questions. Unfortunately until someone takes one for the team nobody can answers those questions. Hopefully someone weighs in with some impressions soon

 

[ushman]

Quote:

Just need some clarifications. 
 
By looking at the pics (AK100 + International), how would you use IEM with low gain (unbalanced). I see the cable from the line-out of the AK100 connected to the low gain headphone out (unbalanced) of the International. If I wanted to use low gain unbalanced IEM, how would I plug it in?
 
Would the international even be worth it if I plan to use it unbalanced?
 
And just for clarification, that setup in the pics above would only override the AMP on the AK100, it would not override the DAC?
 
How does the AMP on the International compare to say the Continental V3? I favor the international mainly due to its size.
 
Sorry for my newbness. Still learning.
 
Thanks!

I just go my International. Works great unbalanced with sensitive IEMs. It does not have the hiss that the Continental V3 had, which is why I ended up returning the V3. Supposedly, the hiss disappears on the V3 after 150 hours of burn in, but I'm too impatient 

. Overall, pretty pleased with the International but will need more time with it before making any judgments about sound.

 

[muzic4life]

Is the hiss on v3 higher/same/lesser compared to rx mk3? I also interesting to get either v3 or international...how does the international sound compared to national in single ended? Anyone tried both? If not significantly improved i might just get v3 coz i already have the national...

 

[DigitalFreak]

Are you eventually going to set it up in balanced and what DAC are you using? You're the first person on here to report in with this new amp so you're our grapevine. Please keep us informed.

 

[cbass94]

Subscribed... definitely interested in seeing what comes of this as more people get their hands on it.

 

[DigitalFreak]

I'm surprised more people haven't chimed in with impressions. I thought these boards had a ton of ALO customers.

 

[DigitalFreak]

Mike from Headfonia posted up his article involving The International DAC/amp

 

[DJtheAudiophile]

Looking to buy a ALO Audio The International+ Optical Edition if anyone has one for sale. Thanks.

 

[DJtheAudiophile]

Still looking to buy one if anyone has one for sale