This is the review of Current-drive headphone amp HPBA-2 LE 47.
At first this is my first review on the internet and sorry for poor English
I am not affiliated or received any money for this review
I am a just music listener and audiophile. Never worked as a professional music worker
Introduction
I searched and tried several headphone amp to upgrade my amp.
Among them there was a remarkably good sound amplifier
But that amp was not the amount I could buy. And I was told that current-drive is used for the product.
Since receiving that explanation. I started searching an amp works as a current-drive.
Then finally found this amp QES HPBA-2
Encounter with HPBA-2
For the first time see specs of HPBA-2, I thought what a strange amp.
Input connectors are only XLR (NO RCA)
Output connectors are the same (NO TRS Phone)
Output impedance is ridiculously High (164ohms)
But, In contrast to these strange specs, everyone highly rated this amp. And the features mentioned in these reviews reminded me of an amp I mentioned at the introduction. For example, such word as ‘accurate’ ‘fast’ ‘non-colored’
So I believed these reviews and contacted Val to know furthermore information.
He gave me a list with written base price and every options I can choose.
At that time I was already deciding to order. And I ordered and paid by bank transfer.
And Val started making amp and it takes 7 weeks then arrived at my home.
Sound of HPBA-2
After received my package. I opened it and started to listen with my reference headphone HD600 (modded). As soon as I start listening I found the sound is incredibly realistic, fast, high resolution. These were consistent with the features written in the read reviews.
This amp accurately outputs what input was.
If input is natural, it outputs as natural. If input is artificial, it outputs as artificial. This makes me recognize sound effect like a chorus or reverb.
As I wrote, this amp analysis sound from every aspect. For example volume dynamics, sound context. How to overlap sound. This amp reveals everything in the sound.
And I changed headphone to HD800. It gives more micro and macro dynamics. Soundstage is unbelievable large but less bass, and vocals are a little bit far away.
Then changed it to a beyerdynamics T1 1st gen (XLR mod) this is well known for difficulty of drive. But HPBA-2 drives it perfectly. I could hear beautiful treble. Especially female vocal are well expressed. Compared to HD800, less soundstage, more realistic tone colored.
Then after a while I bought a ZMF Auteur. This is the headphone with similar tone to HD600. For me this tone is natural and neutral. The difference is Auteur has wider sound stage. Faster response and better bass quality. I consider this headphone is a perfect upgrade of HD600. So it has been my new reference headphone. As written this headphone provide natural and neutral tone. So combo of HPBA-2 and Auteur provides
Extremely natural and neutral tone.
So I highly recommend this combo for any kind of serious listening
Conclusion
HPBA-2 made by QES Labs is not different from previous review. Great amp
It sounds accurate, fast, and detailed. It sounds better than all the amps I tried so far.
Of course There is a major disadvantage that most headphones cannot be used. But if you have high impedance headphone made by companies such as Sennheiser, Beyerdynamics and ZMF and want to improve their sound. This headphone amp is worth to try. Recommended
Thank you very much for trying to understand my poor English and reading review
yutakesan
At first this is my first review on the internet and sorry for poor English
I am not affiliated or received any money for this review
I am a just music listener and audiophile. Never worked as a professional music worker
Introduction
I searched and tried several headphone amp to upgrade my amp.
Among them there was a remarkably good sound amplifier
But that amp was not the amount I could buy. And I was told that current-drive is used for the product.
Since receiving that explanation. I started searching an amp works as a current-drive.
Then finally found this amp QES HPBA-2
Encounter with HPBA-2
For the first time see specs of HPBA-2, I thought what a strange amp.
Input connectors are only XLR (NO RCA)
Output connectors are the same (NO TRS Phone)
Output impedance is ridiculously High (164ohms)
But, In contrast to these strange specs, everyone highly rated this amp. And the features mentioned in these reviews reminded me of an amp I mentioned at the introduction. For example, such word as ‘accurate’ ‘fast’ ‘non-colored’
So I believed these reviews and contacted Val to know furthermore information.
He gave me a list with written base price and every options I can choose.
At that time I was already deciding to order. And I ordered and paid by bank transfer.
And Val started making amp and it takes 7 weeks then arrived at my home.
Sound of HPBA-2
After received my package. I opened it and started to listen with my reference headphone HD600 (modded). As soon as I start listening I found the sound is incredibly realistic, fast, high resolution. These were consistent with the features written in the read reviews.
This amp accurately outputs what input was.
If input is natural, it outputs as natural. If input is artificial, it outputs as artificial. This makes me recognize sound effect like a chorus or reverb.
As I wrote, this amp analysis sound from every aspect. For example volume dynamics, sound context. How to overlap sound. This amp reveals everything in the sound.
And I changed headphone to HD800. It gives more micro and macro dynamics. Soundstage is unbelievable large but less bass, and vocals are a little bit far away.
Then changed it to a beyerdynamics T1 1st gen (XLR mod) this is well known for difficulty of drive. But HPBA-2 drives it perfectly. I could hear beautiful treble. Especially female vocal are well expressed. Compared to HD800, less soundstage, more realistic tone colored.
Then after a while I bought a ZMF Auteur. This is the headphone with similar tone to HD600. For me this tone is natural and neutral. The difference is Auteur has wider sound stage. Faster response and better bass quality. I consider this headphone is a perfect upgrade of HD600. So it has been my new reference headphone. As written this headphone provide natural and neutral tone. So combo of HPBA-2 and Auteur provides
Extremely natural and neutral tone.
So I highly recommend this combo for any kind of serious listening
Conclusion
HPBA-2 made by QES Labs is not different from previous review. Great amp
It sounds accurate, fast, and detailed. It sounds better than all the amps I tried so far.
Of course There is a major disadvantage that most headphones cannot be used. But if you have high impedance headphone made by companies such as Sennheiser, Beyerdynamics and ZMF and want to improve their sound. This headphone amp is worth to try. Recommended
Thank you very much for trying to understand my poor English and reading review
yutakesan
