KAEI TAP-1 PRO

General Information

【TAP1-PRO】 KAEI Fully Balanced portable/desktop decoder tube HIFI ear amplifier TAP1 Dacs,4.4, tube​


Fully balanced headphone amplifier.

1. You can optionally add cs43198*2 chips to become the DACs version.TAP1-PRO built-in 5000mah battery.

2.The TAP1-PRO comes with two optional covers, transparent and translucent. You can change it as you like. The upper cover is adsorbed using a magnet. opamp can be replaced more easily. We have sunk the base of the opamp so that we can place some taller OPAMps.

3. The PSU-2 does not need to be connected to the voltage of the home. Sound is not affected by voltage instability. You also no longer need to choose a voltage model based on your country. It has six built-in "18650" batteries. Its current output is four times that of the PSU-1. When the psu-2 is in use, the TAP1-PRO internal battery stops working. At the same time, it can extend the battery life.Make the TAP1-PRO power and listening experience better.The PSU-2 can be used with previous versions of TAP1, which are compatible. The PSU-2 can be charged for 1 hour and used for 4~18 hours.(Different headphones and OPAMPs have a large impact on the duration of use of the PSU2)

4. Support 4.4mm/3.5mm input/output. Default muses02 amplifier chip. (Optional upgrade to 4*627bp/2*SS3602)

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Latest reviews

NymPHONOmaniac

Headphoneus Supremus
Pros: -super powerfull yet stable amplification
-low output impedance for supreme driving versatility
-big vast holographic headroom
-neutral yet dynamic sounding (no freq is favorize apart with tube mode)
-tube delight offer mid centric goodness
-clean noise floor yet not clinical sounding (anti THX flavor)
-ultra low harmonic distortion=smooth natural timbre
-multi layered macro dynamic
-good transparency
-can drive Hifiman HE1000 more gloriously than Hifiman EF600
-truely portable power house
-changeable OPamp
-decent battery life
-decent price value
Cons: -not crispest nor sparkliest treble presentation
-not for those seeking agressive sounding amp (a pro for me wich hate topping L30)
-glass panel design seem a bit fragile and cumbersome
-pretty sure it could be even more portable (smaller)
-dac usb-c still there for amp only version is a bit meh
-tube coloring might be too subtle for some (not me)
-input in front isn't that practical
-price while competitive isn't changing portable amp game
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TONALITY: 9/10
AMPING STABILITY: 9.5/10
VERSATILITY: 10/10
DYNAMIC RENDERING: 9/10
HEADROOM: 9.5/10
NOISE FLOOR: 9/10
TRANSPARENCY: 9/10
MUSICALITY (subjective): Tube ON: 9.5/10 Tube Off: 9/10
PORTABILITY: 8/10 (don’t fit a pocket)
BATTERY LIFE: 8/10 (about 6H at high gain+tube and 8-10H low gain-no Tube)
CONSTRUCTION: 8.5/10
SOUND VALUE: 8.2/10


KAEI DESIGN is an audio company from China that specializes in portable amplifiers and DAC-Amps for more than 5 years now (based on as far as I can remember seeing their products).

I discovered them with the Tri TK2 DAC-AMP which was a collaboration between Tri and Kaei for a powerful portable DAC-AMP that truly impressed me but missed a Line IN to transform it into a portable amp, which was a very big con.

Nonetheless, since then i follow their release and after I buy and been utterly impress by the TAP2 (which i should review)tube (2) amp, I get the opportunity to test the Tap 1 Pro for a long period of time, so it’s time to share with you my detailed and overly wordy review.

The TAP 1 pro model i reviewed today is priced 480$, it’s the basic 4x tube amp version, there is no DAC in it, and it uses 2x Muses02 OPamps. The DAC-AMP version uses 2xCS43198 DACs and costs 100$ more (580$), I think it’s wise getting this version to achieve higher sound value.

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There are other versions which include a (pricey) PSU2 power pack that can boost amping power up to 5600mW@16ohm, making it among the most powerful portable amp audiophile planet ever seen. This comes with a (still competitive) price, which is 680$ for the version without DAC and 780$ with cirrus DACs.

Let's dig deeper into this hybrid tube amplifier.


CONSTRUCTION&ACCESSORIES

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The construction of Tap1pro is all made of metal apart from the top which has a swappable magnetic glass panel. The mate black metal is thick and feels sturdy, but this isn’t an amp you wanna drop on the floor still, due to the glass panel, in that regard little brother Tap2 seems more appropriate for less careful portable usage.

The front has 1x 3.5 single ended input, 1x 4.4mm balanced input, 1x3.5mm single ended output and 1x4.4mm balanced output, all of them are gold plated and of good quality. In the middle there is the volume potentiometer knob, which is made of plastic with golden aluminium on top, it doesn’t feel prime quality and can be pull off, this is nitpicking, but with Kaei, their a DIY feeling to their product built that we can’t underseen. It’s not a fancy potentiometer that makes little clicks every volume step, it’s smooth and a bit overly chunky, I would have made it shorter.

Back of the amp has plenty of switches to play with. As well as non working USB-C input since the AMP only version kept the USB DAC input, which is a bit odd and again a sign of KAEI DIY DNA.
At left we have the extra power input for the PSU battery pack, in case you decide to buy it later. Then we have A- and A+ switch which is for tube gain attenuation, to lower its natural distortion and dynamic energy.
Under it we have charging USB-C port, which support 5V 2.5A, 9V 2A, 12V 1.5A (so check your charger specs, better use one with more amperage than less, i use my Lenovo Yoga charger with Tap1pro (9V-3A)
At the right of the charger input, we have a power switch.
Above it we have the Tube ON-OFF Switch (BYP-bypass, TU-tube ON).
Finally we have at bottom right the Gain switch (0 and 10 db gain).

Personally, I would have preferred audio Input in the back and all those switches on the front, this is due to the fact I tend to play with all those switches often, and I find the input cable a bit cumbersome in front side.

Back to overall construction, it feels sturdy and durable but the glass cover is to be noted too. We need a suction cup tool to take it off since it has a magnet at its back to hold still. No doubt I will lose this exotic tool one day, and glass means if you drop something on it, it might break. Yet Kaei thinks about this and includes another amp cover which is made of sturdy plastic i think (might be glass still) with a metal mesh shielding. When I'm on the go, it’s the cover I use.

The Tap 1 Pro is heavy and bulky, but i was able to fit it in my wither coat and even back pocket of my jeans, so this is still truly portable amp, depending of size of DAP you connect it too, with the Hiby R6pro2 it become too bulky for portable walking usage, while with Xduoo X3, Tempotec V3, Hidizs AP80, Ibasso DX90 and other small DAP it’s OK.
It’s not too heavy, it’s lighter than Xduoo XD05 plus in fact and near the same size, about 3mm thicker.

The glass panel permits you to see the 4 tube lighting up as well as admiring beautiful circuitry craftsmanship, or the new OP amps you just proundly install.

About those OPamps, it’s easy to swap but you need to be very cautious to pull it straight up to not twist or damage the pins. I suggest using a tool like a small plier. Don’t do it with your fingers!

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When it come to packaging and accessories, the Tap1pro arrive in an oversized box that can fit 3 or 4 amps, so it's not necessary to go this way. Better go more compact boxe.
Accessories are good but not mind blowing, we have one 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable and one 4.4mm to 4.4mm cable, quality is basic. I tend to use my own cable which are better, it does inflict on dynamic a bit too, the included one don't fully wake it up.
Then you have 2 KAEI strap, which is welcome. And a long usb-c to usb-c rather basic cable too, that i never care to even use. Again, better use your own cable with this amp.

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AMPING PERFORMANCE
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At 2000mW@16ohm, the Tap 1 Pro is a powerbeast that can drive anything you want from low to high impedance IEMs and Headphones. My Hifiman HE1000 V3 is fully woken up and free of balance instability, the macro dynamic and headroom is impressive as with an overly powerful desktop amplifier like the Hifiman HE600. It’s controlled in gain, stable and lean without being damped in natural dynamic gain.

At low gain, I can drive any IEM including planar, and what is impressive is that even a sensitive IEM with 9 ohm impedance like multi-BA Audiosense T800 can be driven without distortion or imbalance. This is a sign of low impedance output, which powerful amps tend to have higher than 1 ohm. KAEI tells me it’s 3.5mm output is 0.1ohm, yet they stated it ‘’lower than 1 ohm’’ on their official product page so I can’t confirm exact specs. One thing sure, near anything but DAP with impedance lower than 1 ohm can drive properly the T800, so the Kaei isn’t a VE Megatron (lol) and a statement of amping versatility that is a very very big plus for those IEM and HP collector like me.

The amping is very clean, it will go a bit less so with tube ON, this adds a sense of ‘’sheen’’ in background but without making macro dynamic foggy or masked, in fact most gain is in lower to upper mids with Tube ON. And it even adds slight loudness gain, surely due to this euphonic presence boost.

When i say a amp have good power output stability, it’s because their no frequencies peak boost, we don’t have this very common boost around 50-100 hz that make bass more muddy and boomy, even the pricier Hifiman EF600 offer less clean and balanced amping, bass line are harder to properly read with it than Tap1pro.

I don’t encounter channel imbalance even at very low volume, unlike with Xduoo XD05 plus which is very evidently L-R unbalanced under 40% of volume whatever the gain. This is another statement of well done high fidelity amplifier circuitry.

But even if i note the amping is clean, it’s no THX aaa lean limpidity, the stock OPamp are Muse02 and it doesn’t deliver cold clinical sound, we have minimal natural warmth to attack sustain-release that can smoothen definition angularity, which i wouldn’t describe as sharp, but smoothly transparent still.

SOUND IMPRESSIONS

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After having tested the Tap 1 Pro for 2 weeks non stop, pairing it with all audio source line out I have around from Hiby R6pro mk2 AKM4499 and Xduoo X20 ES9018k2m delta sigma DAC to Hifiman EF600 R2R DAC, not to mention Xduoo XD05 plus AKM4493 DAC and Nobsound Q5 pro dual ES9038q2m DACs true line out, i can confidently say this portable amplifier awake all audio source in there full glory, upscaling not only their headroom, but their sound layering holographic rendering and imaging accuracy as well as depth of field and macro dynamic articulation.
Not only that, but it seem to upgrade amplification quality (and quantity with the exception of EF600) of all audio source i’ve pair it with, which mean i discover the DAC potential upscaling with most of them too, as if suddenly my DAP or DAC-AMP transform into higher fidelity audio gear.

This make this 2 weeks very fascinating, always expecting big musical upgrade with every DAP, DAC-AMP and dongles i hook it too, injecting new life as well as purpose to lot of my left alone DAP like this Xduoo X3 that suddenly deliver purest cirrus CS4398 decoding to amplification I can wish for. Lot of time, this was pure revelation, which began with the Kaei Tap2 but goes endgame level with the Tap 1 Pro.

Why end game? Because unlike Tap2, the Tap 1 Pro uses 1 dual OPamp per channel instead of one dual OPamp for 2 channels, which is more beneficial for the single ended output than balanced one. But the whole circuitry, which is some kind of mysterious magic to me, permits a powerful current flow that is as stable as it can get, without using a damping digital filter that would flatten the dynamic. This is solid state amplification at its best, and surely it’s smallest for such superior performance and effortless musicality which I will try to describe more.

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Firstly, we can say their 5 types of amplification flavor (and power), which will all inflict on final musicality. There the 2 Bypass Tube mode, with 0 or 10db gain. Then there is the Tube mode, with or without 10db gain and with full A+ amplification gain (and euphony) or A- filtered gain, which is perhaps most flat in dynamic rendering.

I will mostly describe the purest amplification which is without extra tube, but underline that they all sound very similar still, apart the A- tube mode which is lighter in dynamic, more neutral and lean in dynamic, less open, wide and tall in headroom and overall more static and distant in musicality, which is more appropriate for sensitive IEM or HP with energetic musicality.

So the overall sound transmission of Tap1pro is grand and holographic, effortless in sound layering, wide in instruments presence without being macro muddy at all, the attack transient is effortless, free of excited attack peak unless you use Tube mode where lower and upper mids get slight extra energetic euphony boost, creamy not screamy way.
The headroom opens more in all axes, from wideness to tallness to deepness, which make readability of sound info easier and more precise.

The bass digs deeper, with a controlled sustain-release that doesn't create extra warmth, permitting natural resonance to blossom naturally in soundscape in a smooth and clean way. The mid bass is clean and textured, not injected with extra energy, yet more weighty, tactile and defined for instruments like kick drum which can be layered effortlessly. Presence of cello widen and vibrate more with air, which densify its presence envelope without adding unwanted grain or noise artefact a too ‘’bright’’ and aggressive amplification would do. The mid range is intimate and wide in presence, vocal don't go lean or recessed, nor get dry or peaky, it's smooth and gently upfront, very focused mid range that enveloppe the listener, timbre is rich and dense without being plain euphonic, transparency is preserve and imaging improved since we have more space for separation. The treble is softly extended, without harsh peak.

While plenty dynamic, the Tap1pro doesn't make aggressive sounding IEMs or Headphones, nor color it with warmth, it does smoothen a bit upper treble which doesn't get boosted in brilliance even if natural resonance is highlighted. That’s one of unique thing in sound rendering, Tap1pro seem to widen presence with a smooth resonance release that blossom it’s size, this make instrument and vocal more anamorphic and airy, as well as captivating especially if like me you hate compressed presence rendering, which is the opposite of what you get here.

Tube mode is for those demanding mid range lovers that need this slight lower to upper mids euphonic coloration that add body, wideness and focus to mid range instrument and vocal, the bass impact rumble a bit less too which make the musicality even more mid centric and focused on the main instrument. The treble goes both darker and airier, this is the tube exotic atmosphere which isn’t as intense as I thought, some listeners might not even notice that much of the difference between hybrid tube and solid state mode.

The instrument timbre become a bit more velvety, yet keep enough transparency, it’s not overly warmed sound transmission.
The vocal presence get a slight dynamic boost too, which put upfront it’s holographic layered, suddenly carved with euphonic delimitation, suddenly a bit more opaque too so the focus on main instrument or vocal is greater.The bass and treble goes a bit lighter in dynamic compared to mid range too.

When you use the A- tube attenuation, the dynamics go notably leaner, and less loud. But again in crispness and clarity, it gets cleaned from euphony too which cancels the tube appeal as well, we get an organic musicality that is better suited for IEM with energetic dynamic. Headroom is less holographic and more static. To be noted that tube ringing is kept very minimal this time unlike with Tap2, it can happen at high volume without playing music that you heard it if you hit or shake hardly the amp, but their cushion foam under 4 tube to limit this, it’s not an issue for me at all, even when walking with the Tap 1 Pro in back jeans pocket. With Tap2, I can't use tube mode while walking, every step would create ringing.

And finaly, the balanced in to out. I was expecting 2x more power output but this isn't the case here, it's ''mostly'' the same in term of loudness, you don't go 1650mW se to 3300mW bal. Yet, you get a dynamic loudness boost in term of macro energy, i did compare se to bal out with Hiby R6pro2, and the macro dynamic become more articulate in multi layering and more edgy in attack, imaging was sharper too, pretty sure crosstalk get improve too.

To summarize amping benefit of the Tap1pro:

1-extra obvious headroom-soundstage boost with everything you pair it with
2-more multi layered macro dynamic that improve imaging but not resolution
3-more controlled and deep bass, especially with headphones and planar IEMs
4-improve the timbre of IEM and HP by not adding sound artefact yet not boosting gain of harmonic peak
5-tube mode unlock different musicality which is more mid centric and lush
6-low impedance for ultimate versatility
7-Instrument presence goes wider and more natural, less compressed in resonance release
8-clean sounding without going lean or clinical
9-low harmonic distortion (stated 0.0003%) that make everything sound smooth, not harsh nor grainy
10-changeable OPamp promise long time fun with subtle amping flavor tweak

PAIRING IMPRESSIONS

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HIBY R6pro2 + Kaei Tap1pro

Should it be Class A or AB mode, I’ve never been a fan of amplification part of this DAP, which feel congested in macro dynamic, lean in balance with slight lower mids and upper treble boost to give a minimal sense of openness, simply put it’s boring and docile dynamic that do nothing wrong but nothing good too, you don’t get this addictive holographic rendering nor engaging dynamic and this make me think AKM4499 DAC wasn’t for me….until i hook line out to the Tap 1 Pro. Now, only now, I feel like listening to a near 1000$ DAP with prime DAC at its core.

The difference is huge, not only in head room which open up big time, but bass goes punchier and more tactile, more texture, wider in presence yet superbly layered, mids especially get a presence boost that make vocal or main instrument well define more bodied and more carved in center stage, with again more articulate layering. We have more air around the instrument, more space to travel between them too and dig deeper in the soundstage.
Note weight is heavier and impact is more defined. Timbre is still natural, but even more transparent. Imaging feel unidimensional with DAP phone out…it’s really night and day difference that cheat my mind thinking i'm not listening to same DAP at all…if this setup wasn’t so bulky (R6pro2 is already too big for my pocket so imagine with a bigger portable amp staked to it), this would be my end game DAP combo.
From more immersive and grand musicality to speedier transients that add extra sense of immediacy to attack to wider more layered presence of instrument and sound as well as snappier treble attack, this Tap 1 Pro tends to highlight all the pros of the DAC that feed him.


AMPLIFIERS COMPARISONS

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VS HIFIMAN EF 600


For this comparison I hook the Tap 1 Pro to R2R DAC line out of EF600 and use Hifiman HE1000 and Hidizs MP145. Tap1pro was high gain, while EF600 low gain.

Firstly, with about 5W of output power at 32 ohm, the EF600 is way more powerful than Tap1pro. If I had the PSU battery pack to boost the amping power of Tap1, it would have been as powerful I think. Portable way unlike EF600.

Another aspect is impedance output of EF600 being most likely notably higher, it will distort sensitive IEMs, I’ve tried before so no need to try again. Tap1pro, with it’s 0.1 ohm of impedance is as versatile for very sensitive IEMs than very hard to drive one, a big plus for those like me with a diverse IEMs collection.

Now, when it comes to plain amping difference, the EF600 is notch warmer and darker, with HE1K it goes slightly wider but less deep and clean and neutral sounding than Tap1pro, for MP145 it’s as tall and wide but again deeper for Tap1.
Tap1 has cleaner background noise floor, their less harmonic distortion in attack-sustain which make percussions more definite and clear on top as well as imaging less masked with attack peak which happen in mid bass and lower mids for EF600, so vocal seem a bit wider and denser but less transparent and articulate than higher fidelity restitution of Tap1.

The bass is more euphonic and less textured with EF600, separation with mids is less clear and attack control more loose. Sub bass is leaner and cleaner with Tap1, bass lines are better defined and layered and dig deeper while it has a vibrant rumbler yet shorter sustain-release for EF600, overall low end is notably more colored and ‘’analog’’ with EF600.

Mids are more open, clean and crisp as well as better resolved and layered with Tap1, attack is sharper and presence a bit brighter, but not in a boosted way, just as the record made it. Center stage readability is superior, we have more air around instruments, attack is less softed in its lead and bite, speed pace isn’t slowed nor softed as much as EF600.

Treble is airier and more controlled, percussions are more stable in rendering while we can have dark splashyness with EF600, Tap1 preserve more micro details and can deliver complex speedy percussions in crisper, fuller and more effortless way. Nothing gets lost in the mix with Tap1, while few fine details and micro percussion parts can be damped in macro dynamics with EF600.

This means imaging and overall clarity is superior with Tap1.

Did this mean Tap1 dynamic is leaner and duller? Not at all, it’s just more stable and in fact permits better articulated macro dynamics where there is less harmonic peak warming or masking sound info.

Another aspect is the tube mode of Tap1pro, which offers a different sound experience that goes lusher and more mid centric, which is more similar to stock NOS sound of EF600. The EF600 difference between NOS and OS is more subtle and I just stick to NOS, while with Tap1 i will go tube mode for vocal centric music.

All in all, Tap1pro is superior in technical performance, from blacker noise floor to less euphonic attack, it have more holographic and deeper headroom, more stable amplification that offer more linear transmission yet more articulated macro dynamic too as well as more extended bass and treble. I wish I had the PSU battery pack for comparing the true max power output of Tap1 but alas i don’t, yet my guess is that it would be as powerful.



VS XDUOO XD05plus

Ok the difference is quite huge here, I hook very same DAC (Xduoo X20 line out) and the XD05plus is notably more excited in gain, in the sense the dynamic is more aggressive and W shape we can say, yet less linear and stable, less transparent and less controlled.
So, firstly, we get a denser but more compressed sub bass which doesn't dig as deep and can go euphonic and distorted more, it’s more grainy timbre wise which affects this transparency. Then mid bass hits harder, warmer, it does inflict on mids which go more centered and compressed in presence, harsher in upper mids, more grainy and euphonic again.
Treble is less airy, less open, less crisp and clear.
Headroom is nearly 2x wider and deeper with Tap1pro, timbre is less colored and more realistic, as noted a sense of transparency is kept which means the background has blacker noise floor too.
XD05 plus will make distort sensitive IEMs due to it’s higher impedance, while Tap1 don’t even with 9 ohm multi-BA like Audiosense T800.
In terms of dynamic, XD05 is more aggressive, some might prefer this even if it’s less high fidelity rendering than Tap1.
Imaging is superior with Tap1 due to more silence and air around the instrument and wider space between them as well as more potent layering.
Instrument and vocal presence are wider and softer with Tap1, harsher and more compressed with XD05.
As well, their mid bass coloring goes on with XD05, which darken acoustic guitar and attack lead.
I understand why XD05plus never feels enough for my Hifiman HE1000, but still, I did like the bass boost switch which can add big bass fun. I wish Tap1 had this as well.
XD05plus has longer battery life too and smaller form factor, by longer, it’s about 8H vs 6H for Tap1.
It has 3 gain switches, another plus, vs 2 gain for Tap1.
It’s 285$ for DAC-AMP (AK4493dac) while I find Tap1 a bit expensive at 580$ for DAC-AMp version.
Power output wise, loudness is more intense in energy even at same level with XD05plus, i can’t crank it up at max volume without causing distortion mess with HE1K, while i can do it with Tap 1 Pro….but oddly, i feel XD05plus can go louder and i’m puzzle about this. Anyway, in both cases I tend to use 50% volume at high gain.

All in all, XD05plus is rougher sounding, more exciting and aggressive in dynamic, less clean and transparent, less linear and stable in amping and not as musical nor as beneficial for headphones or IEMs technical performance scaling.

VS KAEI TAP2 (AMP-100$)

Firstly, at 4x cheaper price, the sound value of TAP2 is sure superior, other aspect it’s is more compact size which make it more ‘’pockatable’’, battery life is slightly superior too, 8h instead of 7h for Tap1, but this is at high gain with hard to drive great too.

But then power output is 1000mW@32ohm for Tap2 vs 1650mW for Tap1pro, it’s not that much extra power for such a price jump, 2W would be more appropriate. But the plus ends there since everything else is quite a big step up.

Beginning with headroom which is taller, wider and deeper. Noise floor which is cleaner and blacker. Imaging which is superior and more holographic than instrument presence is more transparent in layering too. Simply put the Tap2 sound very similar to Xduoo XD05 plus with a more excited dynamic gain that add noise to sound layer as well as a more W shape balance where mid bass and upper mids get extra loudness push, making the restitution more energetic and bright, less neutral and resolved than Tap1pro.

Tap1pro feels like a high end desktop amplifier compared to rougher sounding Tap2. Both can drive Hifiman HE1000 well, but transient response is less flexible and more in your face with Tap2, timbre is grainier and more opaque, bass is less well articulate and layered, less lean in extension, vocal are more energize but not as natural, nor as wide in smooth presence and treble is thicker, crunchier, grainier with less air and sparkle on top as well as well define micro details and percussions.

This doesn’t mean Tap2 is bad, if I underline it sounds like a 300$ DAC-AMP (Xduoo XD05 plus) which is quite praise, it means the sound value is quite insane. But logically, Tap1pro is a real upgrade both in terms of performance and stability of amping, as well as tube mode is more dynamic and addictive, less dark and ethereal than TAP2. Crosstalk of Tap1pro is most likely superior due to 2 channel balanced OP amp circuitry, this inflicts on sens of imaging and how soundstage is multi layered and cleaner.

All in all, the upgrade is real but not as huge as I would expect, especially in power output and battery life. It’s all about amping quality upgrade here, Tap2 sounds more mono we can say, and tube mode isn’t as full sounding and musical. I would still suggest Tap2 for those buying their first portable amp, while for connoisseur seeking highest fidelity it would be Tap1pro.

CONCLUSION

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There is no doubt the Kaei Tap 1 Pro is a superior portable amplifier and the very best I have the chance to try, which doesn't mean it’s the best on the planet cause I haven’t tested more than 20 including DAC-AMPs.

If it’s not evident I'm utterly enthusiastic about this amp, let me underline it’s the portable solution I was looking for my beloved Hifiman HE1000 V3 to be driven while walking around in my place and backyard or change place. Before this, I was a prisoner of the Hifiman EF600, which is in my bedroom. When I go outside, I bring Xduoo XD05 plus with a sad face because it doesn’t unlock the full potential of these HE1k and even less the Sundara. It was aggressive in dynamic and notably more distorted in harmonic as well as less spacious and clean in headroom, now my vocals are 2x wider and 2x more natural sounding with the Tap1pro and this is a true blessing.

But Tap1pro surpass my expectation with how versatile it’s amping capacity is, i wasn’t expecting being able to enjoy literally all my IEMs from sensitive 9 ohm multi-BA to low sensitivity capricious beast like Final E5000, and getting same boost in soundstage and balanced effortless dynamic response.

All this makes the slightly high 480$ price more justified, since it’s offering 2 sound modes, solid state and hybrid tubes, as well as 2 types of gain and long enough battery life.

If you are like me, an audio source collector and want to suck out all their flavor out of their amping limitation, the Tap 1 Pro is highly suggested. I get lost in an ocean of DAP rediscovery with this marvel, some that was doom to be never used again get second life, some like Xduoo X3 that cost 100$ get transformed into mid tier DAP marvel, all this is a lot of fun, being able to turn into higher fidelity ‘’obsolete’’ or unloved gear you have.

I do think buying the DAC-AMP version for 100$ more is worthy and raises the overall value of this product, but in my case I can just hook the Aune Yuki which has 2xCS43198 DACs too. I get the DAC-AMP version of Tap2 and barely ever use the (2xCS43131) DAC, so I feel KAEI is more specialized in amping than the decoding section of audio circuitry.

All in all, if your on the hunt for an high fidelity portable amplifier that is plenty powerful for everything you can think of, offer clean amping versatility for low to high sensitivity IEMs and headphones and open up the headroom of all those IEMs and Headphones while preserving a smooth clarity, a lively dynamic and controlled attack with boosted sense of musicality as a bonus; it’s hard to think something better than this hybrid 4 tubes and solid state Tap 1 Pro in sub-500$ price range and surely beyond.


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PS: I want to thanks Kaei for sending me this review sample at very discounted price. As always, i'm not closely affiliated to this company nor earn any money with this review.

You can order the Tap1-Pro from official store here:
https://www.kaeidesign.com/store/pr...lnzchBKt2HVwI_6YyOKvsdRF5xOVL-zIAn2GsGlzVr1r8
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