General Information

TempoTec Variations V1-A AK4377ECB DSD256 Bluetooth APTX USB DAC HiFi DAP

Description

1200mah battery capacity

High precision crystal oscillator

Low noise PLL technology reduce jitter

Exclusive USB driver

Dual direction Bluetooth

MSEB Mixer

AAC

DSD direct stream digital

LDAC

AKM4377ECB

Hiby OS

ASIO

HiByLink

Colorful theme

AKM4377ECB Well-performing built-in DAC

768khz/32bit advanced audio headphone DAC, AK4377, the advanced audio devices have been specifically optimized for portable audio.

Smooth cohesion between aluminum alloy shell and 2.5D tempered glass front panel

Exquisite components, Exclusive MCU

Just for excellent sound quality

Highly reproduce the original music

Digital mixer-MSEB makes you an excellent tuner

Bluetooth base station

Dual direction AAC, Apt-X, LDAC, Bluetooth 4.0

Be either a Bluetooth or a Bluetooth decoder 。

Time of Duration

Playing by Bluetooth: 25h

Playing music directly or as a Bluetooth receiver: 15h

Excellent Control Feel

2.0 inches multipoint process capacitor screen

Full perspective IPS screen

Smooth control

Specification

Dimension: 80*45*12mm

Weight: 80g

SNR:125DB

Output power:60MW/16ohm(mono channel)

Power Supply: DC5V

2A/Type-C USB port

Charging time: 2.5 hours around (power off)

Last time: 15 hours

Battery capacity: 1200mA

Storage: Double TF card slot

MAX storage capacity: 256GB*2

USB: Type-C (USB2.0)

Analog Out: 3.5mm headphone jack

Package

V1A DAP

USB cable

Latest reviews

Dobrescu George

Reviewer: AudiophileHeaven
Tempotec V1A Variations - Full Featured DAPy
Pros: + Tons of features
+ Stable UI (In my experience at least)
+ Nice ergonomic shape
+ Battery Life's good for the money
+ Price / Performance ratio
Cons: - At this price point nothing really
Tempotec V1A Variations - Full Featured DAPy





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V1A Variations has a complicated name, but a simple function. It is a DAP or Digital Audio Player, and it has a ton of features, comes straight out of China, and it is priced at 110 USD at the moment of writing this full written review. This means that I'll be comparing it to Hiby R2, FiiO M3PRO, and Shanling M2x. The pairing list will include Lime Ears Aether R, Jomo Audio P3, and Ollo S4X.

















Introduction





Tempotec has been for a long while the OEM producer for Hidizs, and recently they started making and marketing their own products. This meant that Hiby had to reach for other OEMs, but that's pretty much for the better, because now both companies evolved in different, yet good directions. Tempotec is mainly sold on Aliexpress, but you can find their products on Amazon and Linsoul. The warranty is covered by the store selling them, and I think you have the best chance of getting them in good condition and getting a good warranty by purchasing from the shop you trust the most and which is the closest to you physically (to pay less shipping if something goes wrong).





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It should be noted that I have absolutely no affiliation with Tempotec. I'd like to thank Tempotec for providing the sample for this review. This review reflects my personal experience with Tempotec V1A Variations. Every opinion expressed is mine and I stand by it, the purpose of this review is to help those interested in Tempotec V1A Variations find their next music companion.








Packaging





First things first, let's get the packaging out of the way:





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The package vor V1A is fairly simple, but it keeps it safe. There's a cable included with the DAP, and it made me smile to see that they used a type-C USB cable, but there's not much else.











Build Quality/Aesthetics/Functionality





The build quality of V1A is excellent, it is a DAP with a touchscreen, but it is a pretty smol one. It has two microSD slots, volume buttons, and is mostly made of metal, except for an area in the upper back where the antennas are.





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In terms of overall size, it is not much larger than the ACMEE MF-01, and pretty much the same size, but much thinner. It weighs just 80 grams, which is excellent, and it feels solid in hand. Regardless of how strong I press on the display, it doesn't deform under pressure. The display covers only part of the front, and despite the whole front having a glass protector, only about 40% of it is a display.





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Having a Type-C and a 3.5mm output at the bottom feels nice and fresh, but I kinda wish they implemented a balanced output too. V1A works as a USB DAC, and it runs on a AKM4377, being able to decide high resolution files, along with DSD files.





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The driving power is ok, at 60mW per channel at 16 OHM, so mostly good for IEMs and sensitive headphones. It supports 2-Way LDAC, aptX, and BT 4.0. This is backed by a battery of 1200mAh which powers it for 15 hours on paper, and up to 14 in actual practice. And this is at the highest volume, since I do not listen very quietly usually.





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The DAP can get hot during charging, and it takes a pretty long while to charge, up to two hours for a full battery charge.





The overall GUI is simple, and it is made by Hiby, and it has MSEB EQ too! You can use it as a USB DAC, as a DAP, it can replace BTR5 and work as a full time Bluetooth Receiver, and all of those at 110 USD. It has some minor bugs here and there, with some words in Chinese or non-capitalised, but it works and for all the stuff I did with it, I couldn't make it go "brrr blue screen". I did update it to the latest firmware, and it is possible that











Video Review














Sound Quality






Despite it not having a balanced output, and despite it having a pretty limited power output, the sound actually surprised me. When I saw it so full of features and running so many awesome things, I thought that it was going to be a failure sonically, but it actually is a total win. The sound is slightly smooth, slightly dark, with excellent clarity. The MSEB comes in really useful for it, and it is the sole feature that makes me want to recommend it. There's no hissing, and it works perfectly for any IEM, and the soundstage is excellent for this price.





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The bass is well extended down to the lowest registers, and is a more continuous slower type of bass. It has less focus on definition and transparency and more emphasis on thump, on impact and on having a longer trail. This makes the V1A a good pair for only-BA IEMs like Etymotic ER4XR, but it is not a proper basshead DAP, and especially with headphones it doesn't have the most thunderous presentation. This being said, the control is good, and there is no bleed into the mids, and the bass is clean / clear. It kind of makes me feel like my old Cowon J3 was a joke when it came to its bass, which was bloated, slow and insufficient on many songs.





The midrange is slightly forward, presented really wide, with excellent detail and micro detail. There's very little depth and layering takes a hit, but the tonality is slightly warm, ever so slightly dark, but with excellent resolution. If we weren't talking about 110 USD, I would probably think twice before saying those things, but at this price, it is in the top 3 DAPs I heard for the pricey. Especially comparing it to M3 PRO, which I considered the most detail-focused DAP in this price range, V1A is at least as detailed, but has the advantage of having more and better bass, and a wider soundstage.





The treble is smoother, slightly warmer, but has good extension. The stage is wide, and as a result, it comes through as holographic sounding. V1A lacks the overall edge and sparkle that some more neutral DAPs like Shanling M2X have, but in return it is a fatigue-free DAP that you can enjoy for hours. Despite the very low quoted driving power, I had no trouble powering high-end IEMs like Final Audio A8000, and still enjoying the sound.











Comparisons





For the main comparisons part of this review, I picked FiiO M3 PRO, Hiby R2, and Shanling M2X.





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We also captured V1A together with ACMEE MF-01 in many photos, and it makes a good comparison, but from the start, if you need any extra features, you should go V1A, it is much better. If you're using IEMs, V1A is better. For headphones, the MF-01 should be a bit better thanks to its larger driving power.





Tempotec V1A vs FiiO M3 PRO (110 USD vs 80 USD) - FiiO M3 PRO has less features than V1A, and it has a more analytic sound. By comparison, V1A has a better EQ, is more rich in features, has a Bluetooth Receiver function. The sound is more dynamic, warmer, more colored, smoother in the treble, and the midrange is slightly less forward, having a wider soundstage. M3 PRO has slightly less driving power in actual usage, and needs more sensitive IEMs, while V1A is mostly ok even for many headphones.





Tempotec V1A vs Hiby R2 (110 USD vs 100 USD) - R2 is the type of DAP that also has many features, and I prefer its build quality and design over that of V1A. The overall sound is slightly more open, with more detail and more clarity on V1A. There's a better sense of dynamics on R2, with slightly more control and authority. V1A works better for brighter IEMs, and analytic ones, while R2 works universally well for anything you apir it with.





Tempotec V1A vs Shanling M2X (110 USD vs 160 USD) - M2X is the kind of DAP that has a brighter sound, and less features than V1A. This being said, it has more driving power and won't struggle with headphones, even harder to drive ones. M2X sounds more brittle, more bright, more open, has better depth, and more detail. V1A sounds darker, warmer, more colored, but also has a wider soundstage, more bass, and is smoother, easier to listen to and presents less listening fatigue.











Pairing





For the pairing part of this review, I went with Ollo S4X, Jomo Audio P3, and Lime Ears Aether R.





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Those are all to test where the limits of V1A are, and in general I would recommend it for brighter or more linear IEMs, and I would also recommend it if you plan on having Single Ended IEMs only, since it doesn't have a balanced output.





Tempotec V1A + Jomo Audio P3 (110 USD + 425 USD) - P3 has a warmer sound, so it is not a perfect pair for V1A right off the bat. This being said, it shows that V1A has zero background hissing, and it also shows nicely how much impact V1A has. I love the pairing for Rap and EDM, while for Rock it is a bit too smooth for my tastes.





Tempotec V1A + Ollo S4X (110 USD + 400 USD) - Ollo S4X is already both a bit warm and a bit smooth, so the final sound shouldn't be too good. It also is not the easiest to drive around, but it has a beautiful presentation with V1A. The overall sound is detailed, clean, clear, has good instrument separation and is really easy to listen to.





Tempotec V1A + Lime Ears Aether R (110 USD + 1400 USD) - The stage is really good with Aether R. I also noticed that V1A has good detail and micro-detail, despite its rather pocket-friendly price point. There's a good sense of dynamics, and the sound is slightly smoother and warmer than with most sources, but it is really enjoyable for both rock, pop, and also for EDM. It is interesting to see V1A being able to drive Aether R and having enough detail to not dull them.











Value and Conclusion





Tempotec V1A has an excellent overall value, with a lot of fun stuff going on for it. It has more features than most DAPs in this price range, beats most of the competition, and the largest issue would be with build quality issues that Tempotec faced in the past, and with the Warranty.





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To avoid any issues, I strongly encourage you to purchase their DAPs from authorised sellers, and local sellers who can get your warranty and a new unit in no time. Purchasing directly from China doesn't mean you have no warranty, but the shipping will cost a bit, and the fixing times will be rather high.





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At the end of Today's Review, if you're looking for one of the best DAPs in the entire world, and if you need something with a fair amount of driving power, something with MSEB, and something that can work both as a USB DAC, but also a Bluetooth Receiver, with a natural, slightly warm sound, and no background noise, the V1A from Tempotec should be right at the top of your list, because it really rocks.














--- Please remember to stay safe, and always have fun while listening to music!---






















Full Playlist used for this review






We listened to more songs than those named in this playlist, but those are excellent for identifying a sonic signature. PRaT, Texturization, Detail, Resolution, Dynamics, Impact, and overall tonality are all revealed by those songs. We recommend trying most of the songs from this playlist, especially if you’re searching for new music!





If you have a dime to spare (donate), it would make my day much brighter, as it would help me improve things around the website and increase the frequency of my posts.





Youtube Playlist





[embedyt]





Tidal Playlist





https://listen.tidal.com/playlist/64555551-ec3c-4279-ae44-248fdfcf6c4b
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Reactions: Cat Music

Javed

New Head-Fier
Tempotec V1-A
Pros: Pocketable size
Good battery life
Low output impedance
Two SD card slots
Coaxial output
Type C USB port
USB audio output
USB dac functionality
Cons: Power output is limited
Warm sounding
UI crashes sometimes
Packaging:
Box is really tiny. Inside the box you'll find the player itself wrapped in a protective plastic. There is a white box which contains the charging cable and a USB adapter type-C to micro-B. There is also another thin box, inside the box, there is the warranty card and a user manual.


Build quality :
Build quality of this device is really impressive. Made out of solid block of aluminum, no rattling, nothing to complain about.
A screen protector was pre-applied. On the bottom, there is a type c port and a 3.5mm audio jack. That 3.5mm jack was awkwardly tight. I was afraid it might broke. but it will get loose within time (it did after a week).
On the left side there are two volume buttons (+, -), two SD cards slots and on the right side next, pause and previous button.
Buttons are nice and tactile. On the top side, power button and there is a led indicator for notifying charging and music running on the background. On the front panel (under the glass) a hi-res logo and "V1" text is printed.
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Display :
Display is perfectly okay for this type of device.
Good colors and viewing angles are great
Better than shanling m0. It can display more information. Album arts look sharp. touch response is okay, same goes for accuracy. Brightness is enough for operating it outdoor.


UI :
It's running hiby os.
THIS THING IS REALLY A FEATURE PACKED DEVICE. THERE ARE TONES OF OPTIONS TO PLAY WITH.
UI is fast and responsive.
On the home screen you’ll find 8 icons (browser, catagory, Bluetooth, MSEB, equalizer, play settings, settings and about) .
There is a playlist option, you can create custom playlist with custom name on it with on-screen keyboard. Brightness can be adjusted 1%-100% smoothly.
MSEB tuning is a great feature.
You can fine tuning your audio settings by your liking. total 10 options (overall temperature, bass extensions, bass texture, note thickness, vocals, female overtones, sibilance LF, sibilance HF, impulse response and air). There is an option for customizing the color accent of the interface, you can chose any color you can imagine. Font size can be change (large, medium, small)
Undoubtedly best ui experience in this price
There is also and option for Hiby Link. With hiby link you can control the player with your phone.

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custom playlist
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MSEB​

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control center​

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color accent​

Power :
Power can be disappointing for some people. as it has only 60mw of output at 16 ohms of load. But it is more than enough for me because I used it with low impedance iems with high sensitivity.


Bluetooth :
It has two way Bluetooth connection. You can also use it as a Bluetooth receiver. Supported codes are ( sbc, aptx, aac, ldac). Didn't faced any connection dropping issue. Bluetooth works like a charm.

Technical specifications :
Dimensions : 80X45X12 mm
AKM 4377ECB dac chip with velvet sound technology.
768KHz/32bit
60mW output @ 16 ohm (each channel)
80gm weight
2A type c charging port (USB 2.0)
3.5mm audio jack
1200mah battery capacity
Bluetooth 4.0.


Sound:
Now let's talk about the main thing,
the sound quality.
It is a warm sounding dap. Good amount of transparency with good micro details
I've used it with some sensitive iems. I didn't notice any kind of noise during music playback. I can assure you there is no hissing or white noise. Soundstage is above average.

Bass:
I've found lows are good but not the greatest, If you are a bass head, you might get little upset. But lows have enough details and impact. You will feel the depth. Bass is fast, well controlled,dark background. Bass resolution is good, good layering and excellent depth, above average sub-bass. I found mid-bass is fairly neutral.

Mids:
I've mixed feelings about the mids. In some songs, it produced excellent mids, but on some other songs not that great. Mids are slightly forward which I personally enjoyed very much. Transparent with good resolution. Vocals sounded very clean. Overall mids are very satisfactory.

Treble :
Because of the warm sound signature, highs are not that extended. you'll feel that the highs ar slightly rolled off. Highs have a nice presentation. It has enough details.


as it has built-in MSEB (mage sound eight ball tuning) and 10band equalizer
you can make it sound as your liking.



Battery life :
Battery life is great for this tiny device. 20+ hours on Bluetooth and 12+ hours on wired headphones.

Things i liked :
inline remote works perfectly. just like smartphone.
color theme options
battery life
build quality
dual SD card slot
Bluetooth receiver mode
type c audio output (even with receiver mode)
two SD card slots

Things i don't like :
it gets hot during charging,
charging takes about 2 hours.



after 1.5 update
ui is more responsive than ever
there is no dsd playback lag (even on dsd 256)
sound just got better
treble extension is now wider
Soundstage is bigger now
battery life is around 13 hours on full charge
power output has been increased (imo)

Conclusion :
I think tempotec did a great job here. It is a feature packed device, good sound quality, great battery life, strong Bluetooth connection, great for digital source.
For this price, you can't go wrong, definitely recommend.


tracks I've mainly used :
Metallica - nothing else matters, master of puppets, enter the sandman.
Europe - the final countdown.
Guns and Roses - november rain, sweet child o' mine.
Pink Floyd - comfortably numb.
Linkin Park - lost in the eco, crawling, heavy. castle of glass.
Eminem - recovery (full album)
Madona - papa don't preach, into the groove
Lady gaga - million reasons, marry the night, telephone

Attachments

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Last edited:
Javed
Javed
Thank you
E
Eaglehawk
Don't think this has coaxial output. The coaxial output is only available on the V1.
Lokiiami
Lokiiami
Great review! Does it comes with a built in mic for calls?

cqtek

1000+ Head-Fier
Pros: Very low output impedance.
- Dimensions.
- Gapless.
- Touch screen and controls.
- Handling and quantity of options.
- Sound, especially the sub-bass and the middle zone.
- Battery life.
- Versatility.
- Ability to use two memory cards.
Cons: Sometimes the screen does not respond.
- Limited power.
Introduction

Autumn and new product to revision, Again, from the competent brand Tempotec. This time it is a small DAP, which has really reduced dimensions and weight. It is also tactile and has a 2-inch IPS panel. It also has physical buttons for the main functions. It has a large battery that provides up to 25h of autonomy in playback mode via Bluetooth, or up to 15h in direct mode. Another important detail is that it has double slot for memory cards, something almost unthinkable for such a small product. It should be noted that its interface is Hiby OS, which gives an idea of its tremendous simplicity and number of options it has. Finally, the DAC it uses is an evolution, two in one, of the AKM brand. This is the decoder chip and amplifier AKM4377ECB (768khz/32bit), capable of delivering 60mW to 16Ω, which is just over 1V RMS, a figure totally sufficient for IEMS and earbuds.

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Specifications

  • Dimensions: 81x45x12.7mm
  • Weight: 80gr
  • SNR: 125dB
  • Output power: 60mW/16Ω (mono channel)
  • Output impedance: < 1Ω
  • USB: Type-C (USB2.0)
  • Double memory card slot.
  • Maximum storage capacity: 256GB x 2
  • Battery: 1200mA
  • Battery life: 15h in direct mode.
  • Charging time: 2.5h (off).
  • Power supply: DC5V.
  • Jack Connector: 3.5mm Audio.
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Packaging

The first thing that attracts attention is the small size of the box. Its dimensions are: 131x98x25. On the main side, there is a photo of the player, the brand and the model. On the back, again comes the brand and model, plus some specifications and warnings.

Inside there is:

  • The DAP, wrapped in a whitish plastic, embedded in a foam mold.
  • A white box, containing the charging cable and a USB adapter type C to micro-B.
  • A white cardboard envelope containing the warranty certificate, warranty card and instructions.
  • The screen of the DAP has a protector, which in turn is protected by a removable transparent plastic sheet.

The DAP has the Hi-Res Audio seal, screen-printed in the lower left corner. In the lower right corner you can see the V1 model.
The presentation is sober, almost minimal, but with a good degree of protection.
The accessories are also minimal, but of great quality.

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Construction, Design and Comfort

The body of the DAP appears to be made of light metal. The whole front face is a panel, but the screen is only at the top, whose size is 2 inches. The sides are rounded, while the lower and upper faces are flat. On the right side there are three buttons, located in the area above. The highest button is the back button, the middle button, the play/pause button, and the last button is the forward button. On the left side, in the upper zone, there are two volume buttons, the "more" is up, the "less" is down. In the lower zone, there are two slots for microSD cards. On the bottom side, on the left side, is the USB type C connector. To the right, the 3.5mm stereo headphone jack. On the right side of the top face, there is a round button, to turn on/off the DAP. Next to it, there is a small two-color LED, in blue indicates operation, red load. On this side is the Bluetooth transmitter/receiver.

On the front panel, in the lower left corner, the "Hi-Res Audio" logo is printed. In the lower right corner is the name of the V1 model.

The construction is solid and because of its density, it can be seen that it is robust. The design is very functional, ergonomics and comfort improves, thanks to its rounded sides. Both the size and the shape are very suitable; the whole is manageable and easy to store.

Both the buttons and the display respond quickly. I would have preferred the volume buttons on the right, as they are located in many other DAPS.

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Use and Handling

The Hiby OS is the differential element of this small DAP. The main menu has 8 icons:

  • Browse: Navigator of folders of the two memory slots. You can even connect a storage unit, via USB.
  • Category: Organization of music files via TAGS.
  • Bluetooth: Activation of this function
  • MSEB: Non-frequential equalizer, which allows the sound to be modified based on parameters such as temperature, bass extension, bass texture, etc.
  • Equalizer: 10-band equalizer
  • Play Settings: Multitude of playback functions, including activation of Gapless Playback
  • Settings: Screen settings, font size, themes, buttons customization...and a long etcetera.
  • About: Firmware v1.2
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When you enter a menu, to go back, an arrow is shown at the top left of the screen.
While in the main menu, if there is a file playing, it is shown in a lower bar, along with the cover page.

The number of options it has is overwhelming. People who like to play with them will be entertained for a while. It's great that it's Gapless.

The MSEB is a very particular equalizer, which allows to modify the sound in a totally alternative way. Each parameter (Overall Temperature, Bass extension, Bass Texture, Note Thickness, Vocals, Female Overtones, Sibilance LF, Sibilance HF, Impulse Response, Air), modifies a particular section of the sound. Not all are equally drastic. But it is true that some work very well and adjust to what they indicate. On the other hand, custom settings can be saved. The scales can be adjusted from -20 to 20, from -40 to 40 and from -100 to 100, giving an idea of the excellent customization ratio it allows. The MSEB is an advantage that allows you to experiment with sound, offering a large number of variations, until you can leave it to your own taste.

The classic equalizer has 10 bands and moves in octaves, from 31Hz to 16kHz. Of course, it has 8 presets and the possibility to adjust it to our will.

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On the playback screen, there are many small options: playback modes can be chosen from an icon at the top left. Below, to the right, there is a heart to add the current song to favorites. There is a "+" at the top right, which, after pressing it, shows an additional list of functions: access the list of songs, the album, delete the file, add to playlist, equalizer ... Of course, from the bottom bar, you can change song, access a specific point of it, also pause and resume. If you slide your finger upwards, a small menu is shown, with options to change the brightness of the screen, the volume, the gain... By double clicking on the screen, the lyrics of the song are shown, in case you have it. The upper part shows the volume, the status, the time, the output and the battery.

To switch the device on/off, press the upper button long. If you press the short button once, it unlocks the screen.

The general use of DAP is very pleasant, although there are small options on the screen, which can be complicated to access, depending on the size of the fingers.

The operation is smooth, without delay, but sometimes, in the passage of screens, the movement is blocked. Clicking on the upper button, you get out of this situation. I suppose that in future updates these small inconveniences will be disappearing.

The battery life is the one that promises, above all it can be extended, using the “Low Power Mode”. All a great advantage.

As you can see, the use and the amount of options are extraordinary. There are so many that to list them all it would be necessary to dedicate a great amount of time and space. The result is an alance management of very few DAPs in this price range.

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Measurements

The measurements, without reaching maximum power, with several impedances connected, are shown below:

  • No load 1.012V
  • 32 Ω 0.995V
  • 100 Ω 1.007V
  • 240 Ω 1.01V

This implies that the output impedance is around 0.5 Ω, something completely extraordinary.

Performing the power calculation, assuming, by approximation, that it gives 0.99V to 16Ω, the output power would be the specified => 0.99²/16 = 61mW. With this, it is clear that the specifications do not lie. Although 1V may seem small, it is a fairly common figure in DAPs in this price range or below, enough to move low or medium impedance IEMs or earbuds.

Sound

Profile

The profile of the Tempotec V1-A is balanced, with a slight mid-centric tendency and inclination towards the sub-bass, without subtracting presence in treble. But it does give an idea of its clean and clear sound.

For the description of the sound, both the MSEB and the equalizer have been deactivated.

Tempotec V1-A 09_resize.jpg Tempotec V1-A 10_resize.jpg

Bass

From the lower zone, you can already see the clean and effective look of the V1-A, vivid, with a well-defined and soft texture, the trademark of the AKM house. In my opinion, the V1-A has a predilection for the sub-bass area: the lower part receives a special treatment, which gives the range great depth and a particular energy. It does not enjoy a pretentious punch, but possesses the deepest and most sensory narcotic virtue of bass. On the other hand, the impact of bass is fast, controlled, dark background. They are picked up at good speed, giving the area a characteristic timbre, sweet, nothing rough, but with a very singular vibration, marked, something digital. As I said, the range has excellent depth, remarkable lamination, good ability to recreate layers and comes very, very low, without decay. The overall definition is quite good, as is the resolution. All these parameters provide the bass with that dark and deep colour, with a very perceptible and descriptive sub-bass, neutral middle bass and nothing bulky, as well as a great control, totally permissive with the rest of the frequencies.

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Mids

The mids are perceived with great naturalness, equilibrated, well balanced; also close and near, vivid and frontal. The voices enjoy a soft and velvety timbre, which AKM proclaims so much. On this occasion, the V1-A is more AKM than ever. This generates a large dose of transparency, a very coherent and pleasant midrange, slightly warm, but without falling into a loss of resolution, definition, or darkness. The mids are far from analytical, as they sound more organic and dynamic than ultra detailed and profiled. Even so, those details are very well recreated and highly descriptive, based on that sensation of liquid sound, almost creamy and well threaded that it possesses.

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Treble

The softness reigns in the sound of the V1-A, one could not expect anything else than high frequencies according to the realistic profile that this DAP possesses. If I said before, that the low zone had a digital aftertaste, the highs sound much more analogical, but with no trace of trimming, with a beautiful invoice, of very natural timbre and neutral color. They have a good dose of transparency, but without being analytical, despite the good resolution they distill. The high zone is quite expressive, with a good capacity of recreation of micro details, but without overdoing it, allowing a pleasant listening always. It is not a brilliant DAP, but it is precious.

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Soundstage, Separation

The cleanliness, the naturalness and the sweetness of the sound, mark the profile of the V1-A. It enjoys remarkable separation, a clean background, but not abyssal. The scene is very realistic, natural, as it could not be otherwise. But not excessive or big. The sound is not lost at the ends, but is collected so as not to lose its velvety base. Globally, the stage feels more round than wide, more frontal than enveloping, easy to follow, with a good location and a certain origin, without ever losing the emitting focus. There is no remoteness, the sound is always well directed, with no trace of cloudiness, haze or cloudy focus.

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Comparisons

xDuoo X3II

Tempotec V1-A outperforms xDuoo X3II in smaller size, better manageability, longer battery life and number of options. But not in sound or power. The X3II has a complete AK4490, its sound is simply bigger. It is initially appreciated in its greater scene and separation. The bass is tighter, has more forcefulness and a higher degree of energy in the X3II, while the V1-A is more concrete, with less air, extension and depth. The existing air is also a differential feature in the highs: the xDuoo has a more ethereal and extended presentation in the upper zone. Tempotec has more focused and marked trebles. The middle zone, above all the voices, benefit from the more frontal and nearer focus than the V1-A, a treatment of approximation and greater sweetness, as opposed to the greater dispersion existing in the midrange of the X3II, which dilutes a little its sound in this zone. The greater concretion that the V1-A has in the middle zone, makes it more enjoyable, close, full and forceful for this range. While the xDuoo sounds farther away, more relaxed and less dynamic.

In general, the sound of the V1-A is more limited and focused, given the freedom and space proposed by xDuoo with its X3II.

ACMEE MF-01

The MF-01 is a DAP that has bet practically everything on the sound section, leaving the handling to be something minimal and very simple. In this respect, the V1-A is light years away in versatility from what the ACMEE offers. The MF-01, is bigger, heavier, its screen is minimal, the battery lasts half...But, it is undeniable that it possesses a very particular charm. And that's not just reflected in the sound. The V1-A has a minimum output impedance, while on the MF-01, it is high. The power is not comparable either, in favor of ACMEE.

The main difference is the forcefulness of the sound: the MF-01 possesses more energy in all ranges, including the mid-range, something that the V1-A can't provide. The dynamics are also greater, but at the sound profile level, the differences are not so great. Both have a marked, focused and concrete sound profile, with good definition. The upper part of the MF-01 is more ethereal, but it is more extensive in the V1-A, although the definition of both is different, with a sharper, somewhat more tense point in the V1-A and sweeter and softer in the MF-01.

Bass are wider on the MF-01, although both sub-bass have a good amount of energy. I consider the lower part of the MF-01 more complete than the V1-A, with a harsher, rougher texture, but with that special colour I love, plus an extra dose of depth.

In the middle zone there is more transparency and depth in the MF-01, in front of the more direct and closer sound of the V1-A, something that is particularly appreciated in the voices. The ACMEE offers greater width also in this range, demonstrating that dose of extra softness, a more relaxed sound, but not so vivid and close. But it is true that both DAPs possess a very approximate realism and naturalness treatment, with a similar path, which possesses greater refinement in the MF-01.

The scene in the V1-A is more limited than in the ACMEE, given its nearer, closer, more vivid and direct sound. The MF-01 has a more backward presentation, which favours space, a more airy and wide recreation, with greater depth, a little more height and separation. But, really, what is gained on one side is lost on the other, especially in the midrange.

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Conclusion

Perfection can be reached from many different paths. Tempotec has taken the path of ideal handling, to reach the heart of the most audacious audiophiles, those who do not want to give up the best use and performance, to obtain excellence in sound. And this brand has achieved it: there are very few DAPS on the market, that with their price, combine stellar performance, with a remarkable sound and excellent versatility. But that's not all. Thanks to its very low impedance, the V1-A is fully capable of perfectly matching all the IEMs on the market, extracting the best virtues from each one. Anybody give more? May another brand prove it.

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Headphones Used During Analysis

  • TFZ No.3
  • Tansio Mirai TSMR-2
  • BGVP ArtMagic DH3
  • TFZ My Love III
  • DB Monroe
  • OurArt QJ21

Ratings

  • Packaging: 75
  • Construction, Design and Comfort: 92
  • Use and Handling: 95
  • Sound: 85
  • Quality/Price: 90

Purchase link

https://penonaudio.com/tempotec-v1-a.html

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33032441868.html

You can read the full review in Spanish here:

https://hiendportable.com/2019/10/29/tempotec-variations-v1-a-review/

Comments

NymPHONOmaniac

Headphoneus Supremus
And they keep comin .. bangs for buck. And all this time im holding on to my 2013 AK120. Should i call it antique by now.
Nope, I still holding my 2014 IBASSO DX90, wich is still my favorite DAP:wink: AK120 score an excellent Wolfson WM8740 I think? I adore this dac chip.
V1-A is really about features, and docking DAC-AMP aspect!
 
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