[qsk78]

 
  So far I really love it.  

Good to know. My  pha-1a is coming from Japan.
The only reason I have not bought the Oppo HA-2 was a connectivity issue with my A15 since it requires a special sony data cable + one more usb cable/adapter - too complicated...
I hope that the pha-1a can give me what I want. Let's see

 

[No Deal]

I also have looked at the size of the HA-2 along with the connection to the A17 and I wonder if the added cable cost and carrying them around is worth it. I am leaning towards the Pha-1 for that reason. I hope that there is very little real world difference in the sound between the two units.

 

[qsk78]

 I am leaning towards the Pha-1 for that reason. 

Do you mean pha-1a?

 

[No Deal]

Do you mean pha-1a?

Yes. I meant the PHA-1A. Sorry.

 

[Koolpep]

Sony Store in Dubai:
 
 

 
 
 

 
Always nice to see how we are paying one of the highest prices in the world - in a tax free country.
 
Hmmppff.
 
The sony MDR-1A is 1199 dirhams ($326 US) - so I bought it from Amazon Spain for $165 shipped to Dubai.
 
Sony's pricing seems to be all over the place currently.
 
Cheers,
K

 

[ruthieandjohn]

I was thinking about getting the PHA-1 for my iDevices but if the PHA-A1 is better I will wait and go for it.

Just looking at the PHA-1A and comparing to my PHA-1:
 

1. PHA-1 has more power (170 mW @ 10% into 8 ohms; 26 mW @ 10% into 300 ohms);
2. PHA-1 has the flat top and rails that let you put it flush with an iPhone;
3. PHA-1 does the high-resolution DAC up to 96 K / 24 bits; the PHA-1A can go up to 192 K / 24 bits;
4. PHA-1 states a battery life up to 5 hrs (using both DAC and amp); PHA-1A ups that to 6 hours;
5. PHA-1 I think costs a bit more when/if you find it new.

 
I've just started using my PHA-1 as a DAC/amp for my Sennheiser HD 800s.  Sounds like heresy, I know, but I REALLY wanted to start carrying my HD 800s around with me and this was all i really had in my hand.  I was looking for a headphone good in both treble and subbass, had looked at the HiFiMAN HE-500 (good bass but less treble clarity) and HE-560 (its similarity in sound to my HD 800 is what made me think of my HD 800 as the solution to my problem).  I use it on Hi gain and have head-vibrating bass at 60% volume setting on the PHA-1.
 
I did a A/B comparison using my HD 800 on both the Sony PHA-1 and my Sennheiser HDVD 800 DAC/amp, my reference for what is best for the HD 800.  Really REALLY close... the only difference was not in spectrum but in sound stage - the HDVD 800 still gave better soundstage, even including a vertical position in the imaging of sources.

 

[Dopaminer]

I`ve put one for sale in the FS section if anyone is looking for one of these beauties.  
 
d

 

[No Deal]

Are you willing to post here why you are selling?

 

[Y26-Day]

Delete the link. Thanks as I don't know abt that rule.

Selling his/her Pha-1a.

 

[Dopaminer]

http://www.head-fi.org/t/762610/sony-pha-1a

Selling his/her Pha-1a.

Hey thanks; actually the mods don`t allow people to post their ads in the discussion threads, otherwise I would have.  
Somebody should grab this beauty - it`s new ! 

 

[FiJAAS]

http://www.head-fi.org/t/762610/sony-pha-1a

Selling his/her Pha-1a.

May I ask why you are selling it?

 

[ruthieandjohn]

Fun to compare the Sony PHA-1 to its younger brethren (or cistern???):
 
Portable DAC/Amps Compatible with iDevice (iPod, etc.) and Sennheiser HD 800
 

Manufacturer​	Model​	iPod?​	Battery?​	Output imp (ohms)​	Output power, sum 2 channels (at ohms)​	Power into 300 ohms, 2 ch (est if in parens)​	Trusted reports for​	Size (mm)​	Weight (gr)​	Price​
CEntrance​	HiFi M8​	Y​	Y​	1, 2 11​	1,400 mW (8 ohm)​	(208)​	HD 800​	127x82x33​	​	$699​
CEntrance​	DACPort​	CCK​	N​	​	1,500 max​	(208)​	​	114x25x25​	​	$250​
Aurender​	Flow​	Y​	Y​	0.06​	380 (32)​	174​	HD 800​	137x80x28​	450​	$1,295​
Chord​	Hugo​	Y​	Y​	0.075​	700 (8)​	140​	HD 800​	132x100x20​	400​	$2,500​
iFi Audio​	Micro iDSD​	CCK​	Y​	<1​	4,000​	(250)​	HD 800, HE-6​	177x67x28​	310​	$500​
Sony​	PHA-1​	Y​	Y​	10​	350 (8)​	52​	​	130x67x28​	220​	$250​
Sony​	PHA-1A​	Y​	Y​	​	296 (8)​	33​	​	109x62x19​	145​	$300​
Sony​	PHA-2​	Y​	Y​	​	330 (8);180 (32)​	50​	​	140x68x29​	270​	$409​
Sony​	PHA-3​	Y​	Y​	​	640 (32 ohm balanced)​	(150)​	NOT for HD800​	141x80x29​	300​	$999​
JDS Labs​	CSD​	CCK​	Y​	0.62​	4.146 V (600)​	(50)​	​	100x62x14​	116​	$249​
Fostex​	HP-P1​	Y​	Y​	​	160​	(160)​	​	130x75x25​	260​	$450​
iQube​	V5​	CCK​	Y​	<0.1​	160 (16); 80 (32); 12 (200)​	(8)​	NOT for HD800​	126x70x23​	190​	$699​
LH Labs​	GeekOut1000​	CCK​	N​	.47, 4.7​	1000 (16)​	(140)​	HD 800 (PTAF)​	78x35x13​	36​	$299​
FurutechADL​	X1​	Y​	Y​	​	60 (16)​	36​	​	118x68x17​	147​	$479​
HeadAmp​	Pico USB​	CCK​	Y​	<1​	700 (32)​	(340)​	"the difficult"​	70x51x20​	​	$468​
Leckerton​	UHA-6S.MKII​	CCK​	Y​	<0.5​	55(32)[8610 op amp];140(32)[8620]​	40 (either op amp)​	​	106x70x20​	170​	$279​

 
Table is from here:  http://www.head-fi.org/t/650510/the-new-hd800-impressions-thread/18120#post_11517882

 

[Y26-Day]

 
Hey thanks; actually the mods don`t allow people to post their ads in the discussion threads, otherwise I would have.  
Somebody should grab this beauty - it`s new ! 

Changed.  Thx for the heads up.

 

[No Deal]

 
I am giving my first listen to the PHA-1A.  I have yet to receive my NWZ-A17.  In the meantime I have used an inexpensive 4" Monoprice 30 pin Apple to USB  connector to hook it up to my faithful iPod Classic which holds some of my extensive ALAC library.  I still prefer my old school ER-4S headphones over anything else that I have heard and I am not a high volume bass head so I will not be able to tell you how well your new tech headphones will work with this unit.  I prefer an amp that delivers detail and is a pleasure to listen to without excessive gain.  My initial impression is that for me and the edgy R&B tinged jazz that I listen to, this works. I will have to listen for a while to better tell how much more I might I like the sound but so far, for my needs, not bad.  

 

[FiJAAS]

I am giving my first listen to the PHA-1A.  I have yet to receive my NWZ-A17.  In the meantime I have used an inexpensive 4" Monoprice 30 pin Apple to USB  connector to hook it up to my faithful iPod Classic which holds some of my extensive ALAC library.  I still prefer my old school ER-4S headphones over anything else that I have heard and I am not a high volume bass head so I will not be able to tell you how well your new tech headphones will work with this unit.  I prefer an amp that delivers detail and is a pleasure to listen to without excessive gain.  My initial impression is that for me and the edgy R&B tinged jazz that I listen to, this works. I will have to listen for a while to better tell how much more I might I like the sound but so far, for my needs, not bad.  

Great news! Can't to hear more from you after you listen more.