[No Deal]

My first impression after a couple days with the PHA-1A: 

I have only used it so far with the NW-ZX2.  I can't say the amp improves the sound but it definitely is louder than the ZX2 alone.

I believe that louder is an attribute that would be provided by most if not all amplifiers. What I am curious about is what your source material is and why you aren't noticing an improvement in sound quality. Are you playing back lossless files?

 

[danlevy]

I believe that louder is an attribute that would be provided by most if not all amplifiers. What I am curious about is what your source material is and why you aren't noticing an improvement in sound quality. Are you playing back lossless files?

My source material is lossless files, some 24 bit, on the NW-ZX2.  Why I may not be noticing an improvement is that the DAC and amp in the NW-ZX2 are excellent in themselves.  They not be any worse than the DAC and a in the PHA-1A, just with less output power.  For my Etymotic and NAD headphones, the NW-ZX2 seems to have plenty of power and already sounds fantastic.  For my headphones with balanced cables, the comparison is moot, since I need the PHA-3 that I own to use them with any of my input devices.
 
Of course I'll keep comparing, trying to hold effective volume level the same between the NW-ZX2 with and without PHA-1A.
 
Meanwhile, I'm pretty confident that the DAC and amp in the PHA-1A are going to blow away what's inside any Apple device, so I imagine that's the use I'd put the PHA-1A to most frequently.

 

[No Deal]

I have custom ear molds that I am using with my Etymotics. I am enjoying the setup so far.

 

[Fizban]

Does anyone have any idea how the pha-1a compares with oppo's ha-2?

 

[howdy]

Does anyone have any idea how the pha-1a compares with oppo's ha-2?

I have wondered that as well. I ended up buying the HA2 but still can not stop thinking of how this sounds. I really enjoy the sound of Wolfson DACs.

 

[ruthieandjohn]

I prepared a little comparison table of several portable DAC / amps compatible with iDevices.
 

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)​	166​	HD 800​	127x82x33​	​	$699​
CEntrance​	DACPort​	CCK​	N​	​	1,500 max​	(166)​	​	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​
Headstage​	Arrow​	CCK​	Y​	​	"Max 10 V P-to-P"​	​	​	98x56x8.5​	100​	$399​
Oppo​	HA-2​	Y​	Y​	0.5​	300 (16); 220 (32), 30 (300)​	30​	HD 800​	157x68x12​	175​	$299​
Cypher Labs​	Theorem 720​	Y​	Y​	< 1​	205 (32); 320 (50)​	68​	​	120x64x29​	300​	$699​

 
Another difference, not shown here, is that I suspect that the Sony PHA-1A has an output impedance of 10 ohms (because the Sony PHA-1 does).  The Oppo HA-2 is quite  bit lower (less than an ohm).  One often wishes the amp output impedance to be less than one eighth of the headphone input impedance (so it does not form a voltage divider), and hence the Sony impedance is less than ideal for 32 - 50 ohm headphones such as Grados.
 
More info on the table here:  http://www.head-fi.org/t/650510/the-new-hd800-impressions-thread/18120#post_11517882

 

[howdy]

I prepared a little comparison table of several portable DAC / amps compatible with iDevices.

[TH]Manufacturer[/TH]​

[TH]Model[/TH]​

[TH]iPod?[/TH]​

[TH]Battery?[/TH]​

[TH]Output imp (ohms)[/TH]​

[TH]Output power, sum 2 channels (at ohms)[/TH]​

[TH]Power into 300 ohms, 2 ch (est if in parens)[/TH]​

[TH]Trusted reports for[/TH]​

[TH]Size (mm)[/TH]​

[TH]Weight (gr)[/TH]​

[TH]Price[/TH]​

[TD]CEntrance[/TD]​

[TD]HiFi M8[/TD]​

[TD]Y[/TD]​

[TD]Y[/TD]​

[TD]1, 2 11[/TD]​

[TD]1,400 mW (8 ohm)[/TD]​

[TD]166[/TD]​

[TD]HD 800[/TD]​

[TD]127x82x33[/TD]​

[TD] [/TD]​

[TD]$699[/TD]​

[TD]CEntrance[/TD]​

[TD]DACPort[/TD]​

[TD]CCK[/TD]​

[TD]N[/TD]​

[TD] [/TD]​

[TD]1,500 max[/TD]​

[TD](166)[/TD]​

[TD] [/TD]​

[TD]114x25x25[/TD]​

[TD] [/TD]​

[TD]$250[/TD]​

[TD]Aurender[/TD]​

[TD]Flow[/TD]​

[TD]Y[/TD]​

[TD]Y[/TD]​

[TD]0.06[/TD]​

[TD]380 (32)[/TD]​

[TD]174[/TD]​

[TD]HD 800[/TD]​

[TD]137x80x28[/TD]​

[TD]450[/TD]​

[TD]$1,295[/TD]​

[TD]Chord[/TD]​

[TD]Hugo[/TD]​

[TD]Y[/TD]​

[TD]Y[/TD]​

[TD]0.075[/TD]​

[TD]700 (8)[/TD]​

[TD]140[/TD]​

[TD]HD 800[/TD]​

[TD]132x100x20[/TD]​

[TD]400[/TD]​

[TD]$2,500[/TD]​

[TD]iFi Audio[/TD]​

[TD]Micro iDSD[/TD]​

[TD]CCK[/TD]​

[TD]Y[/TD]​

[TD]<1[/TD]​

[TD]4,000[/TD]​

[TD](250)[/TD]​

[TD]HD 800, HE-6[/TD]​

[TD]177x67x28[/TD]​

[TD]310[/TD]​

[TD]$500[/TD]​

[TD]Sony[/TD]​

[TD]PHA-1[/TD]​

[TD]Y[/TD]​

[TD]Y[/TD]​

[TD]10[/TD]​

[TD]350 (8)[/TD]​

[TD]52[/TD]​

[TD] [/TD]​

[TD]130x67x28[/TD]​

[TD]220[/TD]​

[TD]$250[/TD]​

[TD]Sony[/TD]​

[TD]PHA-1A[/TD]​

[TD]Y[/TD]​

[TD]Y[/TD]​

[TD] [/TD]​

[TD]296 (8)[/TD]​

[TD]33[/TD]​

[TD] [/TD]​

[TD]109x62x19[/TD]​

[TD]145[/TD]​

[TD]$300[/TD]​

[TD]Sony[/TD]​

[TD]PHA-2[/TD]​

[TD]Y[/TD]​

[TD]Y[/TD]​

[TD] [/TD]​

[TD]330 (8);180 (32)[/TD]​

[TD]50[/TD]​

[TD] [/TD]​

[TD]140x68x29[/TD]​

[TD]270[/TD]​

[TD]$409[/TD]​

[TD]Sony[/TD]​

[TD]PHA-3[/TD]​

[TD]Y[/TD]​

[TD]Y[/TD]​

[TD] [/TD]​

[TD]640 (32 ohm balanced)[/TD]​

[TD](150)[/TD]​

[TD]NOT for HD800[/TD]​

[TD]141x80x29[/TD]​

[TD]300[/TD]​

[TD]$999[/TD]​

[TD]JDS Labs[/TD]​

[TD]CSD[/TD]​

[TD]CCK[/TD]​

[TD]Y[/TD]​

[TD]0.62[/TD]​

[TD]4.146 V (600)[/TD]​

[TD](50)[/TD]​

[TD] [/TD]​

[TD]100x62x14[/TD]​

[TD]116[/TD]​

[TD]$249[/TD]​

[TD]Fostex[/TD]​

[TD]HP-P1[/TD]​

[TD]Y[/TD]​

[TD]Y[/TD]​

[TD] [/TD]​

[TD]160[/TD]​

[TD](160)[/TD]​

[TD] [/TD]​

[TD]130x75x25[/TD]​

[TD]260[/TD]​

[TD]$450[/TD]​

[TD]iQube[/TD]​

[TD]V5[/TD]​

[TD]CCK[/TD]​

[TD]Y[/TD]​

[TD]<0.1[/TD]​

[TD]160 (16); 80 (32); 12 (200)[/TD]​

[TD](8)[/TD]​

[TD]NOT for HD800[/TD]​

[TD]126x70x23[/TD]​

[TD]190[/TD]​

[TD]$699[/TD]​

[TD]LH Labs[/TD]​

[TD]GeekOut1000[/TD]​

[TD]CCK[/TD]​

[TD]N[/TD]​

[TD].47, 4.7[/TD]​

[TD]1000 (16)[/TD]​

[TD](140)[/TD]​

[TD]HD 800 (PTAF)[/TD]​

[TD]78x35x13[/TD]​

[TD]36[/TD]​

[TD]$299[/TD]​

[TD]FurutechADL[/TD]​

[TD]X1[/TD]​

[TD]Y[/TD]​

[TD]Y[/TD]​

[TD] [/TD]​

[TD]60 (16)[/TD]​

[TD]36[/TD]​

[TD] [/TD]​

[TD]118x68x17[/TD]​

[TD]147[/TD]​

[TD]$479[/TD]​

[TD]HeadAmp[/TD]​

[TD]Pico USB[/TD]​

[TD]CCK[/TD]​

[TD]Y[/TD]​

[TD]<1[/TD]​

[TD]700 (32)[/TD]​

[TD](340)[/TD]​

[TD]"the difficult"[/TD]​

[TD]70x51x20[/TD]​

[TD] [/TD]​

[TD]$468[/TD]​

[TD]Leckerton[/TD]​

[TD]UHA-6S.MKII[/TD]​

[TD]CCK[/TD]​

[TD]Y[/TD]​

[TD]<0.5[/TD]​

[TD]55(32)[8610 op amp];140(32)[8620][/TD]​

[TD]40 (either op amp)[/TD]​

[TD] [/TD]​

[TD]106x70x20[/TD]​

[TD]170[/TD]​

[TD]$279[/TD]​

[TD]Headstage[/TD]​

[TD]Arrow[/TD]​

[TD]CCK[/TD]​

[TD]Y[/TD]​

[TD] [/TD]​

[TD]"Max 10 V P-to-P"[/TD]​

[TD] [/TD]​

[TD] [/TD]​

[TD]98x56x8.5[/TD]​

[TD]100[/TD]​

[TD]$399[/TD]​

[TD]Oppo[/TD]​

[TD]HA-2[/TD]​

[TD]Y[/TD]​

[TD]Y[/TD]​

[TD]0.5[/TD]​

[TD]300 (16); 220 (32), 30 (300)[/TD]​

[TD]30[/TD]​

[TD]HD 800[/TD]​

[TD]157x68x12[/TD]​

[TD]175[/TD]​

[TD]$299[/TD]​

[TD]Cypher Labs[/TD]​

[TD]Theorem 720[/TD]​

[TD]Y[/TD]​

[TD]Y[/TD]​

[TD]< 1[/TD]​

[TD]205 (32); 320 (50)[/TD]​

[TD]68[/TD]​

[TD] [/TD]​

[TD]120x64x29[/TD]​

[TD]300[/TD]​

[TD]$699[/TD]​

Another difference, not shown here, is that I suspect that the Sony PHA-1A has an output impedance of 10 ohms (because the Sony PHA-1 does).  The Oppo HA-2 is quite  bit lower (less than an ohm).  One often wishes the amp output impedance to be less than one eighth of the headphone input impedance (so it does not form a voltage divider), and hence the Sony impedance is less than ideal for 32 - 50 ohm headphones such as Grados.

More info on the table here:  http://www.head-fi.org/t/650510/the-new-hd800-impressions-thread/18120#post_11517882

This is great! You should add the creative sound blaster E5 this is apple compatible and sounds great.

 

[ruthieandjohn]

 

That Creative Sound Blaster E5 seems quite impressive.  Records as well as plays back, has blue tooth, and is $199.  I'm trying to find its output power into a 300 ohm (i,e, Sennhe[ser HD 800) load, then I will add it to the table.  Thanks!

 

[Fizban]

  I prepared a little comparison table of several portable DAC / amps compatible with iDevices.
 

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)​	166​	HD 800​	127x82x33​	​	$699​
CEntrance​	DACPort​	CCK​	N​	​	1,500 max​	(166)​	​	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​
Headstage​	Arrow​	CCK​	Y​	​	"Max 10 V P-to-P"​	​	​	98x56x8.5​	100​	$399​
Oppo​	HA-2​	Y​	Y​	0.5​	300 (16); 220 (32), 30 (300)​	30​	HD 800​	157x68x12​	175​	$299​
Cypher Labs​	Theorem 720​	Y​	Y​	< 1​	205 (32); 320 (50)​	68​	​	120x64x29​	300​	$699​

 
Another difference, not shown here, is that I suspect that the Sony PHA-1A has an output impedance of 10 ohms (because the Sony PHA-1 does).  The Oppo HA-2 is quite  bit lower (less than an ohm).  One often wishes the amp output impedance to be less than one eighth of the headphone input impedance (so it does not form a voltage divider), and hence the Sony impedance is less than ideal for 32 - 50 ohm headphones such as Grados.
 
More info on the table here:  http://www.head-fi.org/t/650510/the-new-hd800-impressions-thread/18120#post_11517882

Wow!
This is amazing.
Thank you very much!

 

[danlevy]

I had a really nice listening session with the PHA-1A and my iPod Classic, using my NAD VISO HP50 headphones (wonderful headphones, by the way, and easy to drive)... I loved the sound.  As No Deal's photos indicate, the amp and the iPod are almost identical in height and width, so they make for a very portable package and one that feels good in the hand.  All the music I threw at it sounded great, definitely an improvement over the iPod alone.

 

[ruthieandjohn]

 
I had a really nice listening session with the PHA-1A and my iPod Classic, using my NAD VISO HP50 headphones (wonderful headphones, by the way, and easy to drive)... I loved the sound.  As No Deal's photos indicate, the amp and the iPod are almost identical in height and width, so they make for a very portable package and one that feels good in the hand.  All the music I threw at it sounded great, definitely an improvement over the iPod alone.

I noticed that immediate improvement as well, when I first encountered the Sony PHA-1 and compared its sound to that of my iPod Touch 5th gen... iPod alone sounds good, but iPod plus PHA-1 sounds BETTER!  So I bought a PHA-1 (this was before the -1A) and I've been loving it.

 

[gerelmx1986]

Has some bouhgt also the HA-2 and compred to this PHA-1A, i'm undecided to which one get but i assume wolfson DACs are warm and the HA-2 Sabre chip is neutral. so I am leaning to the HA-2 becaiuse this neutrality to pair it with a NWZ-A17

 

[howdy]

That Creative Sound Blaster E5 seems quite impressive.  Records as well as plays back, has blue tooth, and is $199.  I'm trying to find its output power into a 300 ohm (i,e, Sennhe[ser HD 800) load, then I will add it to the table.  Thanks!

And it sounds really good!!! Its as powerful as the FiiO E12, it is probably one of the most powerful portable amp/dacs you can buy.

 

[ysungsick]

Just got mine from Sony yesterday
More accurate sound probably from less jitter (step up from my isosynchronous usb 1.1 24bit/96khz onkyo se-u55sx)
Tend to play on a louder volume than before (either the sound is less painful or I need to raise volume to hear all the dynamic range)
Device gets warm at mid volume (set @normal, 2o'clock for car audio and home audio use. For my 18ohm headphones, barely above 9 o'clock)
 
One annoying thing: left / right balance doesn't seem to be matched at low volume
Set at On position, sound "leaks" (not silent) and doesn't increase in volume for some steps
Then it starts to get louder on left first and need to raise more for right side to catch up
 
I'm thinking of returning it because of this unbalance @ comfortable listening level with my headphones (cheap potentiometer?)
Beware if your headphones are 16ohm or less...

 

[No Deal]

^^^^^^^
The post above is interesting. Other than the warmth which doesn't concern me have not noticed a balance issue. Dynamic range seems good. Oh well!