Cayin HA-2A, Compact Tube Headphone Amplifier

[lycos]

Thank you @NJoyzAudio. Really appreciate your insight, time and effort.

 

[Mezeamp990]

All 5 stock vacuum tubes in HA-2A are NOS vintage tubes, this is our first attempt to develop a tube amplifier with NOS vintage tubes. This is a very inefficient approach because we need to estimate the total production number in the complete product life-cycle, and stock all the vintage tubes we need before we start the production. Whereas if we use current product tubes, we can order the tubes we need anytime during the production cycle,

Do you know when the black color version of the HA-2A will be released?

 

[NJoyzAudio]

Thank you @NJoyzAudio. Really appreciate your insight, time and effort.

Lycos

YW.
May you find the sound signature you are looking for!

 

[project86]

Got my hands on the Cayin 888+2 stack and have been listening for about a month now. Will be adding info to the different threads as I have time.

The HA-2A is a very fun amp so far! Very big character from such a compact package, and it's almost comical to see this amp compared to the massive Cayin CS-100DAC.

Unfortunately I haven't heard the HA-3A so I can't evaluate any similarities/differences there, but I do use the HA-6A and can hear some of that same "family sound". Note that I normally prefer the KT88 sound instead of EL34 in the HA-6A, and go back and forth between triode and ultra linear modes depending on mood/music/headphones. For tubes, I use some excellent vintage Amperex Bugle Boys for the 6SN7, and then rotate through various KT88s including the Gold Lions that came stock (which I really enjoy for some reason). Just got the new Apos Ray Select tubes in both KT88 and EL34 and will probably be using those for a while next. I'm not sure if I'll try to mess with rolling tubes on the HA-2A or just stick with the stock options as they are already very good imho.

I love how they both use the same general layout - VU meters, switches and placement, tube arrays, transformers, tube cage - all appear very similar if somewhat simplified in the smaller amp.

So far used it with the Meze Liric II and Elite, Audeze LCD-5, and ZMF Atrium Closed, all with good results (the ZMF AC is probably my favorite match at the moment though). The HA-2A is very different sounding compared to the solid-state iHA-8, so they could definitely coexist in a system if someone wanted two different perspectives.

Will have more thoughts as time allows.

 

[lauthoerer]

This evening is off to a great start…

 

[Mezeamp990]

This evening is off to a great start…

Let us know how you like it so far? I just pulled the trigger and mine will arrived tomorrow.

 

[lauthoerer]

The unit was an „open box“ sale, so not sure how many hours are on it, but after letting it warm up for 30 mins without and another 20 or so minutes with music, it sounds pretty great to my ears. Totally grave silent when plugging in either the 300 Ohm HD820 or the ZMF VC - which was the first checkpoint the 2A had to clear. Neither the CS-1H, the HA-6A, nor the HP8 were previously able to give me that (all three gave some mid-to-high level hum). So already off to an exciting start, and that was without any music

I then streamed some songs from my „usual“ soundcheck and now moved to the new Bonny Light Horseman 2-LP that coincidentally arrived today as well. Listening to it with the VC currently leaves really nothing to be desired…

That’s very first impressions. Will switch DACs tomorrow (from the Onyx to the DAC-9) to see what happens if I’m able to turn the volume up past 9 o‘clock which is my current limit from the Onyx (that one’s high output is, sadly, the only downside for this amazing sounding DAC). Of course, comparisons to the HP8 and US5 are to follow…

 

[Mezeamp990]

Sounds fantastic out of the box and not even burned in yet.

 

[Andykong]

Well… I caved… definitely planning to share my impressions compared to the HP8 and Nimbus US5. Headphone stable is firmly locked now (with one more planar incoming), maybe my newest DAC (Metrum Onyx) to be updated later in the year. Let’s see if this can be the end for now…

I consider Nimbus US5 one of the best-sounding solid-state headphone amplifiers in the market, while I consider HA-2A a little brother when placed alongside the reference US5, I am looking forward to your impression, I hope the HA-2A will perform respectably in this comparison, finger-crossed.

 

[Andykong]

Do you know when the black color version of the HA-2A will be released?

We are still working on the black finishing, we have rejected several rounds of prototypes already. Unfortunately we don't have a deadline on this project.

 

[Andykong]

Well, the hard work paid off in sound. Hopefully it will in sale figures too.

The HA-2A, or the 888+2 as a whole, was developed as a more consumer-electronic-orientated product line. We adopt a total solution approach when we formulate the stack. It should perform satisfactorily when used by audiophiles, but we also want generic users who won't feel like missing something when they want to purchase a "solution" and use it as-is, using NOS vintage tube solves a big part of that problem for a tube headphone amplifier.

 

[Andykong]

People can mean different things by 'tube sound'. I don't think there is such general term. Not all tube amps are warm and thick. Some are brighter and nimble. A general tube sound to me is more of a fluid, natural sound versus SS amps. Not necessarily just warmth. Tubes can be neutral too.
To me both the 2A and 3A sound like tube amps. I don't think there is much difference between them in stock form in this regard.

I like your description, and I have put it into the FQA on page 1.

By the way, I have also updated Post#2 with direct links to impressions in this thread, hope that will help newcomers to catch up previous posts quickly.

 

[Andykong]

Got my hands on the Cayin 888+2 stack and have been listening for about a month now. Will be adding info to the different threads as I have time.

The HA-2A is a very fun amp so far! Very big character from such a compact package, and it's almost comical to see this amp compared to the massive Cayin CS-100DAC.



Unfortunately I haven't heard the HA-3A so I can't evaluate any similarities/differences there, but I do use the HA-6A and can hear some of that same "family sound". Note that I normally prefer the KT88 sound instead of EL34 in the HA-6A, and go back and forth between triode and ultra linear modes depending on mood/music/headphones. For tubes, I use some excellent vintage Amperex Bugle Boys for the 6SN7, and then rotate through various KT88s including the Gold Lions that came stock (which I really enjoy for some reason). Just got the new Apos Ray Select tubes in both KT88 and EL34 and will probably be using those for a while next. I'm not sure if I'll try to mess with rolling tubes on the HA-2A or just stick with the stock options as they are already very good imho.



I love how they both use the same general layout - VU meters, switches and placement, tube arrays, transformers, tube cage - all appear very similar if somewhat simplified in the smaller amp.

So far used it with the Meze Liric II and Elite, Audeze LCD-5, and ZMF Atrium Closed, all with good results (the ZMF AC is probably my favorite match at the moment though). The HA-2A is very different sounding compared to the solid-state iHA-8, so they could definitely coexist in a system if someone wanted two different perspectives.

Will have more thoughts as time allows.

Fantastic, I have been looking forward to hearing from you. Glad you like the 888+2 so far.

While a lot of users are looking for a comparison with HA3A, I would say comparing HA-2A to the ultralinear mode of HA-6A should generate a lot of interesting discussions .

 

[lauthoerer]

While a lot of users are looking for a comparison with HA3A, I would say comparing HA-2A to the ultralinear mode of HA-6A should generate a lot of interesting discussions.

I’m one of those! Have some more questions/thoughts for 2A owners, that also have experience with the 6A. Coming up tomorrow…

 

[lauthoerer]

I consider Nimbus US5 one of the best-sounding solid-state headphone amplifiers in the market, while I consider HA-2A a little brother when placed alongside the reference US5, I am looking forward to your impression, I hope the HA-2A will perform respectably in this comparison, finger-crossed.

Did a very quick comparison today in between work-breaks and can already say that the 2A doesn’t have to hide in the „big brother‘s“ shadow. Impressive, really! (we’re talking 1,5K vs 5k, here)

Right this minute comparing the 2A with the HP8. Pretty much en par when listening with the GH2, I’d say. Will keep the impressions coming…