[Andykong]

Which of your new tube amps would be the best match for Focal Utopias?

Definitely HA-300Mk2. I have used Utopia as demo headphones for Utopia since the original HA-300 back in 2018, this combination was reported as "perfect synergy" by Dave Hanson of enjoythemusic.com. The HA-300MK2 is a refined version of HA-300, so if you ask ask for the best match, this is it.

Tonal balance on this setup was among the best I've heard, period. Timbre was absolutely spot-on and details emerged effortlessly even at low volumes. The music was just full-of-life, and it was one of those listening sessions I know will stick with me for a long time.

 

[Andykong]

Sneaky, I didn't catch that back then at all.

Yes, we all have a good laugh when someone comments or PM us about the availability of "Black HA-6A" on that photo.

 

[ThanatosVI]

Yes, we all have a good laugh when someone comments or PM us about the availability of "Black HA-6A" on that photo.

Seriously tho, bring a Black version as well.

The silver/blue amps look good but the Black ones look great

 

[ClicketEKlack]

Definitely HA-300Mk2. I have used Utopia as demo headphones for Utopia since the original HA-300 back in 2018, this combination was reported as "perfect synergy" by Dave Hanson of enjoythemusic.com. The HA-300MK2 is a refined version of HA-300, so if you ask ask for the best match, this is it.

Cool, thanks!

 

[Andykong]

The HA-3A pre-production demo was well-received at ChengDu International Headphone Expo. We have received positive feedback from visitors during the show, and our R&D Engineer will conduct the final tweak before mass production.

There is some basic information we can share at this point because they are finalized and won't be changed before production:

1. Output tube is 6V6×2, Driver tube is 12AU7/ECC82×2, Rectifier tube is RCA 22DE4×1
2. Three headphone outputs: XLR-4 balanced, 4.4mm balanced, and 6.35 Single-ended.
3. Thre impedance settings: Low, Mid, High
4. Two analog inputs: XLR Balanced and RCA Single-ended

One distinctive R&D objective is to develop HA-3A for the best quality within certain limitations. It is not aiming at "driving any demanding headphones" direction. As a result, HA-3A is relatively low-powered when compared to HA1AMK2, HA-6A, and HA-300MK2, but the audio performance will be closer to its bigger brothers when working within its design limitation. For those who want to ask "can it drive Susvara to full potential", you can look elsewhere, maybe HA-1AMK2 .

As mentioned previously, HA-3A is a small foot-print design, roughly the size of a sheet of A4 paper. These photos put HA-3A alongside our iDAP-6 and iDAC-6MK2, hopefully, you can visualize the dimension of HA-3A from these photos.

 

[dadracer2]

That is very interesting and when can we know more details and availability please?

 

[Andykong]

That is very interesting and when can we know more details and availability please?

As stated in the opening post, the HA-3A will be available to International dealers by early September 2022. I'll provide more details when we are ready for mass production, that would be early August if the supply chain didn't fail us badly.

 

[qua2k]

For those who want to ask "can it drive Susvara to full potential", you can look elsewhere, maybe HA-1AMK2 .

How about a ZMF VC? Will the 3A be able to handle a VC to full?

 

[zach915m]

How about a ZMF VC? Will the 3A be able to handle a VC to full?

I would think it will have no problem, when we get the units in I will make a video and test with various planars as well to see what it handles well.

 

[capetownwatches]

I think I've been subconsciously waiting for a really great excuse to get back into tubes...

XLR inputs and outputs would indicate a balanced circuit - will it be fully differential?

EDIT: "...shares the same design as HA-6A and HA-300MK2" would seem to confirm that it will be. I mean, why would it not..?

 

[Andykong]

I think I've been subconsciously waiting for a really great excuse to get back into tubes...

XLR inputs and outputs would indicate a balanced circuit - will it be fully differential?

EDIT: "...shares the same design as HA-6A and HA-300MK2" would seem to confirm that it will be. I mean, why would it not..?

In short, the HA-3A is not FULLY balanced from input to output, but it's 4.4mm and XLR-4 phone outputs are balanced driven.

HA-3A shares the same signal processing concept as HA-6A and HA-300MK2. the tube amplification circuit is single-ended, but the headphone outputs are balanced driven through a pair of output transformers. For those who are unfamiliar with the function of the output transformers and how they convert the single-ended output from power output tubes (the 6V6 in the case of HA-3A) to balanced phone outputs, please check out our previous discussion HERE for more detail.

 

[550591]

What price range will this fall into? My quess would be 1500-2000$. .

 

[qua2k]

What price range will this fall into? My quess would be 1500-2000$. .

I am hoping in the $1400-1499 range myself. Sub $1.5 ideal from a sales/marketing view when including the whole Cayin line (3A<6A<300mk2) imo.

 

[550591]

I am hoping in the $1400-1499 range myself. Sub $1.5 ideal from a sales/marketing view when including the whole Cayin line (3A<6A<300mk2) imo.

Oh right. I was looking at the 6A and thought that's the 3A.

Yeah if they manage a price of less than 1500 euro in Europe I might be really tempted to get one if that thing drives planar headphones.
That impedance matching is really something nice.


Cayin gear seems to hold its value as well if I'm not wrong.

 

[JAFHIFI90]

thanks Andy for detailing, with the mid-range AMP I think the most important point is the price, which will determine whether it's worth buy it or skip him and jump for his big brothers or save money for the little brother.