EraserXIV
Headphoneus Supremus
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2008
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Thanks for the comprehensive response, look forward to more of your thoughts!
Thanks for the comprehensive response, look forward to more of your thoughts!
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I'm actually trying to figure out a way to reliably gauge the sound between the HA-1 and BDP-105. I normally feed music into the 105 with an external HD, and so it's easy to listen to music that way using the PM-1s. But the HA-1 demands a computer (or access to one via some pathway) to feed the DAC, so suddenly the chain incorporates the player software, which many folks feel imparts a distinct sound. So.. hard to have an apples-to-apples comparison. I even thought of linking the HA-1 to the 105, and that might end up being the best way to gauge the difference in sound, but since the HA-1 doesn't deal with things like track or file navigation, I'm still trying to figure this out.
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But, in my completely informal tests, without any rigor, the HA-1 clearly has a higher output level, and more fine tuning via its high and low headphone gain option. I also know it drives less efficient headphones easier, as I found using many headphones on the 105 that I was at 80-100 percent of volume to adequately drive them, especially on rock & roll, or any music recorded at lower levels. Noise hasn't been an issue with the 105 even cranked up, but the HA-1 can definitely outdrive it. I did think (see, not really sure) that the HA-1 had more dynamics, and a little less grit. And the HA-1 with the PM-1's have a very fast response, especially for transients.
Hello,
Having lived with the HA-1 for several weeks now I can state that I've never heard a better headphone amp/DAC. Coupled with the PM-1 the experience is sublime, easy-to-use, and aesthetically pleasing.
I have the silver model, which is lovely and understated design wise. I've also tried the balanced headphone cable, with no discernible difference so far, even thought it contains the normal copper, and not the fancy copper used in the 1/4-inch cable.
For headphones I've tried a variety of dynamic models from Audio-Technica, Sennheiser, Etymotic, Ultimate Ears, and Phiaton. In all cases the HA-1 made a significant difference, especially in the richness of depth of the bottom end, over USB DACs, and the built-in output on our Mac computers. So far it can drive everything I've thrown at it without a hiccup.
Harris