New portable Tube DAC/amp: EarMen L-amp

[hecrews]

IMO, mind you I like warm but not muddy, or very sloppy lows....
As a note, all of these have a unique feature that the other does not. I am not going to go into crazy detail but if you have a question love to help.

1. Woo WA8 - My no 1 pick due to the most lifelike, warmeth, fullness, buttery sweet. Just a note, its the heaviest by far so Id say transportable. 5hr battery life (3 real glass tubes mode). Has a DAC

2. Kaei tap1pro - 4 "real" glass tubes - you can customize the op amps to your liking (Burson 7 in mine now). So this is a game changer. Moddin this makes it wayyyy less portable though) w DAC

3. EA4 - Close 2nd here. Diffent tubes of course in every way... so the slight edge goes to the one that matches the music. For example, Jazz, especially vocal jazz.... WA8 all the way!!!! No contest for me. No DAC here so probably more space for the goodies - it is a brick BTW like the woo, The EA4 for EDM? YESSSSSSSSSS. TIGHT bass, nice speed and hard punch... no muddy bass here!!

4. Nunchaku. As a dongle tube... wow! Obviously not going to match WA8 & EA4 * Kaei (which all have some great power to push the tubes). But this thing in tube mode / NOS is the penultimate of tube portability without driving your phone battery like mad, or carrying a brick.Truly portable.

5. AK3000T—The ONLY reason for this grade is that it's a DAP. So, if I ignore that part, it would come in no. 3 above Nunchaku, which sounds on par with Ak3000T and, of course, a LOT less expensive. ( I do admit I prefer the DAC chips in the 3000T. My favorites! So may be a bit biased).

6. xduoo5t - Great little amp. The combo of the DAC w however the tubes are tuned... just not cup of tea.

 

[Susumaniello]

IMO, mind you I like warm but not muddy, or very sloppy lows....
As a note, all of these have a unique feature that the other does not. I am not going to go into crazy detail but if you have a question love to help.

1. Woo WA8 - My no 1 pick due to the most lifelike, warmeth, fullness, buttery sweet. Just a note, its the heaviest by far so Id say transportable. 5hr battery life (3 real glass tubes mode). Has a DAC

2. Kaei tap1pro - 4 "real" glass tubes - you can customize the op amps to your liking (Burson 7 in mine now). So this is a game changer. Moddin this makes it wayyyy less portable though) w DAC

3. EA4 - Close 2nd here. Diffent tubes of course in every way... so the slight edge goes to the one that matches the music. For example, Jazz, especially vocal jazz.... WA8 all the way!!!! No contest for me. No DAC here so probably more space for the goodies - it is a brick BTW like the woo, The EA4 for EDM? YESSSSSSSSSS. TIGHT bass, nice speed and hard punch... no muddy bass here!!

4. Nunchaku. As a dongle tube... wow! Obviously not going to match WA8 & EA4 * Kaei (which all have some great power to push the tubes). But this thing in tube mode / NOS is the penultimate of tube portability without driving your phone battery like mad, or carrying a brick.Truly portable.

5. AK3000T—The ONLY reason for this grade is that it's a DAP. So, if I ignore that part, it would come in no. 3 above Nunchaku, which sounds on par with Ak3000T and, of course, a LOT less expensive. ( I do admit I prefer the DAC chips in the 3000T. My favorites! So may be a bit biased).

6. xduoo5t - Great little amp. The combo of the DAC w however the tubes are tuned... just not cup of tea.

Any chance youv tried the apos gremlin?

 

[hecrews]

I have it
That is a rock star of a little amp. Have the upgraded tubes.
For the price punches wayyyy above its pay grade
Needs a power supply and no Dac as I’m sure you know but wow!!
Warm and speedy bass. I have the Cayin Soul and of course not as good but gets awfully close…
Bit much to drive sensitive IEMs but still on very low volume (nice volume pot btw) there is no channel imbalance and good throughput of sound. Impressive little gremlin

 

[Susumaniello]

Ok thanks for that, really wanted a comparison vs portable tubes as thats what I was debating between, was wondering if it was worth spending extra cash but good to know the cheaper option is better.

 

[Miki Trosic]

Today auditioned the L Amp at a dealer, its very disappointed. Given its price tag which is substantial lower than my SP3000T and the Cayin C9ii, I expected a lower level of SQ and product quality. But ..

I found and experienced a “half baked” product from EarMen and below is my findings:

• I brought along my AK SE200, IER-M9 to audition
• SE200 digital out to L Amp, M9 into 4.4 PO
• 1st the Amp’s vol button can’t function thus SE200 was outputting at a Line out level, and render impossible to listen, way too too loud
• Then I tried with my iPhone 14 and there were constant, intermittent ring sound through out track listened, although this time the vol button is functional with iPhone
• Yes, as the YT reviews have revealed, there will be rings when touching the Amp or buttons, but with iPhone the rings noise were there very apparent even without touching the Amp! Something I was not expecting
• The dealer told me that he’d not experienced any ring noise when used with an Android phone and his 1ZM2 works with the Amp as far as the vol button use is concerned, but he only tried the 1ZM2 and Android phone not AK or Android based DAPs or iPhones
• This led me to think that is the Amp’s pairing with sources has certain limitations and if so EarMen should have spelled out clearly otherwise buyers might acquire the Amp just to find that it doesn’t work with some upstream sources!

Lastly to give benefit of doubts to EarMen, it might well be the case that this demo unit is faulty BUT I certainly await EarMen’s feedback and confirmation re my findings, as the SQ of this Amp is way more “tube sound” than my AK3000T and Cayin C9ii and somewhat more holographic but this is just my scanty impression but even so I would dare to say this Amp has good potential and if the above deficiencies get resolved, I would def buy one. Thus my conclusion of a half baked product.

Please let me know which dealer you listened to the L-Amp at, because as far as I know, our dealers do not have the L-Amp yet.

 

[Miki Trosic]

IMO, mind you I like warm but not muddy, or very sloppy lows....
As a note, all of these have a unique feature that the other does not. I am not going to go into crazy detail but if you have a question love to help.

1. Woo WA8 - My no 1 pick due to the most lifelike, warmeth, fullness, buttery sweet. Just a note, its the heaviest by far so Id say transportable. 5hr battery life (3 real glass tubes mode). Has a DAC

2. Kaei tap1pro - 4 "real" glass tubes - you can customize the op amps to your liking (Burson 7 in mine now). So this is a game changer. Moddin this makes it wayyyy less portable though) w DAC

3. EA4 - Close 2nd here. Diffent tubes of course in every way... so the slight edge goes to the one that matches the music. For example, Jazz, especially vocal jazz.... WA8 all the way!!!! No contest for me. No DAC here so probably more space for the goodies - it is a brick BTW like the woo, The EA4 for EDM? YESSSSSSSSSS. TIGHT bass, nice speed and hard punch... no muddy bass here!!

4. Nunchaku. As a dongle tube... wow! Obviously not going to match WA8 & EA4 * Kaei (which all have some great power to push the tubes). But this thing in tube mode / NOS is the penultimate of tube portability without driving your phone battery like mad, or carrying a brick.Truly portable.

5. AK3000T—The ONLY reason for this grade is that it's a DAP. So, if I ignore that part, it would come in no. 3 above Nunchaku, which sounds on par with Ak3000T and, of course, a LOT less expensive. ( I do admit I prefer the DAC chips in the 3000T. My favorites! So may be a bit biased).

6. xduoo5t - Great little amp. The combo of the DAC w however the tubes are tuned... just not cup of tea.

I need to clarify a few things…

L-Amp is a true portable DAC and operates without batteries. Aside from the Nunchaku and Tube Mini from Woo, you cannot compare it to other devices because the tubes used are completely different.

What sets the L-Amp apart is the sound. Reducing “ringing” is possible by adding feedback to the tubes, but that significantly degrades the sound quality. And we didn’t want that.

Our goal with this product was to deliver a full and rich sound that the competition simply doesn’t have—I’m only referring to devices that use JAN 6418 tubes.

In one thing, you’re right: using the buttons does produce some ringing. Maybe it was a mistake to include them at all, but if you adjust the volume on your phone or PC, you don’t have to use the buttons, and then the ringing won’t be an issue.

I won’t comment on other brands because I respect all companies that design and manufacture audio gear. However, I’m confident that the L-Amp has the best sound on the market—measured and proven.

 

[jjss]

Please let me know which dealer you listened to the L-Amp at, because as far as I know, our dealers do not have the L-Amp yet.

Will pm you ..

 

[hecrews]

I will pm you as well.

 

[Miki Trosic]

I will pm you as well.

Ringing is completely normal for these tubes unless we add negative feedback, as some competitors have done—but that comes at the cost of significantly worse sound quality.

As for AK DAP devices, who’s to say their volume control protocol is perfect? If all phones and computers work correctly but an AK DAP doesn’t, is that really on us?Should we tweak our design to fit every DAP out there, or focus on ensuring seamless compatibility with phones and computers? I’d say the latter makes more sense, especially since most phones and computers follow standardized protocols, while many DAP devices use their own proprietary systems.

That said, there’s an easy fix—just adjust the volume directly on the DAP device itself!

In any case, all friendly advice is always welcome because we do this for you and because of you.

 

[sofastreamer]

Ringing is completely normal for these tubes unless we add negative feedback, as some competitors have done—but that comes at the cost of significantly worse sound quality.

As for AK DAP devices, who’s to say their volume control protocol is perfect? If all phones and computers work correctly but an AK DAP doesn’t, is that really on us?Should we tweak our design to fit every DAP out there, or focus on ensuring seamless compatibility with phones and computers? I’d say the latter makes more sense, especially since most phones and computers follow standardized protocols, while many DAP devices use their own proprietary systems.

That said, there’s an easy fix—just adjust the volume directly on the DAP device itself!

In any case, all friendly advice is always welcome because we do this for you and because of you.

much appreciate your clarifications and support!

 

[FilipTot]

Hello everyone,

I am the lead engineer at Auris Audio and EarMen. You may remember my signature on the "Angel" device. What I want to do here is clear up any doubts and have fun discussing sound and audio devices because, at the core, we are all here out of a shared love for this. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.
I also want to share some interesting details about the L-AMP. First, let me emphasize that we have extensive experience with high-end devices, especially headphone amplifiers, so we know what good sound should be and what to expect from a tube. Some people might not like microphony, but let me clarify something—it is a normal characteristic of every tube. Some have more, some less, but what is considered "too much" is subjective!
Please do not compare the L-AMP with devices that cost five times as much, especially those that do not use the JAN6418 tube. I have personally listened to a few competing devices—one had nearly twice the microphony, while another had less than the L-AMP, but that is expected when negative feedback is used.
What is the issue with negative feedback, and how does it work? Essentially, the ideal signal from the DAC is compared to the signal after the tube. Any differences between the two signals are canceled out, and the stronger the feedback, the more the output signal resembles the input. The problem is that this process not only reduces microphony but also removes the tube-enriched sound. The amplifier starts to sound more like the DAC itself, losing dynamics, color, and other essential elements.
We aimed for a balanced approach, ensuring reliability, manageable microphony, and sufficient power—without compromising sound quality. We never go against sound. Our portable amplifier exhibits slight microphony when physically tapped, but this does not affect music playback. Under normal usage conditions, you will rarely trigger strong microphony.

We are open to suggestions and even criticism, and I hope you enjoy the sound of this small but great amplifier!

 

[jjss]

Hello everyone,

I am the lead engineer at Auris Audio and EarMen. You may remember my signature on the "Angel" device. What I want to do here is clear up any doubts and have fun discussing sound and audio devices because, at the core, we are all here out of a shared love for this. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.
I also want to share some interesting details about the L-AMP. First, let me emphasize that we have extensive experience with high-end devices, especially headphone amplifiers, so we know what good sound should be and what to expect from a tube. Some people might not like microphony, but let me clarify something—it is a normal characteristic of every tube. Some have more, some less, but what is considered "too much" is subjective!
Please do not compare the L-AMP with devices that cost five times as much, especially those that do not use the JAN6418 tube. I have personally listened to a few competing devices—one had nearly twice the microphony, while another had less than the L-AMP, but that is expected when negative feedback is used.
What is the issue with negative feedback, and how does it work? Essentially, the ideal signal from the DAC is compared to the signal after the tube. Any differences between the two signals are canceled out, and the stronger the feedback, the more the output signal resembles the input. The problem is that this process not only reduces microphony but also removes the tube-enriched sound. The amplifier starts to sound more like the DAC itself, losing dynamics, color, and other essential elements.
We aimed for a balanced approach, ensuring reliability, manageable microphony, and sufficient power—without compromising sound quality. We never go against sound. Our portable amplifier exhibits slight microphony when physically tapped, but this does not affect music playback. Under normal usage conditions, you will rarely trigger strong microphony.

We are open to suggestions and even criticism, and I hope you enjoy the sound of this small but great amplifier!

Thanks for the elaboration. I have experiences with tubes and older tube amps like those in last decades. I don't come from a perspective that I'm expected L-amp be something thats 5X or even 10x expensive, In other words, I just expect a performance at this price point. The question that I have is that the unit I've auditioned have rings thought out my listening, is this a faulty unit or "expected"? The ring sound is almost as loud as the music. I would like to say it again, I love the lush very tuby sound of the L-amp and is the "most nostalgic" sound that I have recollected lately since my younger days a few decades back, and thats why I still haven't given up my hope.
Thanks in advance ..

 

[gunswick]

Hello everyone,

I am the lead engineer at Auris Audio and EarMen. You may remember my signature on the "Angel" device. What I want to do here is clear up any doubts and have fun discussing sound and audio devices because, at the core, we are all here out of a shared love for this. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.
I also want to share some interesting details about the L-AMP. First, let me emphasize that we have extensive experience with high-end devices, especially headphone amplifiers, so we know what good sound should be and what to expect from a tube. Some people might not like microphony, but let me clarify something—it is a normal characteristic of every tube. Some have more, some less, but what is considered "too much" is subjective!
Please do not compare the L-AMP with devices that cost five times as much, especially those that do not use the JAN6418 tube. I have personally listened to a few competing devices—one had nearly twice the microphony, while another had less than the L-AMP, but that is expected when negative feedback is used.
What is the issue with negative feedback, and how does it work? Essentially, the ideal signal from the DAC is compared to the signal after the tube. Any differences between the two signals are canceled out, and the stronger the feedback, the more the output signal resembles the input. The problem is that this process not only reduces microphony but also removes the tube-enriched sound. The amplifier starts to sound more like the DAC itself, losing dynamics, color, and other essential elements.
We aimed for a balanced approach, ensuring reliability, manageable microphony, and sufficient power—without compromising sound quality. We never go against sound. Our portable amplifier exhibits slight microphony when physically tapped, but this does not affect music playback. Under normal usage conditions, you will rarely trigger strong microphony.

We are open to suggestions and even criticism, and I hope you enjoy the sound of this small but great amplifier!

Hi Filip, great to have you in the thread. I have an Angel here and I love it (#268), and I am keen to understand the difference in experience I would have with L-amp compared to Angel?

How will it compare in power to drive headphones, in mid range detail/warmth/smoothness and as I like EDM music, how the bass is different in terms of power, slam, attack, detail etc.

I will need to import to Canada so I before I do I want to understand some more as returns are a real challenge! Ringing I am OK with, it's mainly static listening I do at my desk. I just want to understand the value compared to Angel.


Many thanks for your work on both devices, Angel is just brilliant (oh and I upgraded from Sparrow which was also incredible for such a small device!)

Thank you for the help, the more detail the better!

 

[FilipTot]

Thanks for the elaboration. I have experiences with tubes and older tube amps like those in last decades. I don't come from a perspective that I'm expected L-amp be something thats 5X or even 10x expensive, In other words, I just expect a performance at this price point. The question that I have is that the unit I've auditioned have rings thought out my listening, is this a faulty unit or "expected"? The ring sound is almost as loud as the music. I would like to say it again, I love the lush very tuby sound of the L-amp and is the "most nostalgic" sound that I have recollected lately since my younger days a few decades back, and thats why I still haven't given up my hope.
Thanks in advance ..

It is difficult to answer this question because, for example, I don't know how the device was used. If you used an IEM on the balanced output in headphone mode, the device operates at maximum power and is under the most load. However, this also means that noise and microphonics become more noticeable, especially since IEMs are very sensitive.

Again, I can't say exactly what you experienced because I don’t know the details, but if you were using an IEM, it would be convenient to listen in IEM mode, where the high frequencies are tamed. They are not missing; rather, you simply won’t get that piercing sound. Instead, the sound will be more similar to that of headphones.
Edit:
I just read your previous post, and I see that you are using the IER-M9, as I had assumed. They have a 20-ohm impedance and likely a somewhat higher sensitivity. If you used the device in headphone mode and pushed it a bit harder for testing (which you normally wouldn’t do), you might have experienced stronger microphonics. I can’t say for sure whether it would be audible through the music and to what extent—that depends on the volume level at which you listen.

The solution would be to use IEM mode, which we didn’t include by accident.

 

[FilipTot]

Hi Filip, great to have you in the thread. I have an Angel here and I love it (#268), and I am keen to understand the difference in experience I would have with L-amp compared to Angel?

How will it compare in power to drive headphones, in mid range detail/warmth/smoothness and as I like EDM music, how the bass is different in terms of power, slam, attack, detail etc.

I will need to import to Canada so I before I do I want to understand some more as returns are a real challenge! Ringing I am OK with, it's mainly static listening I do at my desk. I just want to understand the value compared to Angel.


Many thanks for your work on both devices, Angel is just brilliant (oh and I upgraded from Sparrow which was also incredible for such a small device!)

Thank you for the help, the more detail the better!

Hi,
I'm glad that you like our products. Now, I’ll try to be as objective as possible—I don’t like being the kind of parent who thinks their child is flawless!

I’m not as articulate as professional reviewers, but I’ll do my best. L-AMP truly has that irresistible tube sound, as has been mentioned in multiple places. In a way, it’s more pleasant, warmer, or better said, more rounded. I’d say it has slightly fewer details compared to the Angel, but that doesn’t bother me because the sound feels more natural. For a device like this, it delivers really good bass. Personally, I prefer headphones because that’s where I get the most out of it. I mostly listen with Meze Lyric or Meze Empyrean, where the sound was absolutely amazing.

On the other hand, Angel is extremely precise, with a touch of warmth coming from the DAC and operational amplifiers. What keeps you engaged when listening to Angel is its insane dynamics and the level of detail that creates an immersive soundstage—I honestly haven’t heard that on many devices. The reason for this is definitely the ESS DAC and the amplifier topology.

You may agree or disagree, but I’m really curious—what specifically do you like? I think L-AMP could be a great complement to Angel. It has less power, but personally, I haven’t had any issues with that. I’ve already mentioned what I use.