OPPO HA-2 Portable Headphone Amplifier/DAC Discussion Thread

[YtseJamer]

  I would be interested to know if you hear any hiss with sensitive iems.

 
X2.

 

[gixxerwimp]

gixxerwimp /img/forum/go_quote.gif
  Going down to my favourite headphone shop later today to convince myself it'll be worthwhile spending US$3-400 to make my music a bit less portable

 

None of this is directly related to the HA-2, other than that it describes my investigations to help me decide whether I want to order it direct from the US before it becomes available here in Taiwan. 
 
After a 3 hour session at Earzone in Taipei 2 days ago, the end result is I can't distinguish a significant improvement in sound quality between ​the onboard DAC and amp of ​either my Samsung Note 3 & Galaxy S3, and a dedicated portable DAC/amp (headphones/IEM used to be described below). Neither can I hear a difference between the two Samsung phones using any of my headphones/IEMs (ER•4P, Ultrasone Tio, DT 1350, Sennheiser HD 228, stock earphones).
 
The test setup was using the Note 3 as transport and OTG USB source to the DAC/amp, and comparing it with the headphone output from the S3, using the ER•4Ps 
(nom. impedance  ​27
Ω) . I ran the Viper4Android EQ settings
I normally use with the 4Ps ​
​
to flatten the bass response ​ (no discernable distortion or artifacts), and Poweramp for playback (no EQ).​All source files were FLAC 16-bit 44.1kHz. I did my best ​to ​volume match 
​the 2 sources by ear, ​
and  ​
​it 
was  ​rather ​
tough  ​
unplug ​ging​
/plug ​ging 
the earphones ​ quickly enough to remember what I was hearing when switching from one to the other. I forgot to bring the ER•4P P-to-S adapter (basically a 75 Ω resistor in series).

 

The first 
device  was the FiiO E18 and the only quantifiable difference I could discern was a warmer bass response (mentioned in numerous reviews). I could probably convince myself of hearing a bit more "openness" with the E18, but I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be able to tell the difference consistently in a blind test. 
At the insistence of ​ ​one of the sales guys, I tried a Denon DA-10 DAC/amp (not Android compatible) and used it as an amp with the output from the Note 3's headphone jack. I wasn't expecting much from this double amping setup. Using the Denon just sounded warm and fuzzy all through the frequency range.​

 

After trying and failing to connect via USB to the ADL A1, a DAC/amp supposedly designed for Android compatibility (both my phones are listed as supported), we tried the ECentric Hifi-M8, which they weren't sure would work with my Samsung phones. Turns out it worked just fine. The sound was clear and uncoloured, there seemed to be a bit more low-end punch (not more bass, just more presence), and the mids and highs were perhaps more open and clear (gain low, bass/treble settings flat, impedance unintentionally set to 10Ω - I thought hard left would be the lowest setting). Or maybe not, as I couldn't really hear that much difference between it and my S3. It was a Sunday afternoon and the first day they were open for business after the Chinese New Year break, so the listening environment wasn't optimal. 
 
In an attempt to try and hear any positive difference with the DAC/amp, I grabbed a pair of OPPO PM-1s that were sitting on the counter, thinking they'd be harder to drive for the smart phone. The PM-1s sounded great and were the most comfortable over-ears I've ever tried (can't wear them due to the pads pressing on the arms of my glasses, causing visual distortion and making me dizzy). They sounded great out of both the Hifi-M8 and the S3. With the phone at full volume, I could get a pretty high sound level, louder than I would ordinarily listen. The M8 could go louder at its highest of the 3 gain settings. In reading about the PM-1, I thought it would be more challenging to drive for my S3. But looking now at OPPO's website, it says they wanted it to be easy to drive and pairable with mobile devices (nom. impedance 32 Ω). 
 
I brought my Beyerdynamic DT 1350s (nom. impedance 80 Ω) to see if/how they responded to amping, and switched over to them. After the extremely open and transparent sounding PM-1s, my 1350s sounded like I had wads of cotton balls between the drivers and my ears. It took a few minutes to readjust to their normally clear and punchy sound. Switching between the M8 and S3 again yielded no noticeable differences.
  ​The takeaway from that afternoon? It would seem I'll save myself US$300-400 that I can spend on another pair of headphones later. I'll wait for the new OPPO PM-3 ​closed back planar magnetics to come out and give them a listen. At $399 in the US (probably 20% more here), if they're anywhere near as good as the PM-1s, that's where I'll likely spend any extra pocket money.
 
-------------------
 


Yesterday, I was at the Guanghua electronics/computer market in Taipei looking for some heat shrink with a 90° bend for my ER•4P adapters from AWAN (see my avatar). Popped into Earzone's smaller branch there and tried the AK10 (a.k.a. Beyerdynamic A200p). The USB connection worked just fine; didn't do a listening test. A more knowledgeable sales guy told me the A1 needs a proprietary cable to connect to Android devices, one that's not supplied with the amp. How dumb is that?
 
After striking out on the 90° heat shrink, I went back to Earzone to try a pair of "hard to drive" headphones with my Note 3. They had a pair of HD800s (300 Ω), from which the Note 3 could produce a decent sound level at full gain (Viper4Android and Poweramp both set flat), but the highs and lows were pretty out of control. They sounded much better through a HDVD800 DAC/amp. The guy said they'd sound even better from the balanced output. It was louder at the same volume setting, with maybe a bit better separation. Would need to listen properly for longer.
 
So now that I've finally heard a positive difference using a dedicated DAC/amp, I'll wait for the HA-2 to arrive on my shores and compare it with the HiFi-M8. Would love to demo a Chord Hugo, but there's no way the CFO is gonna approve a US$2500 expenditure for such a superfluous device 

. Guess I'll have to wait until she feels guilty after her next Chanel purchase. 

 

[Poimandres]

  I bet Calyx F will be much better. As you know, many reviewers have mentioned that Calyx M is the only device that sounds comparably good to AK240.
If they're going to release a Calyx F with slightly improved sound quality and battery life, it can be like an AK240 without LCD screen.
I would prefer that over HA-2.  If it's going to sound that good, $499 price tag isn't too bad either.

Here's to hoping that the F has improved sq over the M.  I have yet to hear anything as good as the M.  For the price the F would be a steal.

 

[ImmaLizard]

iPod doesn't work again. I've tried a few different cables and different things (iPod off when turning on HA-2, etc). Can anyone test their out? Mine is an iPod classic 160 gig with 2.0.4 PC software. Maybe I need to reformat to IOS software?

 

[ClieOS]

ER4P (as well as 4S) really doesn't response to amping much. Just saying.

 

[gerelmx1986]

iPod doesn't work again. I've tried a few different cables and different things (iPod off when turning on HA-2, etc). Can anyone test their out? Mine is an iPod classic 160 gig with 2.0.4 PC software. Maybe I need to reformat to IOS software?

yes try the restore option under itunes

 

[ImmaLizard]

Restored iPod and reformatted to Mac software, still doesn't work. Any other ideas I should try?

 

[IAMBLEST]

My oppo has arrived.  I dont have any headphones with a 3.5mm jack

 

[gerelmx1986]

Restored iPod and reformatted to Mac software, still doesn't work. Any other ideas I should try?

maybe that iPod does not work with the Oppo HA-2? except for analogue OUT?

 

[ImmaLizard]

Worked once, not sure what was different when it did actually work. Hastur, any ideas?

 

[ImmaLizard]

Update, working again.

 

[ImmaLizard]

Update, audible hiss with my JVC HA-FX850 IEMs. Loved every oppo product thus far but not feeling too good about this purchase.

 

[gixxerwimp]

  ER4P (as well as 4S) really doesn't response to amping much. Just saying.

 
I was a "dedicated HP amp virgin", so to speak. Figured the 4Ps would let me hear more detail if there was any. People talk about "night/day" improvements with DAC/amp. I was just hoping to be able to hear any improvement at all. Didn't notice any difference with the DT 1350s either, nor the PM-1s, which are supposed to scale.
 
So at least I know that the gains (for me) will be marginal with easy-to-drive headphones/IEMs. Money in the bank!

 

[gixxerwimp]

   
Hot off the presses:
 

Normal: No bass boost applied. The frequency response is flat.

 
Can you provide info on the setup for these frequency response tests? I've forgotten most of the electronics I learned in highschool/uni, but I think it would be more meaningful knowing what kind of load was being driven, and the power/voltage output

 

[Wurstteppich]

They will ship the same day or next day. So delivery is usually a week or less.

Any idea when it will be available for German customers?