OPPO HA-2 Portable Headphone Amplifier/DAC Discussion Thread

[Optimus Praim]

I believe the amp on the C5D does a pretty good job driving the HD600 even at low gain but this is something that i don't really mind.
I know that the Oppo can handle these cans fairly well but the thing is that i haven't yet heard this Saber chip that's why i want to form an opinion about the Dac section.
Do you guys thing that there is some musicality in it or it is more on the analytical/digital sounding side..
 
By the way ryanjsoo i like your blog,very nice presentations you have there!

 

[ryanjsoo]

  I believe the amp on the C5D does a pretty good job driving the HD600 even at low gain but this is something that i don't really mind.
I know that the Oppo can handle these cans fairly well but the thing is that i haven't yet heard this Saber chip that's why i want to form an opinion about the Dac section.
Do you guys thing that there is some musicality in it or it is more on the analytical/digital sounding side..
 
By the way ryanjsoo i like your blog,very nice presentations you have there!

 
Thanks! I see that the C5D is using the PCM5102A so it should be a slightly warmer, darker sound. The Fiio E17K uses a similar setup, I found the HA-2 to be quite a different sounding source, it is brighter and more detailed but also smooth and more refined. The Mojo is also darker and fuller, it really depends what you're pairing it with. I'm currently testing the HD700's and the HA-2 can be too bright at times for the already hot treble response of the Sennheisers, but for my darker earbuds and earphones, the HA-2 sounds fantastic. 

 

[Optimus Praim]

Very helpful feedback thanks...
Now as long as the treble doesn't sound harsh and it is on the smoother side a brighter sound sometimes helps soundstage to have some more depth..
I think one of the things that defines a good dac/amp is if it makes you listen to your favorite music without the need to skip tracks all the time because something sounds off.
Do you think the HA-2 has that little magic?

 

[ryanjsoo]

Very helpful feedback thanks...
Now as long as the treble doesn't sound harsh and it is on the smoother side a brighter sound sometimes helps soundstage to have some more depth..
I think one of the things that defines a good dac/amp is if it makes you listen to your favorite music without the need to skip tracks all the time because something sounds off.
Do you think the HA-2 has that little magic?

I don't think anything sounds off and the treble isn't splashy or brittle, it's just more forward than most non saber sources I've heard. The soundstage is definitely improved over the Fiio players, it is one of the more spacious sources I've tested, sorry I can't directly compare to the C5D since it isn't available where I live.

 

[Optimus Praim]

That's o.k you are giving me valuable info anyway.
And just for the record i don't like Fiio dacs soundwise,i believe they make decent vfm amps but that's it!
I think the spacious sound you describe might be a good match to compensate HD600's narrow but accurate nonthelless soundstage!

 

[ryanjsoo]

  That's o.k you are giving me valuable info anyway.
And just for the record i don't like Fiio dacs soundwise,i believe they make decent vfm amps but that's it!
I think the spacious sound you describe might be a good match to compensate HD600's narrow but accurate nonthelless soundstage!

 
I've tested the HA-2 with the HD600 and HD650 and they are a nice match, the HA-2 has great bass resolution as well which really cleans the headphones up. It's less well matched to the brighter HD700 and HD800 but still much better overall than my e17K and HTC 10 of course. I never felt that the Oppo was holding the soundstage back on the HD800/HD800S (I can't think of a better headphone to test soundstage) whereas it was more intimate with my other sources, substantially so from my phone, same impressions extend to use with my HD700's. 

 

[nwavesailor]

 
You are most welcome. Do let us know how it works for you once you get the case in hand. For the price I may want to get one and give it a try. The smaller on I had, I was concerned because it was a tight fit. The corners of the HA 2 compressed the padding where they contacted the inside of the case. I was concerned bout the possibility of damage if I dropped it. I ended up buying about 6 different cases before I settled on the on I sent the link for. I wouldn't mind picking up another if it is better.
 
Don't worry, I ended up using them all for other audio related "stuff".

Here ya go, @mandrake50.
 
The case appears to be pretty well made with a good zipper and the HA-2 fits nicely.
 
USA GEAR..........made in China!!!  

 
 
https://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325&tag=headfiorg-20&location=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fgp%2Fproduct%2FB00CH6AZ2S%2Fref%3Dcrt_ewc_title_dp_1%3Fie%3DUTF8%26psc%3D1%26smid%3DA1M0QAXHRTQIQW
 
 

 

 

[mandrake50]

It looks good. Just slightly smaller than the one that I ended up with. Had I seen that one, I would have gone that way.
It is called "drive Lock". I posted the link earlier for anyone that may be interested.

 

[inertianinja]

While you guys are getting external cases, I'm going in the other direction:
 
I removed the leather from my HA2SE last night, and cleaned off all the adhesive. I actually like the look with the screws exposed.
I bought an old iPad ZAGG Invisibleshield (the protective film) and cut it down to the size of the amp.
 
After applying it to the HA2, it's now protected and basically couldn't be any thinner. 
I remade my 3D printed iPhone clip, and now it's just a little bit thicker than 2 iPhones stacked on top of each other. Pretty pocketable!

 

[chillaxing]

  While you guys are getting external cases, I'm going in the other direction:
 
I removed the leather from my HA2SE last night, and cleaned off all the adhesive. I actually like the look with the screws exposed.
I bought an old iPad ZAGG Invisibleshield (the protective film) and cut it down to the size of the amp.
 
After applying it to the HA2, it's now protected and basically couldn't be any thinner. 
I remade my 3D printed iPhone clip, and now it's just a little bit thicker than 2 iPhones stacked on top of each other. Pretty pocketable!

 
 
How about some pics

 

[Optimus Praim]

   
I've tested the HA-2 with the HD600 and HD650 and they are a nice match, the HA-2 has great bass resolution as well which really cleans the headphones up. It's less well matched to the brighter HD700 and HD800 but still much better overall than my e17K and HTC 10 of course. I never felt that the Oppo was holding the soundstage back on the HD800/HD800S (I can't think of a better headphone to test soundstage) whereas it was more intimate with my other sources, substantially so from my phone, same impressions extend to use with my HD700's. 

 
Thanks a lot for your input,i am gonna give it a try.
But i will go with the SE version as the price difference is not that much..

 

[inertianinja]

   
 
How about some pics

 
I'm having a hard time taking a pic that doesn't look crappy.
 
In person it looks good, but we're in the prototype stage...i mistakenly used the wrong edge of the protective film, so it has the iPad cutouts (derp). Also experimenting with rounded edges for the clip - they're a bit rougher than they could be right now.
 
But it looks like it's going to work.
 
0.3mm iPhone case
leather removal from the HA-2
protective film on the HA-2
minimalist 20mm clip
= 
thinnest possible portable amp/dac.
 

 

[stilleh]

Hi
 
I´ve been in contact with the Oppo support about a solution to the type-C connection issues.
 
Me:
 
"I have an Oppo HA-2 (first generation) which I love and adore. I have recently purchased a new phone which has USB type-C connector (Oneplus3) and I´ve been trying to find a cable to pair the two.

Do you sell any or know of a brand that works between the two? I have heard about this cable;

http://www.ebay.com/itm/4-Right-Angle-Micro-USB-to-Type-C-OTG-Cable-for-Portable-Digital-DAC-Amplifier-/301996172236?hash=item46505fe3cc:g:hrQAAOSwNuxXbo63

But from what I have read it´s not great as the ha-2 seems to charge the phone continously with that cable. Which makes me think that the pinout in the OTG cable is wrong?

Hope to hear from you with information on a working setup. I just love my Oppo ha-2 and need to use it."
 
 
Oppo:
 
"We are not aware of a single cable that will work, but a USB-C to micro-USB-B adapter will work (https://www.amazon.com/VicTsing-Connector-Transfer-Supported-Tablet-Black/dp/B017IA2X0E)"
 
Best Regards,

Customer Service
OPPO Digital, Inc.
 
 
So now my question is if anyone else have a working solution or know of a adapter that will work that is not on Amazon? Amazon does not ship to Sweden unfortunaltely...
 
I was in contact with Konstantin from Lavricables (as I LOVE his cablework) and he said he could make a microB to type-C cable if he could get the right pinout for the connections. Anyone know?

 

[erich6]

   
I'm having a hard time taking a pic that doesn't look crappy.
 
In person it looks good, but we're in the prototype stage...i mistakenly used the wrong edge of the protective film, so it has the iPad cutouts (derp). Also experimenting with rounded edges for the clip - they're a bit rougher than they could be right now.
 
But it looks like it's going to work.
 
0.3mm iPhone case
leather removal from the HA-2
protective film on the HA-2
minimalist 20mm clip
= 
thinnest possible portable amp/dac.
 

​It looks...naked!

 

[inertianinja]

 
​It looks...naked!

 
Yea,clearly it was designed for the screw holes/etc to be covered, but I like it like this. 
 
I think the vinyl film is going to work pretty well - super thin and adds some grip.
Another option is using some vinyl film like 3M Di-Noc or the like.