[wilsonlaidlaw]

I would nominate the RHA Dacamp L1, which debuted at a somewhat higher MSRP if I'm remembering it right, but now at an HA-2-like $299.

Sadly from reading their website, it does not appear to be compatible with 30 pin Apple devices (iPod Classic etc), which have no Toslink optical output. Otherwise it seems a very nice device with twin ESS Sabre converters. I will ask them about 30 pin.

 

[435279]

Sadly from reading their website, it does not appear to be compatible with 30 pin Apple devices (iPod Classic etc), which have no Toslink optical output. Otherwise it seems a very nice device with twin ESS Sabre converters. I will ask them about 30 pin.

In this case you will have to use the line-in input.

 

[wilsonlaidlaw]

Surely using the analogue line input, totally negates the value of having an external DAC in the DAC-amplifier. I don't know how much Apple spent on the DAC chips in their iPod Classics, but I bet it was not a lot. I am sure there must be portable DAC amplifiers that are iPod/30 pin compatible. Oppo cannot have been the only company making these. I see there are still UK companies offering new HA2-SE's for sale. I don't know if Oppo's exit from the business means you get a discount, or as happened when Apple stopped making iPod Classics, the price of unsold new ones went up considerably.

 

[MikeyFresh]

I am sure there must be portable DAC amplifiers that are iPod/30 pin compatible.

.

 

[wilsonlaidlaw]

The HA2-SE is not perfect with an iPod Classic (I have a gen 6 and a gen 7) and sometimes you get a second or so when you think: "oh oh that doesn't sound right at all" but then it recovers. I never get that with the iPod touch but that stays permanently in my car, as the 30 pin to USB3 connection is too slow with the Classics compared with the Lightning to USB3 and it takes forever to scroll down though 400 albums, if you happen to want to play an album beginning with Z plus you only get shown the very occasional front cover with the Classics. The person who I am looking for, also has about 5 or 6 iPod classics, either Gen 6 or 7, in various locations round the world. I looked at an Astell and Kern AK70 but it seemed a bit expensive for what if was and if my memory is correct, actually uses the same DAC chip as the iPods 6 and 7 use, Cirrus 4398, so no advance. I am probably going to suggest he buys an HA2-SE and takes a risk on future warranty.

 

[DDDYKI]

It is definitely up to you, I am just trying to help. But many cables look alike. I tried so many, I had to label them. The listing I mentioned (https://www.ebay.com/itm/292052970340) was created on March 11, 2017. I know this because I reported the working cable to the seller (yourcharger) and she created the listing. If you bought yours in 2016 it's not the same one. The listing above sold 500 cables. Everybody on this thread who bought one reported that it is working fine. I bet OPPO gets it from this seller too. By the way, it is back in stock (eBay link above). If OPPO gets it in stock soon this could support the idea that they get it from this seller.

This one works as expected with my S9+ and HA-2. It doesn't attempt to power the DAC and kill my phone's battery like the cable from a few years ago (they both look exactly alike from the limited time I spent examining them). Thanks for the reassurance.
EDIT: An hour into using the combo, it looks like it's still using the S9 battery to charge the HA-2. Besides the battery drain, I noticed the little sliver in the notification bar that says "USB charging connected device." The HA-2 still shows all four LEDs when I press the battery button just now, though they don't remain lit otherwise.

 

[alpovs]

This one works as expected with my S9+ and HA-2. It doesn't attempt to power the DAC and kill my phone's battery like the cable from a few years ago (they both look exactly alike from the limited time I spent examining them). Thanks for the reassurance.
EDIT: An hour into using the combo, it looks like it's still using the S9 battery to charge the HA-2. Besides the battery drain, I noticed the little sliver in the notification bar that says "USB charging connected device." The HA-2 still shows all four LEDs when I press the battery button just now, though they don't remain lit otherwise.

If the LEDs on the HA-2 are not lit when connected then your phone is not charging it. Android may think otherwise but the HA-2 is not pulling the charge.

See the HA-2 manual. Page 7: "Battery Level / Charging Indicators: Four green lights indicate the HA-2’s internal battery level. When charging, these lights also indicate the charging status and currently charged capacity." "Battery Check / Power Bank Button: A single press of this button lights up the Battery Level Indicators to show the HA-2’s internal battery level."

On my HA-2SE the LEDs are lit when charging and off when not charging. If they are off when connected to your phone the HA-2 is definitely NOT charging, If I use the wrong cable the LEDs light up immediately when I connect it to the phone.

EDIT: When charging the LEDs blink. Per the manual: "Plugging the charger into a power outlet will begin charging the HA-2’s battery, and the Charging Indicators on the side of the unit will start to blink." Well, only one of the LEDs blinks and when fully charged all four LEDs stay on.

 

[DDDYKI]

If the LEDs on the HA-2 are not lit when connected then your phone is not charging it. Android may think otherwise but the HA-2 is not pulling the charge.

See the HA-2 manual. Page 7: "Battery Level / Charging Indicators: Four green lights indicate the HA-2’s internal battery level. When charging, these lights also indicate the charging status and currently charged capacity." "Battery Check / Power Bank Button: A single press of this button lights up the Battery Level Indicators to show the HA-2’s internal battery level."

On my HA-2SE the LEDs are lit when charging and off when not charging. If they are off when connected to your phone the HA-2 is definitely NOT charging, If I use the wrong cable the LEDs light up immediately when I connect it to the phone.

EDIT: When charging the LEDs blink. Per the manual: "Plugging the charger into a power outlet will begin charging the HA-2’s battery, and the Charging Indicators on the side of the unit will start to blink." Well, only one of the LEDs blinks and when fully charged all four LEDs stay on.

Interesting. And now I'm down to two LEDs, so this assessment is correct. Wasn't sure if there was some siphoning still going on, but my S9 battery isn't draining as fast as it was with the older charging cable.

Anyway, I've paired mine with the Fiio F9 Pro in-ears and enjoy it. There was some EMI or RFI noise going on earlier when I didn't have any music playing, but barely noticeable.

 

[grig]

Someone here had try to use the iDefender 3.0 with no psu with the ha2 ? or any other way to use the ha2 with a laptop but eliminating the battery charge during playback ?

 

[redkingjoe]

Hey Guys,
I’m new in technology! I’m still using cd disc-man for music.

I am very much interested in the HA-2! I’m having ipad2 using big head cable( I don’t know what’s the name).

Can I use a big head cable to carry digital data to use the day of the HA-2?

In my life, I saw some cables with “big-head to 3.5mm” or “ big-head to USB”!

 

[Cloudtastrophe]

its called the 30-pin connector, and I am pretty sure it does, but I dont have my HA2 at the moment to test it out

Hey Guys,
I’m new in technology! I’m still using cd disc-man for music.

I am very much interested in the HA-2! I’m having ipad2 using big head cable( I don’t know what’s the name).

Can I use a big head cable to carry digital data to use the day of the HA-2?

In my life, I saw some cables with “big-head to 3.5mm” or “ big-head to USB”!

 

[invite]

i am very interested in purchasing one of these, do any of you guys know how to find one, especially the SE version, for a reasonable price besides just camping the forum classifieds? >_<

 

[wilsonlaidlaw]

Some of the Oppo dealers in the UK still had new stock a few weeks ago because the friend I was researching for, to find an alternative amp/DAC for thirty pin plug iPods as good as the HA2-SE, ended up buying a new HA2-SE from a UK dealer. Amazon.com is showing some sellers as well but with silly prices being asked. You will just have to use a search engine to look.

 

[invite]

Some of the Oppo dealers in the UK still had new stock a few weeks ago because the friend I was researching for, to find an alternative amp/DAC for thirty pin plug iPods as good as the HA2-SE, ended up buying a new HA2-SE from a UK dealer. Amazon.com is showing some sellers as well but with silly prices being asked. You will just have to use a search engine to look.

I only see uk dealers selling it for retail price at 280 pounds => 380 usd. that's insane!!! Guess I will just have to hope somebody sells it on the forums one day.

 

[wilsonlaidlaw]

That is the level of prices including sales (value added) tax us folk in Europe have to live with. You might be able to find a dealer who could arrange a tax free sale for you for export outside the European Union, which would reduce the price by 20%. The HA-2SE DAC/Amps have become like new iPod classics, being sold at a premium due to scarcity - supply and demand equation. Just have a look on eBay.