[joseG86]

Lolito just sent jumpers to me like he offered here in the forum. Very nice guy!

Lolito es god tier

 

[deafenears]

has plenty of power, it drives anything really in low gain and SE. If you want louder, go hi gain and balanced. Balanced sounds better, but I am using a new audeze by single ended, sounds great already.

If you wanted to go even louder, go SE in, balanced out.

SA-1 headphone amplifier gains:

1. Single-ended input, single-ended output: low gain is 0db, high gain is 11db;
2. Single-ended input, balanced output: low gain is 6db, high gain is 17db;
3. Balanced input, single-ended output: low gain is -6db, high gain is 5db;
4. Balanced input, balanced output: low gain is 0db, high gain is 11db;

 

[gdwallasign]

Arrived yesterday l

Thank you!
Also, wanted to ask if SA-1 can be used with IEMs on the more sensitive side, when on Low gain (like the Gustard H16 can, for example), or is it a no go as SA-1 is too powerful/introduces hissing?

I've been having the most fun with the iems in the 36 hours I've owned it.

 

[Muataz]

If you wanted to go even louder, go SE in, balanced out.

SA-1 headphone amplifier gains:

1. Single-ended input, single-ended output: low gain is 0db, high gain is 11db;
2. Single-ended input, balanced output: low gain is 6db, high gain is 17db;
3. Balanced input, single-ended output: low gain is -6db, high gain is 5db;
4. Balanced input, balanced output: low gain is 0db, high gain is 11db;

It is not what look like.

Usually with RCA you have lower voltage around 2V so the amp will amplify 6db so it will match Balance input in terms of volume level

 

[Lolito]

If you wanted to go even louder, go SE in, balanced out.

SA-1 headphone amplifier gains:

1. Single-ended input, single-ended output: low gain is 0db, high gain is 11db;
2. Single-ended input, balanced output: low gain is 6db, high gain is 17db;
3. Balanced input, single-ended output: low gain is -6db, high gain is 5db;
4. Balanced input, balanced output: low gain is 0db, high gain is 11db;

not sure those maths are correct or not correct, but SE input has a 6db Boost, but because RCA will come with less power than XLR. This amp certainly levels the inputs, you can A/B RCA and XLR, and will sound exactly same level if they are both matched at max volume.

 

[Middy]

Hi gents still loving the Singxer but I've managed to get a lot more from my setup...
1. My Qutest from the high-end sites bypassing the USB with SRC-DX DDC into the coalxial BNC. You can keep the USB chain but miss the Qutests not so good USB controller..very nice boost.

Some of us have used shielding cables or a metal case some copper tape....
EMI RFI have specialist EEs just working on this or either Regulations , functional issues or testing...
So what.. the guys designing this did that before selling it....hmmm the design is set in stone..

I've no EE skills Industrial EMC testing or a lab but i do have scissors a screwdriver and EMI absorbing tape..

So?
The SRC DX designers other designs are RFI EMI reduction based...
This got me researching for layman explanations.. Basically theres sources and victims in components...CPUs Ram clocks and others can cause disruptions through various mechanisms affecting the device or circuit ...just noise... some more than others... and that can degrade your final output signal..


An oversimplified but informative info
https://hollandshielding.com/Flexible-EMI-absorber-sheets

https://interferencetechnology.com/...ctromagnetic-noise-absorber-technology-1/amp/

Off this i bought some...it might not be perfect for the specific mhz range but it was £10 for a big roll.... and its Industrial... 3M AB5010 I later the 5030 5050..

I've tried it on parts of my entire and had good results some minor but my Qutest the most..

I wasn't sure about analogue..the SA1 but as I'd done the the MOD...Try the end of my chain.


I quickly did the ICs the MOD links, the lid for reflections and the roughly around the dual meanwell's
I am going to make Mu metal shields bonded to the chassis EMI absorbing material under the shield...
But a touch more again in SQ IMHO in the chain.. ill do more details but the tape is easy to remove..

All of this was luck and just trying to reduce EMI RFI accumulatively. very nice.
Ill do the Power shield properly with a drain and see what happens....

Just another avenue to consider, most won't but its there for people to disprove, improve or ignore...

For example in the Qutest..

Ill do picture when i finish and report back with more details... read the 2 article links as thats my main information..... but a change by trying...
Even just some advice from more knowledgeable would be gratefully recieved.... so much to get your head around so all i did was luck...

My journey was added to this thread...all a bit of fun but worked out quite nicely..

Cheap and easy bur feel free to rip apart anything i did wrong. I just followed some basic principles and fingers crossed for every part of my chain...

 

[deafenears]

It is not what look like.

Usually with RCA you have lower voltage around 2V so the amp will amplify 6db so it will match Balance input in terms of volume level

not sure those maths are correct or not correct, but SE input has a 6db Boost, but because RCA will come with less power than XLR. This amp certainly levels the inputs, you can A/B RCA and XLR, and will sound exactly same level if they are both matched at max volume.

Ah right, these all make sense. IIUC, there isn't really a standard for 2V SE and 4V balanced but it seems to be widely used. Chord DACs for example, outputs 3V SE and 6V balanced. With some others 5V balanced.

Those numbers were from the SA-1 designer/engineer himself from https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...lanced-headphone-amp.23365/page-6#post-781775

 

[Lolito]

Ah right, these all make sense. IIUC, there isn't really a standard for 2V SE and 4V balanced but it seems to be widely used. Chord DACs for example, outputs 3V SE and 6V balanced. With some others 5V balanced.

Those numbers were from the SA-1 designer/engineer himself from https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...lanced-headphone-amp.23365/page-6#post-781775

yes, those numbers are correct, what is not correct is assuming SE will be louder, because of that 6db boost, but you didn't count on rca being half voltage of xlr. Long sotry short, that 6db is to make them same level, no effective boost.

 

[Muataz]

Ah right, these all make sense. IIUC, there isn't really a standard for 2V SE and 4V balanced but it seems to be widely used. Chord DACs for example, outputs 3V SE and 6V balanced. With some others 5V balanced.

Those numbers were from the SA-1 designer/engineer himself from https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...lanced-headphone-amp.23365/page-6#post-781775

Chord Hugo2 can output 5V out of it RCA, so you can push the amp more in this situation. ( I don't know if it will clip or not )

 

[godmax]

A Sing(x)er Must Die .... today I switched on my SA-1 once more, but the led remains now permanently red and produces no sound in headphone or pre-amp mode (should be blue) regardless if load connected or not. According to the „manual“ this indicates the overload protection.
Anyone experienced this yet?

 

[Middy]

Sorry no..

 

[hottyson]

A Sing(x)er Must Die .... today I switched on my SA-1 once more, but the led remains now permanently red and produces no sound in headphone or per-amp mode (should be blue) regardless if load connected or not. According to the „manual“ this indicates the overload protection.
Anyone experienced this yet?

Oh crap! Do you have it under warranty?

And, did you do the bypass mod?

 

[gdwallasign]

Had a magic moment with my few day old baby singxer today. Haven't been able to get much time with it because stuff. Love it.

 

[godmax]

Oh crap! Do you have it under warranty?

And, did you do the bypass mod?

I hope to get it repaired/replaced by warranty, working on that.
My unit was completely unmodified, I did not even open it.

 

[hottyson]

I hope to get it repaired/replaced by warranty, working on that.
My unit was completely unmodified, I did not even open it.

Well, that is good to hear. I hope that this is not too common for the Singxer SA-1 to break down. It is my favorite amp in regards to quality per dollar. Good luck with the warranty. I hope it all works out for you. Let us know what happens.