[musicdragoon]

http://www.sony.jp/headphone/products/PHA-3/feature_1.html
Japan official page is up, MDR 1A, XBA H2, H3, A2 and A3 all support balance

 

[musicdragoon]

JP official site is up, MDR 1A, XBA H2/3, A2/3 also support balance from PHA3

 

[zilch0md]

 
... when using the balanced output, the PHA-3 delivers more than 3.5 times the power of the PHA-2 (90 mW per channel into 32-Ohms), so if you're using something other than IEMs or very efficient headphones, the PHA-3 should deliver better dynamics and bass control, but compare its output to something like the CEntrance HiFi-M8, with 700mW into 32-Ohms, for a lot less money.
 

 

  But the Cypher Labs Theorem, which is very well received here, is only 205 mW at 32 Ohms.  And I suspect the PHA-3's battery life will be more "Theorem like" then "HiFi-M8 like".
 
But lets be honest, the PHA-3 was engineered with the MDR-Z7 in mind.  One might consider it only a bonus, if it drives other power hungry headphones adequately...

 

[Makiah S]

   
But the Cypher Labs Theorem, which is very well received here, is only 205 mW at 32 Ohms.  And I suspect the PHA-3's battery life will be more "Theorem like" then "HiFi-M8 like".
 
But lets be honest, the PHA-3 was engineered with the MDR-Z7 in mind.  One might consider it only a bonus, if it drives other power hungry headphones adequately...

 
 

                                                            

Pretty much, it's neat though how there are kinda like two market shares. Those of us runnin around with Ortho's for portable or high Impedance Dynamics, and those of us who use Iems or super effiectient Dynamics
 
I wonder when we'll get the amp that can drive them both with a black background q.q, still I do tend to chuckle when I see the PHA-3 power specs. A whooping grand and it's got like what 305 mw into 32Ohms. Battery life better be in days man! 

 

[zilch0md]

  Pretty much, it's neat though how there are kinda like two market shares. Those of us runnin around with Ortho's for portable or high Impedance Dynamics, and those of us who use Iems or super effiectient Dynamics
 
I wonder when we'll get the amp that can drive them both with a black background q.q, still I do tend to chuckle when I see the PHA-3 power specs. A whooping grand and it's got like what 305 mw into 32Ohms. Battery life better be in days man! 

 
No lie!   That was my first good laugh of the day!  Thank you!   
 

 

[purk]

Only 5 hours via digital connection per google and over 25 hours of run time on analog input. I hope that the hpa3 can play while charging.

 

[pahaberbulu]

Have tried pha 3 using walkman f887. Sounds warmer than direct from f887. One thing i should comment is the body is really bulky, it won't fit in my pocket. But the grip is nice with the round side body.
Tried it with the new Z5 demo. They're a really nice pair

 

[Sound Eq]

wonder how it drives audeze lcd2 rev2
 
is there a bass boost in pha3

 

[fxim]

Pha-3 can play while charging, the demo unit I tried out at the store has micro USB inputs one for signal the other for power

 

[pahaberbulu]

wonder how it drives audeze lcd2 rev2

is there a bass boost in pha3

Based on my memory there is no bass booster. The switch are gain, dsee hx(turn off or on). And in front just volume knob and female jacks

 

[zilch0md]

wonder how it drives audeze lcd2 rev2

Audeze recommends a minimum of 1000 mW into the LCD-2, but I've had great results with the 15V-powered Meier Stepdance at about 500mW into the 50-Ohm load of my LCD-2 rev.1 (and with the CEntrance DACmini CX, with about 568mW into 50-Ohms).

My LCD-2 rev.1 scales beautifully to the 1817 mW into 50-Ohms of the OPPO HA-1, balanced out. So... When Audeze recommends a minimum of 1000 mW, they know what they're talking about.

The PHA-3 is rated at 320 mW into 32-Ohms or about 205 mW into 50-Ohms. But for your newer LCD-2, with a slightly higher impedance, it's worse still. The PHA-3 will only push about 146 mW into a 70-Ohm load.

Dynamics and bass control will not be what they could be using a more powerful amp with the LCD-2 rev2 - or a more efficient headphone (for which the PHA-3 was apparently designed).

 

[estreeter]

I dont have any trouble driving either of my Audeze cans from either the PHA-2 or my ADL X1 but I gave up worrying about those numbers the day I bought the Taurus. It's a bit like driving to the shops with a 426 Hemi under the hood - you mightn't need that much power, but its nice to know you have it at your disposal. 
 

 

[Makiah S]

  I dont have any trouble driving either of my Audeze cans from either the PHA-2 or my ADL X1 but I gave up worrying about those numbers the day I bought the Taurus. It's a bit like driving to the shops with a 426 Hemi under the hood - you mightn't need that much power, but its nice to know you have it at your disposal. 
 

Same way I feel about my iBasso pb2 and my AUdio GD NFB 10ES2, the portable will do 2.4w into 32 ohms and the Full size will do about 5.8w or so. I went balanced and stop worrying about powering anything, and I have the same peace of mind. Best of all Both units have a gain adjustment, so in low gain they are black on my W1000x 

 

[ExpatinJapan]

Photos here:
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/736453/detailed-photos-sonys-new-flagship-2014-mdr-z7-pha-3-kimber-kable#post_10918694
 
great pics.
Glad I finally got to see how the whole balanced thing was being done.
 
__________________________________________________________
 
 
saw an advert in my local store today, looks like an october 18th release. Probably so they can show it off at the main Fujiya Avic audio show that following weekend (24/25th).
 

 

[turokrocks]

  Photos here:
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/736453/detailed-photos-sonys-new-flagship-2014-mdr-z7-pha-3-kimber-kable#post_10918694
 
great pics.
Glad I finally got to see how the whole balanced thing was being done.
 
__________________________________________________________
 
 
saw an advert in my local store today, looks like an october 18th release. Probably so they can show it off at the main Fujiya Avic audio show that following weekend (24/25th).
 

Not a bad price at all!
 
edit : wait is it 92,500 0r 99,900 ?