Sony's DSD-capable PHA-2 portable headphone amp/DAC

[tradyblix]

From where did you purchase the short inexpensive cable pictured?

Be careful on these - I bought a couple "really inexpensive" on amazon and they both died within 48 hours. 
 
I ended up spending 25 bucks on a belkin brand name version and it's been working for months with no issues.
 
cheap cables are really a curse atm 

 

[DrSheep]

Your best bet of a super short MFI interconnect is the V-MODA Tuono for about $25.

 

[phara0hseye]

So, in order to dispense with the depths if my ignorance, if I get the PHA-2, I can lightening out into the USB and listen to my iPod/iPhone music via the Sony DAC and amp stages?

 

[clarko2]

I had these headphones for a brief time.

I found it sounded great with them although it can provide a little too much power on the high gain setting and higher volumes.

I since sold them and moved to sennheiser momentums which I prefer for closed back phones. 

Nothing has a patch on the detail of my Grado RS1i's tho - but I often prefer the momentums for their bass. 

I see. I'm planning on running them with the amp. The fiio e6 doesn't cut it anymore. I ind myself wanting more details.

 

[zilch0md]

Speaking of FiiO, the X5's specs are grabbing my attention:
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/661411/fiio-x5-thread-info-updated-on-jan-17th-2014/3840#post_10213951
 
Mike

 

[alphataru]

I‘ve scoured the thread, but can't find any information. Can someone comment on the quality of PHA-2 as a pure dac vs something like essense stx? I'm building a new system, and I would like to have pc>dac/amp>amp that is capable of functioning as a dac/amp for my iphone while I'm on the go. I'm considering either this, CL Theorem, or Go Dap X. Would you guys recommend PHA-2 over the other options?
 
Also, what are some sub $800 desktop amps that would pair well with this?
 
Thanks!

 

[delancyst]

I dont know about the performance of the line out but the hp out has channel imbalance at low volume.
But since you are going to hook it up with another desktop amp, i guess it might not matter.

 

[IndieGradoFan]

Is this still being released in US market in March? If so, any guesses on street price? I'd like upgrade from a FiiO E12 but there's no rush, so I'm wondering if it will be cheaper in March than importing now.

 

[lookingforIEMs]

I just got the chance to listen to these at a local sony store. I demoed the PHA-2s, xba h2 and h3s. Well the PHA-2s................. IMHO they provide very little upgrade sonically to the PHA-1. These sound just a little more resolving and a little less lean than the PHA-1s. And then there's the price hike of $400........... These are ridiculous to get, or at least that's how it seems in Singapore. The PHA-1 costs $599 while the PHA-2 costs $999. This price increase is totally uncalled for and all the rumors that these would retail for $599 are just plain unfounded.... Sony has kinda let me down with this dac/amp. I was actually expecting a huge improvement over the PHA-1. Or maybe I should just look at it thinking that they tried their best to improve on perfection. Whatever it is, I highly do not recommend purchasing it before demoing.

 

[delancyst]

Does anyone notice any channel imbalance at low volumes eg 9o'clock and below?

 

[zilch0md]

I just got the chance to listen to these at a local sony store. I demoed the PHA-2s, xba h2 and h3s. Well the PHA-2s................. IMHO they provide very little upgrade sonically to the PHA-1. These sound just a little more resolving and a little less lean than the PHA-1s. And then there's the price hike of $400........... These are ridiculous to get, or at least that's how it seems in Singapore. The PHA-1 costs $599 while the PHA-2 costs $999. This price increase is totally uncalled for and all the rumors that these would retail for $599 are just plain unfounded.... Sony has kinda let me down with this dac/amp. I was actually expecting a huge improvement over the PHA-1. Or maybe I should just look at it thinking that they tried their best to improve on perfection. Whatever it is, I highly do not recommend purchasing it before demoing.

 
 
Thanks for posting this.  The poor specs can be "heard," apparently.  
 
I'm disappointed in Sony, too.  
 
Their user interfaces, cosmetic design, and quality control are so high, compared to all the other junk we're expected to consume, but I very much wish they would start designing DAPs and portable amps that truly compete with the "audiophile" junk, in terms of power output. 
 
Instead, they're obviously designing this gear for the "masses" - for people who demand convenience over sound quality and versatility (ability to use inefficient headphones).  
 
Take the 5V USB charging of the PHA-2 battery, for example:  This is a convenience feature - nothing more - and it automatically excluded the use of a higher voltage battery that would require a regulated PSU for charging from a 120V or 240v AC outlet, which automatically put a ball and chain on the PHA-2's amplifier section, limiting its output to a tiny fraction of the 2000mW into 32 Ohms  (that's two watts!) that the Texas Instruments TPA6120A2 amp is capable of delivering with a 15V supply. Instead, Sony supplies the amp with only 3.7V, for an output of 90mW into 32 Ohms.  
 
TPA6120A2 data sheet: http://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/tpa6120a2.pdf
 
The PHA-2 has a 500 HP motor strangled by a tiny fuel pump.  
 
Mike
 
Beating the dead horse...
 

 

[lookingforIEMs]

Thanks for posting this.  The poor specs can be "heard," apparently.  

I'm disappointed in Sony, too.  

Their user interfaces, cosmetic design, and quality control are so high, compared to all the other junk we're expected to consume, but I very much wish they would start designing DAPs and portable amps that truly compete with the "audiophile" junk, in terms of power output. 

Instead, they're obviously designing this gear for the "masses" - for people who demand convenience over sound quality and versatility (ability to use inefficient headphones).  

Take the 5V USB charging of the PHA-2 battery, for example:  This is a convenience feature - nothing more - and it automatically excluded the use of a higher voltage battery that would require a regulated PSU for charging from a 120V or 240v AC outlet, which automatically put a ball and chain on the PHA-2's amplifier section, limiting its output to a tiny fraction of the 2000mW into 32 Ohms  (that's two watts!) that the Texas Instruments TPA6120A2 amp is capable of delivering with a 15V supply. Instead, Sony supplies the amp with only 3.7V, for an output of 90mW into 32 Ohms.  

TPA6120A2 data sheet: http://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/tpa6120a2.pdf

The PHA-2 has a 500 HP motor strangled by a tiny fuel pump.  

Mike

Beating the dead horse...

I guess you're right..... I hope sony can see this thread and rectify their mistakes before it goes on sale in the US, and from then on start shipping out the mkII versions and exchanging the old ones with the new ones

 

[delancyst]

I guess you're right..... I hope sony can see this thread and rectify their mistakes before it goes on sale in the US, and from then on start shipping out the mkII versions and exchanging the old ones with the new ones

You should try posting in their facebook if possible.
It will get more awareness there.

 

[szeiger]

Does anyone notice any channel imbalance at low volumes eg 9o'clock and below?

 
Yes, I get the same. The left channel is louder than the right at these low volumes. After the 9 o'clock position they level out and everything is fine.

 

[delancyst]

   
Yes, I get the same. The left channel is louder than the right at these low volumes. After the 9 o'clock position they level out and everything is fine.

Yeah, that's a bit of a bummer when you want to listen at lower volumes. 
Do you think theres any way to fix this through a firmware upgrade or some sort?