103db SINAD and almost .8W output. Pretty great performance for 2005! The designer should be proud of himself...either that or everyone else should be ashamed. Nice unit either way.
I joined headfi in 2004, so much stuff like Ray Samuels people used to talk about all the time that doesn't get mentioned much these days.
Speaking of which, when are we going to see RSA products tested?Brings me back to when I first started my audiophile journey, Meier Audio, Ray Samuels Audio, Alo Audio, these names were popular back then for me. Good to see those nice analog numbers.
Interesting review.This is a review and detailed measurements of the Meier Corda Aria DAC and headphone amplifier. It is on kind loan from a member. It is an older product, introduced around 2005 I think. Not sure how much it cost then.
The Aria gives the impression of a "high-end" product:
View attachment 170753
As you see, it is a German design:
View attachment 170754
Owner bought this used and sent it to the company to reverse some "head-fi mods" someone had done to it which the designer thought was ill advised.
Meier Corda Aria Measurements
Let's start with analog input:
View attachment 170755
I was very impressed with the inaudible distortion products at -115 dB. Only in the last two years we have seen headphone amplifiers routinely match this level of performance. Interesting that it existed some 16 years ago! Noise level though while good, is not competitive with today's products:
View attachment 170756
Switching to digital input shows very disappointing performance:
View attachment 170757
So from here on, I decided to only test the analog input. Frequency response is very good:
View attachment 170758
Power into 300 ohm and 32 ohm are respectable:
View attachment 170759
View attachment 170760
But as noted before, noise floor is not what you can get from modern budget headphone amplifiers today.
Company talks fair about about their cross-feed circuit. I tested crosstalk with and without that mode engaged:
View attachment 170761
Seems to be doing what the company says (extended crossfeed to higher frequencies).
Finally, channel matching in the sample I received is very good:
View attachment 170762
Conclusions
It is impressive to see a designer care about reducing distortion so much back then. I have tested many products like this that even ship today but with non-competitive performance. The DAC option is a "checklist" item unfortunately and shows its age as well. I suggested using an external DAC to see if it results in improved performance.
Doesn't make sense to give any kind of recommendation on this product so I won't. You know my feeling above.
----------
As always, questions, comments, recommendations, etc. are welcome.
Any donations are much appreciated using: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-support-audio-science-review.8150/
No kidding. I remember those old Head Fi days pretty well. I had my old iPod modified by Red Wine Audio running through an ALO break out into a RSA SR-71. It was a FAT stack but sounded great at the time. Shoot, i even had the rock box running on the iPod so i could play flac files. I still have the hand built headphone amp built by dooboolo (???) It was based on this popular DIY board at the time and had the diamond buffer upgrades. Man, talk about a trip down memory lane...Brings me back to when I first started my audiophile journey, Meier Audio, Ray Samuels Audio, Alo Audio, these names were popular back then for me. Good to see those nice analog numbers.
Ah, diese Subtilität hat mich zum Lachen gebrachtAs you see, it is a German design:
Wow, that's what I'm talking about! The stack! I used to think that I'd get the sound I want stacking the most devices together. Something about seeing the interconnects connecting 3 heavy blocks of metal provides that heft and industrial look which I could have subjectively attributed to quality or something.No kidding. I remember those old Head Fi days pretty well. I had my old iPod modified by Red Wine Audio running through an ALO break out into a RSA SR-71. It was a FAT stack but sounded great at the time. Shoot, i even had the rock box running on the iPod so i could play flac files. I still have the hand built headphone amp built by dooboolo (???) It was based on this popular DIY board at the time and had the diamond buffer upgrades. Man, talk about a trip down memory lane...
Yeah, it looked like a bomb and security always looked at me sideways while traveling with it. I was always explaining what it was for and why. Then i put some music on for them and they understood.Wow, that's what I'm talking about! The stack! I used to think that I'd get the sound I want stacking the most devices together. Something about seeing the interconnects connecting 3 heavy blocks of metal provides that heft and industrial look which I could have subjectively attributed to quality or something.
I have the old Fiio X3 first generation and the JDS Labs C5 that I bought just to be a stack of mine. The X3's battery is long dead but the JDS Lab is still rocking since the company still offered to change the batteries. Just had to pay shipping. Props to JDS Labs.Yeah, it looked like a bomb and security always looked at me sideways while traveling with it. I was always explaining what it was for and why. Then i put some music on for them and they understood.
That was normal design language at the time and was even imitated in portable players. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archos_Jukebox_seriesMaybe just me, but the looks are horrible. The round "Legs" just look utterly silly to me.
Still got my H340 with 128GB SSD mod!Same here, started off with Iriver HD340 modded with 80gb hd (still got it with box & everything), etymotic er4p and ray samuels tomahawk amp