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3e Audio A5 Stereo Amplifier Review

Rate this amplifier:

  • 1. Poor (headless panther)

    Votes: 5 1.7%
  • 2. Not terrible (postman panther)

    Votes: 11 3.8%
  • 3. Fine (happy panther)

    Votes: 50 17.2%
  • 4. Great (golfing panther)

    Votes: 225 77.3%

  • Total voters
    291
If the socket for the 12volt trigger is still on the PCB it may be possible just to short out two of the pins to provide a permanent 12 volt trigger signal. This is of course if the functionality is still supported in the MCU software.

Maybe 3e Audio could confirm if this would be an alternative solution although it does of course require the user to open the box which for many users may not be desirable.
just share here
actually the components of trigger are not populated yet,so it is hard to do that,also making a hole on the back panel won't be so easy.
we do have a solution by remove 1 resistor to increase the sensitivity by 14dB,RCA down to 400uV and XLR down to 800uV,but this also need some skill of diy
 
It's really unfortunate TBH that 3e removed the 12V trigger... other amp companies have gone back to having a trigger in addition to auto on/off. For the same reasons a few have mentioned here... gaming and movies, where in quiet passages the unit is turning off.

3e should put it back for the next round of models... I think most would be happy to pay another $10 - $20 for this feature.


JSmith
o_Othe auto on/off save nothing or even slightly higher than trigger(optocoupler+3.5mm Jack+wire)
 
Reserved for @AdamG to post the specs.

Manufacturer Specifications:

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Thank you so much for review great latest developents in afordable low distortion power amps, dacs and speakers. Whis some day somebody measures also the noise level actual of entry level video proyectors. Regarding this power amp with volume control, love the fact is has a bypassable volume control, really low THD, and external psu so it can be upgradable the PSU. So much i liked it i buyed one in a knowm french store. Hope its as great my other DIY 3e pffb stereo module also reviwed here that is now, until it arrives, my main power amp. Thank you so much to manufacturer for develop greatest measuring power amps with bypassable volume control (or better no volume control so we can use our passive preamps) and to french store to deal it real. Fingers crossed if it more realible than Topping amps hehhe i hope!
 
Totally

Sounds more like €1 - €2 in components
Couldn't we solder them in ourselves?
the auto sensing is included in FW so even with trigger in, it(trigger) can power on and off but if there is no audio after power on, it still maintain auto off.
 
the auto sensing is included in FW so even with trigger in, it(trigger) can power on and off but if there is no audio after power on, it still maintain auto off.
Good to know how it actually works. So auto sensing still has to be adjusted for some use cases.
 
the auto sensing is included in FW so even with trigger in, it(trigger) can power on and off but if there is no audio after power on, it still maintain auto off.
So if the auto-sensing threshold is wrong for the customer's system, even using trigger (if it was still included) wouldn't help them?
 
So if the auto-sensing threshold is wrong for the customer's system, even using trigger (if it was still included) wouldn't help them?
Sound pretty much like it. So adding the circuitry/components just for the 12v trigger input would not be sufficient. Ideally there would also be a switch to force the amp to only react to trigger input and turn off auto-sensing completely.
 
So if the auto-sensing threshold is wrong for the customer's system, even using trigger (if it was still included) wouldn't help them?
right,putting them at the same time resulting what is the priority for shut down? if it is trigger then there is no sense for using auto,unless there is a switch to let MCU to do a selection.
 
3E A7 stereo vs 3E A7 mono, is mono better?
 

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have been going back and forth of this review and some other cheap class D amp review, I can only wish @3eaudio will go Anker/Ugreen route - available on Amazon with comparable if not cheaper price than on Aliexpress, and first rate shipping and customer service. It will be harder yes because not everyone needs an amp, as with zillion of things that Anker/Ugreen etc. produces, but that'll truly differentiate themselves from other manufactuers.
 
I can only wish @3eaudio will go Anker/Ugreen route - available on Amazon with comparable if not cheaper price than on Aliexpress... that'll truly differentiate themselves from other manufactuers.
How would this make them different from others? Fosi, Sabaj, SMSL, Ayima or Topping are a few examples which are all available on Amazon.
The A5/A7 are only their very first line of finished amplifiers aimed directly at the home user so the comparison with big brands like Ugreen/Anker doesn't make a lot of sense.

And why would you prefer to buy through Amazon if you can get it in specialised audio webstores like Audiophonics, where you'll get much better service & support.
 
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right,putting them at the same time resulting what is the priority for shut down? if it is trigger then there is no sense for using auto,unless there is a switch to let MCU to do a selection.
On-Auto-Off (with trigger) would still be preferable but it is sounding like this is not the simplest change to implement.
 
How would this make them different from others? Fosi, Sabaj, SMSL, Ayima or Topping are a few examples which are all available on Amazon.
The A5/A7 are only their very first line of finished amplifiers aimed directly at the home user so the comparison with big brands like Ugreen/Anker doesn't make a lot of sense.

And why would you prefer to buy through Amazon if you can get it in specialised audio webstores like Audiophonics, where you'll get much better service & support.
hmm, I was wrong. just checked my local amazon and compared with aliexpress, I could buy Sabaj a20a from amazon here both cheaper, freeshipping and much faster shipping than Aliexpress. (it used to be more expensive last I checked)
Where I live Amazon is the best when it comes to shipping cost, time and return. I know many people hate Amazon for being "corporate evil" but they are unmatched in the ease of mind (I can buy this and if I change my mind, return is so easy)
I looked at Audiophonics but shipping is not free, and it could be a hassle in case of return.
 
3E A7 stereo vs 3E A7 mono, is mono better?
They seem to be the same, apart from the Mono only having one channel populated. Which is 'better' may depend on what you're going to use it for.
 
hmm, I was wrong. just checked my local amazon and compared with aliexpress, I could buy Sabaj a20a from amazon here both cheaper, freeshipping and much faster shipping than Aliexpress. (it used to be more expensive last I checked)
Where I live Amazon is the best when it comes to shipping cost, time and return. I know many people hate Amazon for being "corporate evil" but they are unmatched in the ease of mind (I can buy this and if I change my mind, return is so easy)
I looked at Audiophonics but shipping is not free, and it could be a hassle in case of return.
Amazon's international returns can be quite the headache (speaking from multiple personal experiences after making purchases on Amazon Jp and getting sent the wrong item size or version)
 
Amazon's international returns can be quite the headache (speaking from multiple personal experiences after making purchases on Amazon Jp and getting sent the wrong item size or version)
I was referring to local amazon site. I had good experience with returning items from international amazon (still within EU). You think returning to Amz JP is quite a headache but returning to another shop internationally could be even more, or virtually impossible
 
right,putting them at the same time resulting what is the priority for shut down? if it is trigger then there is no sense for using auto,unless there is a switch to let MCU to do a selection.
By detecting trigger signals (inner side), the automatic sensing function can be turned off when there is a trigger signal.
Alternatively, as suggested by other members, the function can be selected through the Off(trig)/Auto/On switch state.
For engineers, there are many simple ways to allow both the trigger and automatic sensing functions to coexist.
It just requires proper planning during the design phase.
Since the prototype you sent includes a trigger function, perhaps your engineers have already completed the design to allow the trigger and automatic sensing functions to coexist.
 
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