3e Audio A5 Stereo Amplifier Review

[harkpabst]

The good news is that after 30 years, typically all else besides caps, are ok on a power amp stored or used in a sensible environment.

"Stored" or "used" will make a difference over the course of 30 years. Electrolytics that got little use over this period of time will be more prone to error than those used on a regular basis.

 

[Nezil]

Is 3e Audio no more? Their store on Ali Express is empty, and their website (3e-audio.com) has an error about bandwidth being exceeded.

The A5 looked like the perfect amplifier for me, but not if I can't buy it!

 

[harkpabst]

Is 3e Audio no more? Their store on Ali Express is empty, and their website (3e-audio.com) has an error about bandwidth being exceeded.

The A5 looked like the perfect amplifier for me, but not if I can't buy it!

Their AliExpress shop looks fine to me this very second. The website has occasionally been down due to reaching the bandwidth limit before.

All A5 and A7 models are available. The A5se and A7se are in a separate listing now. Separate 48 V 10 A PSUs are available, too, for use with A7 models.

 

[Nezil]

Their AliExpress shop looks fine to me this very second. The website has occasionally been down due to reaching the bandwidth limit before.

All A5 and A7 models are available. The A5se and A7se are in a separate listing now. Separate 48 V 10 A PSUs are available, too, for use with A7 models.

This is because you're in Germany... If I change to any country (pretty much) other than US, I see three product offerings. I'm based, in the US, and for me, the storefront exists, but there are no products listed.

 

[Nezil]

I managed to get the webpage to work by finding the products on another country, then changing back to US... however... $624.58 is a hell of a lot for this.

 

[sejarzo]

This is because you're in Germany... If I change to any country (pretty much) other than US, I see three product offerings. I'm based, in the US, and for me, the storefront exists, but there are no products listed.

Yep.

 

[harkpabst]

I managed to get the webpage to work by finding the products on another country, then changing back to US... however... $624.58 is a hell of a lot for this.

View attachment 446797

So, who's fault is it?

Hint: Not 3e Audio's ...

Edit:
The French might still be nice enough to sell to you. Tariffs might be somewhat lower.

3E AUDIO A5 Amplifier

3E Audio, a recognized player in the DIY world, now offers a Class D Stereo amplifier incorporating audiophile Hi-Fi components. The A5 amplifier is based on two TI TPA3251 chips in PBTL configuration, and two dual OPA1656 OPAs.

www.audiophonics.fr

 

[Nezil]

So, who's fault is it?

Hint: Not 3e Audio's ...

Haha, not mine either... I can't vote because I'm not a citizen.

Edit:
The French might still be nice enough to sell to you. Tariffs might be somewhat lower.

3E AUDIO A5 Amplifier

3E Audio, a recognized player in the DIY world, now offers a Class D Stereo amplifier incorporating audiophile Hi-Fi components. The A5 amplifier is based on two TI TPA3251 chips in PBTL configuration, and two dual OPA1656 OPAs.

www.audiophonics.fr

Thanks... they don't have stock currently, but I've added my name to be alerted when they do.

 

[3eaudio]

@Nezil currently due to tariff issue so US is not include yet, we wait to see what is going in coming May.

 

[Nezil]

@Nezil currently due to tariff issue so US is not include yet, we wait to see what is going in coming May.

I'm obviously not happy to hear this... but I understand. Thanks for the response @3eaudio!

 

[Svenimal]

In the review, Amir wrote that the A5 barely got warmer than ambient temperature. In my personal experience it gets quite a bit warmer than that, also when it's not playing music (but still switched on). What are other owner's experiences with the temps?

 

[Mario_Primo]

In the review, Amir wrote that the A5 barely got warmer than ambient temperature. In my personal experience it gets quite a bit warmer than that, also when it's not playing music (but still switched on). What are other owner's experiences with the temps?

Yes, there is such a thing. Heats up noticeably.

 

[Piotr]

Hmm my unit it’s quite okay. I wouldn’t call it super hot. Normal temp for an amp.

 

[harkpabst]

In the review, Amir wrote that the A5 barely got warmer than ambient temperature. In my personal experience it gets quite a bit warmer than that, also when it's not playing music (but still switched on). What are other owner's experiences with the temps?

It doesn't get as hot as e.g. the Fosi V3 Mono, but definitely quite warm, even when sitting idle.

A warm case basically can mean two things: Either heat transfer from the tiny TPA chips is working efficiently or heat is building up inside the case. With the 3e Audio A5 construction (generous vents, TPA3251 chips connected to the top through a big heat spreader) I'm pretty sure it's the former.

 

[SMen]

In the review, Amir wrote that the A5 barely got warmer than ambient temperature. In my personal experience it gets quite a bit warmer than that, also when it's not playing music (but still switched on). What are other owner's experiences with the temps?

Significantly cooler than the V3 Monos for me, the A5 through winter has only got slightly warm. The real test will be in the summer when ambient temperatures for me regularly hit 30+C. But so far temperature for me with the A5 has been a non-issue.

 

[MiniAudioGuy]

@Nezil currently due to tariff issue so US is not include yet, we wait to see what is going in coming May.

I see lots of units available, but not able to add to cart. I'm in Canada and wanted to buy a second unit!

 

[Roland68]

In the review, Amir wrote that the A5 barely got warmer than ambient temperature. In my personal experience it gets quite a bit warmer than that, also when it's not playing music (but still switched on). What are other owner's experiences with the temps?

Yes, there is such a thing. Heats up noticeably.

It doesn't get as hot as e.g. the Fosi V3 Mono, but definitely quite warm, even when sitting idle.

A warm case basically can mean two things: Either heat transfer from the tiny TPA chips is working efficiently or heat is building up inside the case. With the 3e Audio A5 construction (generous vents, TPA3251 chips connected to the top through a big heat spreader) I'm pretty sure it's the former.

Without an exact measurement of the case temperature, such statements only lead to heat hysteria.
Humans are completely incapable of comparatively estimating temperatures; the differences are around +/- 5-10°C, making them completely useless. Added to that is the difference in ambient temperature.
An infrared/laser temperature measuring device for -50-500°C costs €15-20 and provides accurate measurements. You can also buy a very cheap thermometer with a measuring hole (temperature and humidity) on the back for €2-3. If you place it with its back on the device, it will display the exact housing temperature after about 1 hour.

As a guide, if you can leave your hand on the device for at least 10 seconds without it hurting, it's not too hot.
If the device does get too hot, especially when idle, there may be a defect (this includes a bad thermal connection to the heat sink or case), or an inaudible frequency is being fed into the device, causing it to heat up.

 

[harkpabst]

Without an exact measurement of the case temperature, such statements only lead to heat hysteria.

Hysteria? Really?

An infrared/laser temperature measuring device for -50-500°C costs €15-20 and provides accurate measurements

Yep. And still the measurement result is useless without specifying the ambient temperature (easy to do and to compare) and the placement of the device (not quite as easy) and the load scenario (well defined, but may be hard to reproduce). I'm sure we're in agreement here.

As a guide, if you can leave your hand on the device for at least 10 seconds without it hurting, it's not too hot.

And this is exactly the guide I'm following to distinguish quite warm from hot.

During my listening tests (average power probably low in the 1 W to 2 W range, peaks probably 10 to 13 dB higher) the highest temperature I had captured with my cheap infrared thermometer gone was ~42° C at an ambient temperature of ~21° C. The amp was free standing, natural convection only, but placed on top of my Lyngdorf amp used as a pre-amp.

 

[Svenimal]

Without an exact measurement of the case temperature, such statements only lead to heat hysteria.
Humans are completely incapable of comparatively estimating temperatures; the differences are around +/- 5-10°C, making them completely useless. Added to that is the difference in ambient temperature.
An infrared/laser temperature measuring device for -50-500°C costs €15-20 and provides accurate measurements. You can also buy a very cheap thermometer with a measuring hole (temperature and humidity) on the back for €2-3. If you place it with its back on the device, it will display the exact housing temperature after about 1 hour.

As a guide, if you can leave your hand on the device for at least 10 seconds without it hurting, it's not too hot.
If the device does get too hot, especially when idle, there may be a defect (this includes a bad thermal connection to the heat sink or case), or an inaudible frequency is being fed into the device, causing it to heat up.

Thanks to your reply, I remembered I actually own a cheap infrared forehead thermometer which is also able to measure the temp of other objects.

When measured at the top center of my A5 I measure around 38°C after an hour of "normal" usage (with amp volume bypassed) at ~22°C ambient temperature. When measured through the ventilation openings at the side I measured around 42°C. This was a lot less then I estimated by touch, which shows how inaccurate my guess was.

 

[Roland68]

Thanks to your reply, I remembered I actually own a cheap infrared forehead thermometer which is also able to measure the temp of other objects.

When measured at the top center of my A5 I measure around 38°C after an hour of "normal" usage (with amp volume bypassed) at ~22°C ambient temperature. When measured through the ventilation openings at the side I measured around 42°C. This was a lot less then I estimated by touch, which shows how inaccurate my guess was.

Thank you very much for the feedback; this will be a good guide for other users. The temperatures are absolutely within a good and normal range, and there's nothing to worry about at all.

Could you please run a test with the source device connected but turned off, and measure the A5 after 2 hours while it's turned on?