3e Audio A5 Stereo Amplifier Review

[phoenixsong]

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.

Your guess could be the accurate one. After all, I wouldn't expect a forehead thermometer to accurately measure inhuman temperatures

 

[Tonton_ZEeD]

Hello everyone,

I searched the forum, but I couldn't find anything about the subwoofer out in this unit. Is it full-range or filtered ?

 

[phoenixsong]

Hello everyone,

I searched the forum, but I couldn't find anything about the subwoofer out in this unit. Is it full-range or filtered ?

I am not aware that there is a subwoofer out

 

[howard416]

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.

Do you mind also trying the infrared temp measurement again, but with a piece of masking tape on the surface being scanned? Either beige or green will likely work, I'm just curious about the effect of surface emissivity. Masking tape is supposed to be pretty close to 0.95, while anodized aluminum might be a bit more reflective (0.8-0.9). Most infrared thermometers are calibrated against 0.95 emissivity targets.

 

[Tonton_ZEeD]

I am not aware that there is a subwoofer out

Sorry, my mistake !

 

[TikBLang]

I want the 3A A5 without power supply is the only one that is not selling at Aliexpress.
When is going to be available at Amazon USA?

THIS!!
Save money a bit (and environmentalists will be a tad happier) Also, Hate more cords and ****** transformers.

 

[valerian]

Would A5 be enough for Dynaudio Emit 20 or would I have to go for A7? I almost ordered Topping PA7 but now that I discovered this and read through the thread this seems to be a lot better value? PA7 is praised for its sound and sound is very important to me so I'm willing to pay extra for more musical, detailed and smooth sound. Did anyone already compare A5/A7 with PA7?

 

[Roland68]

Would A5 be enough for Dynaudio Emit 20 or would I have to go for A7? I almost ordered Topping PA7 but now that I discovered this and read through the thread this seems to be a lot better value? PA7 is praised for its sound and sound is very important to me so I'm willing to pay extra for more musical, detailed and smooth sound. Did anyone already compare A5/A7 with PA7?

That depends on various parameters.
If you're using the speakers on a desktop and don't listen at extremely high volume, the Topping PA5 II or the 3E Audio A5 are perfectly adequate.

However, if you're placing them in the room, sitting 2-3 meters away, and occasionally want to listen louder, I would recommend the A7SE, A7, or PA7. If you don't plan on switching to 2-ohm speakers in the future, you can save significantly with the A7SE.

I'm using both the Elac DBR62 and the Carina BS243.4 with the PA5 II. Since both speakers are 6 ohms and about 86 dB, that should be comparable to your Emit 20.

 

[Piotr]

That depends on various parameters.
If you're using the speakers on a desktop and don't listen at extremely high volume, the Topping PA5 II or the 3E Audio A5 are perfectly adequate.

However, if you're placing them in the room, sitting 2-3 meters away, and occasionally want to listen louder, I would recommend the A7SE, A7, or PA7. If you don't plan on switching to 2-ohm speakers in the future, you can save significantly with the A7SE.

I'm using both the Elac DBR62 and the Carina BS243.4 with the PA5 II. Since both speakers are 6 ohms and about 86 dB, that should be comparable to your Emit 20.

I'm not entirely sure about this. A5 is placed in my living..., and it's loud. I also think 3E designed amps not really as a desktop.... all depends on the sensitivity and the speakers of course.

For the speakers, are the DBR62 or Carina good in large rooms?

 

[valerian]

That depends on various parameters.
If you're using the speakers on a desktop and don't listen at extremely high volume, the Topping PA5 II or the 3E Audio A5 are perfectly adequate.

However, if you're placing them in the room, sitting 2-3 meters away, and occasionally want to listen louder, I would recommend the A7SE, A7, or PA7. If you don't plan on switching to 2-ohm speakers in the future, you can save significantly with the A7SE.

I'm using both the Elac DBR62 and the Carina BS243.4 with the PA5 II. Since both speakers are 6 ohms and about 86 dB, that should be comparable to your Emit 20.

Thanks for such a quick reply. I'm going to use them on my PC for listening and producing music. Going to connect them to my RME AIO internal sound interface with XLR cables. I won't have them on a desk but they will be on furniture around 1,5m away from me in the height of my head. I rarely listen loud, sometimes a bit louder, don't even know if that's considered loud and then I go further back from the speakers around 3,5m. Not sure about PA5 II because it doesn't have XLR inputs so I would have to buy new cables.

 

[Roland68]

Thanks for such a quick reply. I'm going to use them on my PC for listening and producing music. Going to connect them to my RME AIO internal sound interface with XLR cables. I won't have them on a desk but they will be on furniture around 1,5m away from me in the height of my head. I rarely listen loud, sometimes a bit louder, don't even know if that's considered loud and then I go further back from the speakers around 3,5m. Not sure about PA5 II because it doesn't have XLR inputs so I would have to buy new cables.

The balanced TRS connectors on the PA5 II aren't a problem, though. They're built with good, tight jacks. I often switch the amp around during use and have never experienced a single dropout. I prefer XLR connectors, too. It's a shame they didn't use mini XLRs.

Then I'd let your budget decide. If you don't listen particularly loudly, the A5 and PA5 II will definitely suffice; they also have the same power.
If you electronically limit the lower frequency at 35-40 Hz, you'll gain significantly more available power and cleaner bass reproduction.

 

[valerian]

The balanced TRS connectors on the PA5 II aren't a problem, though. They're built with good, tight jacks. I often switch the amp around during use and have never experienced a single dropout. I prefer XLR connectors, too. It's a shame they didn't use mini XLRs.

Then I'd let your budget decide. If you don't listen particularly loudly, the A5 and PA5 II will definitely suffice; they also have the same power.
If you electronically limit the lower frequency at 35-40 Hz, you'll gain significantly more available power and cleaner bass reproduction.

I don't understand why the big difference in price between PA 5 II and PA7 if the difference is just in power. Prices on Amazon.de for PA5 II 204€, PA5 II plus 265€ while PA7 511€ and PA7plus 614€. It makes no sense for the price to be this much higher just because of extra power. Could it be that PA7 sounds better as well? If we look at A5 and A7, the difference is just 100€ but with PA5 and PA7 it's 300€ which is a lot.

 

[SMen]

I don't understand why the big difference in price between PA 5 II and PA7 if the difference is just in power. Prices on Amazon.de for PA5 II 204€, PA5 II plus 265€ while PA7 511€ and PA7plus 614€. It makes no sense for the price to be this much higher just because of extra power. Could it be that PA7 sounds better as well? If we look at A5 and A7, the difference is just 100€ but with PA5 and PA7 it's 300€ which is a lot.

Part of it must be the power supplies - but good point about the 300€ ... maybe how distribution markups work are a factor also

 

[Guddu]

I don't understand why the big difference in price between PA 5 II and PA7 if the difference is just in power.

It’s more likely because of the bill of materials and components along with PSU.

Prices on Amazon.de for PA5 II 204€, PA5 II plus 265€ while PA7 511€ and PA7plus 614€. It makes no sense for the price to be this much higher just because of extra power.

Absolutely

Could it be that PA7 sounds better as well?

No

 

[valerian]

I will go for A5 then because it looks like a more quality product then PA5 II under the hood (previous PA5 model had many failures) and also has XLR inputs. Thanks for your help guys.

 

[SMen]

I will go for A5 then because it looks like a more quality product then PA5 II under the hood (previous PA5 model had many failures) and also has XLR inputs. Thanks for your help guys.

I do not regret my A5 vs V3 monos which have the greater power with 3255 chip - running with quite efficient speakers I sense no less power ... and then you have the advantage of smaller form factor with power supply too.

 

[mikessi]

A5 is plenty. But a Wiim Amp/Pro is probably more useful. I doubt you'd hear a sound quality difference but you will definitely hear the benefits of using the Wiim's EQ settings well.

 

[valerian]

A5 is plenty. But a Wiim Amp/Pro is probably more useful. I doubt you'd hear a sound quality difference but you will definitely hear the benefits of using the Wiim's EQ settings well.

I don't need half of the functions of Wiim Amp and it also doesn't have XLR inputs which are a must have for me. I could still buy Wiim Pro separately after getting A5 if I would like to have the EQ settings.

 

[mikessi]

I don't need half of the functions of Wiim Amp and it also doesn't have XLR inputs which are a must have for me. I could still buy Wiim Pro separately after getting A5 if I would like to have the EQ settings.

You do know that Erin found a glaring 700Hz resonance in the driver & exaggerated output >10kHz in the Dynaudio Emit 20? (Among other FR variations.) You have at least a chance to tune these flaws out with PEQ esp. if you have a mic and free measurement software. (PS -- I'm pretty sure the slight peak at 5kHz would be really annoying with a lot of recordings.)

Dynaudio Emit 20 Speaker Review

Dynaudio Emit 20 Speaker Review

www.erinsaudiocorner.com

 

[Roland68]

I don't understand why the big difference in price between PA 5 II and PA7 if the difference is just in power. Prices on Amazon.de for PA5 II 204€, PA5 II plus 265€ while PA7 511€ and PA7plus 614€. It makes no sense for the price to be this much higher just because of extra power. Could it be that PA7 sounds better as well? If we look at A5 and A7, the difference is just 100€ but with PA5 and PA7 it's 300€ which is a lot.

The PA5 II is likely to have at least 10 times the sales of the PA7, if not significantly more. The PA7 is not nearly as popular.
The PA7 also requires significantly more effort: two TPA3255s, twice the size of the circuit board and enclosure, etc.
All costs are spread across the much smaller production run, which is often the reason for higher prices.