3e Audio A5 Stereo Amplifier Review

[somebodyelse]

The 07 is load dependent but my planar tweeter is a flat 8 ohm load, so that can not explain all of it.

A lot of the speakers that show load dependence have a big peak around the crossover frequency which can lead to an audible peak in response. It's not just in the top end where it shows up with resistive loads.

 

[Bruce Morgen]

I had the same when i went from my Aiyima A07 to the Douk A5. The 07 is load dependent but my planar tweeter is a flat 8 ohm load, so that can not explain all of it. In general the sound sounds more clean, open and even at higher volume it sounds great, an indication of less distortion. It was more of an "upgrade" then expected. A good surprise! After a few months i have the impression i could not go better then this, the HP filter is a game changer to reduce distortion.

IIRC, the A07 has an upward FR slope toward the high end of the spectrum even with "a flat 8 ohm load" and downward in that range with a 4 ohm load, with 6 ohms being the "goldilocks" number for the flattest response up there. All non-PFFB TPA3255 amps have that sort of load dependency and it's not inconceivable for that phenomenon to be audible in some cases. It did show up in the four 8 ohm ambience/surround speakers in my system, which trend toward brightness to begin with -- my solution was to compensate for both those characteristics by running those channels through pre-amplification EQ using a Dayton DSP-408.

 

[ironmine]

I got the A5 today and I feel like I am hallucinating, it sounds so different from the Fosi Za3. How is that possible?

Why should different amplifiers sound the same?

 

[NTK]

Why should different amplifiers sound the same?

Because for the purpose of reproducing audio for human consumption, and when the amplifiers are operating within their designed operation limits, we have basically reached perfection, and we have reached it through multiple different ways.

[Edit] If two amplifiers sound different when level matched, and if neither is clipping and are rated for the load impedance, at least one of them is broken.

 

[testp]

here's a fun test, record both with sine wave and ignore volume differences, if mic is good enough, maybe theres a shape difference present

 

[ironmine]

Because for the purpose of reproducing audio for human consumption, and when the amplifiers are operating within their designed operation limits, we have basically reached perfection, and we have reached it through multiple different ways.

[Edit] If two amplifiers sound different when level matched, and if neither is clipping and are rated for the load impedance, at least one of them is broken.

Are you joking? Zero feedback and massive feedback, class D and pure class A, different output impedance, tube vs. solid state - all sound the same?

I heard in my life a dozen of amplifiers - all sound very much different.

 

[Tofffsy]

It's all about the difference between listening with your ears vs listening measurements

 

[JSmith]

It's all about the difference between listening with your ears vs listening measurements

So how does one listen to measurements? I don't sit at home listening to test tones...

I assume you realise when people do a controlled comparison of two devices, they listen with their ears and use music?

TBH it's people that says things like you have that listen to the gear and not the music in general.


JSmith

 

[Birdy]

Are you joking? Zero feedback and massive feedback, class D and pure class A, different output impedance, tube vs. solid state - all sound the same?

I heard in my life a dozen of amplifiers - all sound very much different.

yes, i agree they sound different but the question is why? My tube amp, a class A DC coupled amp (14 kg iron, copper ect.) with 0.35% THD at 15 watt or so, sounded great, like a good AB or D amp, tight bass because of low impedance output transformers but it looses in measurements from my el cheapo Douk A in all aspects not even to mention power consumption and weight / material / costs. It even looses in overall sound quality to my ears but it was a great space heater!

 

[Thomas_A]

So how does one listen to measurements? I don't sit at home listening to test tones...

You don’t? Sweeps are good ear cleaners. One can really feel when those dry ear wax plugs fall out.

 

[Jole]

In Audiophonics.. France, A5 cost around 300(275)euros and A7 around 375e...shipping, custom elsewhere not cheap.at all...with all respect but also considering questionable reliabity don't want to say risky, questionable investment.....

 

[Alannn]

 

[harkpabst]

In Audiophonics.. France, A5 cost around 300(275)euros and A7 around 375e...shipping, custom elsewhere not cheap.at all...with all respect but also considering questionable reliabity don't want to say risky, questionable investment.....

Questionable reliability? Where did you get that from?

Is there anything you can share from personal experience regarding the 3E AUDIO A5 review? Can you name a better alternative at the same price point?

 

[Jole]

Personal no.... first about price in EU I will not explain ..thats fact. Nothing against 3e audio I don't have , want to clarified that also as first....I made mistake in comment in way that I want to stress that beside tons of comments on many forums about technical issues arised with new generations of this kind of amps especially cheaper ones, (will not mention any name to avoid comments), thermal issues is also big problem in particular with 48v external power supply and longevity...But also many people are satisfied with price and what they got. This is new period and for sure this texas instrument chip have good potential but will takes some time to although food implementation for sure alreday exaists...I used and still do that amp that do its job without any just any problem..any. That is reliability for me last long, work as it should be without any issues. I pay my enjoyment and peace. With yamaha and my Naim xs that i never switched off I had 0 issue except bill for electricity...For not comprehensive first comment I apologise.
PS If you alredy ask me, for me Marantz PM6007 for 450e is safer and better alternative as amp as well as Rotel A8, NAD 316BEE both just bellow 400e or Wiim. But thats me.

 

[Tofffsy]

Personal no.... first about price in EU I will not explain ..thats fact. Nothing against 3e audio I don't have , want to clarified that also as first....I made mistake in comment in way that I want to stress that beside tons of comments on many forums about technical issues arised with new generations of this kind of amps especially cheaper ones, (will not mention any name to avoid comments), thermal issues is also big problem in particular with 48v external power supply and longevity...But also many people are satisfied with price and what they got. This is new period and for sure this texas instrument chip have good potential but will takes some time to although food implementation for sure alreday exaists...I used and still do that amp that do its job without any just any problem..any. That is reliability for me last long, work as it should be without any issues. I pay my enjoyment and peace. With yamaha and my Naim xs that i never switched off I had 0 issue except bill for electricity...For not comprehensive first comment I apologise.
PS If you alredy ask me, for me Marantz PM6007 for 450e is safer and better alternative as amp as well as Rotel A8, NAD 316BEE both just bellow 400e or Wiim. But thats me.

My A5 first batch bought on AliExpress ordered in december 2024 playing 6 hours a day works perfectly in a configuration everybody said to me it will burn hahaha

 

[Alannn]

Personally, I am happy living with the danger of catastrophic amp failure when connecting the wrong external power supply, such as 48 volt, to my A5. I also am now aware of the additional advantage of an amp using an internal power supply. For some it's considered "safer." I follow that logic.

@Jole, thank you for clarifying some of your comment is directed at "this kind of amps" which was not at first obvious, as this is the "3e Audio A5 Stereo Amplifier Review" thread.

 

[ironmine]

Aiyima strikes back - Aiyima 10th Anniversary Edition A20 Amp
it has a sub out and high-pass filter for speakers

 

[rvsixer]

This is new period and for sure this texas instrument chip have good potential but will takes some time to although food implementation for sure alreday exaists...

This TI chip has been around for nine years. New? New period? Time needed to sort implementation?

 

[Alannn]

...although food implementation for sure alreday exaists...

The explosive growth of AI has led to a global data center industry, estimated to be worth $242.72 billion, yet the ASR forum lacks basic spellcheck.

 

[anonyless]

In Audiophonics.. France, A5 cost around 300(275)euros and A7 around 375e...shipping, custom elsewhere not cheap.at all...with all respect but also considering questionable reliabity don't want to say risky, questionable investment.....

i paid 182.39 USD for A5 (shipped) , directly from official store on AE with some coupons, on March this year. You're welcome
ALSO, what "questionable reliability" are you talking about?