3e Audio A5 Stereo Amplifier Review

[Aerodynamics]

Hello all, I have a A5 and A7 mono. In an effort to reduce the power supply footprint, I purchased a 48v 10a GAN unit with a splitter cable to power both amps. The A7 powers on but the A5 does not. When connected to the 48v power supply on its own, the A5 also will not power up. In both instances, the leds on the front panel flash momentarily when the PS is disconnected so it seems to recognize its presence. The only time it will power up is when connected to the A5’s supplied PS.

Has anyone used this configuration successfully or is this happening by design? Thank you.

 

[anonyless]

Hello all, I have a A5 and A7 mono. In an effort to reduce the power supply footprint, I purchased a 48v 10a GAN unit with a splitter cable to power both amps. The A7 powers on but the A5 does not. When connected to the 48v power supply on its own, the A5 also will not power up. In both instances, the leds on the front panel flash momentarily when the PS is disconnected so it seems to recognize its presence. The only time it will power up is when connected to the A5’s supplied PS.

Has anyone used this configuration successfully or is this happening by design? Thank you.

the A5 is based on TPA3251 chip which can take up to 38V , not 48V (!!)
it's the manual and on the A5 power input connector

 

[Aerodynamics]

the A5 is based on TPA3251 chip which can take up to 38V , not 48V (!!)
it's the manual and on the A5 power input connector

Thank you. In that case, I may consider replacing it with an A7 stereo.

 

[Alannn]

I always found large labels stuck around power cords to be bulky and in the way. Now I understand their purpose is because many people don't read enclosure labels with small print.

 

[anonyless]

Thank you. In that case, I may consider replacing it with an A7 stereo.

out of curiosity, what happens if you use the A5's original PS to power it ?

EDIT
i didn't read properly your full post. does the A5 actually powers up and works properly at the moment?

 

[SMen]

Thank you. In that case, I may consider replacing it with an A7 stereo.

Good to know that the A5 has input protection (assuming it is still working).

 

[truth_soldier]

I had the same when i went from my Aiyima A07 to the Douk A5.

Hi. Are you still using the A5? What opamp are you using in it? And where did you get them? It's hard to find a vendor of the opamps in Brazil and that you can trust are not fakes. obrigado!

 

[harkpabst]

Hi. Are you still using the A5? What opamp are you using in it? And where did you get them? It's hard to find a vendor of the opamps in Brazil and that you can trust are not fakes. obrigado!

Luckily, the A5 covered in this review comes with appropriate opamps fitted from the factory.

 

[truth_soldier]

Luckily, the A5 covered in this review comes with appropriate opamps fitted from the factory.

Luckily you don't decide what's appropriate for other people.

Also luckily the factory fitted the amp with opamp sockets specifically for users to decide what is appropriate for their gear and sound preferences.

 

[SlowJim]

There are multiple threads here demonstrating the futility of opamp swapping. It's pure snake oil and if you don't want to learn from the data you have no reason to be using this site.

 

[harkpabst]

Luckily you don't decide what's appropriate for other people.

Also luckily the factory fitted the amp with opamp sockets specifically for users to decide what is appropriate for their gear and sound preferences.

Luckily, you decided to not take note of the forum rules regarding review threads. And luckily you didn't even take the time to make clear which A5 you are referring to.

 

[Aerodynamics]

out of curiosity, what happens if you use the A5's original PS to power it ?

EDIT
i didn't read properly your full post. does the A5 actually powers up and works properly at the moment?

It is working with the original PS.

 

[TNT]

Distortion rises at high frequencies though so our 19+20 kHz suffers some:

To show a 19+20 but omit 1k form the presented data is... almost criminal ;-D

//

 

[antcollinet]

To show a 19+20 but omit 1k form the presented data is... almost criminal ;-D

//

Difficult to tell if you are serious or not. You do know what frequency the standard Sinad test is done at, don't you?

 

[Sokel]

Difficult to tell if you are serious or not. You do know what frequency the standard Sinad test is done at, don't you?

He probably means at the same chart.

 

[r-36m2]

Hello, colleagues!
Could you tell me if the op amps in the A5 and A7 amplifiers have a single or dual supply? If they have a single supply, has anyone tried converting them to a dual supply to eliminate the capacitors from the audio path? Especially if they're electrolytic capacitors.

 

[SlowJim]

No.

 

[3eaudio]

@r-36m2
This is not a suitable diy product other than the op-amp change only.
You may look at other diy kits

 

[r-36m2]

@r-36m2
This is not a suitable diy product other than the op-amp change only.
You may look at other diy kits

Do you mean this board? https://www.3e-audio.com/amplifier-kits/tpa32xx-with-pffb/

 

[r-36m2]

@r-36m2
This is not a suitable diy product other than the op-amp change only.
You may look at other diy kits

I'll move my question from another thread here.

Hello, dear developers of high-quality audio equipment!

I'm a proud owner of your 3e Audio SY-DAP 1002 amplifier and have done a lot to improve its sound, but it has its limitations, which you know. It's time to take it a step further.
ering the A5 or A5se (my speakers are 90 dB, so I don't need more power), but I can't figure out which one is better (for the price).

I understand that the A5 has two TPA3251s on board, as well as an NE5532 (I can easily replace them with 1602s, 1612s, 1656s, etc.). And I saw a slightly lower THD on the A5se's graphs than the A5se's.

The main question is: is this difference between the BTL and PBTL audible, or is it only visible on the graphs?

Second question: I haven't seen the schematic, but I suspect the op amps are single-ended, meaning there are decoupling capacitors and, most likely, electrolytic capacitors in the audio path. Is there a way to convert the power supply to dual-ended to eliminate the capacitors?

Thanks!

If any of my esteemed colleagues have compared the sound of the A5 and A5se or changed the op amp power supply, I'd be grateful for your experience!