3e audio A7/A7 Mono Amplifier Review

[sebanow]

I was told that tariffs and shipping costs are making things hard for distributors. The true added costs are changing day to day.
Do not know if manufacturers are getting squeezed to make up the differences. From what I see prices to us have stayed constant. Someone is covering these costs.

Isn't it that the buyer pays the tariff upon receipt of goods? I would expect that. If it's the seller adjusting the price at the checkout, then it's a different story. In my case the price was adjusted for vat.
...which I will pay to the courier during delivery

 

[Nyarlathotep]

Isn't it that the buyer pays the tariff upon receipt of goods? I would expect that. If it's the seller adjusting the price at the checkout, then it's a different story. In my case the price was adjusted for vat.
...which I will pay to the courier during delivery

In the US, tariffs are paid by the importer of record. That cost indirectly gets eaten somewhere, either by the customer's wallet, the manufacturer's profit, the distributor profit, the shipper's profit, or more likely a mixture of those. For now, bigger manufacturers and distributors generally seem to be eating the costs, but most will likely raise costs at some point to compensate and return their profit margins. The impact of the tariffs to consumers are not easy to track and are a bit indirect. In general they will likely lead to a slow, uneven inflation of costs to consumers. Smaller companies, like 3e, that might be shipping direct to consumers may just add the expense as a line item add on cost to the consumer at point of sale.

Edited; Typo

 

[sebanow]

In the US, tariffs are paid by the importer of record. That cost indirectly gets eaten somewhere, either by the customer's wallet, the manufacturer's profit, the distributor profit, the shipper's profit, or more likely a mixture of those. For now, bigger manufacturers and distributors generally seem to be eating the costs, but most will likely raise costs at some point to compensate and return their profit margins. The impact of the tariffs to consumers are not easy to track and are a bit indirect. In general they will likely lead to a slow, uneven inflation of costs to consumers. Smaller companies, like 3e, that might be shipping direct to consumers may just add the expense as a line item add on cost to the consumer at point of sale.

Edited; Typo

If you're buying on AliExpress, then you're the importer.

 

[Nyarlathotep]

If you're buying on AliExpress, then you're the importer.

Yes, that is generally true, since you are buying direct from overseas. If there is an intermediary, like a distributor, they would pay the cost, or negotiate with the seller on who pays. Their choice if they pass that back to the consumer.

 

[ziggurcat]

3E Audio store on aliexpress has closed, no amp is buyable anymore? Does anyone know what is going on?

It's still there on my end.

 

[SMen]

It's still there on my end.

as in you can purchase? For me, checking @Punchy_Power_Cat 's observation, the products are showing but I cannot purchase.

For me in the UK I am wondering why VAT is now being deducted in the checkout (I went for a 25% off option a few days ago... I am wondering if I am going to be hit with silly charges by the postal delivery service (as well as the 20%)

 

[ziggurcat]

as in you can purchase? For me, checking @Punchy_Power_Cat 's observation, the products are showing but I cannot purchase.

For me in the UK I am wondering why VAT is now being deducted in the checkout (I went for a 25% off option a few days ago... I am wondering if I am going to be hit with silly charges by the postal delivery service (as well as the 20%)

Never mind, I missed a bit at the top of the page. It appears to be closed. I know they just opened their Amazon shop last week, but it looks like it's just US Amazon. Weird that they wouldn't set that up for Amazon in general rather than one, specific country -- especially the one country that is causing all kinds of economic turmoil for no real reason -- but ok...

I was planning on getting the 48v power supply, but I guess not now.

@3eaudio when do you intend to open an Amazon shop for EU, UK, and Canada?

 

[andrew]

@3eaudio when do you intend to open an Amazon shop for EU, UK, and Canada?

@3eaudio
And Australia (AU)?

 

[3eaudio]

US - ready weeks ago.
CA - on going and maybe Aug.
EU - will take longer as VAT registratiopn process take about 3 months
AU - maybe 2026 after we launch more model.

 

[somebodyelse]

UK?

 

[ziggurcat]

US - ready weeks ago.
CA - on going and maybe Aug.
EU - will take longer as VAT registratiopn process take about 3 months
AU - maybe 2026 after we launch more model.

Awesome, thanks!

UK?

I suspect it is lumped in with the EU timeline.

 

[avdoc]

• Received my A7 stereo today from US Amazon. I can confirm it outperforms the Fosi V3 monos in my setup. However, it runs hotter than I would like. At idle, the top hits 108 degrees Fahrenheit vs 116 for the Fosi monoblocks. I'm a little disappointed, as I was hoping not to have to use cooling fans with it. However, it sounds better than the Fosi and the rca inputs sound just as good as the xlr. I had planned to get another, but it's no longer listed on Amazon, just the mono version. Can 3e clarify why the stereo version has disappeared from Amazon US?

 

[saberger0357]

• Received my A7 stereo today from US Amazon. I can confirm it outperforms the Fosi V3 monos in my setup. However, it runs hotter than I would like. At idle, the top hits 108 degrees Fahrenheit vs 116 for the Fosi monoblocks. I'm a little disappointed, as I was hoping not to have to use cooling fans with it. However, it sounds better than the Fosi and the rca inputs sound just as good as the xlr. I had planned to get another, but it's no longer listed on Amazon, just the mono version. Can 3e clarify why the stereo version has disappeared from Amazon US?

I have the V3's and really like them a lot. Would appreciate it if you can elaborate on how the A7 outperforms the V3's.

 

[Pulkass]

This is a review and detailed measurements of the A7 / "A7 Mono" stereo power amplifier with balanced inputs. It was sent to me by the company. I have no idea what it costs in US. Audiophonics lists it for 379,00 €tax incl.
View attachment 444144
While the A7 may look like its competitors, it has a heft to it that I don't recall others not having. It really feels like it is filled with lead or something! A nice volume control in the middle adjusts the gain but it can also be bypassed using a switch in the back. Pushing the volume control quickly switches between XLR balanced and RCA. Two thoughtful clipping indicators are provided, making me wish it would be a standard feature on any amplifier. A minor nit: LED colors indicating which input is active is red and clipping in green. I think based on convention, the latter should be red.

Back panel shows nice set of features:
View attachment 444145
Trigger input is provided as is the aforementioned combo TRS/XLR balanced inputs. Low and high gain switch is provided but I focused on low gain as that is fully compatible with current audio products outputting 2/4 volts. Yes, there is that monster GaN power supply! It can of course be purchased with other options. The input connector says max is 48 volt but per designer, the mono configuration, which is just using the left channel, can go up to 52 volts. He said I could test in stereo just the same and that is what I did. I found no issues.

FYI, I was impressed with the secure way the power supply input accepts the plug. There is a lot of current and power involved here so good to see a tight fit.

One nice feature, beside trigger, is auto-shut off in case of no input signal. I left it on by accident and was pleasantly surprised when I came back and it had gone to sleep.

3e audio A7 Amplifier Measurements
Let's start with low gain, volume control set to (volume bypass didn't make a difference), and XLR as inputs:

View attachment 444146
Very nice. Well above average in performance with distortion below threshold of hearing:
View attachment 444147
View attachment 444148

RCA input as usual loses a bit, but not much, scoring 100 dB with again, inaudible distortion:
View attachment 444149

SNR is the limit here, which is quite good actually:
View attachment 444150
At full power, it provides transparency for practically all music produced!

The A7 uses post filter feedback (PFFB) so it is essentially load (speaker) independent:
View attachment 444151

Crosstalk while much better than average, is a bit worse than 3e audio A5:
View attachment 444152

As is typical here, above 1 kHz, distortion does climb:
View attachment 444153
View attachment 444154

This is one powerful little amplifier, easily besting its nicely mentioned specs:
View attachment 444155
View attachment 444156

View attachment 444157

Edit: forgot to include the power vs frequency sweep:

View attachment 444184
Power is more or less sustained across the full audible band:
View attachment 444158
View attachment 444159

Its distortion goes from 0.05% to huge amount as it clips so I could not test it at 1% THD at higher frequency. So I searched for power point at just 0.05% which disadvantages this amp a bit.

My reactive loadbox still doesn't like these bridged amplifiers so I could only test the left channel (although per above, stereo and mono performance were the same):
View attachment 444160

View attachment 444161

You have to keep reminding yourself that this much power is coming out of this little box, no bigger than the old CD cases!

Finally, the amplifier is rock solid on power up:
View attachment 444162

Oh, too much on my mind so I forgot to run the power up/down glitch test.

Conclusions
If my memory serves me right, 3e audio was the first company to bring us high performance TI TPA3255 class D amplifiers with PFFB. While they have more competition now, it is clear they intend to stay on top of this game, squeezing every bit of performance out of this architecture, while providing nice feature set. We are talking high performance, high power amplifiers that are tiny yet deliver what people need in most cases.

I am happy to recommend 3e audio A7 / A7 Mono stereo audio amplifiers.

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As always, questions, comments, recommendations, etc. are welcome.

Any donations are much appreciated using: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-support-audio-science-review.8150/

I bought just now one A7 the stereo, . Has it got twin 3255 ? A7se has got only one ! Only found it on Ali Express, good price too, is it worth to change OPAS ??? Which one in case ??

 

[Audionaut]

A7se has got only one !

That's why it is the SE Version.
A7 has two TPA3255 so you can use it up to 2 ohms

 

[Pulkass]

That's why it is the SE Version.
A7 has two TPA3255 so you can use it up to 2 ohms

Thanks, I m happy, it s going to substitute highs section amp, in my 3 way x overed electronically, system, now occupied by Behringer A800, not bad, but I hate hiss with no signal, this looks promising to be silent, what do you think???

 

[Matt1974]

• Received my A7 stereo today from US Amazon. I can confirm it outperforms the Fosi V3 monos in my setup. However, it runs hotter than I would like. At idle, the top hits 108 degrees Fahrenheit vs 116 for the Fosi monoblocks. I'm a little disappointed, as I was hoping not to have to use cooling fans with it. However, it sounds better than the Fosi and the rca inputs sound just as good as the xlr. I had planned to get another, but it's no longer listed on Amazon, just the mono version. Can 3e clarify why the stereo version has disappeared from Amazon US?

My new A7 is hotter than my Fosi V3 monos, which I bought about 6 months ago. My last valve amp got considerably hotter than either, although it did explode into flames eventually, following which I took an extended break from Hi Fi.

 

[Audionaut]

I hate hiss with no signal, this looks promising to be silent, what do you think???

You won't hear noise without signal unless the device is faulty.
I have two inexpensive TPA3255 amplifiers here, the O-Noorus D1 and the Douk A5.
Both are completely quiet, even when turned up all the way.
If these two inexpensive candidates can do that, the A7 should be even quiet.

 

[Roland68]

My new A7 is hotter than my Fosi V3 monos, which I bought about 6 months ago. My last valve amp got considerably hotter than either, although it did explode into flames eventually, following which I took an extended break from Hi Fi.

"Hotter" is a very subjective term that can mean 32°C or 60°C.
The ambient temperature also plays an important role. At an ambient temperature of 20°C, 45°C would be quite high. However, at an ambient temperature of 38°C in summer, 45°C would be a good value.

Without a real measured value, no conclusions can be drawn. Reliable thermometers start at around €2, and infrared thermometers cost around €6-20.

 

[avdoc]

I have the V3's and really like them a lot. Would appreciate it if you can elaborate on how the A7 outperforms the V3's.

I liked the V3 monos, but my processor only has unbalanced/rca outputs and the V3 monos don't sound nearly as good through the rca inputs. The E3 amp is much warmer/ fuller sounding than the Fosi through both inputs. The Fosi are thinner and sound more harsh/digital. Also, the e3 frees up a plug on my power conditioner. For my home theater, I had 4 V3 monos and 4 ZA3s which is 8 plugs! For $300 US, the e3 is a no-brainer upgrade over the V3 monos!