3e audio A7/A7 Mono Amplifier Review

[Tofffsy]

Hi there,

Can someone explain to this electric noob, why the A7 Mono has two slots for two OPAmps but is only equipped with a single one?

My best guess would be they're using the same circuit board for all models, but the mono one is only equipped with one OpAmp, as it's, well, Mono.

Correct?

Thanks a lot for letting me know!

Bye,

Markus

Yes, as 3eaudio said somewhere the A7 mono is a half A7 stereo and the A5 is the same circuit with a different chip

 

[Raiju]

I had bought the a7 with the a5 to use for my subs. But I never got around to the a7, since my proper length cables arrived I decided might as well test the a7. And meh, I plays music is all I can say about it, doesn't do anything wrong but it doesn't do anything for me either except make me fatigued, and normally I am like this with music tired or bored after say an hour. Since the a7 was working in good order I put the a5 back, turned on to check if all was connected ok and ended up listening the whole day and had to stop because it was getting too late, I was like I can't wait to turn it back on again. The a5 just makes me not want to stop listening.

I just compared both reviews here and I can't find anything that explains the difference between the two amps to me, they measure near identical. Sure there are some build differences, like a7 uses opa1656 and works on 48V, a5 uses 1612 works on 38V and has an output capacitor less per channel. And 3255 vs 3251 ofc.

 

[antcollinet]

I had bought the a7 with the a5 to use for my subs. But I never got around to the a7, since my proper length cables arrived I decided might as well test the a7. And meh, I plays music is all I can say about it, doesn't do anything wrong but it doesn't do anything for me either except make me fatigued, and normally I am like this with music tired or bored after say an hour. Since the a7 was working in good order I put the a5 back, turned on to check if all was connected ok and ended up listening the whole day and had to stop because it was getting too late, I was like I can't wait to turn it back on again. The a5 just makes me not want to stop listening.

I just compared both reviews here and I can't find anything that explains the difference between the two amps to me, they measure near identical. Sure there are some build differences, like a7 uses opa1656 and works on 48V, a5 uses 1612 works on 38V and has an output capacitor less per channel. And 3255 vs 3251 ofc.

Easily explained by lack of accurate level matching in the comparison - or just plain old perceptive bias.

It is not the performance of the amp creating the difference - unless one of them is broken.

 

[SMen]

I had bought the a7 with the a5 to use for my subs. But I never got around to the a7, since my proper length cables arrived I decided might as well test the a7. And meh, I plays music is all I can say about it, doesn't do anything wrong but it doesn't do anything for me either except make me fatigued, and normally I am like this with music tired or bored after say an hour. Since the a7 was working in good order I put the a5 back, turned on to check if all was connected ok and ended up listening the whole day and had to stop because it was getting too late, I was like I can't wait to turn it back on again. The a5 just makes me not want to stop listening.

I just compared both reviews here and I can't find anything that explains the difference between the two amps to me, they measure near identical. Sure there are some build differences, like a7 uses opa1656 and works on 48V, a5 uses 1612 works on 38V and has an output capacitor less per channel. And 3255 vs 3251 ofc.

I confess I preferred the A7 and put it down simply to the extra power - but @antcollinet makes the important point that these two units differ in gain. I'd also (given your other posts here try with the same op amps. Just goes to show where it comes to perceptions ... I've no idea what other factors might be at play, but if anything the A7 to me sounds more relaxed!

 

[stoneeh]

Nice little thing.

 

[Mr.Christiee]

3eAudioA7 vs Fosi V3 monos? Which is best? Paired with Wiim Ultra streamer. Currently available for around the same price here in Canada. ($375/340cad)

 

[john61ct]

For future flexibility since you like Wiim, if the Amp Ultra is only a bit more, it has the same power architecture as A7:
PFFB TPA3255 PBTL stability down to 2Ω

I'd love to see a "max power" SPL measurement comparison between those three with a low efficiency & low/varying impedance speaker

and using the WAU as the power amp lets you do speaker-level REW tuning, HPF / crossover on just the pair it powers, while using the (non amp) Ultra as source for the whole system overall

 

[SMen]

3eAudioA7 vs Fosi V3 monos? Which is best? Paired with Wiim Ultra streamer. Currently available for around the same price here in Canada. ($375/340cad)

I think with the Wiim Ultra streamer you must use RCA's this making the 3eAudioA7 more measurably better. I also preferred it in terms of my perceived clarity and ease over the V3 Monos in balanced operation.

 

[Carlton80@0]

For future flexibility since you like Wiim, if the Amp Ultra is only a bit more, it has the same power architecture as A7:
PFFB TPA3255 PBTL stability down to 2Ω

I'd love to see a "max power" SPL measurement comparison between those three with a low efficiency & low/varying impedance speaker

and using the WAU as the power amp lets you do speaker-level REW tuning, HPF / crossover on just the pair it powers, while using the (non amp) Ultra as source for the whole system overall

For what it’s worth I cannot get the A7 or the V3 monos to audibly or visually clip referencing the A7 led clip indicators. These designs seem to be very stable at current delivery into low impedance loads. The Scintilla is 1ohm resistive load with 79db efficiency.

 

[saberger0357]

3eAudioA7 vs Fosi V3 monos? Which is best? Paired with Wiim Ultra streamer. Currently available for around the same price here in Canada. ($375/340cad)

I like them both a lot and use both with my Ultra(and Pro). The A7 is my preference because smaller footprint and one less power brick.

 

[Raiju]

I have a question about the validity of this review. The review was done on a prototype, the production model differs too much for the measurements to be valid imo.

Production model misses a big relay, likely this is for the 12v trigger, I am not 100% sure but I'll let that one go.

Production model misses power supply daughterboard, I think this one is too big of a change.

Production model uses ferrometals on the binding posts. signal goes from copper wire to steel bracket to steel ring, to steel nut to brass. Prototype uses pcb to connect directly to brass.

How can we be sure production model tests the same?

 

[Raiju]

This is the only measurement I could find from the production model.

Am I right that the sinad is lower here?

 

[Moti]

Is there a pattern with these cheap Chinese amps? Test samples are well made and some cost reductions are implemented when mass production starts….Douk Audio A5 heat sink is another example.

 

[ziggurcat]

This is the only measurement I could find from the production model.

Am I right that the sinad is lower here?

This very review is with the production model.

I need my coffee... scratch that. The review here is the obviously the pre-production model...

 

[Raiju]

I can't say anything about the quality of the measurement of the production model in the video but if AI did the math right it shows a SINAD of 96.3dB

 

[Raiju]

Check out my beautiful ELNA SIMIC II caps

 

[Raiju]

Now they blatantly deny the op amp decoupling caps are supposed to be ELNA, they are still advertised as being ELNA on their website as I write this.

 

[Good Vibes]

I wouldn’t know the difference to look at them but if they aren’t supplying what they are advertising, it would certainly be concerning.

 

[KL....]

Now they blatantly deny the op amp decoupling caps are supposed to be ELNA, they are still advertised as being ELNA on their website as I write this.

View attachment 483694

Thank you, Yes not ELNA Silic II, but Rubycon YXF (105°C, Low ESR, high performance and long lifetime) are regarded as good caps. Where positioned/implemented, would you consider these Rubycon as not as good as ELNA or higher performing? Ignore the values, just pictures for comparison.

 

[Raiju]

Thank you, Yes not ELNA Silic II, but Rubycon YXF (105°C, Low ESR, high performance and long lifetime) are regarded as good caps. Where positioned/implemented, would you consider these Rubycon as not as good as ELNA or higher performing? Ignore the values, just pictures for comparison.

View attachment 483739 View attachment 483741

Rubycon doesn't make the YXF anymore and they don't specify the ESR in the datasheet.

But the point is, if you advertise A you should sell A not B, we have a word for that kind of practice.