3e audio A7/A7 Mono Amplifier Review

[ioskyr]

“SVS Ultra Center with 3e audio A5 stereo or A7 mono”

Hello,
I would like some help choosing one of the two amplifiers to drive my SVS Ultra center speaker on my AV setup. I am thinking to go with the 3e audio A7 mono or the 3e audio A5 stereo and Bi-amp the speaker. In my setup I have the crossover of the center channel at 80 Hz. Their price is almost the same so that does not make any difference. A7 mono has more power and A5 has less distortion (Bi-amp aside). My consideration is that I should go for A5 stereo as it is more distortion free but It might not have enough power and it will clip. I am using a Denon X3600H and my volume is set between -20 to -15. Thank you in advance.

 

[antcollinet]

nah not because of this review. just randomly looking at the 2nd hand market place website and one came up and the itch to change just kick in. was using a nad 326BEE then to this e3 audio a7.

You won't get any audible benefit. Simply spend money for no gain.

 

[JeremyFife]

now im not sure if i should keep my a7 as a used very good condition bel. canto S300 came up for sales.

One of the huge benefits of this site is that it helps you understand what changes will make an actual difference to your sound. Changing your amp from the 3e A7 to anything else at all will not make a difference.
There are other reasons for change apart from sound quality; missing features, "pride of ownership" and its your system and your money.

I'd take this opportunity to squash down that 'upgradeitis' urge, which just leads to frustration and dissatisfaction.
Easier said than done

 

[Roland68]

now im not sure if i should keep my a7 as a used very good condition bel. canto S300 came up for sales.

Are you aware that these are just standard IcePower 200ASC modules in a nice enclosure?
I have two monoblocks with 200ASC modules myself; they cost less than €250 each, including enclosures and small parts.
In my opinion, they don't come close to the A7 in terms of sound quality.

 

[fiercekid84]

i see. i too also saw a audiolab 9000a for sales for a good price too and also very tempting

 

[Roland68]

i see. i too also saw a audiolab 9000a for sales for a good price too and also very tempting

I'm not sure what your intention is regarding a different amplifier.
Over the past few years, we've conducted blind, leveled comparisons of the TPA3251/55 amplifiers (Topping, 3E Audio, Selph Audio, XRK Audio, etc.) and the Sabaj A30a with many common (including audiophile) amplifiers up to well over €5,000. Only a few were marginally better; most were worse or, at best, just as good.
The usual test reports and reviews aren't helpful here, as they always rate all devices as good to very good.

I would advise you to listen to another amplifier in a truly blind and leveled comparison against the A7, otherwise you might end up with something worse.
For us, these tests have clearly demonstrated that price and sound quality aren't closely related. Affordable TPA3251/55 PFFB amplifiers like the PA5 II and A5 are sonically hard to beat, even for several thousand euros/dollars.

 

[Chaos01]

“SVS Ultra Center with 3e audio A5 stereo or A7 mono”

Hello,
I would like some help choosing one of the two amplifiers to drive my SVS Ultra center speaker on my AV setup. I am thinking to go with the 3e audio A7 mono or the 3e audio A5 stereo and Bi-amp the speaker. In my setup I have the crossover of the center channel at 80 Hz. Their price is almost the same so that does not make any difference. A7 mono has more power and A5 has less distortion (Bi-amp aside). My consideration is that I should go for A5 stereo as it is more distortion free but It might not have enough power and it will clip. I am using a Denon X3600H and my volume is set between -20 to -15. Thank you in advance.

I personally would Not Go bi amping. And i would choose the A7 mono with 48v 10a Power supply. I simply dont think the difference in distortion the the A5 is that audible, unless you have a fully treated room but also then im Not shure and with a Center with Most TV movie content i would prefere more Power. Also Just to know to have more Power is better for your mind to have more time Till next Upgrade but it depends to you, louder=more Power and more Money with a7, a5 for moderate Volume but should be ok too...
EDIT: sorry, forgot that there is No A5 mono... So go with the A7 mono!

 

[saberger0357]

Questionable marketing aside, I'm really enjoying my A7.

 

[perceptionist]

I'm not sure what your intention is regarding a different amplifier.
Over the past few years, we've conducted blind, leveled comparisons of the TPA3251/55 amplifiers (Topping, 3E Audio, Selph Audio, XRK Audio, etc.) and the Sabaj A30a with many common (including audiophile) amplifiers up to well over €5,000. Only a few were marginally better; most were worse or, at best, just as good.
The usual test reports and reviews aren't helpful here, as they always rate all devices as good to very good.

I would advise you to listen to another amplifier in a truly blind and leveled comparison against the A7, otherwise you might end up with something worse.
For us, these tests have clearly demonstrated that price and sound quality aren't closely related. Affordable TPA3251/55 PFFB amplifiers like the PA5 II and A5 are sonically hard to beat, even for several thousand euros/dollars.

Only Purifi, Hypex Nilai and NCoreX are objectively better than TPA3255.

 

[cfwotzka]

Only Purifi, Hypex Nilai and NCoreX are objectively better than TPA3255.

sure?

 

[perceptionist]

sure?

Sure. Each of which provides more power with less distortions.

 

[Roland68]

Only Purifi, Hypex Nilai and NCoreX are objectively better than TPA3255.

And Topping has four more amplifiers that are even better, and even cheaper.

If you look closely, there are both Purifi and Hypex Nilai amplifiers that, according to measurements, perform slightly below the 3E Audio A5 and Topping PA5, but those are TPA3251 amplifiers.
Whether the 2-7 Sinad points of the subsequent amplifiers are actually audible is questionable, but they also cost many times more than the TPA3251/55 amplifiers.

Of course, if you need more power than the 200-250 watts that these amplifiers can deliver, then you have to spend a bit more money, but personally, I'm not a fan of very inefficient speakers anyway.

 

[perceptionist]

And Topping has four more amplifiers that are even better, and even cheaper.

If you look closely, there are both Purifi and Hypex Nilai amplifiers that, according to measurements, perform slightly below the 3E Audio A5 and Topping PA5, but those are TPA3251 amplifiers.
Whether the 2-7 Sinad points of the subsequent amplifiers are actually audible is questionable, but they also cost many times more than the TPA3251/55 amplifiers.

Of course, if you need more power than the 200-250 watts that these amplifiers can deliver, then you have to spend a bit more money, but personally, I'm not a fan of very inefficient speakers anyway.

Objectively, of all those amplifiers with SINAD > 110 and power > 300W unbridged, Purifi and Hypex provide the highest watts per dollar.

 

[somebodyelse]

Objectively, of all those amplifiers with SINAD > 110 and power > 300W unbridged, Purifi and Hypex provide the highest watts per dollar.

It seems like you've chosen the answer you want, then gone looking for limitations to give that answer.

 

[pickyAudiophile]

Forgive me guys if I overlooked what I was looking for. At least I tried.

Does the A7 Mono version (or any of these by 3e) feature stepped volume attenuator... for at least some assistance with channel matching when changing volume?
Did any one of you who bought the A7 monos check for actual variation between samples?
(I have A70 Monos by Aiyima here with me which are suprisingly even when control measured from a distance at .14 dB in a 10 o'clock position...There is at least "some" stepping available which offers barely but still sufficiently enough resistance to maintain L+R volume match when turning the knobs.)

 

[antcollinet]

Forgive me guys if I overlooked what I was looking for. At least I tried.View attachment 492970
Does the A7 Mono version (or any of these by 3e) feature stepped volume attenuator... for at least some assistance with channel matching when changing volume?
Did any one of you who bought the A7 monos check for actual variation between samples?
(I have A70 Monos by Aiyima here with me which are suprisingly even when control measured from a distance at .14 dB in a 10 o'clock position...There is at least "some" stepping available which offers barely but still sufficiently enough resistance to maintain L+R volume match when turning the knobs.)

I doubt it.

It really makes no sense to control the volume from the amp if you are using mono amps. You need a preamp, or DAC with preamp function up stream of the amps to do the volume control.

If this is not suitable for you I'd suggest the A7 Stereo version. You lose next to nothing in terms of power - and you only have to deal with one box and one PSU. If I were buying, the stereo is what I would get in any case.

 

[JW001]

Forgive me guys if I overlooked what I was looking for. At least I tried.View attachment 492970
Does the A7 Mono version (or any of these by 3e) feature stepped volume attenuator... for at least some assistance with channel matching when changing volume?
Did any one of you who bought the A7 monos check for actual variation between samples?
(I have A70 Monos by Aiyima here with me which are suprisingly even when control measured from a distance at .14 dB in a 10 o'clock position...There is at least "some" stepping available which offers barely but still sufficiently enough resistance to maintain L+R volume match when turning the knobs.)

Unless your room is acoustically treated, listening to music at high volume without DSP for room correction is not pleasant, to say the least. In my stereo system all sources (USB, toslink, bluetooth) pass through Minidsp Flex for subwoofer integration and room equalization, which also takes care of channel matching. Minidsp provides a digital volume control and digital to analog conversion (DAC), so the next component in chain - the power amplifier, is limited to what it does the best - power amplification only. I happen to have 3e audio A7 stereo for this purpose and I am happy with it.
Of course, minidsp is not the only preamplifier choice on the market but it seems to me a very good one.

 

[Crook]

Agree with comments above. I'm an A7 stereo user, which doesn't have a remote, so volume is bypassed as power amp and volume remote controlled on dac/pre. I think this is the best way.

 

[antcollinet]

Agree with comments above. I'm an A7 stereo user, which doesn't have a remote, so volume is bypassed as power amp and volume remote controlled on dac/pre. I think this is the best way.

A better way - turn. your amp down to zero, then your dac up to full. Play a loud track. Increase the amp until the volume is just a little higher than you ever want to listen to.

Leave the amp on that setting and control the volume down from that point on the DAC.

This way, you :
1 - maximise the SNR out of the DAC
2 - if the Dac ever messes up and sets itself to full volume - your speakers are still safe.

 

[JW001]

A better way - turn. your amp down to zero, then your dac up to full. Play a loud track. Increase the amp until the volume is just a little higher than you ever want to listen to.

Leave the amp on that setting and control the volume down from that point on the DAC.

This way, you :
1 - maximise the SNR out of the DAC
2 - if the Dac ever messes up and sets itself to full volume - your speakers are still safe.

Since DACs are at least 32bit, isn't the SNR benefit negligible? Also, the pot in the amplifier, being a high-value resistor, is the source of noise in itself. Bypassing it eliminates one of the sources of noise.
Can the digital volume control in the preamp set itself to full volume? Maybe, since everything is possible, even if it's not likely