3e audio A7/A7 Mono Amplifier Review

[ziggurcat]

This is likely the case. With some DACs for instance cheapaudioman complain that it's too bright. But then again he tests the DACs with some quite bright Sony speakers.

Even when I had much younger ears I never heard a difference between a well designed class D and "normal" AB

I don't know if it's just me, but I kind of think that people tend to forget that the thing they're listening to is their speakers, and not necessarily the amp. While I do get that load dependency can alter the frequency response (correct me if I am wrong?), load dependency is not a thing that exists with these particular amplifiers.

 

[pickyAudiophile]

Speakers are f208, I had the same issue with kefq750, the room has 9 2'x4' home made acoustic panels with 3.5 inch thick insulation in them behind acoustically transparent fabric.

The 3e amps are not to blame. Try to think outside the box a little... Do you really like these artists affected when they perform their singing? Maybe you first time ever heard the "real" profile of these respective singers' voices with the 3e amps new in the chain. - And their singing maybe just doesn't suit you if reproduced accurately.

 

[Chaos01]

I own 2 of these in mono and am getting listening fatigue and harshness with higher pitched female vocals. Is it possible that class D just isn't for me? I dont want to switch amps out for no reason.

What Amp you had before? Did you Change Something else?
I changed from a Marantz Cinema 50 to a wiim ultra with a 3e A7 and really cant Tell that a noticed a night and day difference at all...
The only thing that is different, is the room correction. So maybe you had some before or some EQ?

 

[pickyAudiophile]

What Amp you had before? Did you Change Something else?

You nailed it. With taking a psychological perspective we might get to the bottom of it. It could (could!) be a matter of confirmation bias, triggerd through replacement of the amps. "I want these voices to sound just as rounded as they used to sound." - It's just as likely as a technical issue.

 

[NJ coffee roaster]

You nailed it. With taking a psychological perspective we might get to the bottom of it. It could (could!) be a matter of confirmation bias, triggerd through replacement of the amps. "I want these voices to sound just as rounded as they used to sound." - It's just as likely as a technical issue.

I dont really think thats what it is, I expected an improvement in this department after switching from the kefs. Other people have said this about class D

 

[Roland68]

I own 2 of these in mono and am getting listening fatigue and harshness with higher pitched female vocals. Is it possible that class D just isn't for me? I dont want to switch amps out for no reason.

I find that quite unlikely. I'm very sensitive to exactly that sort of thing and haven't experienced it with any of the high-quality TPA325X amplifiers (3E Audio, Topping, etc.).

What exactly are you using? Two A7 mono amplifiers?
And what's the source?

 

[SMen]

I dont really think thats what it is, I expected an improvement in this department after switching from the kefs. Other people have said this about class D

"other people saying about class D"? These A7's have had a lot of people commenting on them and so this should have thrown up more examples of issues such as yours.

I can see that you have just joined and I am presuming you have joined to ask about this?

If it makes you feel any better, I have just written an email complaining about the optical input distorting on a DAC I have just bought.

All tracks at 24/96 and below were fine but all above (e.g.: 24/192) had horrible distortion.


I only had the cheapest as chips alternative optical cable to hand to test if it might not have been the cable ... (after trying various other things)... it was not the DAC but the cable junction.

Maybe try swapping other parts of your chain and really checking that the A7 monos (I am presuming these are the 3e A7 monos) are the culprits?

I'm now going to have to write an email to the above DAC provider to say the DAC was not the issue!

 

[NJ coffee roaster]

I find that quite unlikely. I'm very sensitive to exactly that sort of thing and haven't experienced it with any of the high-quality TPA325X amplifiers (3E Audio, Topping, etc.).

What exactly are you using? Two A7 mono amplifiers?
And what's the source?

I have not noticed a difference between sources so let’s say I’m using the USB input on my MiniDSP flex

 

[ziggurcat]

I dont really think thats what it is, I expected an improvement in this department after switching from the kefs. Other people have said this about class D

How on axis are you from the speakers?

Harshness/fatigue, as far as I understand, comes from the 1-2kHz region since that's what we're most sensitive to. Since all amps I've looked at are dead flat/neutral in that region it is not likely to be the amp (even class D). I also do not believe that the F208s have a rise/bump in that region, so I would probably look at the source (i.e. the recording). There are a lot of bad recordings out there that some speakers really highlight. My own speakers have a bit of a dip in that area, so everything tends to sound a bit more "polite" as a result.

 

[NJ coffee roaster]

"other people saying about class D"? These A7's have had a lot of people commenting on them and so this should have thrown up more examples of issues such as yours.

I can see that you have just joined and I am presuming you have joined to ask about this?

If it makes you feel any better, I have just written an email complaining about the optical input distorting on a DAC I have just bought.

All tracks at 24/96 and below were fine but all above (e.g.: 24/192) had horrible distortion.


I only had the cheapest as chips alternative optical cable to hand to test if it might not have been the cable ... (after trying various other things)... it was not the DAC but the cable junction.

Maybe try swapping other parts of your chain and really checking that the A7 monos (I am presuming these are the 3e A7 monos) are the culprits?

I'm now going to have to write an email to the above DAC provider to say the DAC was not the issue!

I joined to ask because I’m about to sell them if I can’t fix this. I don’t think it’s an eq issue, my measurements on rew are good. Lowering the tweeter level on my f208s doesn’t really help either.

 

[SMen]

I joined to ask because I’m about to sell them if I can’t fix this. I don’t think it’s an eq issue, my measurements on rew are good. Lowering the tweeter level on my f208s doesn’t really help either.

PS welcome!

Unless there is a problem with both your A7 units, I really think it is worth your while experimenting with other components - either your speakers or your source.


Just in case you have previously compensated in other areas. Because you have monos it seems unlikely to be both of them having an issue.

PPS - these A7s take impedance matching with your speakers out of the equation as far as I can tell.

 

[wavetrade]

I joined to ask because I’m about to sell them if I can’t fix this. I don’t think it’s an eq issue, my measurements on rew are good. Lowering the tweeter level on my f208s doesn’t really help either.

I am sympathetic as I have been going through the same thing but with a different amp. In my case it is an Audiophonics NCX500 that I have had for a couple of years now. I keep trying, but no matter what I keep ending up feeling fatigued when listening to it. I replaced the opamps in the buffer to OPA1656 and felt it helped a bit. Also tried bypassing the buffer altogether using a ADI-2 as the preamp. But it is still my least favorite class D amp. I also own a Audiophonics Purifi 1ET400 amp, two topping PA5's (one is a plus) and now the 3e A7 and A5. All of these other class D amps sound about the same to me, which is perfect!

Sometimes I get it in my head that the Purifi, and now the 3e's, sound a touch better than the rest. My subjective opinion is that they seem smoother/lower in the mid-high frequencies. I have never had a hint of fatigue with them and am delighted by the sound. I accept it could be subjective bias with the Purifi as I have read a lot of validating opinions on this one. But I didn't really have any expectations about the A7, yet it sounds just delightful to me.

So I would not expect your problem to be the A7 amp and I hope you are able to find some answers. Perhaps it can help me determine why my NCX500 amp sounds less than perfect to me.

 

[bboris77]

It think that the A5 will give you enough volume on high gain setting. If you think you may use EQ down the line, then go for the A7 to have a healthy buffer.

 

[NJ coffee roaster]

PS welcome!

Unless there is a problem with both your A7 units, I really think it is worth your while experimenting with other components - either your speakers or your source.


Just in case you have previously compensated in other areas. Because you have monos it seems unlikely to be both of them having an issue.

PPS - these A7s take impedance matching with your speakers out of the equation as far as I can tell.

I can’t imagine f208 is the problem, and MiniDSP flex balanced is pretty good as well…

 

[antcollinet]

I own 2 of these in mono and am getting listening fatigue and harshness with higher pitched female vocals. Is it possible that class D just isn't for me? I dont want to switch amps out for no reason.

Fatigue is normally just a fequency response issue and most commonly can be that treble is too hot - or just that it is as it should be but you are used to more of a rolloff of the highs.

Either way - it is fixable with some eq - I high shelf if you have parametric equalisation available - or just tun down the mids and highs slightly if you have graphic equaliser or tone controls.

Better still, get a measurement mic, and find out what is really going on.


EDIT - I see yo've already done some measurements - can you post them?

 

[NJ coffee roaster]

Fatigue is normally just a fequency response issue and most commonly can be that treble is too hot - or just that it is as it should be but you are used to more of a rolloff of the highs.

Either way - it is fixable with some eq - I high shelf if you have parametric equalisation available - or just tun down the mids and highs slightly if you have graphic equaliser or tone controls.

Better still, get a measurement mic, and find out what is really going on.


EDIT - I see yo've already done some measurements - can you post them?

I really dont think its fixable with eq, here is with 1/48 smoothing

 

[Roland68]

I have not noticed a difference between sources so let’s say I’m using the USB input on my MiniDSP flex

If you really want help with a problem, it would be good to answer the questions first.

We still don't know exactly which amplifiers you're using, nor which source. The miniDSP Flex is just one device in the middle; it would be helpful to know all the devices involved.

 

[NJ coffee roaster]

If you really want help with a problem, it would be good to answer the questions first.

We still don't know exactly which amplifiers you're using, nor which source. The miniDSP Flex is just one device in the middle; it would be helpful to know all the devices involved.

if you dont know what amps I am using you didn't read at all, I am using the amps reviewed here. Everything goes through the minidsp flex, the sources I have put into it with the same songs have all had the same issue, its not a source issue unless you think the flex is no good.

 

[Roland68]

if you dont know what amps I am using you didn't read at all, I am using the amps reviewed here. Everything goes through the minidsp flex, the sources I have put into it with the same songs have all had the same issue, its not a source issue unless you think the flex is no good.

I read carefully and asked, but didn't get an answer, so I'm assuming it's the A7 Mono.

To narrow down the problem, I would first remove everything except the A7 Mono and speakers, including the miniDSP, and drive the two A7 Mono speakers with an analog source with less than 2 volts, for example a CD player.
You would then have to control the volume using the A7 Mono units.

 

[harkpabst]

I really dont think its fixable with eq, here is with 1/48 smoothing View attachment 494521

No vertical scaling => useless. Can you upload a full screenshot taken with the proper tool integrated in REW?

You're not really asking for help, are you? Are you just looking for confirmation of your opinion? You have tried everything already? Ther are no flaws in your system, but whenever you integrate the A7 Mono amps you end up with listening fatigue?

Why do you need confirmation then? Nobody else was able.to share your experience so far. You could start a poll in a thread of your own instead.