3e audio A7/A7 Mono Amplifier Review

[harkpabst]

I have the 3e Audio A7 with the original 48V/5A power supply. Would it be fine to "upgrade" it by buying a AIYIMA Audio GaN 48V 10A brick instead of the 3e one? On Aliexpress the AIYIMA is about 15% cheaper and it seem it has a nicer reputation. The AIYIMA is about 15% cheaper and it seems to have a nice reputation. Are the size and polarity of the AIYIMA's plug compatible with the A7's DC input? They also look identical in the pictures (unfortunately the 3e pic on AliExpress is low-res and it's impossible to read the specs). Does anyone have experience to share? Do they get vey warm during usage?

View attachment 509969

I'm pretty sure these are technically one and the same. The polarity is correct, if both pictures show the actual items (and again, I'm pretty sure they do).

 

[ΛCDM]

I have the 3e Audio A7 with the original 48V/5A power supply. Would it be fine to "upgrade" it by buying a AIYIMA Audio GaN 48V 10A brick instead of the 3e one? On Aliexpress the AIYIMA is about 15% cheaper and it seem it has a nicer reputation. The AIYIMA is about 15% cheaper and it seems to have a nice reputation. Are the size and polarity of the AIYIMA's plug compatible with the A7's DC input? They also look identical in the pictures (unfortunately the 3e pic on AliExpress is low-res and it's impossible to read the specs). Does anyone have experience to share? Do they get vey warm during usage?

They are absolutely the same, for sure. They have the same OEM manufacturer. It's just that 3E and Aiyima purchase them to complete their amplifiers. Moreover, you can use any power supply with a rated output voltage of 48V, as long as it can provide at least 5A and has a suitable plug.

 

[john61ct]

Going from 5A to 10A will have a marginal impact, and then only if you are cranking SPL up to 11 and/or your speakers are hard to drive.

An adjustable bench PSU letting you "sneak up" toward the maximum rated VOLTAGE would likely have a greater effect but again, only in very rare limited circumstances.

For longevity likely not a good idea, but keeping vigilant about internal component overheating would help to some extent.

For those prioritizing reliability and longevity, keep usage to use cases well served by 36V input - if you need more get away from chip amps

 

[yavormoskov]

I have the 3e Audio A7 with the original 48V/5A power supply. Would it be fine to "upgrade" it by buying a AIYIMA Audio GaN 48V 10A brick instead of the 3e one? On Aliexpress the AIYIMA is about 15% cheaper and it seem it has a nicer reputation. The AIYIMA is about 15% cheaper and it seems to have a nice reputation. Are the size and polarity of the AIYIMA's plug compatible with the A7's DC input? They also look identical in the pictures (unfortunately the 3e pic on AliExpress is low-res and it's impossible to read the specs). Does anyone have experience to share? Do they get vey warm during usage?

View attachment 509969

I have the Aiyima GAN 48 volt 10 amp power supply plugged into 3e audio A7. The power supply is cold, not even warm and it provides so much power. I am very impressed.

 

[DodieSTL]

I have the Aiyima GAN 48 volt 10 amp power supply plugged into 3e audio A7. The power supply is cold, not even warm and it provides so much power. I am very impressed.

Ditto for the 3e Audio GaN 48v 10a power supply plugged into 3e audio A7 Mono(s). I've been running them for a few months now.

One side note for the A7 Mono:
I tried a spare Aiyima 36v 6a PS when I first received the Mono.
The Mono would not fully power up with a 36v.
Per the 3e user manual the power supply input for the Mono is DC38v-52v/5a or 9a.
For the stereo A7: DC38v-48v/5a or 10a.
Also, per the user manual, under Operations, #3: Connect the power supply (MUST within product specification range).

So much for reading the user manual before operating...

 

[john61ct]

For those prioritizing reliability and longevity, keep usage to use cases well served by 36V input - if you need more get away from chip amps

I stand corrected, RTFM first

 

[peng]

Ditto for the 3e Audio GaN 48v 10a power supply plugged into 3e audio A7 Mono(s). I've been running them for a few months now.

One side note for the A7 Mono:
I tried a spare Aiyima 36v 6a PS when I first received the Mono.
The Mono would not fully power up with a 36v.
Per the 3e user manual the power supply input for the Mono is DC38v-52v/5a or 9a.
For the stereo A7: DC38v-48v/5a or 10a.
Also, per the user manual, under Operations, #3: Connect the power supply (MUST within product specification range).

So much for reading the user manual before operating...

Are you using one of the 28 v 10a PS per mono, so two for a pair?

 

[DodieSTL]

Are you using one of the 28 v 10a PS per mono, so two for a pair?

Yes.
Two for the pair. 3e Audio GaN 48v 10a PS.
I don't have any temp readings to add, but they definitely run 'cool' at extended high volume.

 

[Insearchofthedream]

I'm running a pair of a7 monos, each with their own 10A aiyima power supply sourced seperately (I already had them - repurposed for use with the a7 pair).

Why? Because I can. Liked the idea of mono amps & the technical slight benefits, and keeping each channel completely seperate cannot hurt (even if the difference is slight).

Really pleased with them, driving a pair of pretty inefficient Q accoustics concept 300s - think the sensitivity is around 83db.

Previously using a xtz A300 edge amp (ice power as300 based) fed by a WiiM Ultra - the sound is definitely different with the a7 monos - I'm very happy with it.

Question around the op amps in the a7 - spec sheet shows the opa 1656 or the opa 1612.

Mine have the 1612 fitted - what's the difference?

 

[RandomEar]

Question around the op amps in the a7 - spec sheet shows the opa 1656 or the opa 1612.

Mine have the 1612 fitted - what's the difference?

For audio applications, there is no audible difference between common op amps [1, 2, 3] as long as they are stable in that circuit.

 

[Pat La Sauce]

I'm new to the forum and this is my first post

This question has probably already been asked, but I couldn't find the answer…

I'm hesitating to get dual fosi ZA3 or one e3 audio A7. Which one would be better and why?

 

[Roland68]

I'm new to the forum and this is my first post

This question has probably already been asked, but I couldn't find the answer…

I'm hesitating to get dual fosi ZA3 or one e3 audio A7. Which one would be better and why?

That would be very easy for me to answer; I would definitely choose the A7.
Better measurements, better performance, and the A7 is essentially two ZA3s in one package (ZA3 = 1 x TPA3255, A7 = 2 x TPA3255).
Plus, the A7 has excellent 2-ohm stability.

 

[SMen]

I'm new to the forum and this is my first post

This question has probably already been asked, but I couldn't find the answer…

I'm hesitating to get dual fosi ZA3 or one e3 audio A7. Which one would be better and why?

Strictly speaking because I do not have both I could not comment subjectively, and I think I am right that the ZA3 is not PFFB enhanced (the only point I could add) - maybe you have 4 ohm speakers so this does not matter so much ... but the A7 performs so well - measures better as @Roland68 points out - subjectively in the forums here stands up against class D's many times the price - your only reason for going for two ZA3's would be to have a lower cost mono configuration used close to your speakers, and if I may be flippant, because you also like orange.

 

[Pat La Sauce]

Okay, thanks,

I was thinking there might be an advantage to having two mono channels for example in sound separation.

And another big advantage of the A7 is that it will cost me less to change the op-amps.

 

[john61ct]

WRT maximizing power (but especially Current) output only, for hard to drive low-Z speakers

How much greater advantage is going with 2x 3e A7 Mono, as opposed to 1x stereo.

Within the stereo unit choice, is there stronger power output per channel, if only one side is connected?

Is there any disadvantage, ignoring cost?

Would a dummy load solve it?

 

[Roland68]

WRT maximizing power (but especially Current) output only, for hard to drive low-Z speakers

How much greater advantage is going with 2x 3e A7 Mono, as opposed to 1x stereo.

Within the stereo unit choice, is there stronger power output per channel, if only one side is connected?

Is there any disadvantage, ignoring cost?

Would a dummy load solve it?

In terms of comparing two A7 Mono speakers to one A7 Stereo speaker, there's no advantage or disadvantage.

There can't be higher power output; the A7 is essentially two A7 Mono speakers. Or conversely, the A7 Mono simply omits one (mono) channel.

There are essentially no advantages or disadvantages. The channel separation is already very high with the A7, and the A7 Mono only really makes sense if you want to position the speakers close to each other.

A dummy load would be completely useless.

 

[john61ct]

Just to double-check is that also true for:

> How much greater advantage is going with 2x 3e A7 Mono, as opposed to 1x 3e A7 stereo?

Meaning driving a L/R pair in both cases, pair of A7 Monos vs one A7 stereo, both driving two speakers

In terms of comparing two A7 Mono speakers to one A7 Stereo speaker, there's no advantage or disadvantage.

> the A7 Mono only really makes sense if you want to position the speakers close to each other.

I'm very confused by that, what does the spacing have to do with anything?

Sorry if I wrote unclearly...

 

[Roland68]

Just to double-check is that also true for:

> How much greater advantage is going with 2x 3e A7 Mono, as opposed to 1x 3e A7 stereo?

Meaning driving a L/R pair in both cases, pair of A7 Monos vs one A7 stereo, both driving two speakers

I've already answered all of that.

There can be no difference.

2 x A7 Mono = 1 x A7 Stereo.

1 x A7 Stereo = 2 x A7 Mono.

Again, the A7 Stereo is already a dual-mono design!

An A7 Mono is an A7 Stereo where half of the components are missing and not populated.

The attached pictures should explain the rest.

> the A7 Mono only really makes sense if you want to position the speakers close to each other.

I'm very confused by that, what does the spacing have to do with anything?

Sorry if I wrote unclearly...

The point isn't to place the speakers closer together, but rather to position a mono block (A7 Mono) directly next to (or behind) each speaker. The mono block and speaker are then connected with a short (20-50cm) speaker cable. Long RCA or XLR cables are needed for this.

That's the original idea behind mono power amplifiers.

.

 

[Bleib]

Mono will likely run a bit cooler but I doubt stereo has a problem with handling the heat output

 

[Pat La Sauce]

So I finally order both fosi za3 and e3 A7 yesterday and did some good listening session.

One thing for sure the za3 plays definitly louder… to hit 90dB with A7 i had to put preamp at 90% volume while za3 preamp volume was at 70% for same dB