3e Audio A7 [TPA3255 PFFB Stereo] Finished Amplifier - User Impressions | Owner's Thread

[Guddu]

Does the A5 have a lower gain when controlled by its volume knob?

Normally the volume knob will attenuate the input signal and the amplifier gain will remain fixed.
Amplifiers with gain switch or knob will let you control the gain like A7 has two gain options (L & H) selected using switch at the back.
Personally, I will avoid using a volume control knob within its first half range, unless it is a digital control, simply to avoid any potential channel balance anomalies.

 

[harkpabst]

The question again:

Does the A5 have a lower gain when controlled by its volume knob?

Compared to what? The gain at full volume (knob fully clockwise) is the same as with switch in bypass mode.

 

[Crook]

My A7 arrived Saturday. Sounds great, no subjective comments vs the V3, as it's all likely inside my head. Well made for the money, speaker posts are decent quality. Mine came without branding and I can confirm autosense can be turned off with a 5 second button press in standby mode. £221 all in from Aliexpress, 3e Audio were super responsive to emails and shipping was fast. Very happy indeed.

 

[T&T]

Not buying anything from China someone get hit with $73.00 in tariff. I will wait for Amazon sales in USA

 

[harkpabst]

Not buying anything from China someone get hit with $73.00 in tariff. I will waith for Amazon sales in USA

Happy waithing.

 

[T&T]

Tariff now like 150.00 or more.
There is a problem with the price A7 with 48v sold 280.00...A7 with no power supply 265.00....

 

[Crook]

Did my own rebranding

 

[Cbarth]

This little amp sure surpriced me. Used upside down to able to fit my Sparkos 2590 op-amps

 

[Guddu]

This little amp sure surpriced me. Used upside down to able to fit my Sparkos 2590 op-amps View attachment 443636View attachment 443637

can these not fit inside?
***I don't know how big are these opamps, but seems like decent space inside chassis, or may be you don't want to open it up.

 

[rvsixer]

Since op amp swapping is proven to be inaudible, it must be running amps upside down is.

 

[Cbarth]

can these not fit inside?
***I don't know how big are these opamps, but seems like decent space inside chassis, or may be you don't want to open it up.

The footprint is to large. The op-amp socket is too close to the cooling fins.

 

[Guddu]

The footprint is to large. The op-amp socket is too close to the cooling fins.

Cool.

 

[antcollinet]

This little amp sure surpriced me. Used upside down to able to fit my Sparkos 2590 op-amps View attachment 443636View attachment 443637

You'll be getting a from me...

 

[Cbarth]

Haha, I know what you mean

 

[JeremyFife]

Haha, I know what you mean View attachment 443763

Ranked, left to right, in order of sound quality improvement from 1 to ... 1 ...

 

[Cbarth]

I have a few more op-amps as well. I prefer different op-amps with different dacs/sources. A lot like tube rolling. I have several different tubes for my tube amp as well.

 

[antcollinet]

I have a few more op-amps as well. I prefer different op-amps with different dacs/sources. A lot like tube rolling. I have several different tubes for my tube amp as well.

We have some threads for you, enjoy :

Serious Question: How can Op Amp rolling improve the sound of an already well measuring device? Are that many confused? (Master Thread)

On OP-Amps and Op-amp rolling Another contentious topic. Manufacturers of DACs and Amps often socket op-amps to allow people to swap them with different types, with the aim of improving the sound - or getting a different “sound signature” (Whatever that might mean to you). We get it. It’s...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Does Op-amp Rolling Work?

When I post my last video on review of Douk A5 amplifier, I mentioned that rolling (changing) op-amp ICs in there is fruitless. I got have a dozen comments under that video in youtube asking why so I thought I experiment again with the A5. Note that I have done the same testing with both DACs...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Does Op-amp Rolling Work? [Video]

In this video I "upgrade" the 57 cent op-amp in the Douk A5 stereo amplifier with a $49 one. Does it make a measured difference? Watch to find out: Test review at: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/does-op-amp-rolling-work.61518/ Please subscribe to the channel. It...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Op-amp Rolling Using Sparkos on Fosi V3 Mono

This is a study of measured differences if one swaps up the TI NE5532p dual IC op-amp in a Fosi V3 Mono amplifier with a "discrete" opamp from Sparkos. It is a test requested in the youtube comments of my video test of the same using Douk A5 and Sonic Imagery op-amp. The Sparkos SS3602 retails...

www.audiosciencereview.com

And here are a couple of files you can use to blind test yourself to find out if you personally are actually able to hear a difference between different measuring op amps.

Can you hear a difference between OPA2134 and LME49720 in the PRE-TC10?

The op-amps OPA2134 and LME49720 were swapped in the Audiophonics PRE-TC10 preamp and the files (matched and aligned) were recorded and uploaded to: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CI7NjcYyL323qeCFDxj3MtSkfcfu4GNU/view?usp=sharing Can you hear any difference? This is how they measure: And...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[cfwotzka]

This little amp sure surpriced me. Used upside down to able to fit my Sparkos 2590 op-amps View attachment 443636View attachment 443637

perverse

 

[aedagnino]

Wouldn't using the opamps like that bring in more distortion due to a longer signal path and/or RFI?

 

[Alannn]

Wouldn't using the opamps like that bring in more distortion due to a longer signal path and/or RFI?

Swapping opamps does not include improving signal quality as it's purpose. It's purpose is simply the joy it brings to the participant. Kudos to 3eAudio for honoring this niche market by including opamp sockets, instead of sole focus on our main topic here, faithfully accurate music reproduction.

Tube amps add distortion in an even more extreme example, yet their allure and pleasure is well documented. Same idea. @Cbarth had plenty of options of alternative opamps that fit inside the enclosure. Do not discount the allure of the visible effects.