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

ziggurcat said:
My A7 is now in Canada, and has apparently cleared customs, so I am hoping to have it in my hands by mid-week. Can't wait!

I have to want to order the 10A power supply, but need to wait until the end of the week. And with Topping's DX5 II slated to be released on Tuesday, it's gonna be an expensive week o_O :cool:
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Hi Ziggurcat, I'm in Canada as well. I'm interested in this amp, but wondering about brokerage fees. Did the shipper charge you anything?
 
Human1 said:
Hi Ziggurcat, I'm in Canada as well. I'm interested in this amp, but wondering about brokerage fees. Did the shipper charge you anything?
Click to expand...

I ordered from AliExpress, and did not have to pay any additional duty/tax/brokerage fees.
 
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I can't find the A7 stereo amp listed for sale anywhere. Is the company out of stock?
 
@SMen
You mentioned you got both A5 & A7, let us hear your experience with these, thoughts and comparisons.
 
Guddu said:
@SMen
You mentioned you got both A5 & A7, let us hear your experience with these, thoughts and comparisons.
Click to expand...
Thank you for the invitation, and I most certainly will with a follow up. I have the first version A5 and the updated A7 which has greater sensitivity for switch on or off, and a longer time off setting. I'm waiting on one additional power supply to arrive with me end of the week... this is the right place (user impressions) I agree @Guddu :-).

A few observations:

1. Heat. Using the A5 in a hot environment where I am (low to mid 30s (C) typically) it runs much less hot. The A7 with the Fosi supplied 48v 10A power supply I have here runs much hotter. I am waiting to try the 48v 5A supplied by 3e ... I couldn't fit it in my hand luggage so it is being fed ex'd.
2. Perceptions of power. Both the A5 and the A7 powering my efficient Triangle Titus standmounts (90db certainly) sound powerful. I would have no idea that one was rated more powerful than the other.

System context for subjective bit: DAC: SMSL Raw Dac1, switch relay balanced volume, Technics SL15 with Technics Cartridge + Jico SAS stylus and @Michael Fidler MMPro P'hhono stage.

Subjective initial impressions:

A5 a bit more pristine - I will use BBC coverage of Wimbledon through the SMSL Raw Dac 1 as an example... volume up and it could sound a bit 'hard'. The A7 sounds more forgiving - no hardness crept in as the volume went up... but that could be down to revelation of source capability ...
With the MMPro ... I just loved the A7 ... and then the A5 (in terms of listening sequence ... I would really have to listen more... loving both) . No hardness here. If anything, as I push the boat out on subjective tolerance here (;-)) the A7 brings out more warmth and yup ... the A5 is slightly more pristine.

So there we go. If anyone knows the link to where 3e said that their 48v 5A power supply gave higher current in response to peaks I would be interested. Both units are for me the best of these types of amplifier 325* I have tried, vs Fosi, or Aiyima or other.

Post edit: found the link to where 3e talked about the power supply ratings: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...lifier-with-pffb-is-coming.54799/post-2168137
 
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SMen said:
Thank you for the invitation, and I most certainly will with a follow up. I have the first version A5 and the updated A7 which has greater sensitivity for switch on or off, and a longer time off setting. I'm waiting on one additional power supply to arrive with me end of the week... this is the right place (user impressions) I agree @Guddu :-).

A few observations:

1. Heat. Using the A5 in a hot environment where I am (low to mid 30s (C) typically) it runs much less hot. The A7 with the Fosi supplied 48v 10A power supply I have here runs much hotter. I am waiting to try the 48v 5A supplied by 3e ... I couldn't fit it in my hand luggage so it is being fed ex'd.
2. Perceptions of power. Both the A5 and the A7 powering my efficient Triangle Titus standmounts (90db certainly) sound powerful. I would have no idea that one was rated more powerful than the other.

System context for subjective bit: DAC: SMSL Raw Dac1, switch relay balanced volume, Technics SL15 with Technics Cartridge + Jico SAS stylus and @Michael Fidler MMPro P'hhono stage.

Subjective initial impressions:

A5 a bit more pristine - I will use BBC coverage of Wimbledon through the SMSL Raw Dac 1 as an example... volume up and it could sound a bit 'hard'. The A7 sounds more forgiving - no hardness crept in as the volume went up... but that could be down to revelation of source capability ...
With the MMPro ... I just loved the A7 ... and then the A5. No hardness here. If anything, as I push the boat out on subjective tolerance here (;-)) the A7 brings out more warmth and yup ... the A5 is slightly more pristine.

So there we go. If anyone knows the link to where 3e said that their 48v 5A power supply gave higher current in response to peaks I would be interested. Both units are for me the best of these types of amplifier 325* I have tried, vs Fosi, or Aiyima or other.
Click to expand...

Can you test something for me?

Connect your DAC to a computer via USB, the DAC to the A7 via whatever balanced connection (XLR to TRS or XLR to XLR) you have available, and at least one speaker to the amp. If the Raw DAC-1 has a "DAC mode" (i.e. disable its volume control to use the amp to control the volume), set it to that. Play some music from your computer, and pause after, say, 5 seconds (I don't think it matters, but let it play for a few seconds, at least). Do you hear any audible popping after the music has stopped (this may require you to put your ear up to the speaker)? If connecting one speaker, try both channels.

I'm still trying to sort out that sort of problem with the A7 I have. After a lot of testing, I was pretty sure that the culprit was my Mac Mini M1 because there was no issue when I set the connection from my Mac Mini to my DAC via Bluetooth (and no issues when running an optical out from a TV to a DAC then out to the amp). I just tried it out on a completely different computer today (Macbook Air M2), and the same popping issue occurred.
 
ziggurcat said:
Can you test something for me?

Connect your DAC to a computer via USB, the DAC to the A7 via whatever balanced connection (XLR to TRS or XLR to XLR) you have available, and at least one speaker to the amp. If the Raw DAC-1 has a "DAC mode" (i.e. disable its volume control to use the amp to control the volume), set it to that. Play some music from your computer, and pause after, say, 5 seconds (I don't think it matters, but let it play for a few seconds, at least). Do you hear any audible popping after the music has stopped (this may require you to put your ear up to the speaker)? If connecting one speaker, try both channels.

I'm still trying to sort out that sort of problem with the A7 I have. After a lot of testing, I was pretty sure that the culprit was my Mac Mini M1 because there was no issue when I set the connection from my Mac Mini to my DAC via Bluetooth (and no issues when running an optical out from a TV to a DAC then out to the amp). I just tried it out on a completely different computer today (Macbook Air M2), and the same popping issue occurred.
Click to expand...
I will give it a go ...

Kids ... holiday (no brain etc. so please chase if needed) ... I have both my A5 and A7's connecting alternately via USB to an android TV box believe it or not ... no problems! I'm using software control of USB to give me high resolution where necessary so > 24/48. No popping or such. No popping with my previous DAC either through balanced.

Are you able to buy another unit on the basis you could return it?
 
SMen said:
I will give it a go ...

Kids ... holiday (no brain etc. so please chase if needed) ... I have both my A5 and A7's connecting alternately via USB to an android TV box believe it or not ... no problems! I'm using software control of USB to give me high resolution where necessary so > 24/48. No popping or such. No popping with my previous DAC either through balanced.

Are you able to buy another unit on the basis you could return it?
Click to expand...

Thanks -- there's no rush, just whenever you have a moment to fart around. I'm just trying to figure this out because it's very confusing. Either the amp is at fault, both of my computers (somehow, but very unlikely) or the electrical in my condo. I should note that none of this happens with either of the other amps I have on hand (Topping PA5 II or PA3s).

I don't particularly want to buy another one (and I can't exactly do that at this time). And the A7 I have is well-past the return window, now because after all the testing I did, the fact that it didn't happen when I connected my Mini to my D50 III via Bluetooth or via optical out from a TV, it sort of pointed to the computer, so I resigned myself to use the amp in the bedroom instead of my desktop system. For a larf, I thought I would just check it on my Air (it didn't occur to me to test this initially since there was no way I would have used it for that).

If I connect the DAC to amp via RCA, the issue is virtually inaudible (only when putting my ear literally right up against the speaker driver is there any pop, and it is so faint at that distance that I wouldn't even consider it a problem nor would I have known there was a problem). This is why I have requested to test with the balanced connection. Also, I have had it happen in both channels in some instances, only the left or right in other scenarios (hence why I asked about testing both channels on the amp if only using one speaker).

Also, is it me or do the banana plugs not seat all the way into the binding posts? I use the BFA style plugs instead of the standard type. On my other amps, the same banana plug goes all the way in, but on the A7 it goes about 2/3 to 3/4 of the way.
 
ziggurcat said:
Thanks -- there's no rush, just whenever you have a moment to fart around. I'm just trying to figure this out because it's very confusing. Either the amp is at fault, both of my computers (somehow, but very unlikely) or the electrical in my condo. I should note that none of this happens with either of the other amps I have on hand (Topping PA5 II or PA3s).

I don't particularly want to buy another one (and I can't exactly do that at this time). And the A7 I have is well-past the return window, now because after all the testing I did, the fact that it didn't happen when I connected my Mini to my D50 III via Bluetooth or via optical out from a TV, it sort of pointed to the computer, so I resigned myself to use the amp in the bedroom instead of my desktop system. For a larf, I thought I would just check it on my Air (it didn't occur to me to test this initially since there was no way I would have used it for that).

If I connect the DAC to amp via RCA, the issue is virtually inaudible (only when putting my ear literally right up against the speaker driver is there any pop, and it is so faint at that distance that I wouldn't even consider it a problem nor would I have known there was a problem). This is why I have requested to test with the balanced connection. Also, I have had it happen in both channels in some instances, only the left or right in other scenarios (hence why I asked about testing both channels on the amp if only using one speaker).

Also, is it me or do the banana plugs not seat all the way into the binding posts? I use the BFA style plugs instead of the standard type. On my other amps, the same banana plug goes all the way in, but on the A7 it goes about 2/3 to 3/4 of the way.
Click to expand...
OK - It is late for me here but I'll hook up my Dell laptop via the usb to my dac over the next few days. The banana plugs (at least this is an easy one :-)) go part way in, not fully.
 
SMen said:
OK - It is late for me here but I'll hook up my Dell laptop via the usb to my dac over the next few days. The banana plugs (at least this is an easy one :-)) go part way in, not fully.
Click to expand...

OK, there's a sort of interesting development...

I just heard the popping with my PA5 II despite not observing it previously (and it's been in my desktop system for over a year). For some reason, when my D50 III is set to preamp mode (volume -45dB), the popping shows up (very faintly, I might add, and not audible from 2ft away) in the Left channel (nothing in the Right). PA5 II's volume knob is maxed out since it does not have a volume bypass setting. D50 III in DAC mode/PA5 II volume in the 9 o'clock position -- which is how I've had it set the entire time up -- yields no popping (yet it does with the A7).

I need to now test if this is a Mac-specific issue by borrowing a Windows laptop, but I think it's still useful information if this is still checked on your end.
 
Здравствуйте. У меня Wiim Ultra и A7 Stereo. Подключен по аналогу через переходник RCA-XLR. Какое выходное напряжение выбрать?
 
ziggurcat said:
OK, there's a sort of interesting development...

I just heard the popping with my PA5 II despite not observing it previously (and it's been in my desktop system for over a year). For some reason, when my D50 III is set to preamp mode (volume -45dB), the popping shows up (very faintly, I might add, and not audible from 2ft away) in the Left channel (nothing in the Right). PA5 II's volume knob is maxed out since it does not have a volume bypass setting. D50 III in DAC mode/PA5 II volume in the 9 o'clock position -- which is how I've had it set the entire time up -- yields no popping (yet it does with the A7).

I need to now test if this is a Mac-specific issue by borrowing a Windows laptop, but I think it's still useful information if this is still checked on your end.
Click to expand...
Looks like you got this resolved with an SMSL resampler interface .... belatedly though, I don't have this issue with either my Dell or my TV box, connecting via usb USB
 
SMen said:
Looks like you got this resolved with an SMSL resampler interface .... belatedly though, I don't have this issue with either my Dell or my TV box, connecting via usb USB
Click to expand...

Yeah, the issue was definitely with the USB connection from my Mac, and it could easily be something to do with how Apple computers handle the signal from their USB outputs (I honestly don't know what the correct technical terms would be for that). I haven't tried a Windows laptop/desktop computer in my space, but I don't think I really need to bother with that now.

I got the SMSL device, but realized after looking a little more into USB DDCs that I had two of them already with the Topping D10s -- when connected via USB, and using the optical output, it acts like a USB DDC (it even bypasses the D10s' DAC), so that is what I have decided to use instead for now. It's a sturdier device, and doesn't get pulled in three different directions from the USB/optical cables, and it has that big, orange display indicating the sample rate. If there's a sonic difference between the PO100 Pro and the D10s, I sure as hell can't hear it.

Now that I can finally enjoy this amp, the decision to get the 10A power supply is something I might consider. I'm a sucker for head room, so making the amp essentially 2ohm stable with the other power supply appeals to me a great deal.

Edit: And I really appreciate you taking the time to check.
 
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