Audalytic HP70

[Norville]

I pulled the trigger in the Audalytic HP70. Its going to arrive on Monday. I wonder why there are so few reviews out there of this seemingly excellent headphone amp.

Made by Gustard, fully balanced, it's discrete, R2R ladder volume control, 2 Watts at 32 ohms. 349 bucks. Value seems incredible for that price.

They have published their own measurements and it sure looks good. Comes with a remote and balanced/unbalanced outputs and can act as a preamp since it got lots of inputs.

I see very few reviews. I will certainly get back and write a few words about once I get it. Anyone else has it? If so, is there any point at all in using the 12V input rather than the internal PSU?

 

[staticV3]

I don't see a reason to choose this over the Topping L70.

Both have a resistor ladder volume control, Preamp function and a remote control, but the Audalytic plays 33% quieter at maximum volume, has some 20dB more THD+N, and costs 90 bucks more.

 

[Norville]

I don't see a reason to choose this over the Topping L70.

Both have a resistor ladder volume control, Preamp function and a remote control, but the Audalytic plays 33% quieter at maximum volume, has some 20dB more THD+N, and costs 90 bucks more.

The reason would be that it has more inputs and looks a lot better (to me). Also, L70 doesn't seem to be a class A amp and it's not discrete.

 

[Zoide]

What's the advantage of class A in this context?

 

[Steven Holt]

it has more inputs and looks a lot better (to me).

it's a headphone amp, how many inputs ya need.....doesn't seem any better than my Atom 2.....still, if it makes ya happy

 

[Scrivs]

I believe somebody’s parade just experienced a deluge.
Looks like a rad HPA, enjoy.
External validation not required (nor included)

 

[Norville]

I believe somebody’s parade just experienced a deluge.
Looks like a rad HPA, enjoy.
External validation not required (nor included)

It's not required no. I asked if someone already had it. Going to post my impressions here of it later on. Don't really understand the urge to criticise though. Nobody here has it not does it seem that people can actually just give a simple thumbs up, which you kind of did, but not without being slightly mean too.

 

[Norville]

it's a headphone amp, how many inputs ya need.....doesn't seem any better than my Atom 2.....still, if it makes ya happy

It makes it slightly more versatile if I want to use it as a preamp.

 

[Norville]

What's the advantage of class A in this context?

The absence of crossover distortion because no switching between two sets of transistors occur and because transistors operate in their most linear region the result is less harmonic distortion and greater transparency in the high frequencies. Class A tends to sound better than B or AB. That's my experience at least.

 

[Scrivs]

It's not required no. I asked if someone already had it. Going to post my impressions here of it later on. Don't really understand the urge to criticise though. Nobody here has it not does it seem that people can actually just give a simple thumbs up, which you kind of did, but not without being slightly mean too.

I wasn’t criticizing you, if anything, it was the opposite. Enjoy!

 

[Zoide]

The absence of crossover distortion because no switching between two sets of transistors occur and because transistors operate in their most linear region the result is less harmonic distortion and greater transparency in the high frequencies. Class A tends to sound better than B or AB. That's my experience at least.

But does it make a difference, provided that a comparable non-class A amp already has distortion below the audible threshold?

AFAIK class A amps get a lot hotter and consumer more power, for example.

 

[Norville]

But does it make a difference, provided that a comparable non-class A amp already has distortion below the audible threshold?

AFAIK class A amps get a lot hotter and consumer more power, for example.

Well, every time a switch occurs between the transistors there should be distortion. It's likely audible.

Class A amps get hotter and are much less efficient, but the transistors should work were they are most linear.

 

[Norville]

I've had the chance to use it for a few hours and general impressions are very positive. I love that you can turn off and on pre function and hp-amp function individually.
I think it also complements my Matrix Element-i very well lookswise. The volume wheel has satisifying clicks. It sounds transpararent with hardly any noisefloor.

 

[Zoide]

I've had the chance to use it for a few hours and general impressions are very positive. I love that you can turn off and on pre function and hp-amp function individually.
I think it also complements my Matrix Element-i very well lookswise. The volume wheel has satisifying clicks. It sounds transpararent with hardly any noisefloor.


View attachment 524776

Looks nice, enjoy!

 

[SoySalsaPicante]

I've had the chance to use it for a few hours and general impressions are very positive. I love that you can turn off and on pre function and hp-amp function individually.
I think it also complements my Matrix Element-i very well lookswise. The volume wheel has satisifying clicks. It sounds transpararent with hardly any noisefloor.


View attachment 524776

Still enjoying your HP70 today?

Mine arrives later today; pairing with a DR70, which I use with included Roon bridge. Will be listening with Dan Clark Aeon 2 Closed (with Noire pads) for now, but I have a pair of Hifiman Arya Organic arriving next week, so I very much look forward to enjoying the DR70/HP70 stack with the Arya Organic.

There were some reports around the web about a handful of users experiencing pops when changing volume. Has this happened at all to you with yours? There's apparently even a firmware update that is meant to resolve the issue, but updating it is a bit of a chore (requires opening up the unit to access the microSD port).

 

[Norville]

Still enjoying your HP70 today?

Mine arrives later today; pairing with a DR70, which I use with included Roon bridge. Will be listening with Dan Clark Aeon 2 Closed (with Noire pads) for now, but I have a pair of Hifiman Arya Organic arriving next week, so I very much look forward to enjoying the DR70/HP70 stack with the Arya Organic.

There were some reports around the web about a handful of users experiencing pops when changing volume. Has this happened at all to you with yours? There's apparently even a firmware update that is meant to resolve the issue, but updating it is a bit of a chore (requires opening up the unit to access the microSD port).

Yes, I enjoy it quite a lot. Although the gain is set to max 28db+ from factory and it doesn't go very loud without gain set to max. It's loud enough, but I thought there would be more headroom since it's got plenty power on paper. Normally I'd like to have the gain set to as low as possible.

It doesn't pop for me when changing volume. Not that I have noticed anyway. Where can I get the updated firmware?

 

[SoySalsaPicante]

Yes, I enjoy it quite a lot. Although the gain is set to max 28db+ from factory and it doesn't go very loud without gain set to max. It's loud enough, but I thought there would be more headroom since it's got plenty power on paper. Normally I'd like to have the gain set to as low as possible.

It doesn't pop for me when changing volume. Not that I have noticed anyway. Where can I get the updated firmware?

Gustard's Audalytic HP70

Hi JoyCK888, Would you be able to share the download link for the firmware update for those if us still experiencing pops?

www.head-fi.org

Fortunately, it looks like it is doable without physically opening the unit. That's good at least!

 

[Norville]

Gustard's Audalytic HP70

Hi JoyCK888, Would you be able to share the download link for the firmware update for those if us still experiencing pops?

www.head-fi.org

Fortunately, it looks like it is doable without physically opening the unit. That's good at least!

I'm not going to try to do that I think, popping hasn't been bothering me at all. When you get your unit, please report back. Maybe newer units have the newer firmware. The reseller I bought it from has just began selling Audalytic.

 

[SoySalsaPicante]

I'm not going to try to do that I think, popping hasn't been bothering me at all. When you get your unit, please report back. Maybe newer units have the newer firmware. The reseller I bought it from has just began selling Audalytic.

No issues with excessive popping on my unit when changing volume. I think people getting loud pops are messing with op-amps, which I am not.

 

[RandomEar]

Well, every time a switch occurs between the transistors there should be distortion. It's likely audible.

Crossover distortion has become one of those audiophile myths. It's not a concern in modern class AB implementations and I have not seen any evidence it has ever been audible, even in old designs which still had relevant amounts. Distortion is easily measured: The Audalytic is a good amp as far as I can see. But simply comparing THD+N specs shows that while it performs well at -106 dB (32 Ω, 1 W), comparable class AB amps like the Atom Amp 2 will easily best it with below -110 dB under the same conditions. So clearly, a competent designer will produce an equal or better performing class AB amp which is also more efficient (and cheaper) than the class A one.

Class A amps get hotter and are much less efficient, but the transistors should work were they are most linear.

They are less efficient, but that notion of "most linear" is just an idealized goal with no practical advantage. You can use non-linear components to generate a linear response in a device if designed correctly and it's done all the time. Pretty much all electronic components are non-linear in some fraction of their operating range: Just look at capacitor charge curves or diode forward currents.