Audalytic HP70

[Norville]

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.


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.

So essentially no advantage of Class A designs?

 

[Saponetto]

For sure those A Class amps contribute a lot to make the sound "warm"... and the listening room also.

 

[Jimmyblues1959]

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?

View attachment 523950

Looks neat! This reminds me of my Gustard H10 headphone amplifier. Hope you enjoy the HP 70!

 

[RandomEar]

So essentially no advantage of Class A designs?

In theory: Yes. In practice: Not anymore to my knowledge and as supported by the measurements.

But just to repeat: That doesn't mean the Audalytic is a bad amp in any way. It's gonna run hotter than other designs, but according to the specs it looks quite competent. Ideally, we would have some independent measurements to confirm the specs, but I couldn't find any.

 

[SoySalsaPicante]

Mine feels warm after running overnight, but not hot. Certainly nothing to be concerned about, and not even something that I would describe as a room heater. This is a solid state headphone amp, not a vacuum tube speaker amp.

 

[Chanur]

Do you guys still like these ? What are you using as a DAC?

 

[Norville]

Do you guys still like these ? What are you using as a DAC?

Yes, I enjoy mine quite a lot. I use a Matrix Element-i as DAC.

 

[SoySalsaPicante]

Love my HP70. Feeding it from DR70, driving Arya Organic.

 

[Chanur]

Tempted to get both later this year. They look pretty sweet. Love the class A and R2R style, even if it sounds exactly the same as everything else.

 

[Hapo]

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.

multiple RCA inputs

RCA pre‑out

independent switching

clean enough that distortion is still far below audibility

 

[fatoldgit]

Intro note: I have used passive pre-amp's in the past which had zero gain (i.e. just acted as attenuators)

Got my HP70 recently and hooked it in tonight.

I got it to use as a passive pre-amp so set gain to zero, set pre out on and set amp power off. The marketing blurb states:

Well with gain at zero and volume at 99, the amount of sound is tiny... so I had to set the gain way up to make it usable... the marketing blurb is mis-leading (or my understanding of "post-amplification disable" is wrong).

I had assumed that like other passives I have used, that the HP70 set to zero gain would not attenuate the signal but with the HP70 there is massive attenuation..hence the need to set the gain... which defeats its use as a true passive pre-amp.

This also begs the question... is 26db gain really 26db gain when zero gain causes attenuation.

With only three settings to tweak it is not like I have screwed up the config.

I will see how it goes but might look to get a real passive pre-amp given the HP70 wont work as a passive without needing to set gain.

Peter

 

[fatoldgit]

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.

yeah, the volume thing has tripped me up... wish I had seen your comment before I got it.

 

[Norville]

I thought it was strange too with 28 dB maxed out gain from the factory. And yes, there's too little power to properly drive virtually any headphone with 0 gain. But seeing that its dead silent background with zero hiss with max gain, I have decided to not be anal about it and just leave it set to max and go on living my life.

 

[fatoldgit]

I thought it was strange too with 28 dB maxed out gain from the factory. And yes, there's too little power to properly drive virtually any headphone with 0 gain. But seeing that its dead silent background with zero hiss with max gain, I have decided to not be anal about it and just leave it set to max and go on living my life.

Indeed... once we get over our initial indignation (fermented by our reptilian brain poking its head up), we apply logic and some practical experience with the device and conclude it is a nothing burger.

But they are telling porkies... 0 gain in any language means signal pass thru, not attenuation in this case.

I do plan to roll out my Radio Shack meter and determine at which amount of gain (with volume at 99....i.e. minimal attenuation) we get equal sound, compared to a direct feed into a channel on my amp.

My DAC has a volume control so test would be:

- test signal direct from DAC into amp, measure with meter
- test signal from DAC into HP70 into amp, measure with meter (obviously DAC volume is at same level), adjust HP70 gain so they match which then determines the gain level that matches pass thru

Peter

 

[caocaolatre199x]

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.

Do you see any reason for Topping to create the A90 discrete at twice the price of the L70 but with lower output power, lower SNR, lower dynamic range, smaller frequency response, higher THD+N?

 

[ObjectiveSubjectivist]

Do you see any reason for Topping to create the A90 discrete at twice the price of the L70 but with lower output power, lower SNR, lower dynamic range, smaller frequency response, higher THD+N?

Market is the reason