D&A Alpha PRO DAC & Headphone Amp Review

[Kevinfc]

Does this not have a remote???

 

[xanalog]

no clue what T&A is...

Men go to meat-markets, in the hope to take some home!

 

[Jeromeof]

Spotted this today in Munich - it looks nicer in person than in the photos ( I do like the lights ) :

 

[unpluggged]

Spotted this today in Munich - it looks nicer in person than in the photos ( I do like the lights ) :

View attachment 451474

At an exhibition or in a store, yes. On my desk — no way.

 

[Chilli]

Looks great and we should welcome competition into the market. It drives innovation and sometimes competitive prices. It's already a competitive market, but I am happy to see more.
If I was in for a dac/hp amp right now, I'd buy it. I think it looks great, and different to others out there (I don't think it looks like other people's designs, and to say that it does is fine if you want to...)
As for the name, it reminds me of an English chain of Opticians/Optometrists. There are plenty who use acronyms, T + A, B&W, there used to be an A&R Cambridge, and even a chinese brand called G&W. I don't know what the big deal is. Company names, esp partnerships, have been like this for donkeys years. To make fun of a name is a little juvenile, but I can tell you that making fun of someone's name or company was offensive in the old days. They would laugh it off now, though.
To bring out a first product that measures like this and looks like this is no mean feat. Congrats to D&A. Wishing you many years of success ahead. Keep innovating and making your products.
Nice review, boss. Tough you got negativity for being so quick to get a review out. Wah.

 

[despoiler]

So far, one person is at High End Munich, but we have a legion of people armchair critiquing based on their rationalization of what they've already purchased based on measurements. Continually high fiving each other for parroting the right words.

I'm actually at High End in Munich because listening and experiencing audio outside of graphs is something that is enjoyable to me. It's also great to talk to engineers, distributors, and audio enthusiasts. Don't get me wrong, measuring is important, but you listen to what you buy. It's the literal point. Listening to a lot of gear is how you find out what you like, but affirm your purchase bias as you wish.

Subjectively, this is a stunning dac amp. The price is even more impressive. There's not a hint of harsh treble, it's smooth, yet it still retains detail. There's plenty of space to hear the room or environment. Not the widest or most open I've heard, but really pleasant. The midrange is straight up beautiful. Singers sound like they're singing directly to you. Acoustic instruments have body with clarity. The bass lacks a bit of detail, texture, and speed, but in the context of how the treble and midrange sound, I know it's intentional by the engineers. It's cohesive with the rest of the tuning and this unit is built purely for enjoyment.

Pairing with the Alpha Pro needs to be something that isn't already warm or lacks the ability to present resolution. Something like a Sennheiser HD650 would not be wise if it's your primary headphone.

I spent over 30 minutes with the Alpha Pro. It's the kind of presentation that you can sit back, close your eyes, relax, and forget the world outside exists. Very few products do this at this price point. I really only know of one other unit by another company that is in the same ballpark of tuning and tuning quality and price.

The Alpha Pro is definitely one to consider because it's nothing like the forgetable, mass produced, quick product cycle gear that gets passed through this forum. I plan to purchase the Alpha Pro as soon as it's available.

 

[unpluggged]

I spent over 30 minutes with the Alpha Pro. It's the kind of presentation that you can sit back, close your eyes, relax, and forget the world outside exists.

How is it different from any other well-performing device? And why the bold exterior if you are going to close your eyes in the first place?

The Alpha Pro is definitely one to consider because it's nothing like the forgetable, mass produced, quick product cycle gear that gets passed through this forum.

Why do you think this one is not like them?

 

[BeeKay]

Spotted this today in Munich - it looks nicer in person than in the photos ( I do like the lights ) :

View attachment 451474

That ends the narrative about great industrial design. I fully agree the audio performance will as good as any other well made product. Transparent and decent HPA output, end of story. But box design is typical cheap AliExpress stuff. Thanks, but no thanks.

 

[DavidM1]

So far, one person is at High End Munich, but we have a legion of people armchair critiquing based on their rationalization of what they've already purchased based on measurements. Continually high fiving each other for parroting the right words.

And yet… it was sent in for review by Shenzhen Audio, a distributor that has sent many products for review and comment.

I expect they were aware that the chat would be by folks reading graphs rather than listening to the sample in Munich.

 

[Endibol]

I spent over 30 minutes with the Alpha Pro. It's the kind of presentation that you can sit back, close your eyes, relax, and forget the world outside exists.

I bet you wouldn’t even notice it if someone swapped this unit with another properly engineered device while you keep your eyes closed…

 

[JakeK]

So far, one person is at High End Munich, but we have a legion of people armchair critiquing based on their rationalization of what they've already purchased based on measurements. Continually high fiving each other for parroting the right words.

I'm actually at High End in Munich because listening and experiencing audio outside of graphs is something that is enjoyable to me. It's also great to talk to engineers, distributors, and audio enthusiasts. Don't get me wrong, measuring is important, but you listen to what you buy. It's the literal point. Listening to a lot of gear is how you find out what you like, but affirm your purchase bias as you wish.

Subjectively, this is a stunning dac amp. The price is even more impressive. There's not a hint of harsh treble, it's smooth, yet it still retains detail. There's plenty of space to hear the room or environment. Not the widest or most open I've heard, but really pleasant. The midrange is straight up beautiful. Singers sound like they're singing directly to you. Acoustic instruments have body with clarity. The bass lacks a bit of detail, texture, and speed, but in the context of how the treble and midrange sound, I know it's intentional by the engineers. It's cohesive with the rest of the tuning and this unit is built purely for enjoyment.

Pairing with the Alpha Pro needs to be something that isn't already warm or lacks the ability to present resolution. Something like a Sennheiser HD650 would not be wise if it's your primary headphone.

I spent over 30 minutes with the Alpha Pro. It's the kind of presentation that you can sit back, close your eyes, relax, and forget the world outside exists. Very few products do this at this price point. I really only know of one other unit by another company that is in the same ballpark of tuning and tuning quality and price.

The Alpha Pro is definitely one to consider because it's nothing like the forgetable, mass produced, quick product cycle gear that gets passed through this forum. I plan to purchase the Alpha Pro as soon as it's available.

You don't mention which headphones you used with the device. That seems important to me.

Looks wise the front does look overly busy for what it is. Someone in this thread said the back looks better and I have to agree. The front panel is trying too hard to be premium with a multitude of textures and materials but doesn't really work for me.

 

[EJ3]

Not performing well at lower volumes seems a deal breaker these days with IEMs being popular. Then again, some people love those high-draw headphones.

And others (like me) don't care about the head phone part at all.
I have what I power my headphones with (very rarely used). So I am looking at the rest of it.
If the measurements are great (and there is a measurement that is not a headphone measurement that would cause me not to buy it) then I am looking at the anesthetics (which I happen to think are pretty good, from what I can see here).
And price is also a factor but I would not expect it to be in the inexpensive category.

 

[beefkabob]

And others (like me) don't care about the head phone part at all.
I have what I power my headphones with (very rarely used). So I am looking at the rest of it.
If the measurements are great (and there is a measurement that is not a headphone measurement that would cause me not to buy it) then I am looking at the anesthetics (which I happen to think are pretty good, from what I can see here).
And price is also a factor but I would not expect it to be in the inexpensive category.

If you don't want the headphone out, it seems pointless to pay extra for this. I'm pretty sure you can get a DAC about this good without the headphone out for less.

 

[Xinlisupreme]

So far, one person is at High End Munich, but we have a legion of people armchair critiquing based on their rationalization of what they've already purchased based on measurements. Continually high fiving each other for parroting the right words.

I'm actually at High End in Munich because listening and experiencing audio outside of graphs is something that is enjoyable to me. It's also great to talk to engineers, distributors, and audio enthusiasts. Don't get me wrong, measuring is important, but you listen to what you buy. It's the literal point. Listening to a lot of gear is how you find out what you like, but affirm your purchase bias as you wish.

Subjectively, this is a stunning dac amp. The price is even more impressive. There's not a hint of harsh treble, it's smooth, yet it still retains detail. There's plenty of space to hear the room or environment. Not the widest or most open I've heard, but really pleasant. The midrange is straight up beautiful. Singers sound like they're singing directly to you. Acoustic instruments have body with clarity. The bass lacks a bit of detail, texture, and speed, but in the context of how the treble and midrange sound, I know it's intentional by the engineers. It's cohesive with the rest of the tuning and this unit is built purely for enjoyment.

Pairing with the Alpha Pro needs to be something that isn't already warm or lacks the ability to present resolution. Something like a Sennheiser HD650 would not be wise if it's your primary headphone.

I spent over 30 minutes with the Alpha Pro. It's the kind of presentation that you can sit back, close your eyes, relax, and forget the world outside exists. Very few products do this at this price point. I really only know of one other unit by another company that is in the same ballpark of tuning and tuning quality and price.

The Alpha Pro is definitely one to consider because it's nothing like the forgetable, mass produced, quick product cycle gear that gets passed through this forum. I plan to purchase the Alpha Pro as soon as it's available.

Wow it looks a very good dac amp, could you tell us wich is the competitor you mentioned that has similar price and tuning?
Another dac/amp i'm considering is Xduoo TA32

 

[EJ3]

If you don't want the headphone out, it seems pointless to pay extra for this. I'm pretty sure you can get a DAC about this good without the headphone out for less.

But I mostly like it otherwise. (there is something I don't like about it's processing that will keep me from buying it (aside from the fact that I actually have no use case for it, as I have other gear that takes care of my needs.) But I definitely like it's aesthetics.
No one forces me to use it's headphone jack.
I have several other pieces of gear that have headphone capability, headphones that I have are for when I am working around here outdoors. My Sennheiser RS 220 has a 300 ft from the stereo RF range (not Bluetooth).
In the house & outside, close to the house (30-40 feet), well, that is what the volume knob & over the speakers and 3 kilowatts (at 2 ohms) of amp power with great speakers and subs is for.

 

[redjr]

Analog input and looks differentiate it.

Analog in is a rare thing these days for reasons beyond me. Everything needs at least one AUX input.

 

[Xinlisupreme]

First alpha pro review?

 

[Purité Audio]

Eh no,

D&A Alpha PRO DAC & Headphone Amp Review

This is a review, listening tests and detailed measurements of the DIGI & AESTH (D&A) balanced DAC, headphone amplifier and pre-amp. It was sent to me by shenzhenaudio.com. I don't see a product listing for it so don't know the cost. [edit: price is USD $699] It is refreshing to see unique...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Keith

 

[Newman]

First alpha pro review?

Well OBVIOUSLY NOT, since Amir's review is dated earlier.

Also, please provide a summary of the YT review in the post above where you linked it. It is standard practice and is in the Terms and Rules, link.

cheers and WELCOME TO ASR

 

[Audionaut]

Also, please provide a summary of the YT review in the post above where you linked it. It is standard practice and is in the Terms and Rules, link.
cheers and WELCOME TO ASR

Ah, I thought it applied to all videos, but that's not the case.

"Related, any video posted needs to have text explaining the reason for such posting (exception, music and entertainment videos). If such reasoning is not included, the posting/thread is subject to deletion."