Douk Audio U3 PRO

[kazuviking]

So this thing released back in march of 2023 but there is no real info available. It uses OP42 and BUF634 instead of ne5532 and unnamed bjts. Compared to the normal U3 it have additional 3.5mm out instead of the blue led and 3.5mm input instead of the power switch. From the looks of it it sips 5W or more continously which is 5 times more than what the U3 does while idle.
I tried finding more info about it but it was a dead end.

 

[Alexium]

Did you find any info?

 

[kazuviking]

Did you find any info?

Nothing at all. Since this post it only sold 11 pieces but zero reviews or images of it. On the other hand a fully balanced version exists called the U5 PRO.

 

[Weaztek]

I have one and really like it. Picked it up on sale on Amazon before Christmas for $43. No detents in the knob, no massive gain jumps in the volume, very quiet noise floor. Happy to try to answer any questions that anyone has.

Wrote a short review of it on my blog if people are interested: https://th-photo.net/product-review-douk-audio-u3-pro-headphone-amp/

 

[Alexium]

Any chance you could add photos of the internal PCB to your review? So that we could see how this amp is actually built and what to expect from it.

 

[Weaztek]

Any chance you could add photos of the internal PCB to your review? So that we could see how this amp is actually built and what to expect from it.

I'm sorry, i don't have the technical skills to crack it open.

 

[fws]

I'm sorry, i don't have the technical skills to crack it open.

If you would ever find an interest in doing so, it is just 4 screws in front, 4 in back. and the most complicated thing is just to pop the knob out (it should be just pushed onto potentiometer shaft underneath) by lifting it carefully with a butter knife or something so it won't block the faceplate. I have regular U3, but unfortunately the one of the screws on each side was on way too hard, so I stripped philips one, and snapped allen key on the other...