Geshelli Archel2 Headphone AMP Review: another champ?

[gvl]

The Archel2 has the potential to host a KTB inside, I will be interested in one if it can as this will be the ultimate office desk solution. Among other things, the industrial looks will help to keep workplace thieves uninterested.

 

[amirm]

Just to be clear, I don't have permission to tell you what is inside much less a teardown. Nor have I looked inside. Understandably they don't want to enable someone else too quickly to figure out what they have done.

 

[scott wurcer]

Just to be clear, I don't have permission to tell you what is inside much less a teardown.

That's why you need to buy one on the open market then you don't need permission, someone will do a teardown

 

[gvl]

Just to be clear, I don't have permission to tell you what is inside much less a teardown. Nor have I looked inside. Understandably they don't want to enable someone else too quickly to figure out what they have done.

Do you have permission to measure the case dimensions? Is this the same enclosure as the O2?

 

[amirm]

Do you have permission to measure the case dimensions? Is this the same enclosure as the O2?

Sure. Stand by....

 

[Geshelli]

That's why you need to buy one on the open market then you don't need permission, someone will do a teardown

We will be offering this in the same clear plexi case as our previous products. You will be able to see the board without having to purchase The case is the same one we use for the Archel and ENOG2. It's easier to use the same case rather than have to pay for more tooling work.

 

[gvl]

So it is a 4.3"x3.0"x1.8 aluminum enclosure, taller than the O2. This bodes well with the KTB dimensions. One concern KTBs RCAs may not clear the power and RCA connectors of the amp.

 

[BDWoody]

We will be offering this in the same clear plexi case as our previous products. You will be able to see the board without having to purchase The case is the same one we use for the Archel and ENOG2. It's easier to use the same case rather than have to pay for more tooling work.

Very very nice work on this little amp. You can see that there are many here who appreciate elegant engineering. I'll certainly be looking more into your products.

Cheers.

 

[scott wurcer]

We will be offering this in the same clear plexi case as our previous products. You will be able to see the board without having to purchase The case is the same one we use for the Archel and ENOG2. It's easier to use the same case rather than have to pay for more tooling work.

As I said at this level of value DIY/teardown is sort of irrelevant.

 

[amirm]

As I said at this level of value DIY/teardown is sort of irrelevant.

I think their worry is other companies, not DIY.

 

[LuckyLuke575]

That's why you need to buy one on the open market then you don't need permission, someone will do a teardown

The open market is a tough son of a bitch. No one can control it. Just ask anyone that's sold products to China...

 

[LuckyLuke575]

Very happy to see quality and performance at this price point and dimensions. This kind of device can bring me back into the market. It also shows that the punters don't have to spend $400 to get decent audio (*789*), or buy into buy into bullshit products (Schiit).

 

[LuckyLuke575]

You think this Archel 2 performance can really be beaten that easily?
if yes, interesting to see what 'Topping' will come up with

Topping does look like a different product; they have their own design language plus features like the LCD screen and remotes etc so they're more sophisticated in that respect. But this Archel is excellent for the money, plus it looks cool; like the car amplifier I had when I got out of school lol

 

[amirm]

Hi @amirm, can you please measure THD vs frequency?

Sure:

Looks like you found a crack in its performance. Fortunately low frequency distortion is very hard to hear due to high threshold of hearing there so subjective results would not be that.

 

[amirm]

Perhaps Amir could post a multitone to get rid of all the speculations ...

Here you go:

Same rise in low frequency harmonics as in the previous graph is shown here. Our hearing is most sensitive in 2 to 4 kHz so there, we are absolutely in the clear.

 

[JohnYang1997]

Here you go:

View attachment 36296

Same rise in low frequency harmonics as in the previous graph is shown here. Our hearing is most sensitive in 2 to 4 kHz so there, we are absolutely in the clear.

Ah 5W 4ohm? Is it 33ohm or 300ohm? I guess 300. It would be best to see 33ohm as well.

 

[KSTR]

Caption copy&paste error, me thinks.

 

[Degru]

Definitely room in there for a E1DA 9038D (single ended version of the 9038s) though !

The only possible shortcoming I can think of is the slightly low power for low impedance loads. Insensitive planar headphones might pose an issue.
But its really clean output and low output impedance would make for an excellent desktop amp for super sensitive IEMS though.

No point; the 9038D is already powerful enough for most things and if you're trying to drive something outside of its ability then it will likely be too difficult for this amp also.

 

[KSTR]

Awesome news here, new SINAD record, much appreciated!

So, each channel has a 300mA output buffer LMH6321 in the loop of a low-noise J-FET input OPA1642, very clever, indeed!

@amirm, I don't see clipping in the THD+N graphs, so is the gain too low especially to not make the output buffers to distort or am I missing something? I do have the feeling that if the gain can be increased, then the output power might be increased a bi, because the output buffers can take much more. Thank you!

If the supply is the same 2Watts DC/DC converter shown for the Pro, only 65mA per rail will be available.

 

[amirm]

Ah 5W 4ohm? Is it 33ohm or 300ohm? I guess 300. It would be best to see 33ohm as well.

Sorry, pulled that template form power amp folder. Ignore that. I ran it at 100 K load. Didn't make a difference at 300 ohm.