wadec22
Senior Member
- Joined
- Oct 9, 2018
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If performance = power, then yes. The HP-1 will outperform the HPA-1.
HPA-1 has lower distortion (at least at normal-to-high listening levels where I'm currently able to measure) and lower IMD. So if performance = low distortion, the HPA-1 performs better than the HP-1.
The HPA-1 also has lower output impedance that the HP-1, so if performance = output impedance, the HPA-1 wins.
I can't give you something for nothing. There is no free lunch. To reach the price point I target for the HPA-1, something had to give. I traded output power and 4-pin output in exchange for a lower price. I was able to improve other parameters, including those mentioned above. To me, those tradeoffs were well worth it. You're free to disagree.
Tom
How do you see it faring in the 50mv SNR? Right there with RME, JDS & THX? With so many headphones getting lower impedance to work with phones and portable sources - this is one of my most coveted measurements. In fact, if I was to hope for anything different with my JDS and your amp would be the inclusion of 1/8" jack for IEMs too. Adapters are a pia.