Sabaj A10h Review (Headphone Amplifier)

[_thelaughingman]

There's no gain function on the V-CAN. Did you get any background noise with the A10h and he400se pairing at the higher volumes?

It may be my desktop setup tho... I've got to tidy up the cables as I've my smart TV, laptop, Xbox, ethernet cables and usb hub all criss crossing each other lol

No, I had no background noise on my setup. I eventually ended going with a SMSL HO100 for my headphone amp because it has a +15dB gain, which works really well with the HE400se. Plus it has balanced inputs and 4.4 mm balanced out.

 

[Chilli]

Wow. Why no one else uses this type of volume control ? It's accurate and have a nice visual and sensory feedback. It should be norm.

Yes, I bought it for better volume control. My amp has a cheap potentiomer which has noticeable channel imbalance at low volumes and I don't like to listen loud.
I bought this as soon as it was measured, as I was waiting for a good relay resistor volume control for ages. Since ASR has measured it, then I know it works. It just happens to have a good headphone amp in it as well.
Rather a better potentiometer might be not that expensive, my ability with soldering is still at a novice level, and paying someone else to do it would have likely costed the same as getting one of these. Then, I wouldn't be guaranteed that the new pot is actually a good one unless I got someone to measure it.
Plus, I get remote volume control as well, which is huge bonus, as this amp doesn't have a remote!
I wish I had two of these.

 

[xaviescacs]

Hi folks. Normally I've this amp hooked using RCA to a pair of Focal Alpha EVO 50. Volume is good with low gain, I don't need to use medium or high gain. Today I've hooked my AKG K-271 for the first time, and volume was low even with high gain near 0 db, so maximum volume. Headphones specs are impedance 55 Ohms of impedance and sensitivity is 104 dB/V. There is something wrong here, right? I mean, it's not the amp having not enough power to drive this headphones, there must be something else, correct?

 

[shrimp_dude]

I am running AT ADX5000 which is 420ohm, 103 db/v. Maxed out volume (0db) on H1 setting is as high as I'll go. That's with a -6db preamp in software.

 

[shrimp_dude]

Other than the really shoddy feeling knob, this amp really does everything you can ask for. Channel matching, separate pre-out settings from headphone out, more than ample clean power for most headphones out there. Really a treat for $130 usd.

 

[roog]

I bought this as soon as it was measured,

I may well have bought one shortly after!
Really neat bit of kit.

 

[musica]

from the db on the display you can understand how many db I listen to in the headphones?

 

[staticV3]

@musica No.

 

[ampguy]

grabbed one on amazon for $79, the a20h at 119 may be a better deal, but for where I plan to use this, the preamp outs will be used. Have low imped headphones < 60 ohms, as well as some he-4xx but I don't listen loud, so think this hp amp may be fine for what I need.

 

[WondrousHippo]

grabbed one on amazon for $79, the a20h at 119 may be a better deal, but for where I plan to use this, the preamp outs will be used. Have low imped headphones < 60 ohms, as well as some he-4xx but I don't listen loud, so think this hp amp may be fine for what I need.

Yeah if the A20h had balanced pre outs it would be nigh-perfect for me

 

[Veri]

Yeah if the A20h had balanced pre outs it would be nigh-perfect for me

I guess you could use the 4.4mm out as pre-out.

 

[ampguy]

I guess you could use the 4.4mm out as pre-out.

That might work, but for my uses, I'm looking for as much bypass of circuitry I can get. Not sure if the RCA outs of the a10h are just a wire, but will let you know if any degradation is noticed during non headphone preamp mode to amp/speakers. If there is, I'll be moving to that C200 DAC or Topping 50 or something

 

[rwbx]

Hi everyone, I need an amp and there's deal in Amazon Eu site. You know people saying this is Topping L30 clone and it can be dangerous or burn your headphones. Should i buy it? My next choice will be Jds Labs Atom+ but in addition packaging and taxes, the price will be double (approximetly 190 euro). Will you spare your thoughts?

 

[pickyAudiophile]

Hi everyone, I need an amp and there's deal in Amazon Eu site. You know people saying this is Topping L30 clone and it can be dangerous or burn your headphones. Should i buy it? My next choice will be Jds Labs Atom+ but in addition packaging and taxes, the price will be double (approximetly 190 euro). Will you spare your thoughts?

"Hottest pick" at this time should be that Sabaj A20h on sale for USD 120 on hifi-express website (click on "sale" section on top). Use MANDYCODE promo code and receive a further USD 5 off. Domestic EU VAT of your member country (whichever it is) is included in prices indicated.
If you're less price-sensitive of course built-in-America JDS Labs is a highly recommendable choice.

 

[delta76]

"Hottest pick" at this time should be that Sabaj A20h on sale for USD 120 on hifi-express website (click on "sale" section on top). Use MANDYCODE promo code and receive a further USD 5 off. Domestic EU VAT of your member country (whichever it is) is included in prices indicated.
If you're less price-sensitive of course built-in-America JDS Labs is a highly recommendable choice.

Sabaj A20h Desktop Balance TPA6120A2 Headphone Amplifier freeshipping - HiFi-express

Brand Name: Sabaj Certification: CE Recommended Headphone Maximum Impedance: 32-50 Ohm Output Type: LINE OUT (AUDIO OUT) Output Type: Balanced Out Origin: CN(Origin) Input Type: RCA Input Type:...

hifi-express.com

save someone a few clicks . note that even if you select Ship from EU, it can still be shipped from China. Import tax and duty is handled so no worry on that part, but long shipping time is expected.

 

[rwbx]

Thx guys. Sabaj A20h crossed my mind but it's exceeding my budgets for my system plus I don't have balanced headphones right now. Maybe in future I'll get Topping A90 for that. For now I got Sabaj A10h for EUR 84 from Amazon.

 

[pickyAudiophile]

Thx guys. Sabaj A20h crossed my mind but it's exceeding my budgets for my system plus I don't have balanced headphones right now. Maybe in future I'll get Topping A90 for that. For now I got Sabaj A10h for EUR 84 from Amazon.

O.K. That one was on sale for USD 71 (EUR 72) after discounts, too. However, Jeff Bezos appreciates the extra 12 bucks.

Sabaj A10h Desktop Headphone Amplifier freeshipping - HiFi-express

Brand Name: Sabaj Built-in Battery: No Certification: CE Recommended Headphone Maximum Impedance: 32-50 Ohm Output Type: LINE OUT (AUDIO OUT) Origin: CN(Origin) Input Type: RCA DSD (Direct Stream...

hifi-express.com

 

[rwbx]

O.K. That one was on sale for USD 71 (EUR 72) after discounts, too. However, Jeff Bezos appreciates the extra 12 bucks.

Sabaj A10h Desktop Headphone Amplifier freeshipping - HiFi-express

Brand Name: Sabaj Built-in Battery: No Certification: CE Recommended Headphone Maximum Impedance: 32-50 Ohm Output Type: LINE OUT (AUDIO OUT) Origin: CN(Origin) Input Type: RCA DSD (Direct Stream...

hifi-express.com

Nah, that site wont pay the tax, fees. I've pre-paid Amazon for that. I dont wanna struggle with customs. Plus I did paid EUR 72 but packing cost extra EUR 12. No problemo

 

[delta76]

O.K. That one was on sale for USD 71 (EUR 72) after discounts, too. However, Jeff Bezos appreciates the extra 12 bucks.

Sabaj A10h Desktop Headphone Amplifier freeshipping - HiFi-express

Brand Name: Sabaj Built-in Battery: No Certification: CE Recommended Headphone Maximum Impedance: 32-50 Ohm Output Type: LINE OUT (AUDIO OUT) Origin: CN(Origin) Input Type: RCA DSD (Direct Stream...

hifi-express.com

the seller on amazon is not amazon, but yes 3rd party has to pay for fee + warehouse cost, so it's usually cheaper to buy directly from "their" store

in return you get much faster shipping and hassle-free return, so not exactly "cheaper"

 

[delta76]

Nah, that site wont pay the tax, fees. I've pre-paid Amazon for that. I dont wanna struggle with customs. Plus I did paid EUR 72 but packing cost extra EUR 12. No problemo

I ordered from them once, and even though it was shipped from China, all custom declaration is handled, so I did not have to pay anything extra. Shipping was long (2 weeks IIRC)
However, I wish I had ordered from Amazon so I could just return if I regret my purchase (which I did)