Sabaj A20h Balanced Headphone Amp Review

[AnalogSteph]

I know is not the most desirable scenario right now,

Why?

As someone who has run some measurements on an Asus Xonar SE using the same exact ALC1220 (S1220A), I see nothing in there to be particularly concerned about. (My onboard ALC1200 on an Asus board for Team Blue is nice and clean as well.) They're not kidding when they're specifying a 120 dB dynamic range (assuming you've got the right output that can do 2 Vrms, otherwise you'll have to "make do" with 110), the digital filters could be sold at a pancake shop, and most of the -90 dB THD+N at -3 dBFS is actually noise floor modulation that you're never going to hear on any non-academic signals even when cranking it (at least I don't know anyone who listens to SMPTE test tones for fun), with distortion being dominant H2 at like -96 dB down.

No, you're not going to win any awards from the SINAD-chasing crowd (or bats, who could actually use >192 kHz), but by the standards of human hearing, that's all more than fine. I wouldn't vouch for headroom above 0 dBFS but in light of things like the -0.1 dBFS limiter in the Windows sound stack you're best off assuming that you don't have any to begin with, and nowhere is leaving some digital headroom easier than on a computer. (*cough* ReplayGain *cough*)

If you have headphones that need tons of voltage you'd be better off with the L30 II and its higher "high" gain, but there'd be plenty of output for almost anything even with the L50. You also sound young enough to probably not be semi-deaf.

 

[3ller]

Why?

As someone who has run some measurements on an Asus Xonar SE using the same exact ALC1220 (S1220A), I see nothing in there to be particularly concerned about. (My onboard ALC1200 on an Asus board for Team Blue is nice and clean as well.) They're not kidding when they're specifying a 120 dB dynamic range (assuming you've got the right output that can do 2 Vrms, otherwise you'll have to "make do" with 110), the digital filters could be sold at a pancake shop, and most of the -90 dB THD+N at -3 dBFS is actually noise floor modulation that you're never going to hear on any non-academic signals even when cranking it (at least I don't know anyone who listens to SMPTE test tones for fun), with distortion being dominant H2 at like -96 dB down.

No, you're not going to win any awards from the SINAD-chasing crowd (or bats, who could actually use >192 kHz), but by the standards of human hearing, that's all more than fine. I wouldn't vouch for headroom above 0 dBFS but in light of things like the -0.1 dBFS limiter in the Windows sound stack you're best off assuming that you don't have any to begin with, and nowhere is leaving some digital headroom easier than on a computer. (*cough* ReplayGain *cough*)

If you have headphones that need tons of voltage you'd be better off with the L30 II and its higher "high" gain, but there'd be plenty of output for almost anything even with the L50. You also sound young enough to probably not be semi-deaf.

Thank you so much for your reply, got a little lost in all that technical details not gonna lie, i want the amplifier cause the motherboard one is not enough, im using hifiman he400se and when i want to eq them to harmann they sound kinda nice but low volume and maybe thin, i know those are not made for bass but i think im lacking power, the motherboard cannot drive them.

I dont wanna go into the audiophile rabbithole also, thats why im thinking on pairing the amp to the motherboard line out and call it a day. But in the future i can "improve" to a "better"DAC if im able to hear difference. Im saying this cause on board audio is going backwards, my actual mobo have alc 1220 japanese capacitors and dual op amp design, newer mid range motherboards are coming with a plain alc 897 and that i can hear the difference for sure, so in the future im covered and can live with low budget motherboards that have very good VRM.

 

[Veri]

the digital filters could be sold at a pancake shop, and most of the -90 dB THD+N at -3 dBFS is actually noise floor modulation that you're never going to hear on any non-academic signals even when cranking it (at least I don't know anyone who listens to SMPTE test tones for fun), with distortion being dominant H2 at like -96 dB down.

What does the pancake shop part mean good or bad?? Haha.

 

[EJ3]

What does the pancake shop part mean good or bad?? Haha.

I don't like pancakes but I like waffles. Maybe because they are generally less fluffy and more firm, having been cooked all the way though from both sides.

 

[AnalogSteph]

What does the pancake shop part mean good or bad?? Haha.

I meant that the passband is flat as a proverbial... guess what: pancake. If the ±0.0005 dB ripple spec from the ALC889 still applies (±0.03 dB as stated in the ALC1220 datasheet is definitely not correct, you would see that super easily), that's actually flatter than a number of standard hi-fi DACs sold today. Other characteristics are also fine.

Thank you so much for your reply, got a little lost in all that technical details not gonna lie, i want the amplifier cause the motherboard one is not enough, im using hifiman he400se and when i want to eq them to harmann they sound kinda nice but low volume and maybe thin, i know those are not made for bass but i think im lacking power, the motherboard cannot drive them.

Have you tried both the front panel and back outputs? One of them could be of the standard 1 Vrms, AC coupled with 75 ohm output impedance variety. You're not driving planars with that. Either way, an amp would be a very good idea under these circumstances.

Also watch out for any sound misimprovements that may be active with headphones by default. I had to turn off "DTS Custom", for example. This is an eternal battle, I swear...

Im saying this cause on board audio is going backwards, my actual mobo have alc 1220 japanese capacitors and dual op amp design, newer mid range motherboards are coming with a plain alc 897 and that i can hear the difference for sure, so in the future im covered and can live with low budget motherboards that have very good VRM.

I know what you mean, though I actually quite like the ALC897 for what it is. It's good for about 103 dB(A) of dynamic range on the output side (about as much as you need in a line-level source) with negligible distortion by human hearing standards, and unlike in many older chips right up to upper-midrange parts like the ALC1200, filter ripple is very low even on the recording side (where you would commonly see ±0.025 dB before). And much like the ALC1220, it doesn't seem to suffer from the substantial dynamic range degradation older chips would exhibit when recording in 44.1 kHz. For a bread and butter onboard sound chip, that's actually really solid. (@bennetng's loopback results are quite typical.)
As a minor regression, the microphone input can only take about half a volt max and will clip prematurely at lowest gain where old chips could easily do twice that, but as long as there is a line-in as well (or jack retasking provides one), that's not such a big deal. This may be why input level comes set to +6 dB by default.

 

[3ller]

I dont know if i can say the site, but right now is this amplifier at 95 dolars, i bought mine at 103 using a promo code, 108 was before. I guess they are cleaning stock out? just saying if someone is interested... i cannot cancel my order by now..i if someone want to take advantage go ahead

 

[Viper780]

It is back to 108USD.

 

[Roland68]

I dont know if i can say the site, but right now is this amplifier at 95 dolars, i bought mine at 103 using a promo code, 108 was before. I guess they are cleaning stock out? just saying if someone is interested... i cannot cancel my order by now..i if someone want to take advantage go ahead

It is back to 108USD.

But let's be honest, whether it's 129, 108 or 95 €/$, it's an incredibly good price for a real balanced HPA with this equipment and 4.7 watts of measured power.
It would also be worth over 200, the next device with this equipment and a higher measured power is the L70.

 

[3ller]

Today i,ve received the amp, sounds beautiful but i have a concern, i connected the amp to the morherboard to the back connectors Green one which is line out i think, in the realtek software audio console it display the amp level as if i have a headphone connected so i guess im bi amping i can select 3 levels extreme powerful or interpretation...

Should i go with interpretation level and do all the amp thing in the actual amp?
Its ok biamping?

Right now im using extreme in motherboard software and middle gain in the amp with an -7.3 db preamp oratory settings equalizer for the hifiman 400se sounds good but maybe someone with more knowledge can guide me better.

 

[Veri]

Today i,ve received the amp, sounds beautiful but i have a concern, i connected the amp to the morherboard to the back connectors Green one which is line out i think, in the realtek software audio console it display the amp level as if i have a headphone connected so i guess im bi amping i can select 3 levels extreme powerful or interpretation...

Should i go with interpretation level and do all the amp thing in the actual amp?
Its ok biamping?

Whatever interpretation level is, better to not have it work as a headphone amp yes. Or get an external DAC, doesn't need to be super expensive.

 

[3ller]

I

Whatever interpretation level is, better to not have it work as a headphone amp yes. Or get an external DAC, doesn't need to be super expensive

It is the onboard amp level my morherboard have an alc1220 with dual op amps and lets you choose the amp level, in the connector menu let me choose between front out or headphone out theres not a line out option, using front out, ita working ok though

 

[mc.god]

I

It is the onboard amp level my morherboard have an alc1220 with dual op amps and lets you choose the amp level, in the connector menu let me choose between front out or headphone out theres not a line out option, using front out, ita working ok though

If you have a multimeter the best way would be measuring the max output voltage of the motherboard ouputs at various settings with a 0 dbFS test tone and use the output\setting combination that gives you the nearest to 2 Vrms without exceeding it.

 

[Veri]

It is the onboard amp level my morherboard have an alc1220 with dual op amps and lets you choose the amp level, in the connector menu let me choose between front out or headphone out theres not a line out option, using front out, ita working ok though

If it works ok and it sounds ok, then it's probably ok

 

[3ller]

Yes i guess im covered, this amp was designed to go with a 5v rms dac balanced so i guess my motherboard is not going to exceed that even on "extreme" setting, awesome piece of kit for the price, next better headphones, dac is good enough.

 

[Bleib]

Currently on sale again

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

"mandycode" for -5 USD from the price

 

[nowonas]

May I take the opportunity to commend again the usability of this web site. All kinds of features, as if I was in a word processor - cut and paste images, inline, resize images, tables, what else will they think of. Best forum features I have ever used. Really promotes getting involved. Well done and thank you.

Totally agree with you, the usability here is amazing! For resizing images outside the forum, I often use tools like image resizer—super handy for quick image adjustments before uploading.

 

[nowonas]

Totally agree with you, the usability here is amazing! For resizing images outside the forum, I often use tools like image resizer—super handy for quick image adjustments before uploading.

Here is an example of online image resizer tool https://jpegcompressor.com/. I've used this tool for compressing my images and resizing them.

 

[jkim]

Picked one up at a very low price to use it with a USB dongle. Quickly measured its 1 kHz sine tone SINAD:

This is equivalent to Amir's AP result (SINAD 118 dB) considering mine must have added slight harmonic products from my DAC/ADC setup (E1DA 9039S / Cosmos ADCiso).

However, as some members observed in this thread, this amp seems to be very susceptible to AC and RF noise. Across my multiple measurement trials, I noticed some variability of its noise floor. For example, as Amir mentioned in his Sabaj A10h review, this amp's noise floor also increases quite a bit when its output ground is made "floating." See below:

As a result, SINAD worsened by 10 dB. Of course, amps and DACs can suffer from AC/RF noise when their ground is not connected to test gear. But the adverse effect is not to this extent. Wolf at L7audio also observed the same phenomenon in his A10H review.

But then why? Two potential causes: (1) quality of the included power supply; or (2) the circuit GND is not grounded to the case.

I will look into both. Any suggestion?

 

[Jimster480]

Glad to see the performance has been confirmed in the field again.
The reality is that this device has a very low price; so likely some corner had to be cut to hit this price target.

 

[AnalogSteph]

But then why? Two potential causes: (1) quality of the included power supply; or (2) the circuit GND is not grounded to the case.

I will look into both. Any suggestion?

I bet that's power supply leakage current. When leaving the amplifier ground floating, this may generate enough common-mode signal to tax the input stage's CMRR. Which is why the two ends of a balanced connection are supposed to be kept at near enough the same potential.

(2) is still worth looking into either way.