Sabaj A30a announced

[ErkyPerky]

Thank you very much for the detailed reply and it makes a lot of sense. I think i will purchase from hifi express, and yes paypal is preferred as it has a buyers protection programme for return shipping costs.

I will wait till the end of the month as its the chinese new year so maybe they might have sales and discounts.

 

[Akustik]

Hi!
Maybe someone has experience comparing Sabaj A30a with Arcams: Radia A5 (or A15) or FMJ A29?
I am primarily interested in sound quality. I'm looking for a good sense of scale here and has the resolution to keep track of a multitude of instrumental strands without sounding confused.
I have a suggestion right now: Acram A5 new condition – 570$, FMJ A29 like new – 470$.
The sound source will definitely be a streamer.
I sold out Denon PMA-1500R + DCD-1550AR. Only the speakers Canton CT-90 are now left (not for sale).

 

[GiBo61]

Hi!
Maybe someone has experience comparing Sabaj A30a with Arcams: Radia A5 (or A15) or FMJ A29?
I am primarily interested in sound quality. I'm looking for a good sense of scale here and has the resolution to keep track of a multitude of instrumental strands without sounding confused.
I have a suggestion right now: Acram A5 new condition – 570$, FMJ A29 like new – 470$.
The sound source will definitely be a streamer.
I sold out Denon PMA-1500R + DCD-1550AR. Only the speakers Canton CT-90 are now left (not for sale).

Did you consider that Arcam Radia A5 has half the Power of the Sabaj? Also the A15 model (that costs almost twice as much as the A30a) provides 120W at 4 Ohm (vs 200W of the Sabaj). The Sabaj is a full digital amplifier (you can directly connect your streamer with either a coax or a toslink cable without any conversion of the digital signal) the Arcams are "conventional"amps that include DAC chips although I could not easily find info about them. In summary I have no personal experience with the Arcam devices, probably they are really good, I can only say that after 2 years and a half I could not find a good reason to upgrade my Sabaj A30a with something more sophisticated like a Yamaha A-S2200 (my dreams' amp).

 

[ErkyPerky]

I've just got my sabaj A30a today, plugged it in and so far I'm very impressed. It is solid and sounds excellent. It drives my mission floor standing speakers with ease.

 

[Roland68]

Hi!
Maybe someone has experience comparing Sabaj A30a with Arcams: Radia A5 (or A15) or FMJ A29?
I am primarily interested in sound quality. I'm looking for a good sense of scale here and has the resolution to keep track of a multitude of instrumental strands without sounding confused.
I have a suggestion right now: Acram A5 new condition – 570$, FMJ A29 like new – 470$.
The sound source will definitely be a streamer.
I sold out Denon PMA-1500R + DCD-1550AR. Only the speakers Canton CT-90 are now left (not for sale).

I have heard a few Arcam amplifiers, also in comparison with others, but it never convinced me to buy one.
The A30a has won out over other amplifiers for me and others, sometimes even against devices that were almost 10 times as expensive.
I am always struck by the resolution and transparency, which is particularly impressive with Danse Macabre / Eiji Oue & Minnesota Orchestra or Passion and Pride by Friedemann.
However, the A30a also completely lacks the analog path in conventional amplifiers, which means that the digital signal is only converted to analog directly at the output, which is ideal for digital sources.

 

[Akustik]

I can only say that after 2 years and a half I could not find a good reason to upgrade my Sabaj A30a with something more sophisticated like a Yamaha A-S2200 (my dreams' amp).

Thanks! This is a strong argument in his favor.

 

[Akustik]

The A30a has won out over other amplifiers for me and others, sometimes even against devices that were almost 10 times as expensive.
I am always struck by the resolution and transparency, which is particularly impressive with Danse Macabre / Eiji Oue & Minnesota Orchestra or Passion and Pride by Friedemann.

Many Thanks!
Could you check how the trumpet sounds in this song – Till Tomorrow (feat. Till Bronner) from album Touch Yello 2009? I had different amplifiers, and only a handmade tube amplifier was able to reproduce its sound correctly. For example, with the Hypex Ncore NC252MP module, the trumpet sounded harsh and unnatural, with the class D amplifier Aiyima A70 it sounded more like distortion.

How do you think the Sabaj handles this track?

 

[Roland68]

Many Thanks!
Could you check how the trumpet sounds in this song – Till Tomorrow (feat. Till Bronner) from album Touch Yello 2009? I had different amplifiers, and only a handmade tube amplifier was able to reproduce its sound correctly. For example, with the Hypex Ncore NC252MP module, the trumpet sounded harsh and unnatural, with the class D amplifier Aiyima A70 it sounded more like distortion.

How do you think the Sabaj handles this track?

I'll have to listen to it this evening.
But generally speaking, the A30a reproduces everything very cleanly and without coloration. Since I've been going to concerts and music events all my life, I place a lot of value on the reproduction of acoustic instruments and can't find anything wrong with the A30a.
But bad recordings aren't glossed over either.

 

[Guddu]

For example, with the Hypex Ncore NC252MP module, the trumpet sounded harsh and unnatural, with the class D amplifier Aiyima A70 it sounded more like distortion.

Not doubting on what you observed but curious "Why would this be"?
Both these amplifiers have flat frequency response for trumpet, I would think sounding harsh should not be caused by these amplifiers.
Aiyima A70 has decent 'noise + distortion' measurements below 1KHz, unless abused probably.

Tonal quality generally is on the speaker side.
And to add, I have always found trumpet a bit sharp sounding (in person).

 

[Roland68]

Many Thanks!
Could you check how the trumpet sounds in this song – Till Tomorrow (feat. Till Bronner) from album Touch Yello 2009? I had different amplifiers, and only a handmade tube amplifier was able to reproduce its sound correctly. For example, with the Hypex Ncore NC252MP module, the trumpet sounded harsh and unnatural, with the class D amplifier Aiyima A70 it sounded more like distortion.

How do you think the Sabaj handles this track?

I was just too curious and just listened to it loudly with the A30a in the near field setup.
Very clean and perfectly played, no harshness, I find the wind instrument in Passion and Pride a bit heavier. You can test that against it.

Not doubting on what you observed but curious "Why would this be"?
Both these amplifiers have flat frequency response for trumpet, I would think sounding harsh should not be caused by these amplifiers.
Aiyima A70 has decent 'noise + distortion' measurements below 1KHz, unless abused probably.

Tonal quality generally is on the speaker side.
And to add, I have always found trumpet a bit sharp sounding (in person).

I can absolutely understand that and it also corresponds to my experience from the last 35 years and several hundred amplifiers.
That is also the reason why I have not yet owned a Hypex or ICEpower amplifier, but at some point this year we will also compare the newer Hypex models with the A30a and Yamaha A-S2XXX or 3XXX.
The A30a performs many times above its price class in many areas, at least in my experience.
And an amplifier couldn't be more digital.

 

[GiBo61]

Many Thanks!
Could you check how the trumpet sounds in this song – Till Tomorrow (feat. Till Bronner) from album Touch Yello 2009? I had different amplifiers, and only a handmade tube amplifier was able to reproduce its sound correctly. For example, with the Hypex Ncore NC252MP module, the trumpet sounded harsh and unnatural, with the class D amplifier Aiyima A70 it sounded more like distortion.

How do you think the Sabaj handles this track?

If you are familiar with this forum I'm sure you have noticed that tube amps (even the very expensive ones) provide VERY POOR measurements characterized by high noise, high distortion and low power. They can hardly be considered High Fidelity devices. On the other hand, amplifiers based on Hypex Ncore modules show extremely good results in terms of signal/noise ratio, distortion and power, allowing faithful and transparent reproduction of the input musical signal.
It is curious that some people like more tube amplifiers because they say they get a more natural sound from recordings than solid-state or digital amplifiers. In their opinion the tone seems richer, warmer, sweeter, more similar to the way instruments sound in real life.
Based on what you wrote I fear that if you like the sound of your handmade tube amplifier, you will probably find the Sabaj A30a sounding like the Hypex Ncore NC252MP amp (their specs and instrumental measurements are very similar).
Said that I've NEVER found the sound of my Sabaj A30a to be "harsh", I would rather use the "sweet" and "natural" adjectives for it.

 

[GiBo61]

"....but at some point this year we will also compare the newer Hypex models with the A30a and Yamaha A-S2XXX or 3XXX...."

Roland68, that comparison would be really GREAT, I can't wait.

 

[Guddu]

Based on what you wrote I fear that if you like the sound of your handmade tube amplifier, you will probably find the Sabaj A30a sounding like the Hypex Ncore NC252MP amp (their specs and instrumental measurements are very similar).
Said that I've NEVER found the sound of my Sabaj A30a to be "harsh", I would rather use the "sweet" and "natural" adjectives for it.

Sabaj A30a’s measurements? Where?

 

[GiBo61]

Sabaj A30a’s measurements? Where?

Sabaj A30a it's almost identical to SMSL VMV A2 tested here. Sabaj and SMSL are part of the same company. As discussed many times in this thread, it is expected that the instrumental measurements will be very similar, nevertheless it would be nice to have it tested by Amir.

 

[Antbom]

Hello, this is my first post on this forum. Some days ago I buyed a second-hand A30a from Germany and I would share my experience. My English is poor, so please be patient...
Sonically speaking, my expectations on this little jewel are certainly satisfied: detail, naturalness, transients speed, bass control, low listening fatigue are its qualities. I prefer it to my actual dac Smsl D6s + self-assembled pair of Icepower 300as1 mono power amps.
However, there is one big drawback: the Sabaj would seem incompatible with my favorite speakers, a pair of Braun Ls120 which I upgraded replacing all the electrolythic caps with jantzen poly caps. Connecting this '90th german speakers to the A30a, It happens what the forum member Nahkarankaisija complained a few pages back: loud white noise constantly even on 0 volume and on every input (and the tweeter fuses burn). BUT in my case this happens only when connected to the Ls120's: with all of mine other speakers (Kef Ls50, Kef CS3, Grundig box 550) the Sabaj works fine! On the other hand,the Ls120's play loud and clear with all of my other power amps!
I just tried the firmware update and the reset procedure suggested by Roland68 (thanks).
I point out that the tweeters' polarity (as in the original crossover scheme) is inverted, but I think it doesn't matter. But it's also true that (sometimes, not every time) if I remove the Ls120 tweeter fuses, the A30a starts to play again.
After so many attempts I'm going crazy... any idea? Thank You.

 

[voodooless]

any idea?

Can you post the crossover schematic of the speaker? It seems it may create an impedance it doesn’t lie very much.

 

[Antbom]

Can you post the crossover schematic of the speaker? It seems it may create an impedance it doesn’t lie very much.

Here it is:

 

[voodooless]

From a quick glance I would say that possibly C4 may be the issue, it may short the amp at higher frequencies. Would be good to model the crossover to see what it exactly does.

 

[Akustik]

Not doubting on what you observed but curious "Why would this be"?
Both these amplifiers have flat frequency response for trumpet, I would think sounding harsh should not be caused by these amplifiers.
Aiyima A70 has decent 'noise + distortion' measurements below 1KHz, unless abused probably.

Tonal quality generally is on the speaker side.
And to add, I have always found trumpet a bit sharp sounding (in person).

I figuratively compared it to distortions. It's like how applause sounds, but the amplifier plays it as the noise of rain.

I was just too curious and just listened to it loudly with the A30a in the near field setup.
Very clean and perfectly played, no harshness, I find the wind instrument in Passion and Pride a bit heavier. You can test that against it.

You've convinced me – I will place the order. Maybe you know if Sabaj plans to release a new version this year?

Based on what you wrote I fear that if you like the sound of your handmade tube amplifier, you will probably find the Sabaj A30a sounding like the Hypex Ncore NC252MP amp (their specs and instrumental measurements are very similar).
Said that I've NEVER found the sound of my Sabaj A30a to be "harsh", I would rather use the "sweet" and "natural" adjectives for it.

I have a 30W tube amplifier based on the Williamson circuit, but I never listen it at more than 1/3 of its power. An interesting comparison is ahead.

 

[Roland68]

I figuratively compared it to distortions. It's like how applause sounds, but the amplifier plays it as the noise of rain.

You've convinced me – I will place the order. Maybe you know if Sabaj plans to release a new version this year?

I have a 30W tube amplifier based on the Williamson circuit, but I never listen it at more than 1/3 of its power. An interesting comparison is ahead.

To be honest, I don't think there will be a successor or a new device available at the moment.
I'm also curious about the comparison.