After weeks of listening to the SP400 vs SP200, A90, HPA-M1, TA-20, HiBy R5, I have decided to return the SP400.
I do sometimes listen stupid loud, and this amp is not sufficient for my use.
it does sound very clean and well separated, and I’m sure it will have class leading measurements.
but I find it to lack enough headroom for me.
I don’t like running my amps at 85-100% volume.
I, in nearly 45 years of existence, have never had an amplifier (headphone or speaker) that would require even close to 100% on the volume knob.
In fact ALL of them have plenty of output at 50% on the volume knob, EXCEPT the SP400. I’m not saying it’s not loud, it is.
I feel for this amount of money, I should have MORE headroom than SP200. Not less.
Even at 0 Gain the SP200 is louder than SP400 at 0 Gain.
I’m not an audio engineer but,
an amp with 6 watts (no gain) shouldn’t be louder than an amp with 12 watts (no gain)
I do use a lot of Headroom Management in Roon, which causes -6 to -8db reduction in output, but as I said, even 1watt amplifiers seem to have more headroom than this.
I do also get minor ticks through the headphones as volume is raised or lowered.
this is NOT the sound that the relays make without headphones on. It is a LITTLE click through the headphones.
Again, at this price, I expect better.
I really wanted to keep this amp, but feel my money will be better spent elsewhere.