This is a review, listening tests, and detailed measurements of the Space II stereo headphone amplifier. It was sent to me by the Australian ASR member and designer, @SpaceAudio. Price is TBD: EDIT: Price is US $400.
I don't know what the case is made out of but it is extremely solid and dense. Would expect it to easily survive by driving on it!
Simplicity is the name of the game here with a power button, volume and 1/4" headphone jack. The volume control feel is solid and satisfying. Back panel follows the simplicity road:
Space II Headphone Amp Measurements
Let's start with our usual "unity gain" 2 volts in/out dashboard:
I see no distortion products which is impressive. Performance then is dominated by noise, giving a competent ranking to the unit:
Here is the noise performance:
It doesn't do as well at 50 mv due to lack of low gain setting. Multitone test shows yet again the very low distortion products:
Same is seen in intermodulation of 19+20 kHz:
Frequency response as expected is flat and extended:
Despite using non-differential output, there is healthy amount of power into 300 ohm load:
My minimum standard is 100 mw which the Space II easily exceeds. Power at 32 ohm is also good:
But we do see curtailing of the power as impedances keep getting lower:
Channel balance was surprisingly close, producing some of the best numbers for an analog control:
Space II Listening Tests
As measurements predict, the Space II had no trouble driving the Sennheiser HD650 hard, with impressive detail, and all the volume and fidelity you would ever want. Switching to much more difficult to drive and lower impedance, Dan Clark E3, excellent fidelity was had up to about the last quarter of the volume control. After that, distortion was audible.
Conclusions
Clearly Space II was designed with an eye toward excellent objective performance. Lack of gain stages though, hurts it in noise department compared to its competition. Except for very sensitive and insensitive headphones, the unit should have no trouble delivering excellent fidelity and ease of usability.
I am going to recommend the Space II headphone amplifier.
------------
As always, questions, comments, recommendations, etc. are welcome.
Any donations are much appreciated using: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-support-audio-science-review.8150/
I don't know what the case is made out of but it is extremely solid and dense. Would expect it to easily survive by driving on it!
Simplicity is the name of the game here with a power button, volume and 1/4" headphone jack. The volume control feel is solid and satisfying. Back panel follows the simplicity road:Space II Headphone Amp Measurements
Let's start with our usual "unity gain" 2 volts in/out dashboard:
I see no distortion products which is impressive. Performance then is dominated by noise, giving a competent ranking to the unit:
Here is the noise performance:
It doesn't do as well at 50 mv due to lack of low gain setting. Multitone test shows yet again the very low distortion products:
Same is seen in intermodulation of 19+20 kHz:
Frequency response as expected is flat and extended:
Despite using non-differential output, there is healthy amount of power into 300 ohm load:
My minimum standard is 100 mw which the Space II easily exceeds. Power at 32 ohm is also good:
But we do see curtailing of the power as impedances keep getting lower:
Channel balance was surprisingly close, producing some of the best numbers for an analog control:
Space II Listening Tests
As measurements predict, the Space II had no trouble driving the Sennheiser HD650 hard, with impressive detail, and all the volume and fidelity you would ever want. Switching to much more difficult to drive and lower impedance, Dan Clark E3, excellent fidelity was had up to about the last quarter of the volume control. After that, distortion was audible.
Conclusions
Clearly Space II was designed with an eye toward excellent objective performance. Lack of gain stages though, hurts it in noise department compared to its competition. Except for very sensitive and insensitive headphones, the unit should have no trouble delivering excellent fidelity and ease of usability.
I am going to recommend the Space II headphone amplifier.
------------
As always, questions, comments, recommendations, etc. are welcome.
Any donations are much appreciated using: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-support-audio-science-review.8150/
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