TempoTec Sonata BHD Pro Portable DAC & Amp Review

[solar_sustem_s_user]

Can you send the file? Please, I need it as soon as possible.

I wrote to TempoTec support and they sent me a link to the file. It seems to still be there. You can write to them and download it for free.

 

[Michou]

I wrote to TempoTec support and they sent me a link to the file. It seems to still be there. You can write to them and download it for free.

If you already have the link, just post it. Making people pointlessly chase it defeats the whole point of a forum—which exists for cooperation and helping each other. Sharing it directly keeps things simple for everyone, and you’ll get the recognition you deserve for helping out.

 

[solar_sustem_s_user]

If you already have the link, just post it. Making people pointlessly chase it defeats the whole point of a forum—which exists for cooperation and helping each other. Sharing it directly keeps things simple for everyone, and you’ll get the recognition you deserve for helping out.

I understand and would like to help. To protect yourself and avoid possible copyright issues, first of all I recommend contacting TempoTec support directly - they will provide the necessary file. This way, everyone will get the necessary firmware without risk. And I have already written a direct message to comply with the forum rules and maybe the person will decide for himself what will suit him. So, in fact, everything is fine.

 

[helpmeimnew]

Yes, I can. How would you like it?

Thank you so much for the help. I hope you have a great life ahead of you.

 

[solar_sustem_s_user]

Thank you so much for the help. I hope you have a great life ahead of you.

I was glad to help! Great if everything worked out.

 

[OK1]

This is a review and detailed measurements of the TempoTec Sonata BHD Pro portable DAC and headphone amplifier. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $70.
View attachment 312470
I really like the fresh look of the BHD. There is a red LED that lights up the tiny ICs in there, giving it some elegance. There are volume control buttons on the side with good tactile feedback. And from what I could see in measurements, they have fine resolution.

Importantly there is support for 4.4 mm balanced headphone out in addition to 3.5mm.

EDIT: I originally left out "Pro" out of the name. Corrected some but the rest of the graphs are still missing that word in the model name.

TempoTec Sonata BHD Pro Measurements​

Let's start with our dashboard using balanced output:
View attachment 312471

SINAD of 105 dB is excellent for a portable DAC. But check out unbalanced output:
View attachment 312472

Wow, this thing will give many desktop dacs a run for their money! And that is not all. See the dynamic range:
View attachment 312304
Stunning!

Jitter performance is the best of any dongle from what I can remember:
View attachment 312305

Dynamic range is excellent even at 50 mv:
View attachment 312306
View attachment 312307

High output voltage translates to plenty of power for 300 ohm headphones:
View attachment 312308

View attachment 312309

Same for 32 ohm:
View attachment 312310
View attachment 312311

Not feeling well so no listening performance. May do so tomorrow and report back but I expect no surprises.

Conclusions
The performance of the Sonata BHD Pro rates as state of the art for portable DACs and will easily substitute for many desktop DACs as well. Add this the nice enclosure and controls and you have a winner.

It is my pleasure to add it to my recommended list.

Manufacturer Specifications:
Sonata BHD Pro is a USB C dongle DAC&

• DAC: 2*CS43131
• SNR: 131dB
• THD+N: 0.00012%(@32ohm 1kHz 0dB signal )
• OUTPUT LEVEL: [email protected]/32Ω,[email protected]/32Ω
• OUTPUT POWER: [email protected]/32ohm
• Frequency: 0-40KHZ /+- 0.5dB
• RGB light: indicates working status
• PCM: up to 32Bit/384kHz DSD256(NATIVE)
• DSD: up to DSD256
• MQA: MQA renderer 8X
• Volume Control: hardware buttons
• Platform support: Windows PC,MACOS and Android
• USB Audio driver: Win7,Win8 Win10 & Exclusive ASIO driver for windows system

-----------
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'm trying to understand this better. The measurement of Max Power @33 Ohm Load is 137 milliWatts, as measured by Amir(ASR).

The manufacturer's product specs indicate OUTPUT POWER: [email protected]/32ohm

What could be the cause of this variance?

I am not an electrical engineer, and I'd be happy if someone could kindly explain this.

I tend to buy products based on specs, especially DACs.

Thanks

 

[staticV3]

I'm trying to understand this better. The measurement of Max Power @33 Ohm Load is 137 milliWatts, as measured by Amir(ASR).

The manufacturer's product specs indicate OUTPUT POWER: [email protected]/32ohm

What could be the cause of this variance?

Unit variation
Different distortion thresholds
Specifying per-channel power vs combined power
Different signal duration

 

[OK1]

Unit variation
Different distortion thresholds
Specifying per-channel power vs combined power
Different signal duration

Thanks.

Looks like the 280 mW was referring to both channels, i.e 140 mW per channel @ 32 Ohms, which corresponds with the 137 mW Amir measured @ 33 Ohms.

Interesting.

Thank you.

I'll be looking out for this "summation" approach used in some spec sheets, to make it look more powerful to the uninitiated.

I bought the TempoTec Sonata BHD (the non pro), which has identical published audio measurements, as published by the manufacturer, to the BHD Pro version measured by Amir, based on the review of the BHD Pro.

I am extremely pleased with it, extremely pleased. I have nothing to measure it with, and would not be interested in bothering, even if I did. The BHD (non Pro), I've had it for 17 months, excellent with IEMs, which is about the only things I listen to now. It just works. I use it on Windows, via ASIO drivers provided by TempoTec, super stable device, just does what is is supposed to do, gets completely out of the way. Like a reference, the one aspect of my audio system, I do not have to doubt the quality of, that allows me to compare options for everything else- IEMs, ear tips, etc.

If I had to do it again, I may consider alternatives such as the TRN Black Pearl which has a 10 band parametric EQ, and a bit more power 320 mW(both channels) on the balanced output, and also has microphone inputs on the 3.5mm connection., and the more pleasing display.

The BHD supports simultaneous use of both the balanced and unbalanced outputs, which the Black Pearl, does NOT support.

Nevertheless, happy with what I have. Extremely pleased. Nothing to complain about. If I need a microphone input, on a DAC, for calls via a Windows PC, I use the Apple dongle.

 

[MacCali]

Thanks.

Looks like the 280 mW was referring to both channels, i.e 140 mW per channel @ 32 Ohms, which corresponds with the 137 mW Amir measured @ 33 Ohms.

Interesting.

Thank you.

I'll be looking out for this "summation" approach used in some spec sheets, to make it look more powerful to the uninitiated.

I bought the TempoTec Sonata BHD (the non pro), which has identical published audio measurements, as published by the manufacturer, to the BHD Pro version measured by Amir, based on the review of the BHD Pro.

I am extremely pleased with it, extremely pleased. I have nothing to measure it with, and would not be interested in bothering, even if I did. The BHD (non Pro), I've had it for 17 months, excellent with IEMs, which is about the only things I listen to now. It just works. I use it on Windows, via ASIO drivers provided by TempoTec, super stable device, just does what is is supposed to do, gets completely out of the way. Like a reference, the one aspect of my audio system, I do not have to doubt the quality of, that allows me to compare options for everything else- IEMs, ear tips, etc.

If I had to do it again, I may consider alternatives such as the TRN Black Pearl which has a 10 band parametric EQ, and a bit more power 320 mW(both channels) on the balanced output, and also has microphone inputs on the 3.5mm connection., and the more pleasing display.

The BHD supports simultaneous use of both the balanced and unbalanced outputs, which the Black Pearl, does NOT support.

Nevertheless, happy with what I have. Extremely pleased. Nothing to complain about. If I need a microphone input, on a DAC, for calls via a Windows PC, I use the Apple dongle.

As crazy as it is, I really like the output of this device especially on my Samsung tablet. Sounds beyond spectacular and better than a lot of my desktop setups. It’s a wild little gadget. Not sure why but it sounds a touch less clear on laptop vs tablet. Very likely hallucinations, but it’s so good on the tablet.

 

[OK1]

As crazy as it is, I really like the output of this device especially on my Samsung tablet. Sounds beyond spectacular and better than a lot of my desktop setups. It’s a wild little gadget. Not sure why but it sounds a touch less clear on laptop vs tablet. Very likely hallucinations, but it’s so good on the tablet.

If one is not a formally educated engineer, it can be a bit of a struggle to sift through all the information about features of audio products, to decide what to buy.

And in particular, to appreciate which of the many measurements is most relevant to one's own priorities.

1st I considered that it the Non Pro BHD's published specs were identical to the Pro version, which was measured and published in this thread. So from an audio performance, they should be identical, also cos their architecture is, from what I know, similar. Same DAC chips. And in this case the DAC also is integrated with the headphone amplifier. The manufacturer published specs, and Amir's were pretty close.

2. It was future proof, so when I eventually got an IEM with balanced cables, I did not have to go out and buy another IEM.

3. Portable. I have been using this with a USB-C to USB-A connection, and I do wonder, if there is any disadvantage of this. My desktop computer has no USB-C ports.!! I like that the USB-C connection is detachable, so you do not have to be tied to the short USB-C to USB-C cable supplied with the device. I use mine with a USB-C to USB-A cable which is over a meter long, so I can move about a bit, and not have to sit too close to the dongle. Really small device this is.

Initially one thinks - Oh, I'll be pairing this with other portable devices such as a mobile phone or tablet. Sounds like a wonderful idea, but when one thinks of it critically, what do I listen to when I am mobile? Facebook, WhatsApp, Youtube, Instagram, and I cannot get High Quality streaming in Spotify when I am on a mobile phone, so what is all the fuss about. None of these kinds of audio sources, contain any high quality audio which I need to be so critical about. So in my case, I no longer bother, on my Samsung mobile phone, I just use the built in headphone jack. 90% one is listening to some speech or a poor quality social media recording, that does not need a high quality DAC.

Therefore as much as this is portable, I end up using it permanently tied to my desktop (or laptop) computer.

Value for money was out of this world, bought mine for about $30.

Coming from a professional audio world, where I would normally buy audio interfaces costing over $100, to do the same thing, playback audio, and this far exceeds the specs of those "prosumer" audio interfaces, is a wonder of our modern world. Yeah some of the specs in this dongle, exceed those of professional audio interfaces, costing over $1,000 ! Huge credit to the Asian based manufacturers of these impressive sounding devices.

Unfortunately gear lust rears its ugly head occasionally, and you wonder - from anecdotal accounts you hear from others. How does this compare with DACs which have an ESS or AKM DAC, cos there is supposed to be some sort of family sound for ESS (brighter snappier), Cirrus Logic (somewhere in the middle), and AKM (Warm), allegedly. I really do not think there is much in these variances, but it would be nice one day to do a side by side comparison, purely out of curiosity, or would I say FOMO. ! Rabbit holes indeed. No end. Takes a lot of discipline to say NO to buying another DAC, when there are now so many to be had, for under $100. So many. I can only listen to one DAC at a time, so doing everything I can to be disciplined. I think this is about as good as it gets, and beyond this one has to spend silly amounts of money, to get any better.

And if there is anything else that truly sounds better, one then has to consider upgrading the rest of the signal chain, such as the headphone or speaker, to be able to appreciate this "better". And until I hear this for myself, I cannot tell exactly what that difference/improvement would mean. I blame the subjective reviewers who entice us with all manner of opinions. Was listening to Passion for Sound, going on about the difference in sound between DAC architectures, Delta Sigma, FPGA, off the shelf DACs, vs custom DACs, R2R, and everyone touts these claimed advantages, with no measurements to demonstrate the improvements.!!

I'm sticking with what I've got. It powers IEMS, including planar IEMs with more than enough headroom, and does very well with dynamic Over teh Ear headphones like the AKG K702. My only concern had been - how well will it power something like a Hifiman Ananda Nano or Sundara - or something else in their product range, below $500, just in case I ever explore that opportunity.

 

[KosherButcher]

If one is not a formally educated engineer, it can be a bit of a struggle to sift through all the information about features of audio products, to decide what to buy.

And in particular, to appreciate which of the many measurements is most relevant to one's own priorities.

1st I considered that it the Non Pro BHD's published specs were identical to the Pro version, which was measured and published in this thread. So from an audio performance, they should be identical, also cos their architecture is, from what I know, similar. Same DAC chips. And in this case the DAC also is integrated with the headphone amplifier. The manufacturer published specs, and Amir's were pretty close.

2. It was future proof, so when I eventually got an IEM with balanced cables, I did not have to go out and buy another IEM.

3. Portable. I have been using this with a USB-C to USB-A connection, and I do wonder, if there is any disadvantage of this. My desktop computer has no USB-C ports.!! I like that the USB-C connection is detachable, so you do not have to be tied to the short USB-C to USB-C cable supplied with the device. I use mine with a USB-C to USB-A cable which is over a meter long, so I can move about a bit, and not have to sit too close to the dongle. Really small device this is.

Initially one thinks - Oh, I'll be pairing this with other portable devices such as a mobile phone or tablet. Sounds like a wonderful idea, but when one thinks of it critically, what do I listen to when I am mobile? Facebook, WhatsApp, Youtube, Instagram, and I cannot get High Quality streaming in Spotify when I am on a mobile phone, so what is all the fuss about. None of these kinds of audio sources, contain any high quality audio which I need to be so critical about. So in my case, I no longer bother, on my Samsung mobile phone, I just use the built in headphone jack. 90% one is listening to some speech or a poor quality social media recording, that does not need a high quality DAC.

Therefore as much as this is portable, I end up using it permanently tied to my desktop (or laptop) computer.

Value for money was out of this world, bought mine for about $30.

Coming from a professional audio world, where I would normally buy audio interfaces costing over $100, to do the same thing, playback audio, and this far exceeds the specs of those "prosumer" audio interfaces, is a wonder of our modern world. Yeah some of the specs in this dongle, exceed those of professional audio interfaces, costing over $1,000 ! Huge credit to the Asian based manufacturers of these impressive sounding devices.

Unfortunately gear lust rears its ugly head occasionally, and you wonder - from anecdotal accounts you hear from others. How does this compare with DACs which have an ESS or AKM DAC, cos there is supposed to be some sort of family sound for ESS (brighter snappier), Cirrus Logic (somewhere in the middle), and AKM (Warm), allegedly. I really do not think there is much in these variances, but it would be nice one day to do a side by side comparison, purely out of curiosity, or would I say FOMO. ! Rabbit holes indeed. No end. Takes a lot of discipline to say NO to buying another DAC, when there are now so many to be had, for under $100. So many. I can only listen to one DAC at a time, so doing everything I can to be disciplined. I think this is about as good as it gets, and beyond this one has to spend silly amounts of money, to get any better.

And if there is anything else that truly sounds better, one then has to consider upgrading the rest of the signal chain, such as the headphone or speaker, to be able to appreciate this "better". And until I hear this for myself, I cannot tell exactly what that difference/improvement would mean. I blame the subjective reviewers who entice us with all manner of opinions. Was listening to Passion for Sound, going on about the difference in sound between DAC architectures, Delta Sigma, FPGA, off the shelf DACs, vs custom DACs, R2R, and everyone touts these claimed advantages, with no measurements to demonstrate the improvements.!!

I'm sticking with what I've got. It powers IEMS, including planar IEMs with more than enough headroom, and does very well with dynamic Over teh Ear headphones like the AKG K702. My only concern had been - how well will it power something like a Hifiman Ananda Nano or Sundara - or something else in their product range, below $500, just in case I ever explore that opportunity.

Why can't you get high quality streaming with Spotify? Spotify can stream lossless as of a few months ago.

 

[OK1]

Why can't you get high quality streaming with Spotify? Spotify can stream lossless as of a few months ago.

On mobile (when not on Wifi), i.e using the mobile network, there is no guaranty that one gets the higher quality, cos it depends on the mobile network condition. Besides, I use the free Spotify, not subscription. For truly critical listening, I just use Spotify to discover music, the free Spotify on Wifi on a desktop, is more than good enough for such discovery.

Then if I like the music and want to hear it at the highest quality, I buy the CD, and rip this to my on disc library.

A while back, like 2016 or 2017, when Spotify did not have lossless, I compared some music which I had on CD, with the streamed lossy version on Spotify. It was an education, the CD version was just so much better, than whatever was the highest quality I could get on the desktop/Wifi from Spotify.

If I really like some music, I prefer to own my own copy, and not have to pay subscriptions. I do not listen to a lot of music, in variety, so happy to use free Spotify for discovery, and then use my local lossless or FLAC compressed (which is lossless) for critical listening of the music I really enjoy and wish to hear over and over again.

 

[iGmole]

As crazy as it is, I really like the output of this device especially on my Samsung tablet. Sounds beyond spectacular and better than a lot of my desktop setups. It’s a wild little gadget. Not sure why but it sounds a touch less clear on laptop vs tablet. Very likely hallucinations, but it’s so good on the tablet.

Windows laptop?

The audio system by default causes some audio degradation I believe (https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...nding-the-windows-audio-quality-debate.19438/).

Equalizer APO app defeats them audio eaters I believe.

There is a chance it's not hallucinations!

 

[staticV3]

On mobile (when not on Wifi), i.e using the mobile network, there is no guaranty that one gets the higher quality, cos it depends on the mobile network condition.

You can set Settings->Media Quality->Auto-adjust to Off and that will lock streaming quality to whatever your have selected.

That means you'll get guaranteed lossless, including audio stutter if your connection can't keep up.

 

[OK1]

You can set Settings->Media Quality->Auto-adjust to Off and that will lock streaming quality to whatever your have selected.

That means you'll get guaranteed lossless, including audio stutter if your connection can't keep up.

Thanks. Will do.