Curiosity gets the better of me (again)

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Fretless
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Curiosity gets the better of me (again)

Unread post by Fretless »

My audio adventures are very often directed by patterns of obsessiveness and I find myself in another such wave, this time with the Chi-Fi manufacturer Sabaj, who are closely associated with the better-known SMSL brand.

Current tally is 3 of their products:
PHA3 tube headphone amp (under 40 euros at Amazon) - an absurdly tiny device that sounds like a million bucks with upgraded tubes.
A10h Class D headphone amp, punching well above its weight with a clear, cohesive character.
A10d 2022 DAC - a couple of years ago I would have dreamed of being able to afford a DAC this good. Now it is a budget-category unit.

So, roving further afield I started looking at their amplifiers and there are 2 models that match the distinctive styling of the 2022 model DAC, the A10a and A20a.

Image

This is a basic stereo power amp with a single input switchable between stereo RCA or mono XLR. Mono? Yes indeed! As this little Class D amp can be run in bridged mode as a monoblock to drive separate speakers or a subwoofer.

The A10a and A20a have similar innards but the 20 is rated with a higher output. I have read of some production problems in the power supply of the 20 that have apparently now been sorted out by the manufacturer.

Reviews on the web are unanimous in praising the sound quality of these amps and their powerhouse capabilities.

Current prices on Amazon here are A10a €190 and A20a €230. Which makes a monoblock installation suddenly seem rather affordable.

The temptation has become too much to bear, so I have just pushed the button on the A10a, to try one out and see what I think. Class D amplifiers are still relatively unknown to me and it's time to give one a listen with an open mind.

The possibility of getting a second one to use in bridged mode is already being seriously considered.

Watch the skies! :dance:
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slinger (Sun Dec 11, 2022 2:05 pm) • George Hincapie (Mon Dec 12, 2022 1:33 am) • antonio66 (Mon Dec 12, 2022 7:18 am)

Upstairs:
Vinyl
Pro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo
DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d
NVA: P50sa - Cube2 - SSP - LS6+ Sabaj A10a (x2)
Downstairs:
Vinyl
Logic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX
DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC
NVA: P50 - BMU+ Aiyima A07 MAX (x2) + Arcam One
HP: HifiBerry Digi+ PRO + Sabaj A10d
Office:
Allo DigiOne SIG + SMSL M300se + Douk G4 (x2)
Mission 760 + Monolith THX AAA 887
Headphones: German Maestro, Monolith & AQ

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Re: Curiosity gets the better of me (again)

Unread post by Lindsayt »

It will be interesting to see what you think of it for well recorded solo piano music when compared to your NVA's...
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Fretless (Sun Dec 11, 2022 10:43 am)

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Re: Curiosity gets the better of me (again)

Unread post by Fretless »

Will try - thanks Lindsay.

I'm not expecting the liquid transparency of NVA amplifiers but I am rather addicted to getting the best out of budget gear and so far I have been very impressed with the quality of Sabaj products.
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Lindsayt (Sun Dec 11, 2022 12:35 pm)

Upstairs:
Vinyl
Pro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo
DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d
NVA: P50sa - Cube2 - SSP - LS6+ Sabaj A10a (x2)
Downstairs:
Vinyl
Logic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX
DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC
NVA: P50 - BMU+ Aiyima A07 MAX (x2) + Arcam One
HP: HifiBerry Digi+ PRO + Sabaj A10d
Office:
Allo DigiOne SIG + SMSL M300se + Douk G4 (x2)
Mission 760 + Monolith THX AAA 887
Headphones: German Maestro, Monolith & AQ

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Re: Curiosity gets the better of me (again)

Unread post by Fretless »

Image

DHL have just dropped off a package and I have a day off! So the upstairs system gets a new addition and the little silver thingy on the floor is a Sabaj A10a 2022 poweramp.

It is well under freezing-point outside, so the amp was COLD and I am running it for the very first listen in place of the venerable 1985-vintage NVA A40 stereo. The Sabaj is rated at 110W per channel into a 4 Ohm load.

Firstly you notice that this tiny device has bucketloads of power, setting the volume knob at about 2 o'clock is already louder than the A40 with the same setting on the P50sa.

Clarity! There is an upfront, direct snappiness to the sound that is markedly different to the somewhat laid-back character of the old NVA warhorse.

I can already hear that the Class D circuits are warming through and the initial edginess at the top is gone, although the overall sound remains 'bright'. Imaging is impressive if a bit 2D. Ooh, there's some nice, deep solid bass in there as well!

Wonder how this will sound as monoblocks? Well I might just find out - tomorrow.

:dance:
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slinger (Tue Dec 13, 2022 1:42 pm)

Upstairs:
Vinyl
Pro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo
DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d
NVA: P50sa - Cube2 - SSP - LS6+ Sabaj A10a (x2)
Downstairs:
Vinyl
Logic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX
DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC
NVA: P50 - BMU+ Aiyima A07 MAX (x2) + Arcam One
HP: HifiBerry Digi+ PRO + Sabaj A10d
Office:
Allo DigiOne SIG + SMSL M300se + Douk G4 (x2)
Mission 760 + Monolith THX AAA 887
Headphones: German Maestro, Monolith & AQ

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Re: Curiosity gets the better of me (again)

Unread post by Lindsayt »

Surely the volume thing isn't so much down to the power as down to how the volume control is calibrated?
With the calibration including differences in gain.
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savvypaul (Tue Dec 13, 2022 3:08 pm)

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Re: Curiosity gets the better of me (again)

Unread post by savvypaul »

Lindsayt wrote: Tue Dec 13, 2022 2:14 pm Surely the volume thing isn't so much down to the power as down to how the volume control is calibrated?
With the calibration including differences in gain.
...and input sensitivity.
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Re: Curiosity gets the better of me (again)

Unread post by Fretless »

My expert technical opinion is ..

... damn loud!


The amp is designed to run off the (variable) line output from a DAC. So a passive preamp should be just fine.

Upstairs:
Vinyl
Pro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo
DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d
NVA: P50sa - Cube2 - SSP - LS6+ Sabaj A10a (x2)
Downstairs:
Vinyl
Logic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX
DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC
NVA: P50 - BMU+ Aiyima A07 MAX (x2) + Arcam One
HP: HifiBerry Digi+ PRO + Sabaj A10d
Office:
Allo DigiOne SIG + SMSL M300se + Douk G4 (x2)
Mission 760 + Monolith THX AAA 887
Headphones: German Maestro, Monolith & AQ

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Re: Curiosity gets the better of me (again)

Unread post by savvypaul »

Fretless wrote: Tue Dec 13, 2022 3:18 pm My expert technical opinion is ..

... damn loud!


The amp is designed to run off the (variable) line output from a DAC. So a passive preamp should be just fine.
Loudness is distortion...
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Geoff.R.G (Tue Dec 13, 2022 5:28 pm) • Lindsayt (Tue Dec 13, 2022 5:45 pm)
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Re: Curiosity gets the better of me (again)

Unread post by CN211276 »

viewtopic.php?t=44979

Richard did not have a high opinion of Class D.

This is an informative thread. The general consensus seems to be initially impressive but fatiguing over time.
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Lindsayt (Tue Dec 13, 2022 5:47 pm) • CycleCoach (Thu Dec 15, 2022 12:20 pm)
Main System
NVA BMU, P90SA/A80s (latest spec), Cube 1s, TIS, TISC(LS7)
Sonore OpticalRendu, Chord Mscaler & Qutest, Sbooster PSs
Network Acoustics Eno, ifi iPurifier3, AQ JB FMJ, Cisco 2940 & 2960
DH Labs ethernet, BNC & USB cables, Farnells cat 8 ethernet cable

Second System
NVA P20/ A20, Cubettes, LS3, SSP, SC
Sonore MicroRendu, Chord Mojo 2 MCRU PSs, AQ Carbon USB cable & JB FMJ

Headphones
Grado SR325e/Chord Mojo, Beyerdynamic Avetho/AQ DF Colbat

RIP Doc

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Re: Curiosity gets the better of me (again)

Unread post by Fretless »

Class D amps are improving and are not as grainy or lifeless as a few years ago.

As I stated, I'm curious about how they work and sound ....

... and trying to keep an open mind.
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Lindsayt (Tue Dec 13, 2022 10:18 pm)

Upstairs:
Vinyl
Pro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo
DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d
NVA: P50sa - Cube2 - SSP - LS6+ Sabaj A10a (x2)
Downstairs:
Vinyl
Logic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX
DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC
NVA: P50 - BMU+ Aiyima A07 MAX (x2) + Arcam One
HP: HifiBerry Digi+ PRO + Sabaj A10d
Office:
Allo DigiOne SIG + SMSL M300se + Douk G4 (x2)
Mission 760 + Monolith THX AAA 887
Headphones: German Maestro, Monolith & AQ

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