For those wondering at which point it turns into Class AB instead of Class A: More details, from Singxer's Taobao： SA-1's Class A model: Balanced 16 ohm load: below 500mw; Balanced 32 ohm load: below 1000mw; Balanced load of 68 ohms: below 3000mw; Balance the load above 68 ohms: almost all power is Class A;
Chewbacca guest stars in this WHOLE video.. as a single hair on the lens. To complain click here.. ⚔️www.SubscribeStar.com/Zeos -- Subscribe Star 🥇www.Patreon.com/Zeos -- Check out the Patreon
I was hoping you'd grab the DT 880 600ohm for this. With the theory going around that the 880's need high output impedence, the hi-z setting could be interesting to test.
I've had the SA-1 for a few weeks along with the SDA-6 Pro DAC and Beyer T1.3 headphones with balanced XLR headphone cable, very musical and amazing soundstage depth.
To calm things down a bit - Z recommended the A50s and likened the performance to the A90 but with a tad less power (if you have easy to drive headphones, mo matter), so you’re looking at A90-style performance (and measurements) at only $200 instead of $500 or $600. You can go broke buying the latest hyped unit and then selling it at a loss because another shiny object is waved in front of you, and if you do that multiple times you’re really in the hole (or have a bunch of duplicate equipment hanging around gathering dust).
Got one from Apos 2 weeks ago along with the Topping D70s. The headphone section like you said sounded really great. What surprised me was the pre out, it makes my Linn 2250 amp sang like an angle. Thanks again !!!
Just fyi the Rupert Neve Fiedlice Headphone amplifier is the $500 RNHP in a fancy enclosure ;) which is also the same headphone amplifier in the HUGE dac. The meanwell power "transformers" in the Singxer are DC switching converters for the positive and negative power rails, as good as a linear transformer really.
Would be great if you could talk about how this works with speakers. Many of us use a headphone amp as pre amp with good speakers, and 90% is used with speakers, not with headphones. does xlr outputs for speakers change level when gain is switched or it is an independant gain level?
sounds weird to say but, the Balanced XLR headphone plug, has a great feel when inserting the plug. A nice click. and the feet are such, that the amp doesnt need to be held down to insert the XLR on the front. Minor things, but add up to a great fit and finish, on top of great sound.
I have been interested in buying the Singxer SA-1 ever since I saw it on sale at the Drop and since this items has so few reviews, I decided to return to this channel today to check out this video. This review provided me very little additional information and reminded me why I unsubscribed from this channel about a year ago. Zeos even then was getting progressively worst and reminded me of a penny stock sales person whose adage was ‘pump n’ dump’. His only priority as I saw it was, how he can monetize his channel/s even more. Where I don’t begrudge the earning of an income, I do dislike how little information is being conveyed after the more than 20+ minutes (on average) of banter that is presented as Z’reviews’..... where’s the review Z? I never found this channel can be relied upon to provide a comparison of the featured item and the previously positively reviewed items but at least Zeos would giving a very detailed break down on the item’s selling features, quality, feel and how to best connect/use (in other words a video instruction....so to speak). As for a hearing comparison test, well I have never found this channel was good for that! Zeos raved 6 months ago about the 2 Flux Lab Acoustic Class A (on my short list too) saying he was going to replace the Rebel with one of those HP amps but today not a word but instead now noting the replacement will be the SA-1 instead? I am still left wondering how this HP amp performs as pre-amp with speakers? Is this a completely class A amp or does it flip to A/B at higher outputs volumes? What do the 3 screws on the bottom do? Why are there 4 hi/low switches on the bottom? Zeos today and in the past has implied that there is very little audible difference from one DAC to another, well many other well respected print/video audio reviewer would completely disagree with that statement and often even share how a DAC would sound via IEM, HP and speakers. These reviewer would even go so far as to recommend DAC + amp pairings or even what kind of IEM/HP would work best. Zeos I may have watch 4 reviews that you have posted in this last year since unsubscribed and I notice that you refer to yourself as an audiophile now.....hmm a term a few years ago when first started watching you, used to rail against. Just because you have in your possession some so call audiophile grade equipment, it doesn’t make you an audiophile!
So if anyone's curious, I bought one of these on Sunday. Got an email from Apos today saying that they're already sold out and the next restock will be on the 23rd.
Looks Like a great Amp. Im watching for a new amp/dac Upgrade for my HD6xx and Audeze LCD2 Classic. Im using the old o2+odac. -> should i better watch for a linear amp with these Headphones or is a Fun amp Like the singxer great with them? Because it could be too much laidback and warmness
Am currently using this with 2 pairs of XLR cables so I can switch from my power amp/speakers to headphones from my desk. I set the preamp at a certain higher level and control the volume from the Singxer. Balanced headphone cables do seem to make a discernible difference in my case. Haven’t bothered messing with the inside jumpers. Some people have recommended swapping out the knob for a bigger knurled one found on Amazon, which I did but not sure if I like it better - makes you have to turn it more to get to your desired volume which was not necessary IMO. I only have one set of headphones (Amandas) so I leave the z switch at low and will never touch it again. The unit sounds very good, very quiet, more clarity than my Topping A50s but don’t have “Wow” moments every time I use it.
Thank you for the excellent review as always Zeos! I have the Loxjie D50 DAC and with your review, i have decided and ordered the Singxer SA-1. Just found out that the parcel got lost in the transit ( i want to scream!!), so it will be quite some time to receive the replacement. I cant wait, so i want to get a amp so i can atleast start listening to it right away. What other amplifier do you think it will match great with the Loxjie D50? Thank you
Using the D90se as my DAC, I decided to purchase both the SA-1 and A90 and after lots of comparing, I settled on the SA-1 and I am returning the A90. Both amps sound fantastic but I feel like the SA-1 just adds more atmosphere to the sound for a lack of better terms. Everything just sounded a bit more full and alive. I am using the Focal Clear MG Pro. My only concern moving forward is the gain as compared to the A90, it is lacking in this department however, I read that using at least a 5v output source which my D90se through XLR achieves, it does make up for the lack of gain.. though the A90 does output 7600mW compared to SA-1 6500mW. Overall though I am pleased with the Singxer as my daily driver. I am also on the fence on trying the LCD-X 2021 with this setup.. never experienced Planars.. very curious about them and I hear great things about the LCD-X.
Supposedly, when you open the casing lid, it still has jumpers for switching. I'm not sure if you have rebuilt the board so that the jumpers are down and so can switch or whether the function was integrated in addition.Would interest me now. Would be very nice @Zeo if you would still test the Singxer Sda 2C. And for those who do not know Singxer, it is an independent company with the Topping Smsl and Co chain have nothing to do. They are like Matrix Audio or Questyle from the philosophy.Other Question what for Dac are be used by this Amp?
Yeah, I have a feeling that this might get overhyped just like the THX789. People will buy it out. People will pay inflated price. People will get an amp that they paid too much for what they got.
Maybe there's some engineering logic there, but to an uninformed pleb like myself it seems like a monumentally dumb way of doing things. I'm kinda tempted to get this amp, but the fact that I use a mixture of easy to drive and insanely power hungry headphones means that I'd really like my gain switches accessible.
This Drop THX789 is my endgame amp! This Topping A90 is my endgame amp! This SingXer SA-1 is my endgame amp! This .... Am I the only one having too many endgame amps?
I dont want it in my house. I dont want it on my desk or near my headphones. I want nothing to with that. It looks good, it probably sounds fantastic but I am NOT getting it. As far as Im concerned it is out of stock until 2028.
AAAAAAA this amp made my Beyer T1.1's MUCH more creamy (+bass but like not fostex bass) Edit: FUCK. ME. Zeus + SA-1 is endgame for me... until I can afford Th900's/Clear/etc. UGH ty again Z
Have you tried the pad upgrade? Worth watching his video about the Dekoni BeyerD video of his. I bought one based on that video, and it made a huge difference. The choice leather gave an awesome like bass.;))
hey zeos i need a recommendation!! i watch all your reviews and all they do is make me want to buy everything lol,i need a solid recommendation.Im currently using Monolith M1060's (with your mod of removing those foam things,blew me away thanks for that!!) and powering that is the Topping DX3 Pro,not impressed with that thing,and seems i have to use high gain or else it seems underpowered,so i would like a recommendation for a headphone amp and a dac,they dont need to be 1 unit,separates are great,im also using a SMSL 160wx2 digital amp for my Jamo S 803's that i got because of your review and they blew me away!! love those things!!,perfect for my desktop pc speakers!! lol if you know of a better amp for the speakers that would be great also! of course im mortal so prices cant go to extreme.Anyways i love your channel im a bit addicted now lol.
I agree the Singxer SA-1 is amazing for the price. With most headphones, you will use low gain and low Z. The SA-1 is not exactly their only amp because the Singxer SDA-2 is a combination DAC/amp, that is also very good for the price, but not in the same league as the SA-1. I bought both on Drop.
I figured HD800S need high gain. I'm confortable with 12 o-clock volume position. On quiet songs I can crank it up to a max. Low/Hi-z does nothing noticeable for the 800S :|
It is. Straight up. I bet my career on it every time I say so. Because all I have is a reputation to uphold of being honest and I've tried real hard not to let anyone down.
Zeos was right about the GL2000, the hype was well deserved. I lost all respect for the opinion of DMS after the hit job he did on those headphones. So frankly I value the opinion of Zeos far more then some other reviewers on RU-vid.
Hi Z so i pulled the trigger and get this amp and i saying... it is AMAZING really. I do have only Sennheiser 800s so i was affraid of what they say but they are saying magic and fat things to me. So much better than Xduoo TA-10 I Am happy happppyyyyyyyy
Totally agree with you about DACs not making much difference....... apart from Ladder (R2R) DACs in my experience and opinion these make a huge difference. I am currently using the Denafrips Ares 2 and it has blown my mind! 😊
When you were going to take a headphone off the wall I was thinking it would be the DT880 because it required a lot of power which the amp could deliver. Turns out it was the KPH30i.
I wonder if it will push your Dt 880s that sound amazing when they have a ton of power with? I remember you really didn't like them unless you use that one amp with a jumper taken out would be a cool test. As a 789 thx sph9500 guy from watching you for many years 😁
Damn it Zeos! I was going to buy one but now they're probably out of stock! Was trying to sell a pair of headphones before I bought one. Edit: Managed to get one before Apos ran out, if they do, as of editing this.
I'm staring at the speaker wall all the time and then i get the idea that you could do a blind speaker guessing game with princess pasta where she sets up and speaker and you have to guess what it is lol
How is the unbalanced output on this please? I read that the majority of balanced AMP have a less good unbalanced output in comparison to a normal AMP. But i'm very attracted to this one.
Hey, i know that it doesn't have anything to do with the video ,but i can't find the shp 9500 in stock in Canada ( or not overpriced ) so do you have a other recomendation of open headphones with pretty much the same quality ( and pretty good for gaming if possible ) ?
@@ZReviews Hey Zeos, could you confirm if you have the classical FluxLab amp or the Professional version? Because they are built differently and the pcb red color in one of your videos seem red (which would indicate the less musical/wild professional version).
Zeos! How the hell do you control EQ?! I got a Topping Dx7 and it sounds like crap compared to my previous Asus Essence XTS II sound card because the drivers include a graphic eq. I need solutions! Ive tried equalizerAPO and it doesnt work like the asus eq. Sounds like crap.
Probably because you forgot to first reduce the gain by the same amount you are going to up freqs in het equalizer, using the preamp module. If you don't add a preamp-module before the eq-module it's going to sound really terrible, constantly varying total volume to prevent clipping.
@@tenveri I would assume that they reduce output voltage of the balance out to match unbalanced. Does seem to defeat some of the advantage of balanced though.
I was using dac from motherboard for many years. Finally got a desktop DAC and the difference is very noticeable. Maybe zeus never heard how cheap dacs sound.
If your looking for a Balanced DAC you could get a Soncoz LA-QXD1 or an SMSL SU8 or a Drop x Grace Design SDAC Balanced. The SMSL being the most expensive, the SDAC Balanced being the least. The Soncoz LA-QXD1 measures the best of all 3.
@@evoasus2286 thank you , actually i'm not interested in balanced for now, just wanna run to full potential the 600, do you think setting up a singxer is worth over just owning a micro black label ? (I'm thinking about getting a valhalla too but i don't really Know a lot about solid state and tubes difference)
@@SarusukeTakatsuki tube amplifiers work great with dynamic driver headphones. The black label is portable I believe, which is nice, but I don't know if HD600s are the best to wear outside the home. If you want a solid listening experience in one package, then I would go for the black label. Although, if you think you will be buying DACs/other AMPS in the future I would go with either the Singxer or another desktop style tube amp. I think the black label has enough power and sounds great from what I hear. The choice comes down to whether you will be upgrading in the future.
Any comment on the use of this to change from headphones to (another) preamp so you can turn off your main system to listen to headphones from say, your desk? I realize you’ll need cables running from your preamp to this and back to your system’s amp, but I can see all that extra signal path as possibly being detrimental. I have one of these coming, so I will be trying it for myself using balanced cables. Anyone else have a similar setup (not talking about using active speakers)?
