Oppo HA-1 Headphone Amplifier and DAC/Pre Amplifier
$1,799.00
Headphone Amplifier, DAC & Pre-Amplifier
Discrete Class A Balanced Headphone Amplifier
Asynchronous USB DAC Up to 384 kHz and DSD256
Stereo Pre-Amplifier with Home Theater Bypass
Compatible with iPod/iPhone/iPad and Bluetooth
The analog audio section of the HA-1 is a fully balanced design with an emphasis on keeping the audio signal in the analog domain once it leaves the DAC. The HA-1 is anchored by a hefty toroidal power transformer, and linear power regulators and filters with custom made capacitors ensure that the headphone amplifier has a clean power source with plenty of reserve energy. The fully balanced Class A power amplification section uses hand-picked and paired discrete components to ensure symmetry, and a motor-driven precision volume control knob allows for both manual and remote control volume adjustment while keeping the audio in a pure analog audio path.
Fully balanced analog inputs and outputs, purely analog volume control, and an adjustable headphone gain switch.
A custom OPPO transformer provides clean power with plenty of energy reserves.
Bluetooth with Apt-X codec for high quality wireless audio and a USB input for mobile phones and tablets.
High resolution performance with extremely low noise and distortion.
Numerous digital inputs including coaxial, optical, AES/EBU, and an asynchronous USB DAC input that supports PCM, DSD64 and DSD128.
Physical volume and source selection knobs frame a 4.3-inch display for easy operation.
The HA-1 is especially suitable for high-resolution digital audio playback. Its digital inputs include coaxial, optical, balanced AES/EBU, and an asynchronous USB DAC. It is easy to connect the HA-1 to digital audio players or to a computer running the listener’s favorite playback software. The USB DAC supports PCM audio up to 384 kHz 32-bit resolution and DSD audio up to 256x the CD sample rate. The same ESS 9018 Sabre32 Reference DAC and output driving stage used in OPPO audiophile Blu-ray players ensure extremely low noise and low distortion performance. The HA-1 is compatible with Apple’s iPod, iPhone and iPad for use as an external DAC, enabling the listener to directly tap into digital music played from these devices. For additional convenience, the Bluetooth audio transport with high quality aptX CODEC sets music free from your mobile phones with a performance boost.
OPPO designs the HA-1 headphone amplifier with the same versatile approach as the Blu-ray players. The HA-1 is a high performance headphone amplifier, and it doubles as an asynchronous USB DAC, a stereo pre-amplifier, a digital audio dock for mobile devices, and a Bluetooth audio transport. Users have a choice of using the 4-pin balanced XLR or the traditional quarter-inch headphone jack. Line level analog inputs and outputs are provided with both RCA and balanced XLR sockets.
The HA-1 sports a classic design with contemporary elements. It is a desktop component housed in an aluminum chassis, and the familiar volume and source selection knobs are complemented by a 4.3-inch color screen for easy operation. While music is playing, the screen can show a classic VU meter, a modern spectrum display, or detailed technical information about the audio signal. A supplied IR remote and a smartphone app provide complete control and convenience.
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Discrete Class A Amplifier
A Class A amplifier conducts signal over the entire range of the input signal cycle. The output transistors are biased to operate in their most linear range, and there is no crossover distortion caused by switching the signal between two push-pull devices. The HA-1's power amplification circuit for the headphones is Class A built with discrete transistors. The discrete design allows us to hand-pick and match the best parts to build the HA-1. -
Toroidal Power Supply
A toroidal power transformer offers superior power efficiency and much lower exterior magnetic fields over traditional laminated steel core transformers. The HA-1's toroidal linear power supply provides a very clean and robust power source to the audio components.
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Fully Balanced Design
The internal analog audio signal path of the HA-1 is fully balanced. For digital audio, the signal runs in balanced mode all the way from the DAC to the output jacks. Balanced analog input is kept intact, and single-ended input is converted to balanced at the input buffer. All single-ended outputs are derived from the balanced signal as well. The balanced design provides better common-mode noise rejection and improves signal quality. The balanced headphone output provides twice the voltage and four times the power of the single-ended output, enabling the HA-1 to drive the most power hungry headphones. It also provides better channel seperation by eliminating the common ground return path.
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ESS Sabre32 Reference DAC
The DAC is one of the most important components for digital audio playback. The SABRE32 Reference ES9018 from ESS Technology is the world’s best performing 32-bit audio DAC solution targeted for high-end consumer applications and professional studio equipment. With the ESS patented 32-bit Hyperstream™ DAC architecture and Time Domain Jitter Eliminator, the SABRE32 Reference DAC delivers an unprecedented DNR (Dynamic Range) of up to 135dB and THD+N (Total Harmonic Distortion plus Noise) of -120dB, the industry’s highest performance level that will satisfy even the most demanding audio enthusiast. To learn more about the technologies behind the exceptional performance of the SABRE DAC, please read the SABRE Technical White Paper.
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Clean Signal Path
The HA-1 uses an analog potentiometer (the familar volume knob) to control the volume. By avoiding re-digitizing the audio signal for volume adjustment, the HA-1 provides a clean signal path for the audio. At the same time, the convenience of modern digital volume control is not lost - a remote-controlled motor turns the volume knob and a 10-bit analog-to-digital converter samples the signal to display a numeric dB level. -
Made for iPod®, iPhone® and iPad®
The HA-1 passes Apple's "MFi" certification and is compatibile with the latest iPod, iPhone and iPad to be used as the digital audio output accessory of these devices. By tapping directly into the digital audio signal of these devices and converting the audio to analog using the high performance SABRE32 Reference DAC, music from your favorite portable device will sound its best. -
Wireless Audio via Bluetooth
The HA-1 supports Bluetooth Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) with both the standard and aptX® high quality codec. Simply pair your phone with the HA-1 and set music free wirelessly from your mobile phone.
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Asynchronous USB DAC
By bypassing the low fidelity, poor quality DAC of traditional computer soundcards, the HA-1 turns any computer into a high performance multi-media source by converting digital audio to analog through the ESS Sabre32 Reference DAC. The asynchronous transfer mode uses the high precision clock inside the HA-1 to drive the audio signal, not relying on the clock quality of the computer. HA-1's USB DAC input supports PCM up to 384 kHz 24-bit and DSD up to 12 MHz (DSD256). -
Adjustable Gain Setting
The headphone power amplifier has an adjustable gain setting. For optimal sound quality and to best match your headphones' sensitivity, you can choose between Normal and High for the Headphone Gain setting. -
Build Quality
The HA-1 is housed in a brushed aluminum chassis. The Class A amplifier naturally consumes more power and generate more heat than other types of amplifiers, so the HA-1 is designed with ample ventilation and built with the finest components to ensure long term stability and performance. Tipping the scale at 13 lbs, the HA-1 is a solidly built desktop headphone amplifier.
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Stereo Pre-Amplifier with Home Theater Bypass
The HA-1 doubles as a high fidelity stereo pre-amplifier with both RCA and XLR output ports. A special "Home Theater Bypass" mode can be assigned to any input source, making it very easy to integrate the HA-1 as a stereo pre-amplifier into a home theater sound system. -
Trigger Input & Output
The HA-1 features 12V trigger input and output. When used as a stereo pre-amplifier, the trigger output can turn on your power amplifiers automatically when the HA-1 is turned on. You can also turn on the HA-1 automatically by connecting its trigger input to the trigger output of a source device or a surround sound processor. -
Remote Control & App
The HA-1 comes with a remote control that provides volume control, direct source selection and even playback control for digital audio sources. A remote control app is available for both Apple's iPhone and Android-based smartphones. The app works over Bluetooth and offers the same functionality as the physical remote control.
Designs and specifications are subject to change without notice.
| General | |
| Dimensions (W x H x D) | 10.0 x 3.6 x 13.1 inches, 254 x 91 x 333 mm |
| Mass | 13.0 lbs, 5.9 kg |
| Power Supply | AC 110-120 V~ / 220-240 V~, 50/60 Hz auto-sensing |
| Power Consumption | 70 W (operation), 0.5 W (standby) |
| Trigger Input | 3.5 V – 15 V, 10mA minimum |
| Trigger Output | 12 V, 100 mA maximum |
| Operating Temperature | 41 °F - 95 °F, 5 °C - 35 °C |
| Operating Humidity | 15% - 75% No condensation |
| Recommended Headphone Impedance | 32 ohm – 600 ohm |
| Balanced Headphone Jack Output (XLR-4) Pin order | 1: L+, 2: L-, 3: R+, 4: R-, Shell: GND |
| 6.35 mm Headphone Jack Output Pin order | Tip: L, Ring: R, Sleeve: GND |
| XLR Balanced Audio Input | |
| Input Impedance | 15k ohm |
| Maximum Input Level | 18 Vrms, +27.3 dBu (0 dBu = 0.775 Vrms) |
| RCA Stereo Audio Input | |
| Input Impedance | 10k ohm |
| Maximum Input Level | 9 Vrms, +21.3 dBu (0 dBu = 0.775 Vrms) |
| Coaxial, Optical, AES/EBU Digital Inputs | |
| Input Format | Stereo PCM |
| Sampling Frequencies | 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.4 kHz, 192 kHz |
| Word Length | 16-bit, 24-bit |
| USB DAC Audio Input (USB B Type) | |
| Input Format | Stereo PCM, Stereo DSD (DoP v1.1 or native) |
| PCM Sampling Frequencies | 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.4 kHz, 192 kHz, 352.8 kHz, 384 kHz |
| PCM Word Length | 16-bit, 24-bit, 32-bit |
| DSD Sampling Frequencies | 2.8224 MHz (DSD64), 5.6448 MHz (DSD128), 11.2896 MHz (DSD256, native mode only) |
| Profile | USB 2.0, USB Audio 2.0 |
| Mobile USB Audio Input (USB A Type) | |
| Input Format | Stereo PCM |
| PCM Sampling Frequencies | 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz |
| Profile | USB 2.0, USB Audio 2.0 |
| VBUS Power Output | +5 V, 2.1 A |
| Bluetooth Audio Input | |
| Standard | Bluetooth 2.1+EDR |
| Profile | iAP, SPP, AVRCP, A2DP |
| Audio Transmission Format | SBC, aptX |
DAC Performance Specifications
| Specification | XLR Output | RCA Output |
| Output Level | 4.6 ± 0.3 Vrms | 2.3 ± 0.3 Vrms |
| Frequency Response (Tested with -10 dBFS / 384 kHz) |
10 Hz – 170 kHz (+0/-3 dB) 20 Hz – 20 kHz (+0/-0.07 dB) |
10 Hz – 170 kHz (+0/-3 dB) 20 Hz – 20 kHz (+0/-0.07 dB) |
| THD+N at 1 kHz (A Weight, 20 Hz – 20 kHz) | < 0.00056% (< -105 dB) | < 0.00056% (< -105 dB) |
| Channel Separation | > 105 dB | > 105 dB |
| Signal-to-Noise Ratio (A Weight, 20 Hz – 20 kHz) |
> 115 dB | > 113 dB |
| Dynamic Range (1 kHz -60 dBFS, A Weight, 20 Hz – 20 kHz) |
> 115 dB | > 113 dB |
(Test condition: USB DAC input in Home Theater Bypass mode and the volume knob at Max position.)
Pre-amplifier Performance Specifications
| Specification | XLR Input – XLR Output | RCA Input – RCA Output |
| Rated Output Level | 4.6 Vrms | 2.3 Vrms |
| Frequency Response | 10 Hz – 200 kHz (+0/-2 dB) 20 Hz – 20 kHz (+0/-0.04 dB) |
10 Hz – 200 kHz (+0/-2 dB) 20 Hz – 20 kHz (+0/-0.04 dB) |
| THD+N at 1 kHz (A Weight, 20 Hz – 20 kHz) | < 0.00056% (< -105 dB) | < 0.00071% (< -103 dB) |
| Channel Separation | > 120 dB | > 110 dB |
| Signal-to-Noise Ratio (A Weight, 20 Hz – 20 kHz) |
> 110 dB | > 105 dB |
| Dynamic Range (1 kHz -60 dB, A Weight, 20 Hz – 20 kHz) |
> 120 dB | > 115 dB |
| Maximum Gain (100 mVrms input) | 6 dB | 6 dB |
(Test condition: Volume knob at Max position and an input signal to drive the output to the rated output level.)
Headphone Amplifier Performance Specifications
| Specification | Condition | XLR Input - Balanced Output | RCA Input - 6.35 mm Output |
| Maximum Output Power (Per Channel) | Into 600 Ohm | 2400 mW | 600 mW |
| Into 32 Ohm | 3000 mW | 3500 mW | |
| Rated Output Power (Per Channel) |
Into 600 Ohm | 800 mW | 200 mW |
| Into 32 Ohm | 2000 mW | 500 mW | |
| Frequency Response | 10 Hz – 200 kHz (+0/-1 dB) 20 Hz – 20 kHz (+0/-0.04 dB) |
10 Hz – 200 kHz (+0/-1 dB) 20 Hz – 20 kHz (+0/-0.04 dB) |
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| THD+N at 1k Hz (A Weight, 20 Hz – 20 kHz) |
Rated Power | < 0.0018% (< -95 dB) | < 0.0056% (< -85 dB) |
| 50 mW | < 0.001% (< -100 dB) | < 0.0022% (< -93dB) | |
| Channel Separation | > 120 dB | > 90 dB | |
| Signal-to-Noise Ratio (A Weight, 20 Hz – 20 kHz) |
> 111 dB | > 111 dB | |
| Dynamic Range (1 kHz -60 dB, A Weight, 20 Hz – 20 kHz) |
> 120 dB | > 115 dB | |
| Output Impedance | 0.5 Ohm | 0.7 Ohm | |
