Pass Labs HPA-1

[TMoney]

Todd the Vinyl Junkie just announced a loaner program for this over at HF and I'm happy to be the first on the list.

I'm very much looking forward to listening to the first Pass Labs product dedicated to headphones. I've got the Dynalo mk2 and Crack 2 in house to compare with and I'll be bringing the amp with me to the January 30 HF meet in San Jose if anyone else in the Bay Area cares for a listen.

Some pics from Tyll:

[mwl168]

I would love to hear your impression on how it compares to the Dynalo MK2. 

By Dynalo MK2, do you mean the SuSy Dynalo aka multiamp, or is it something else?

[TMoney]

Yeah, its the SuSy. I have @gepardcv's build on extended loan.

[spritzer]

Some internal pics wouldn't hurt...    We can see pretty much what is going on but it would be nice to be sure. 

 

[DefQon]

I'm with maher that Neutrik TRS jack is ugly as sin.

[naamanf]

X3

[johnwmclean]

it’s not exactly a steal $3500 and only single ended, it does however look clean and well made.

 

[TMoney]

I will try and take some better pics, and yeah, I also hate the look of the TRS jack on the front. I have that same crappy TRS jack on my Crack 2 and I am not a fan.

The Pass stuff has also never been a particularly great value buy. It has that dealer premium built in. The used prices are pretty reasonable though.

IMO the SuSy Dynalo is one heck of a performer so the Pass will have to be pretty great to best it.

[purk]

Eager to hear your impression.  For that price, I rather get Justin's GSX MKII though.

[luvdunhill]

Yeah, Pass is more about the engineering that goes into the design with a nod towards simplicity. That makes "value" a difficult concept

Here are the intervals of the First Watt F7 as case in point.

[TMoney]

TTVJ loaner arrived today. I busted her out to try with the office rig. I'm looking forward to bringing her home for more critical listening.

[Hopstretch]

There's a huge knob joke going begging here ...

[Salt Peanuts]

^ What's that tube amp?  I'm certain I've seen one before but I can't remember what it is.

[acidbasement]

Bottlehead something or other?

[TMoney]

It's the bottle head crack-a-two-a.

[TMoney]

Just posted my review in the TTVJ thread on HF.

http://www.head-fi.org/t/795255/pass-labs-hpa-1-loaner-program/15#post_12334992

TLDR: The Pass Labs HPA-1 is a solid debut from Pass Labs. It sounds clear, punchy and neutral. It was a very nice pairing with the Sennheiser HD600/650/800 trinity. I could live with the HPA-1 as my only amp. Biggest con is the price, which is just too darn expensive for what it is. That being said, fans of solid state amps should definitely give this one a listen.

[TMoney]

Wayne Colburn showed off his WHAMMY amp at burning amp.

 

[Forza AudioWorks]

I've had a pleasure to listen to HPA-1 at my own place and I think it's a great amp. But it also was outstanding as a preamplifier in the stereo setup. Lack of RC and XLR inputs wasn't a problem for me. Can't say how it competes against DIY though.

[Pars]

There is a thread about a Wayne-designed Pass Labs head amp on diyaudio right now, with pcbs being available.


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[jose]

I have this Amp. We used Wayne desing but doble mono configuration.  I did my amp last year.

 

I 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 21, 2017 by jose

[Thai Tao]

11 hours ago, Pars said:

There is a thread about a Wayne-designed Pass Labs head amp on diyaudio right now, with pcbs being available.


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That is a tottally different design.