Louis evaluations the NiPO A100, a brand new MagSafe-equipped moveable DAC and headphone amplifier with as much as DSD512 decoding and 550mW of energy. It’s at the moment priced at $399.
Disclaimer: This pattern was despatched to me in alternate for my sincere opinion. Headfonics is an impartial web site with no affiliate hyperlinks. I thank NiPO and Musicteck for his or her assist.
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NiPO A100 Assessment
Abstract
The NiPO A100 moveable DAC/Amp will enchantment to those that like clean-sounding, sonically analytical gadgets, with sufficient physique to sound pleasurable, and with a splash of musicality. It additionally has attractiveness and nice battery life besides.
Execs
Clear sound profile with no hiss.
Engaging design and aesthetics.
Cons
The charging process makes it unusable whereas charging.
No LCD show.
Up for evaluate is a conveyable DAC/amp from a brand new model for Headfonics. The corporate known as NiPO, which they are saying comes from an abbreviation of a recreation known as 9 Level created by Sam Loyd, which promotes creativity and a break from fastened pondering patterns. NiPO is predicated in Shenzhen.
At present, NiPO has three merchandise listed on its web site ni-po.com. They’ve two opulent-looking DAPs, the N1 and the N2, plus at this time’s topic, which is their moveable battery-powered DAC amplifier, the A100.
The NiPO A100’s essential area of interest is enhancing the sonic capabilities of any cell phone. NiPO calls it the final word cellular gadget companion, and though it could seem to be a easy gadget on the floor, it’s not. There’s a variety of complexity, however it’s all on the within.
Dubbed the compact N2, the A100 borrows NiPO’s core applied sciences, which embrace a proprietary acoustic basis flagship participant structure discovered inside their flagship N2 DAP.
Options
The NiPO A100 will not be a DAP. It’s a flexible, small-form-factor moveable DAC amplifier that includes a built-in battery. Additionally, it’s suitable with many sorts of gadgets through OTG, together with Android and iOS smartphones, tablets, computer systems, and transport gadgets.
The NiPO A100 has a single ES9039Q2M DAC chipset implementation able to decoding as much as 32-bit/768kHz and native DSD512 through USB.
The NiPO A100 additionally consists of some usable digital filters. I counted 9 in complete, and so they’re all accessible on the fly through the G button.
Amplification
The NiPO A100 depends on a set of voltage suggestions, rail-to-rail, excessive present SGM8662 OP-amp amplifier chips from Analog Units. Outdated timers name them spiders.
The A100 can produce an affordable 550mW at 32Ω or 4.1V balanced and a extra average 125mW or 2V on the similar 32Ω impedance.
There’s additionally an output impedance listed of 0.22Ω and a 0.44Ω ranking, appropriate for impedance-sensitive gear.
Design
The NiPO A100 appears to be like luxurious, and the very first thing that hits you is the nano-textured chassis that, at occasions, appears to be like prefer it’s been held by somebody who’s been consuming fried hen. Solely upon a more in-depth look do you understand it’s a elaborate end.
This end known as Photolithography nano texture, and it goes above and past another corporations that simply provide you with a vanilla black chassis.
You possibly can say that is one step above a brushed end, however I do know there shall be some that can really feel just like the end will not be their choice, however I prefer it.
The one facet that clues you into how the A100 was assembled is the 2 seen set screws that maintain the chassis collectively proper under the leather-based insert, which, by the way in which, is accessible in three colours: blue, black, and pink.
All of the corners are spherical, all the perimeters are easy, and it looks like one stable piece. The leather-based insert is a pleasant contact, and the one eye sore is the talked about set screws.
One of many cool options of the A100 design is the built-in MagSafe magnetic lock design, which takes the place of rubber bands and beats them fingers down.
NiPO consists of two rings with adhesive backs that persist with the again of any cellular gadget, and that permits the A100 to lock onto the cellular gadget through magnets.
I/O
The NiPO A100 has three IO ports, a USB-C connection, a 4.4m balanced headphone output jack, and a 3.5mm typical single-ended output.
I like the truth that you solely must take care of one USB-C plug for audio and charging the interior battery, however the charging system has a process that shouldn’t be. I’ll be extra particular within the subsequent part.
I discovered two quirks right here on this space. First off, evidently there’s a problem when making an attempt to make use of IEMs or any headgear that makes use of a 4-pin 3.5mmTRRS plug on the A100.
I examined two fashions, the Helm Audio F2 and the not too long ago reviewed Flare Audio Studio IEM. The impact I acquired was on was fully out of section, so don’t depend on utilizing the sort of connection.
Controls
The NiPO A100 has 4 push buttons on one facet of the physique. That makes it a one-handed operation gadget, which I like, particularly in a conveyable situation.
There are two quantity buttons alongside one other dual-function button that controls the acquire setting and the digital filter choice. The opposite button is the facility button that controls the facility and the charging mode choice.
Two of the buttons, the constructive quantity and the filter selector button, have a raised Braille bump. I do put on glasses, however I do have some eyesight, and I discovered the Braille bump to be very helpful. Who would have thought?
The buttons do promote constructive suggestions by offering a definite click on every time you press any of the 4 buttons. In addition they appear to be produced from the identical steel materials because the chassis.
Nevertheless, they don’t have the Photolithographic impact; they’re simply gold-toned with black figuring out symbols, giving sufficient distinction to be extremely seen.
Battery Life
The NiPO A100 has wonderful battery life. Charging the 39000mAh Li-Polymer battery might be accomplished shortly in round 2.5 hours. Plus, in the event you use IEMs, you’ll recover from 10 hours of playback time.
Nevertheless, I dislike the charging system in that it’s important to double-press the facility button to slide into cost mode.
The unit additionally comes with a warning to not double-tap the facility button whereas linked to a cellphone attributable to a excessive present drain that may momentarily happen in the course of the process.
The unit makes use of a single USB-C port for sign and charging, and that’s easy sufficient, however you possibly can’t cost the unit whereas in use as a result of the unit won’t activate whereas in cost mode.
This makes this mannequin particularly for moveable use, since in a desktop situation, you would need to cease utilizing the A100 as soon as the battery reaches 0 and must interrupt listening to cost up.
I perceive the idea of isolating the charging circuit from the principle circuitry, however I miss the times once you simply plug the factor in, like, for instance, a cellphone.
I have to say that NiPO has a distinct segment for producing good sound with little battery drain and wonderful battery life.
Packaging & Equipment
First off, the entrance of the field appears to be like like a retro film intro template from the occasions when motion pictures have been silent. The retro-look is achieved through the use of gold over black, which delivers a sexy high-contrast aesthetic.
One other facet I like in regards to the A100 packaging is that it consists of Lightning connectivity alongside USB-C connectivity. I’m not an iPhone consumer, however I sympathize and really feel good when an organization doesn’t overlook them, as some do.
You get an O ring and a C ring for the MagSafe. The opposite inclusion is the guarantee card, which doubles up as a fast information.
Sound Impressions
Understanding the performance of the NiPO A100 and realizing that it was designed for IEMs, I nonetheless used full-sized headphones just like the Arya Natural, the Ananda Nano, and the Sennheiser HD 490 PRO Plus.
The IEMs I used included the Grand ORIVETI Supremacy, the HIFIMAN Svanar, the FiiO FX17, and the HIFIMAN RE2000 24K gold version.
I fed the A100 two methods: one with my Motorola Edge utilizing the inventory A100 cables, and the second, with my customized Home windows 11 PC on a USB 3.1 port. I stored the A100 on minimal section, and no extra filters have been used.
Abstract
The NiPO A100 is a linear sounding gadget with a clear profile, which appears to be one other certainly one of NiPO’s area of interest factors. The frequency response is nicely prolonged, overlaying deep bass, and to highs that produce plenty of sparkle.
The background is darkish, and there’s no hiss perceived, even with delicate IEMs. This darkness makes approach for a transparent view into the music it’s producing.
Transparency is one other advantage of the A100. It makes use of a clear canvas to color the music onto, revealing the music and a few of the intricacies inside recordings.
The general sonic signature is certainly one of uncolored readability and backbone. Some will contemplate the A100’s distinctiveness lies inside its analytical functionality, because it tends to sound cogent and arranged, however I believe it’s a contact musical.
The A100 sonic signature is daring and full-bodied. Vocals come by way of with a pinch of physique, which provides them some intimacy, whereas the bass is punchy however managed. The excessive frequencies are produced politely and keep away from being too shiny or harsh.
It’s a succesful gadget that sounds full of life and fascinating, that leans on the technical facet of the coin. You possibly can say it’s not a fuzzy, warm-sounding gadget, however one which focuses on delivering clear, snappy sonics with a minimal quantity of coloration.
Staging and Dynamics
Essentially the most distinguished a part of the NiPO A100 soundstage is its peak and width. This little man can produce a big soundstage. The A100 additionally produces plenty of width and depth, however the latter is probably the most shallow portion of the soundstage, though adequately produced as nicely.
Not solely does the A100 produce a big stage, however it additionally produces exact positioning. There may be expansiveness; nevertheless, the staging most occasions feels prefer it’s within the head slightly than on the outer edges.
The width functionality is there. I’m guessing it’s deciphering the recording as a result of the layering is respectable, and the general stage by no means feels claustrophobic.
Click on on web page 2 under for my advisable pairings and chosen comparisons.
