Lynn opinions the EarMen L-Amp, a brand new twin JAN6418 NOS vacuum tube moveable headphone amplifier and DAC with as much as 1W of output energy. It’s at the moment priced at $399.
Disclaimer: This pattern was despatched to me in trade for my sincere opinion. Headfonics is an impartial web site with no affiliate hyperlinks or standing. I thank EarMen for his or her help.
Click on right here to study extra about EarMen merchandise beforehand reviewed on Headfonics.
This text follows our newest scoring pointers, which you’ll be able to learn in additional element right here.
EarMen L-Amp Evaluation
Abstract
Producing prodigious quantities of energy for even your hardest-to-drive headphones, the EarMen L-Amp moveable amplifier and DAC delivers a tube-like liquidity that’s luxurious and exact on the identical time.
Execs
Excellent output energy
Good mix of tube heat and solid-state readability.
Aesthetically pleasing view of the tubes in operation.
Cons
Microphonic pings could be heard with delicate gear.
Noise ground higher suited to headphone use.
The title EarMen is synonymous with high quality and portability (or transportability). Having reviewed the entire earlier choices from this sub-brand of Auris Audio, in addition to the venerable Euterpe DAC/headphone amplifier from Auris, I’m fairly conversant in their choices.
The EarMen Angel nonetheless sees common utilization inside my system, not just for opinions, reminding me of the sheer energy that’s wrought from the corporate’s choices.
Revolutionary to a degree, the corporate now presents its first moveable tube amplifier providing, the L-Amp, operating NOS Raytheon JAN6418 tubes, and nicely protected on a suspension system.
I’m honored to get the prospect to assessment Media Pattern #2 (my favourite quantity), with Miki’s signature blazoned on the again. If the corporate’s earlier historical past is a foretelling of the longer term, the L-Amp shall be fairly good, certainly.
Options
The L-Amp is an built-in DAC and moveable tube amplifier. It makes use of a single ESS SABRE DAC (32-bit, 384kHz PCM, DSD DoP128), paired with the NOS army grade JAN6418 USA-made tubes.
The twin tube setup is mounted on an revolutionary suspension system utilizing 4 silicone O-ring mounts to scale back vibration, reduce mechanical suggestions, in response to the EarMen. A press release that bears out whereas listening.
Whereas there’s nonetheless the acquainted “ping” of a tube amplifier, the isolation works its magic as soon as the music begins. Plugging in headphones or IEMs will carry on a brief, pretty delicate “pop,” which is typical of amplifiers of this kind.
The absolutely balanced circuitry on each outputs runs seamlessly, without having to vary any switches. The facility stage of the L-Amp then comes into play, constructed utilizing the INA1620 Burr-Brown operational amplifiers to supply 1W at 8Ω.
I had no drawback operating the notoriously hard-to-drive SJY Horizon headphones on the L-Amp, which did shock me.
To save lots of battery energy in your supply, one other USB-C enter permits for an exterior energy supply. I utilized the L-Amp in each methods. A pleasant characteristic is the Full Energy Safety, which mechanically resets energy to guard the headphones and the gadget from potential injury brought on by overdriving.
Design
The shiny black rectangular L-Amp seems to be the half and, fortunately, does so with out being liable to fingerprints. The highest carries gold-plated 4.4mm balanced and three.5mm single-ended headphone jacks, whereas the underside carries the 2 gold-plated USB-C ports.
The left one is for knowledge (and energy if you don’t use the opposite), and the proper is for exterior energy, do you have to need (or want) to avoid wasting the battery of your supply.
The entrance carries each EarMen and L-Amp in tasteful gold lettering. Set between the 2 is the window to the previous, so to talk.
Whereas the tubes don’t gentle themselves up, the purple LED behind offers off a tube-like glow to the Raytheon tubes. When activated, the purple LED for Bass+ exhibits under the tubes as nicely.
The left aspect carries the aforementioned Bass+ swap, with the play/pause button above; each are withdrawn into an inset so they’re flush with the aspect.
The correct aspect carries the amount up and down buttons with the IEM swap above, once more inset. The IEM swap quells any noise for delicate IEMs, permitting the music to return forth silently.
The again carries two giant, rounded rubber “ft” to be used in your desktop, with the “Media Pattern 2” and “Restricted Version” embossed between, together with Miki’s signature.
This can be a classy-looking unit that basically needs to be showcased. These ft can do double responsibility when paired together with your smartphone or DAP, stacking them like within the previous days in case you like.
I/O
The L-Amp offers the consumer with a single USB-C enter. That’s it. However since just about all Smartphones and sources make the most of USB-C now, that is sensible. Plus, why current extra when this may present for our musical wants?
You’ll be able to both use the L-Amp straight out of your supply (dropping about 3-7%/hour relying upon quantity ranges and supply) or use the opposite USB-C port to run an exterior energy possibility. I discovered no distinction within the musical tonality between the 2.
With both 3.5mm single-end or 4.4mm balanced jacks, the output aspect presents two easy choices, too. The connection was simple and with out concern.
USB-OTG
For the reason that L-Amp has solely a USB-C enter, this was a straightforward take a look at. The connection was seamless and well timed, particularly if I ran the exterior energy possibility.
Whereas the L-Amp solely used a couple of proportion factors an hour, operating from a devoted energy supply helped alleviate the drop. I did discover it finest to “heat up” the gadget for a small little bit of time earlier than listening.
After all, the L-Amp functioned nicely with out an exterior battery supply, and I solely misplaced 5-7% per hour from my iPhone 16 Professional Max. That is significantly better than different gadgets I’ve examined previously.
Controls
A minimal variety of choices can be found for the consumer to manage, however nonetheless very important. On the proper aspect, you will have the amount up and down button and the mandatory IEM swap, which minimizes potential noise for delicate IEMs.
The correct carries the play/pause button and the Bass+ button, including extra weight to the already hefty sound signature. I ran the Bass+ on the vast majority of the testing interval, particularly for headphones such because the Kennerton Rognir, which run a bit bass-light in depth anyway.
Packaging & Equipment
The EarMen L-Amp is available in an oblong field, with a clamshell-type opening, which reveals the unit tucked safely right into a delicate foam insert. When you open the field, you catch sight of the shiny L-Amp, and the tubes entrance and middle.
Tucked beneath the L-Amp is the acquainted mesh carrying pouch, together with two USB-C to USB-C cables. One of many cables is about 9” lengthy for stacking functions, and the opposite is about 18” for desktop utilization. You additionally get the consumer information and guarantee card.
Sound Impressions
Listening impressions had been made utilizing my iPhone 16 Professional Max, HiBy R4, FiiO JM21, and my MacBook Professional as sources. Headphones and IEMs used all through the take a look at included the SJY Horizon, Kennerton Rognir, Campfire Audio Supermoon, and the Drop x Campfire Audio Darkish Star.
The L-Amp was ‘burned in’ for over 75 hours earlier than crucial listening occurred.
Abstract
The precision with which the ESS exhibits forth counters the tube-like sound with aplomb. A wonderful stability between the 2 permits the listener to expertise each, very similar to you’ll on a desktop unit.
I discovered the ability utterly satisfactory to drive even the toughest headphones I personal, the SJY Horizon, with no trouble.
This exhibits that energy will not be a difficulty and could be managed even with these harder-to-drive items. IEMs, alternatively, profit from the IEM swap, darkening the background to a minimal, particularly with the notoriously delicate Campfire Audio choices.
What transpired is a totally natural, but musical sound emanating forth with deep-reaching bass (particularly with Bass+ on) that flowed with out trouble into the sumptuously tube-like midrange.
The treble attain, whereas not far-reaching, lends sufficient presence to develop the peak of sound supplied. Vocals come throughout as thick and luxurious however correct, ending off the L-Amp sound signature.
Bass
The bass is unquestionably enhanced with the Bass+ swap, which turned my most popular selection with headphones and IEMs which will appear “bass-light,” such because the Rognir.
Opposite to that, the Kennerton offers a superb basis as a substitute of large quantities of low-end grunt. Including the Bass+ afforded the music to hold forth into the lower-midrange, however with out encumbering the mids.
The bass high quality is what you may anticipate from a tube amplifier, good to wonderful, however with out the tightness of a real solid-state providing. To many, this is absolutely the enchantment of an amplifier comparable to this.
I simply got here off a tube amplifier assessment, and transferring to this one affords a superb comparability between the 2. Whereas the true desktop unit can certainly come throughout with true tube-like sound, the L-Amp claims itself nicely, offering good low-end attain, even when not probably the most managed.
Mids
The ESS chip makes its presence right here most likely probably the most, with a precision that’s most undoubtedly from that familial line. Whereas the slower signature down low can current a extra mellow providing, the midrange brings ahead an alacrity to it that retains the music transferring.
The extent of element from the ESS chip makes itself heard, with a exact element retrieval that offers the L-Amp that stability of which I spoke above.
The midrange is a straightforward hear when combining the 2, giving me a liquid presence that gives excellent readability and a slight crispness to the sound {that a} pure tube amplifier may not match.
That stability carries over into vocals, too. The musicalness offered, particularly with sure genres comparable to jazz, promotes a sultriness to the vocals, which gives the look of being proper on the present.
That ought to not overrun the accuracy of vocals, both. Extra outlined music can nonetheless current itself as correct, musical, and pure on the identical time.
Treble
That accuracy comes forth within the treble area apart from the higher midrange. Devices that needs to be exact and current, however not overbearing, come about with ranges of element that present precision, however not in a dry method.
That liquidity carries into the higher attain, presenting simply sufficient element to indicate extension with out changing into too peaky or sparkly.
The treble area might be the place I discovered probably the most element when utilizing IEMs. Brighter choices such because the Supermoon did come throughout with extra background noise, however this may very well be largely calmed by utilizing the IEM swap.
Nonetheless, as soon as the music began, that noise was relegated to the very again with out concern.
I additionally discovered headphones that carry a sometimes brighter signature, such because the Rognir, to return throughout with out trouble, and I even used the IEM swap with these to supply a comparability, listed under.
Staging
The cubic impact of the soundstage is appreciated for its accuracy in representing the placement of all concerned within the presentation.
The width is great, presenting an out-of-the-head expertise that’s spacious and roomy, however not too expansive in order that the music thins in high quality.
The depth presents correct to-and-fro affirmation of placement, whereas the peak affords the listener with a superb illustration of imaging and layering. This may assist to clarify why the vocals come throughout as musically correct with good weight with out changing into strident or peaky.
With every layer working in live performance on this impact, the result’s an correct illustration of the supply music, however with a extra laid-back nature to it.
Word weight is thicker, selling a lush character that’s neither too skinny nor too thick, which may typically occur when word weight overtakes transient response.
This word physique offers the entire presentation a likeness of a full-on tube amplifier however with out changing into slushy or too drippy, which is a wonderful trick.
Click on on web page 2 under for my beneficial pairings and chosen comparisons.
