Right now, Marcus opinions the HIFIMAN Goldenwave GA-10, a brand new desktop single-ended push-pull headphone tube amplifier with as much as 3W output energy. It’s at present priced at $1599.00
Disclaimer: I acquired this pattern in trade for my sincere opinion. Headfonics is an unbiased web site with no affiliate hyperlinks or standing. I thank the staff at HIFIMAN for his or her assist.
Click on right here to learn extra concerning the HIFIMAN merchandise beforehand reviewed on Headfonics.
This text follows our present scoring tips, which you’ll be able to learn in additional element right here.
HIFIMAN Goldenwave GA-10 Evaluation
Abstract
The HIFIMAN Goldenwave GA-10 is a superb worth tube amplifier, constructed like a tank, simple to make use of, and straightforward on the ear with a spacious presentation that works exceedingly effectively with a variety of headphones and IEMs.
Execs
Spacious and balanced-sounding presentation, particularly on the X-Axis.
Works effectively with a variety of headphones and IEMs
Strong construct high quality and design.
Cons
Lacks a pre-amp output
Potentiometer dial doesn’t have an enormous quantity of resistance.
Different competing tube amplifiers provide a weightier low-end.
The GA-10 is the third launch from HIFIMAN’s 2023 acquisition of Goldenwave. It was launched in the direction of the tip of 2024 to have fun Goldenwave’s tenth anniversary.
Priced at $1599, this desktop tube headphone amplifier is positioned within the firm’s ‘Premium Sequence’ lineup alongside the Mini Shangri-La electrostatic system and the non-Wi-fi model of the Goldenwave Serenade.
There are higher-end tube amplifiers in HIFIMAN’s lineup, such because the Shangri-La Jr and Sr. Nevertheless, these are electrostatic-only amplifiers and are engineered to particularly match with their accompanying headphones.
If reminiscence serves me appropriately, then the GA-10 would possibly effectively be HIFIMAN’s most bold general-purpose headphone tube amplifier to date.
Earlier makes an attempt have been largely hybrid choices at entry-level costs, such because the EF100 or the EF5 from 2010, so arguably the Goldenwave sub-label is proving a fruitful avenue, permitting HIFIMAN to additional diversify their vary.
Can this new providing stand tall towards opponents such because the Cayin HA-2A, Auris Audio’s HA-2SE+, and even Feliks Audio’s glorious OTL-engineered EUFORIA evo? I discovered in my full assessment under.
Options
The GA-10 is a pure analog headphone amplifier with out pre-amplification functionality or an built-in DAC. It additionally has a number of eye-opening options or stats that may make it stand out extra from competing tube amplifiers.
The obvious is the facility ranking. At 3W, it’s a fairly highly effective tube amplifier, however that rated 3W is on a heavy 300Ω load, with the same old 32Ω milestone load candy spot dropping significantly to 600 mW. In easy phrases, the output energy sample has a powerful voltage bias.
As a result of this amplifier’s structure is classed as a single-ended push-pull (SEPP), the listed output ranking is similar for all outputs, whether or not 4-pin XLR, 4.4mm, or the 6.35mm connection.
That may doubtless information your hand to particular increased impedance headphones, such because the ZMF Headphones Atrium and the Sennheiser HD 800, for optimum efficiency.
Nevertheless, as one can find out within the synergy part on web page 2 of this assessment, decrease impedance headphones such because the Arya Stealth Magnet Model may sound beautiful on the GA-10.
For the tube implementation, HIFIMAN/Goldenwave has chosen a reasonably standard and readily accessible mixture of 4 miniature dual-triode ECC83/12AX7 and 4 energy pentode EL84 (6BQ5) vacuum tubes.
These are break up into 4 per channel, with the ECC83 x 2 used as a differential amplifier and the EL84 x 2 as the driving force output.
HIFIMAN has not declared the tube makers, however I can affirm my pattern has a mixture of Reflektor 6P14 and 12AX7 Sovtek tubes, with the present manufacturing run utilizing PSVANE equivalents.
Design
The GA-10 is a beast of a desktop tube amplifier. With a specifically designed, shielded 120W transformer, it weighs in at slightly below 12kg with dimensions of 330*110*380mm. This isn’t a dinky workplace house companion, requiring house to breathe and an honest rack or shelf to assist it.
That is an analog amplifier, so, relying on the size of your interconnects, it is advisable to place it moderately close to your DAC or supply place.
The aesthetics are pretty, showcasing what is a reasonably unmistakable-looking Goldenwave design language first seen on the Serenade and Prelude fashions I reviewed in 2023.
It’s a contemporary minimalist visible with thick aluminum plating ending in all black, save for silver mechanical switches on the entrance panel for energy, impedance, and enter choice. Socket and management labels are in all white, well-spaced, and straightforward to learn.
Barely off heart on the entrance panel is the analog potentiometer with a marvelously massive quantity dial full with a finger recess that doubles for simple management and a quantity stage marker.
Sides and high panels have some significantly heavy venting patterns, with the precise and left vents large sufficient to will let you peer into the internals.
These panels are additionally accountable for letting out some tube glow, although in comparison with conventional high plate tube amplifier designs, the GA-10 is way extra discreet for lighting.
The GA-10 base is completed with 4 rubber ft which can be caught on and never built-in into the chassis. They do job of conserving the amplifier in a set place, even on tempered glass.
Watch out in humid circumstances or aircon-controlled environments, as you don’t dry out the rubber ft’ stickiness, they’ll fall off. The plus aspect is that they’re replaceable from any first rate ironmongery shop.
I/O
The entrance panel is correctly geared up for the total vary of contemporary headphone jacks, together with 4-pin XLR, 6.35mm, and 4.4mm. The one factor lacking is a 3.5mm connection, however it’s more and more uncommon to see that on amplifiers today.
The GA-10 has no pre-amp functionality or built-in DAC, so the rear panel homes a quite simple 4-pin XLR and twin RCA inputs, relying on the connection you want to use.
Keep in mind, this can be a single-ended topology, so the output energy won’t differ. Nevertheless, relying on the DAC, you’ll be able to ship an improved voltage stage into the GA-10 by way of XLR to offer it a bit extra headroom, for instance, 4Vrms over 2Vrms.
Single-ended DACs that use twin RCA however provide controllable Vrms lineout, such because the Chord Electronics Qutest, are additionally value testing if you wish to use the GA-10’s RCA line-in.
Other than the analog inputs, the GA-10 rear panel has a typical IEC C14 energy socket and a spare fuse on the far proper with a grasp on/off swap.
Controls
Sadly, the GA-10 doesn’t include a distant management, however since it’s a headphone amplifier, I doubt you can be too far-off from it except you might be operating 5m cables and glued to your sofa.
The ‘Energy on’ standing is denoted by a single blue LED gentle above the silver mechanical energy swap, which doesn’t provide an enormous quantity of resistance. Neither does the quantity dial, which I additionally discover a shade on the unfastened aspect, so watch out to keep away from pushing up the quantity by unintentionally brushing it along with your arms.
The excessive/low impedance and enter swap selectors are suitably stiff, so I doubt these might be unintentionally pushed throughout use. The impedance break up between excessive and low is roughly 0-60Ω for low and 60-300Ω for top.
Packaging & Equipment
The GA-10 comes packaged in regulation HiFi brown cardboard packaging. It’s common, although not at all thrilling, with easy prints on the surface denoting the Goldenwave model on the surface (no HIFIMAN branding?).
Inside, the unit is surrounded by heavy-duty foam inserts, although I might have most popular a vented tube amplifier wrapped in electrostatic shielding plastic or a protecting cloth mud bag.
My assessment pattern got here with an influence plug for my area and setup for 220V. Yours will include a plug and voltage ranking relevant to your area, so it’s going to range.
Other than the above, I received a brief guide in Chinese language, and once more, I presume your retail unit can have the identical guide in English.
I might even have preferred to have seen a small Allan key included for lifting the highest plate to entry the tubes. The tube rolling group is perhaps throughout this one, given how reasonably priced and simply obtainable these tubes are.
Click on on web page 2 under for my sound impressions and really useful pairings.
