I didn't mean to sound mean. Sorry if I did. I appreciate the fact we are exposed to new quality products but I think we need more personal impressions and critique rather than a mere reading of general details. The later is important and should be included but not at the expense or dearth of the former. Thanks.
I like Sony products, and believe its quality, but really do not know why it comes to be behind of other brands, people start to forgetting it. What is your idea?
I'm a big Sony fan, but I think the PHA-3 is too middle of the road in terms of sound for high-end audiophiles and too expensive for the average consumer.
***** Yes, Sony is at the middle of two ends- Apple and Lenovo. Sony can not compete with Apple for its brand reputation and compete with Lenovo for the price.
+Innovv ActionCam Brand reputation? Apple doesn't have any in my view. Sure, the Apple Mac Pro is good, but that's about the only product that they have that's worth any notice. You can't even compare the range of product that Sony offers to Apple. Sony has its consumer branch, but to me Sony is a broadcast and audio equipment brand foremost, and this is where the reputation comes from. Also, in the high-end consumer market, they had some incredible product. I mean, checkout their top of the line SA-CD players. They are amazing.
Well, to me Sony is still THE audio company after their 70-year legacy in both consumer and professional market. Check out the audio gear in this brochure www.broadcaststore.com/pdf/model/10728/PCM-3348.pdf The multitrack digital tape recorder, the mixer, the MO disk master deck. Looks tasty to me. :)
could u briefly tell me what would be the benefit of having the 4-pin balanced xlr jack.im very noob to amps and dacs.i would really love to learn more about these kind of products.
+Kevin Zeng Huh? Power is power. If they can power 600ohm headphones that's where the sound part (quality headphones) comes in to play. What Cypher Labs Theorum 720 no good either?
+Peragulator The PHA-3 can power 600ohm headphones too. The Sony also has twice the power output than the TEAC at 320mW (32ohm load). Again, power doesn't mean everything. The Sony has a better processor, dual mono topology, as well as a lot more features such as DSEE HX, balanced connections, DSD support and its built like a tank. The HA-P50 design looks like a direct copy of the Sony PHA line. Don't get me wrong, I love TEAC products and I've owned their DACs in the past (UD-H01) but the HA-P50 is not in the same league as the PHA-3. Subjectively and Objectively the PHA-3 is superior. Whether you deem the PHA-3 to be worth the price is a matter of personal value judgement. Remember, Sony is widely known as the "Apple" of Asia, so you are paying not only for the quality but also for the brand loyalty/image that is synonymous with Sony.
Obviously the CEntrance hi fi m8, Cypher Labs Theorum 720 and Oppo HA2 are all vastly superior (and considerably less expensive) to the Sony offering. Sony is synonymous with "overpriced". How many cans are in need of a balanced output? DSEE HX. A placebo.
Hi nice video , i have a question. if i buy a single ended trrs cable for my iem's can i where should i plug them in to the PHA-3 ? or is it not compatible ? thanks
I have a question. These headphone amplifiers are wonderful devices, and address major problems with consumer touch screen devices, such as poor DAC's and luck of juice for high-impedance headphones. However, I find the silicon/rubber strap-on type attachment a bit disappointing aesthetic-wise (to say the least...) Is there any single company who make a music player and headamp connect and latch together, like say most professional recorders attach neatly on a stand or tripod without any strap-on attachments?
I see, but that's their own DAC/headamp unit, makes device quite elongated. I think what I am going to do is cannibalize Sony L battery charger part, and bottom of L battery (or M-type battery, whatever) and crazy glue the charger battery attachment part onto the PHA-3 and the bottom battery part, glue that on the bottom of the NW-ZX2 player, oh, and I'll kick start my own compaign: it's gonna sell in thousands :) I mean, come on, such a great design of players and amps, and yet such simple and so obvious this has been totally overlooked. If nobody comes up with solution, I will.
Late reply, but I`ll add for other readers: If you have a need for a dedicated DAP you could easily go for FiiO, their X1 and X3 players have great sound as they are, but for more demanding headphones, and amplifier use, they have a stacking kit, so you can connect the players and I think at least two of their amps without rubber bands etc. Personally I just use a longer cable so I can put my phone/player in one pocket and the amp in another :) www.amazon.com/FiiO-X1-Stacking-Kit-HS12/dp/B00PUCKU2Q
***** Battery tech has actually made significant progress since early 2000`s :) At least when it comes to availability and affordability of Lithium batteries and their safe usage. In 2001 LiPo`s used in RC were regularly catching on fire lol.. AND they were really expensive. And being a vaper, I`ll mention 18650 Li-Ion cells: They have improved drastically at least in the consumer market :) Otherwise I agree with everything you said lol..
aunchient pistol no. I am still thinking...more option.. marantz hd dac1 or woo audio wa6 fireflies.. and mojo... I want to get the mojo but some people say mojo make any headphones sound signature flat.... I hate flat sound. no fun at all. but I want to try. .. dilemma. .
C'mon Mike...we can't to see a real review from you. You are doing a great job unboxing but I think it will be even better if you are doing some impressions/reviews of these products.
Costs under 100 $ to produce. At 200 $ it would be a nice profit rate. 1000 $ would be better spent on a very bigh quality headphones, then if you got the money, why not. Looks great and probably performs well.
What a "well thought-out" fascinating product. Using two separate ports for DACing and charging is more than ridiculous. What if I wanna use it as an external DAC/amp on my laptop (just like how I use my PHA1 now)? I'd have to buy a USB-A to USB-A cable and sacrifice two instead of one USB ports on my laptop (another one SOLELY for powering this amazing device). Or grab one of my iPhone chargers (not included in this a-thousand-dollar device) to power the device and have the ugliest looking desktop setup in human history. Or use the internal battery. (Battery-operated PC-Hifi system huh? That's how we roll?) Man, is it that hard to combine powering and DACing into one microUSB connection, given that you've already had a microUSB port on its back?
+Mingding Wang HAHA you are so right ugliest set up but OMG the SOUND is PHENOMENAL! I just got the PHA3 and like you I said ; strange 2 USB needed!!! But I am absolutely blown away by the High Res playback of my music from HDtracks. Stunningly Beautiful sound. Best EVER
Or get a fiio e11 amp for 60$ and be satisfied for your amplifying needs although it does have a lot of distortion playing w/ bass boost switched to two and the volume all the way up but I would recommend it to anyone in a heart beat
Without included platinum or titanium or kevlar or carbon fiber USB cables how can this sound any good? Don't you know anything about how important a high end USB cable is?!
Erik H Basically it makes the music louder. Some headphones need more power than you can get from a source (for example smartphones). So if you put these headphones in, they might be too quiet. Thats why you need an amplifier to power these headphones.
Go here to understand what a quality DAC/AMP can do to for your music, if you listen to mp3's then you don't need any high end DAC/AMP as you don't know what good quality music sounds like, but that's the norm with today's mp3's generation, www.head-fi.org
No doubt Sony could produce some really good quality audio equipments. Personally I'm using Sony's IEM as well. Satisfied. But if I were to use these as portable devices, such as taking the public transport, it would be out of the picture. As a permanent attachment at home, or computer, that would be more likely.
+GLOCK GURU Hi there I got the PHA3 and WOW I listened to some HDtracks right away OMG fantastic sound. BACH, Brahms, Vivaldi, some JAZZ, BECK, even Donna Symmer in HD yes AMAZING!!! I also have the DAC OPO and the DAC Magic great but the PHA3 is just phenomenal with the right music source! I know right.. that guy should have talked about the most important part how does it sound!
You forgot the most amazing part! IT SOUNDS PHENOMENAL especially when playing High Resolution Music.
I didn't mean to sound mean. Sorry if I did. I appreciate the fact we are exposed to new quality products but I think we need more personal impressions and critique rather than a mere reading of general details. The later is important and should be included but not at the expense or dearth of the former. Thanks.
I have the pha2 and pha 3.
Both sound great and are iPhone compatible. Great “Swiss army knife” DAC, preamp and headphone amp devices.
how different the pha2 and pha3 sounds?, should i go for the pha 2 instead of the 3? (because the pha 2 is 1/3 of the price compares to the 3)
I'm tired listening to you reading details from a box that we can get from any website. Please review SOMETHING! I beg of you!
Gibbzee amen
I bought the PHA-3 and listen with my iphone headphones, you know, the white ones from apple. They sound wonderful!
Thats like driving a Lambo with the cheapest fuel. You should use some high quality headphones to get a real good experiance.
I just bought the shure se846. Now I own a lambo as it is meant to be 😀
I like Sony products, and believe its quality, but really do not know why it comes to be behind of other brands, people start to forgetting it. What is your idea?
I'm a big Sony fan, but I think the PHA-3 is too middle of the road in terms of sound for high-end audiophiles and too expensive for the average consumer.
***** Yes, Sony is at the middle of two ends- Apple and Lenovo. Sony can not compete with Apple for its brand reputation and compete with Lenovo for the price.
+Innovv ActionCam
Brand reputation? Apple doesn't have any in my view. Sure, the Apple Mac Pro is good, but that's about the only product that they have that's worth any notice. You can't even compare the range of product that Sony offers to Apple. Sony has its consumer branch, but to me Sony is a broadcast and audio equipment brand foremost, and this is where the reputation comes from. Also, in the high-end consumer market, they had some incredible product. I mean, checkout their top of the line SA-CD players. They are amazing.
Well, to me Sony is still THE audio company after their 70-year legacy in both consumer and professional market. Check out the audio gear in this brochure www.broadcaststore.com/pdf/model/10728/PCM-3348.pdf The multitrack digital tape recorder, the mixer, the MO disk master deck. Looks tasty to me. :)
wonder how much better it is than an o2 amp considering the o2 has reference quality.
if you plugged a charging cable like a lightning or micro usb cable into the usb port on the back, would it charge your phone?
Too bad this doesn't have a 4-pin balanced XLR jack. If it did, I might be interested in it.
could u briefly tell me what would be the benefit of having the 4-pin balanced xlr jack.im very noob to amps and dacs.i would really love to learn more about these kind of products.
If you use a balanced pair of headphone, can a regular pair of headphone be simultaneously listening through the third port?
can the pha-3 drive the new audeze el-8? how long does the batteries last? and how do we go about charging it? charges via usb?
Can you review how well this dac amp works with your favorite sony headphones and music player?
The TEAC HA-P50 will power 600 ohm headphones, get 7hrs of use on a charge and is $800.00 less than the PHA3.
+Peragulator have to agree,sony portable dac are not really worth to buy.
+Peragulator Doesn't sound nearly as good. Power =/= sound quality
+Kevin Zeng Huh? Power is power. If they can power 600ohm headphones that's where the sound part (quality headphones) comes in to play.
What Cypher Labs Theorum 720 no good either?
+Peragulator The PHA-3 can power 600ohm headphones too. The Sony also has twice the power output than the TEAC at 320mW (32ohm load). Again, power doesn't mean everything. The Sony has a better processor, dual mono topology, as well as a lot more features such as DSEE HX, balanced connections, DSD support and its built like a tank. The HA-P50 design looks like a direct copy of the Sony PHA line. Don't get me wrong, I love TEAC products and I've owned their DACs in the past (UD-H01) but the HA-P50 is not in the same league as the PHA-3. Subjectively and Objectively the PHA-3 is superior. Whether you deem the PHA-3 to be worth the price is a matter of personal value judgement. Remember, Sony is widely known as the "Apple" of Asia, so you are paying not only for the quality but also for the brand loyalty/image that is synonymous with Sony.
Obviously the CEntrance hi fi m8, Cypher Labs Theorum 720 and Oppo HA2 are all vastly superior (and considerably less expensive) to the Sony offering. Sony is synonymous with "overpriced".
How many cans are in need of a balanced output?
DSEE HX. A placebo.
This one, or SHA900 or Chord Mojo?
Hi nice video , i have a question.
if i buy a single ended trrs cable for my iem's can i where should i plug them in to the PHA-3 ? or is it not compatible ?
thanks
I have a question. These headphone amplifiers are wonderful devices, and address major problems with consumer touch screen devices, such as poor DAC's and luck of juice for high-impedance headphones. However, I find the silicon/rubber strap-on type attachment a bit disappointing aesthetic-wise (to say the least...) Is there any single company who make a music player and headamp connect and latch together, like say most professional recorders attach neatly on a stand or tripod without any strap-on attachments?
Andrew Piatek yes, check out CEntrance HiFi Skin on kickstarter.
I see, but that's their own DAC/headamp unit, makes device quite elongated. I think what I am going to do is cannibalize Sony L battery charger part, and bottom of L battery (or M-type battery, whatever) and crazy glue the charger battery attachment part onto the PHA-3 and the bottom battery part, glue that on the bottom of the NW-ZX2 player, oh, and I'll kick start my own compaign: it's gonna sell in thousands :) I mean, come on, such a great design of players and amps, and yet such simple and so obvious this has been totally overlooked. If nobody comes up with solution, I will.
Late reply, but I`ll add for other readers: If you have a need for a dedicated DAP you could easily go for FiiO, their X1 and X3 players have great sound as they are, but for more demanding headphones, and amplifier use, they have a stacking kit, so you can connect the players and I think at least two of their amps without rubber bands etc.
Personally I just use a longer cable so I can put my phone/player in one pocket and the amp in another :)
www.amazon.com/FiiO-X1-Stacking-Kit-HS12/dp/B00PUCKU2Q
*****
Battery tech has actually made significant progress since early 2000`s :)
At least when it comes to availability and affordability of Lithium batteries and their safe usage.
In 2001 LiPo`s used in RC were regularly catching on fire lol..
AND they were really expensive.
And being a vaper, I`ll mention 18650 Li-Ion cells:
They have improved drastically at least in the consumer market :)
Otherwise I agree with everything you said lol..
Definitely would like to see more reviews > unboxings. Good videos though!
Love the look but the back panel cheapens it for me a bit.
hey mike, can you do a review on the JDS Labs O2 DAC/AMP combo? I would like to hear you opinion.
Agreed +1
How can i conectin whit mojo ; the mojo like a dac only and the pha3 like a amplificador both with smartphone tank for your answer
i don't have a dual balance type of headphone, is it still worth to get a pha-3 instead of pha2? thanks
this one or chord mojo? I hv a ultrasone edition 8. and I want to make bass stronger a bit. can u recommend?
get the Mojo
Hi-Fi Insider hey i got same dilema what i must chosed mojo? give me the reason please thanks!
Alif Rahman Hakim get the mojo
aunchient pistol no. I am still thinking...more option.. marantz hd dac1 or woo audio wa6 fireflies.. and mojo... I want to get the mojo but some people say mojo make any headphones sound signature flat.... I hate flat sound. no fun at all. but I want to try. .. dilemma. .
I know my grid for a dac.amp grows daily uselessly. probably i am gonna buy the mojo ...
The price tag isn't justified, I don't see how they could possibly put this thing out there and ask for 2x as much as the PHA-2
C'mon Mike...we can't to see a real review from you. You are doing a great job unboxing but I think it will be even better if you are doing some impressions/reviews of these products.
I need this in my life
Now do a review of the DMP - Z1 and compare the size!
Please review items.
Costs under 100 $ to produce. At 200 $ it would be a nice profit rate. 1000 $ would be better spent on a very bigh quality headphones, then if you got the money, why not. Looks great and probably performs well.
How do you compare this to Chord Mojo for SQ?
What a "well thought-out" fascinating product. Using two separate ports for DACing and charging is more than ridiculous. What if I wanna use it as an external DAC/amp on my laptop (just like how I use my PHA1 now)? I'd have to buy a USB-A to USB-A cable and sacrifice two instead of one USB ports on my laptop (another one SOLELY for powering this amazing device). Or grab one of my iPhone chargers (not included in this a-thousand-dollar device) to power the device and have the ugliest looking desktop setup in human history. Or use the internal battery. (Battery-operated PC-Hifi system huh? That's how we roll?) Man, is it that hard to combine powering and DACing into one microUSB connection, given that you've already had a microUSB port on its back?
+Mingding Wang HAHA you are so right ugliest set up but OMG the SOUND is PHENOMENAL! I just got the PHA3 and like you I said ; strange 2 USB needed!!!
But I am absolutely blown away by the High Res playback of my music from HDtracks. Stunningly Beautiful sound. Best EVER
Or get a fiio e11 amp for 60$ and be satisfied for your amplifying needs although it does have a lot of distortion playing w/ bass boost switched to two and the volume all the way up but I would recommend it to anyone in a heart beat
You really should unbox the Shure SE846 earphones...
An other unboxing video.... review the sound as would be much more useful. Info and pictures can be viewed from internet. IMO.
Without included platinum or titanium or kevlar or carbon fiber USB cables how can this sound any good? Don't you know anything about how important a high end USB cable is?!
What does a DAC/AMP do? I mean i have IEMs but i don't know why do ppl keep telling me i need DAC/AMP. Is it basic make the music louder or something?
Erik H Basically it makes the music louder. Some headphones need more power than you can get from a source (for example smartphones). So if you put these headphones in, they might be too quiet. Thats why you need an amplifier to power these headphones.
Go here to understand what a quality DAC/AMP can do to for your music, if you listen to mp3's then you don't need any high end DAC/AMP as you don't know what good quality music sounds like, but that's the norm with today's mp3's generation, www.head-fi.org
At last !! Thank you, which dac do you recommend between the pha-2 and pha-3 to use with the sennheiser ie800s
no doubt it would be the PHA-3
sony is not permitted to make apple cables! it can make stuff compatible(voltwise?) but nothing which would replace apple's stuff!!
How could I resolve the problems of the503networks?
Can it drive 600ohm headphones? (DT-880)
This is stupidly expensive and bulky. I'm using a hippo cricri+ for my MacBook Pro and loving it.
True to that. But with deterred mobility, you could have even better sound quality with bigger non portable amps.
No doubt Sony could produce some really good quality audio equipments. Personally I'm using Sony's IEM as well. Satisfied.
But if I were to use these as portable devices, such as taking the public transport, it would be out of the picture. As a permanent attachment at home, or computer, that would be more likely.
Sound good with the xba-z5 and mdr-z7?
yes
The rubber bands are actually NOT rubber bands... it is silicone ;-)
1% distortion?
Good job Sony!
I wouldn't carry around a 999 thing. That's too much for it to be portable! But nice Unboxing
Yeah I agree get a fiio portable amp I recommend fiio e11 find one on ebay for like 60$
what does it sound like ?
+GLOCK GURU Hi there I got the PHA3 and WOW I listened to some HDtracks
right away OMG fantastic sound. BACH, Brahms, Vivaldi, some JAZZ, BECK, even Donna Symmer in HD
yes AMAZING!!! I also have the DAC OPO and the DAC Magic great but the PHA3 is just phenomenal with the right music source! I know right.. that guy should have talked about the most important part how does it sound!
+Charles D Los Angeles thanks bro
+GLOCK GURU thanks alot bro
Does not come with a charger????? Whaaat!
Really? A thousand bucks without a charging cable & brick? No way man!
Agreed, Objective amp + ODac is the BEST!
Heh... Pretty funny that no charger is included for a thousand bucks.
CAN THIS DRIVE THE HD800?
Easily!
I'll stick with my CEntrance hifi M8.
way too expensive, buy a mayflower for 250 sounds just as good
wow.. they are expensive.. must be great:)
About 4 months I did not go through your channel ago.
What do you think of these headphones?
www.alpineheadphones.com
we missed you. :) Skip those....
always unboxing, no review.
Please skip the unbox and get to heart of the matter PERFORMANCE Frankly the unboxing is of little interest to ANYONE!!!
To much dough
over priced .... enough said
This review is a waste of time . Stop beating around the bush and give us a real review !
Everything is made in china, including this DAC :)
+Badman Oorah what's wrong with made in China?
+Hi-Fi Insider Just don't like it, that's all.
+Hi-Fi Insider Everything is wrong with it from the perspective of Americans.