Moving upfield !

........wonderfully delicate, smooth presentation, with fleshed-out midrange and a beatific sense of tone which defies easy description. It is simultaneously open and intimate, with superb spatial definition and rock-solid imaging..........bombastic dynamics and loads in superior bass texture, more expansive top-end air, and a more balanced presentation from top to toe...........Want a rich, warm sound, dripping with vintage tube charm? Run the EL34s in triode mode, and maybe switch to medium output impedance depending on the headphone in use. Mission accomplished! Prefer a faster, more balanced sound signature with superb extension and plenty of muscle? Swap in the KT88 duo and run them in ultra-linear mode with low output impedance. Done deal! Looking for some combination of both of those extremes? Just mix and match for interesting results. My personal favourite often ended up with KT88 tubes running in triode mode, which gives pleasing solidity tempered by an air of tonal seduction for what I consider a nearly perfect compromise.........the HA-6A’s signature can be dialed in for maximum synergy with a particular headphone and source combination. While not at all an inexpensive amplifier, when we factor in the stunning good looks, absurdly sollid build quality, and its numerous sonic presentations, the Cayin HA-6A might actually qualify as something of a bargain. Plenty of folks out there own multiple headphone amplifiers to realise a variety of headphone sound profiles. The HA-6A rolls it all into one device. Brilliant.

Darko Audio - John Grandberg

John Grandberg | USA | November 2020