Auris Audio HA2-SE+

In this review we take a close look at the Auris Audio HA2-SE+ tube amplifier, selling for $2,399 USD.

Disclaimer: Auris Audio is not related to Headfonia in any way. The HA2-SE+ was sent to me to be featured on Headfonia.com.

Auris Audio

Auris Audio is a Serbian brand that mainly builds HiFi tube amplifiers and headphone amps but they also produce speakers and even turntables. Their signature design always involves real wooden accents. Auris Audio was formed in 2013 with a mission to fulfil the desires of the most demanding audiophiles. Sonically and visually.

Their team of in-house engineers all have high experience in the pro-audio field and in designing audio equipment. According to their website, they all work very closely together when they approach a new project. Every single one of their products is hand-made and using the best possible components for the price. They give a lot of attention to tubes, capacitors, transformers and connectors. Many of which they get custom made to meet their expectations.

Every new product of theirs goes through a series of strict tests, to ensure they are exactly what their customers want. All stages of assembly have their own quality control sections, just like it should be. There’s nothing more frustrating than getting a dead unit, and Auris makes sure nothing faulty goes out their door.

We have covered all of Auris’ headphone amplifiers in the past. I suggest you read up on the HA2-SE, HA2-SF, the Headonia, Nirvana and Euterpe review to get a full picture of their products. Today we are looking at Auris’ updated HA2-SE tube amplifier – the HA2-SE+!

The HA2 Series

Back in 2017, Auris Audio released the original HA2-SE. It at that time was selling for €1.590 Euro. Then in 2021, Auris came with the HA2-SF, and it went for $2,499 USD. When I asked Auris about the new name designation, I was told that F comes after E, so that’s that explained.

The original HA2-SE was a really good warm sounding tube amplifier and it put Auris Audio on the map in our Head-Fi world. While the HA2-SE was a really good amp and one of their best selling products, Auris felt they could make it even better and so they stopped producing it late in 2019. The HA2-SF had multiple improvements over the HA2-SE design, as well as a number of new features such as a balanced input and output. The series then also got the VU meters on the front, as well as a “pre out” function (RCA), allowing you to use the amp in your home setup.

The star has been born again and the successor of the famous HA-2SE amplifier is ready for the market to rise even higher than its predecessor. The HA-2SE was one of the best-selling devices from the Auris product range which launched Auris Audio to the very top of the world when it comes to the headphone amplifiers.

With the HA2-SE+, Auris is now partly going back closer to the original design with the tube choice but the looks are now completely different from before (more on these 2 topics later in this article). Luckily Auris Audio did keep the balanced in- and outputs from the HA2-SF version (even if it isn’t a real balanced design).

The HA2-SE+

The new HA2-SE+ headphone amplifier is selling for $2,399 USD. You can find its dedicated web page here. You can buy the HA2-SE+ from the Auris Audio dealer network, or via their shop directly.

The HA2-SE+ is a Single-Ended balanced headphone amplifier with a pre-out function (only single-ended). It is the 10th Anniversary version to celebrate the original HA2 design. Both the inputs and the headphone outputs are available in single-ended as well as in balanced mode. The Auris Audio HA2-SE+ is designed to drive all possible headphones and it has a manual impedance selector (50/150/300/600) to accommodate a whole range of cans.

The HA2-SE+’ power supply now is integrated in the chassis and Auris has paid special attention to it, using manually wound transformers on a double C core.

The original HA2-SE used four PL95 or EL95 power tubes together with an ECC82 input tube. The HA2-SF abandoned that track and used four ECC99 power tubes and a single input tube ECC82 tube (like in the Nirvana). The new HA2-SE+ again uses four PL95 or EL95 power tubes together with an ECC81 input tube. You can easily switch between the EL95 and PL95 tubes by using the switch located at the rear of the amplifier, accommodating their different heater ratings.

The remote control is optional but I tend to use it a lot in my office, so I’d recommend getting it. You can find the HA2-SE+’manual right here.

Tube Galore

The Auris HA2-SE+ features four 7-pin Ei PL95 pentode power NOS tubes, equivalent to 6DL5, and a single ECC81 dual-triode input tube, also known as 12AT7. The latter tube is a JJ Electronic one.

The EL and PL95 tubes can both be used in the amplifier and you only have to flick the switch on the back as these tubes have different heater ratings. You can learn more about the EL95 (and replacements like the 6DL5) right here: http://www.radiomuseum.org/tubes/tube_el95.html. According to Radiomuseum.org, the EL95 is an economic output tetrode, launched late 1955. The EL95 is designed for car radios or equipment with low power consumption and / or smaller output power demand. There are a lot of EL/PL rebrands on the market and the tubes are available for very little money. They however have very little impact on the amplifier’s sound.

Auris chose the well-known ECC81 tube as input tube for the HA2-SE+. We saw this choice before with the Auris Audio Headonia. The ECC81 is a double triode and it is also known as 12AT7, CV455 and CV4024. You can find out more about it here: https://www.radiomuseum.org/tubes/tube_ecc81.html. When tube rolling, the most impact will come from swapping out the ECC81 input tube.

After going back and forward with the different tube combinations, I in the end settled for the stock PL95 tubes in combination with a Zaerix branded, GDR made 12AT7/ECC81 tube. In the Headonia I tend to use a set of Mullard CV4024, but I found the HA2-SE+ to match better with this Zaerix. That said, the original JJ ECC81 also performs nicely, and the difference in sound in this amplifier design, is rather limited. If you do want to invest in a “better” ECC81 tube like the Mullard CV4024, it will set you back around €/$ 50 USD/Euro per tube.

Design & Build quality

If you’re familiar with the old Auris Audio designs, you know that Auris loved using leather and wood. Auris however for multiple reasons has changed their design, and all of their new gear now comes in a metal/aluminium enclosure. The new units still look nice, but for me personally they have lost a bit of their charm. The Auris Audio HA2-SE+ comes in a black enclosure with both rounded as well as sharp edges, grey controls and a power flick switch. It’s a complete break in style. Some people I have talked to actually prefer this new design line, so you might disagree with me on this point.

The Auris build quality still is perfect and everything is nicely finished. All connections, switches and buttons feel sturdy and will last a very long time. The only thing I don’t like control/use wise is the small power switch on the front.

The article continues on the second page. Click here or use the jumps below.

Page 1: Auris Audio, HA@-series, HA2-SE+, Tubes, Design & Build Quality

Page 2: Lay-out, Specifications, Sound Pt. 1

Page 3: Sound Pt. 2, End words, Summary