Sound – Classics
The HA2-SF ’s bass, as said before, is full. It goes low and super low when needed with the right headphones. Pace and attack are good and the amp is always in perfect control of the bass. Bass is tight and extra punchy, very engaging and to many will be very addictive. The level of detail in the bass is good, though the layering could be more evident and precise. But in general this is top quality bass with the right amount of body and impact to keep you engaged at all times.
The mids are even better than the base, and the timbre and dynamics here is exemplary. Here it’s where the tubes do most of their magic for me, and you get a spacious, natural presentation, with excellent detail and sublime vocals. Everything in these mids sits right: the body, smoothness, dynamics and naturalness. What is not to like?
The HA2-SF’s treble is energetic and lively, but soft and easy on the ears. It’s energetic and precise enough to keep everything exciting and to deliver a good contrast to the lows. It perfectly flows from the mids with a spacious and airy presentation. The level of detail is good. It’s the very easygoing kind of treble that gives you just enough but does nothing wrong either. A very safe tuning, but one with just enough excitement.
We’ll go into the single ended vs balanced discussion in the chapter on “Headphones”.
Sound – Headphones
The latest version of the Auris Audio HA2-SF, as explained in this article earlier, has a switch on the back for high and low gain. I with almost all of the headphones I tested the amp with, didn’t feel the need to switch to high gain. Let’s get started!
The HFN was discussing on what headphones to use for this section and we have agreed on the following: The Hifiman HE-1000SE and HE-R10D, the Sennheiser HD 800S, the HEDDphone and the Meze Empyrean. If you’re looking for a different, specific combo, please do ask me in the comment section, and I’ll see what I can do.
The Hifiman HE-1000SE is a reasonably easy to drive orthodynamic headphone and the HE2-SF has no issue driving it. We all know already that this is a great headphone, and it really matches the signature of the HA2-SF.
This Hifiman an Auris combo is dead silent and you get a very dynamic and balanced, linear sound from it with excellent speed, great detail and a lovely energy. The amount is body is good and it doesn’t add any extra weight to the HE-1000SE’s tuning. You get a nicely spacious and airy sound, with stunning decay and sublime PRaT. In balanced mode you get increased energy in the higher mids and treble region but you also get more space between notes in the mids and an extended top end. The difference isn’t huge however and for me personally the single ended output is the best for the HE-1000SE as is sounds more coherent.
The Hifiman HE-R10D is Hifiman’s newest dynamic driver closed headphone, and it comes in at 32Ohm impedance and 103dB sensitivity, making it an easy to drive full-sized headphone. It’s a very particular headphone, and my ears each time need some time to get used to the special bass presentation and very airy yet dark signature. Going from amp to amp, it actually within its own limitations and possibilities performs quite well. If you like bigger, not as tight and more bloated kind of bass, then this is a headphone for you. The HA2-SF can’t do much about it, but it keeps it reasonably under control. In this combo I fully recommend the single ended output, as it has the best control over the HE-R10D. Think bass, upper mids, more forward vocals and treble unevenness.
The Sennheiser HD 800 S is one of my personal favorites, and we all know Senns like tubes. The HA2-SE’s warmth was excellent with the HD800S, but with the successor in balanced mode you get a more neutral sound signature. It’s very fast and precise but the amount of body is lighter as well as the bass impact. To me it’s not the best amp for the HD800S. Things improve when you switch to the single ended output, but you still get a more HD800 like feeling. I am missing some body, wamth and bass impact in this combination.
The full AMT driven HEDD Audio HEDDPhone is the only headphone in this selection for which we have to use the high gain setting. I expected this combination to perform better, but to be honest the HEDDphone sounds rather soft, dull even, missing energy and clarity. The difference in this case between SE and balanced is minimal. Nope, I can’t love the HEDDphone with the HE2-SF.
The Meze Audio Empyrean and HE-2SF combo sound soft an very musical. If you pair the Meze with a warm and heavy sounding amp, if to me often becomes too big and full sounding. This isn’t the case with the Auris Audio HA2-SF and it gives the Empyrean the needed power, clarity, precision and musicality. This is a combination I could listen to all day long. If you switch to the single ended output, you get even higher energy and clarity, with better PRaT. For me the single ended output and Empyrean combo is really nice.
The Beyerdynamic DT1990PRO and HA2-SF combo is nice as you in the mids and treble get the tube softness. The amount of body is lighter though as well as the bass impact. It’s really good quality, but the quantity isn’t as “much”. On the V590 in example the DT1990PRO sounds fuller, heavier and bass has exceptional presence. I guess it depends how you like your DT1990PRO to sound.
The HA2-SF is a great amp for many headphones. I has all the power you will ever need and you have both a single ended as well as a balanced output which you can use to “finetune” your headphone’s sound. The HA2-SF isn’t the perfect amp for all headphones, but that’s the case for all amplifiers.
Even more on the HA2-SF4s sound can be found on the last page of the review. Click here or use the jumps below.
Marcello
Hi Lieven,
Have you tried the pre-out section? Can you comment on that?
Phil M
dear Sir,
may i ask if the output tube ECC99 belong to Pentode tubes? are these ECC99 connect in Triode mode just like the formal amp HA-2SE ? Thank you for clarifications.
Best regards,
-phil
P.S. Auris haven’t reply my email
Lieven
Hi, it’s a twin/dual triode
http://www.r-type.org/exhib/abn0173.htm
MAsa
Hi Lieven,
Is it possible to try a setup with Rosson Audio Design’s RAD-0?
I would like to hear the difference in preference between balanced and single ended.
Lieven
Hey! I just spent about 4h listening to this combo. To be honest, it’s not the very best. It’s missing clarity, tightness punch and energy in both SE and balanced. It’s a very soft sound, it’s not bad, but it makes me miss what the RAD-0 does so well. It’s not a headphone I would use with this amp, but it could completely be your thing. The difference between SE and balanced isn’t very big with this headphone, only in regards to power (somewhat)
MAsa
Hi,
Thank you so much for your kindness.
I actually own this combo and wanted to know what other people thought of it.
Maybe this isn’t the right place to talk about it, but if you would be so kind as to tell me, which amplifiers do you feel are appropriate for the RAD-0?
Lieven
Hi Masa, you can find those in the RAD-O review:
https://www.headfonia.com/rosson-audio-design-rad-0-review/3/
MAsa
Hi,Lieven
I’ve read that article many times, but I’ve lost track of it.
Thanks!
I’m most interested in EuforiaAE.
kerry
Have you/would you try this with ZMF Verite open? Seems like this combo would be a natural.
Thanks. Great review.
Anirudh
Your review cinched it for me. Planning to pair the SF with Verite Opens. Have you tried pairing it with a Susvara or an AB1266? What are your thoughts?
Cheers!
Lieven
Susvara yes! It’s good but he Susvara really shines with the HEadonia and Nirvana more.
Jin
does this means that Susvara and 1266 sounds bad woth HA-2SF ?? or meaning sounds as they should nothing exceptional :D. because i want to buy it for my susvara and 1266 …… thank you for the wonderful review!!!
Lieven
To make the Susvara sound best, I feel you should look at the higher up models, yes
Max
Hi Lieven,
Thanks very much for your beautiful review.
If go with Meze Empyrean, which one should I choose, Hs2 SF or Euforia AE? Thanks very much.
Best,
Max
Lieven
I think the AE is the one to get
Gary
I’m looking to buy the Susvara and will feed it with a Chord TT2/MSC combo. I also want to listen to my Utopias and LCD-4s. What amp do you recommend?
Lieven
solid state: Niimbus US4+ / Ferrum OOR
Tubes: Feliks Euforia AE + Auris HEadonia 2A3 + Feliks Envy
Peter
Hello. Thanks for the Great review. I’m wondering if the following would be an upgrade to the JJ amplifier tubes.
https://www.vivatubes.com/true-nos-matched-quad-soviet-russia-gold-grid-6n6p-6h6p-ecc99-vacuum-tubes/
My headphones are hifiman he1000 SE which you talked about first when you started talking about combinations. Do you have suggestions for changing the preamplifier tube to increase the compatibility with the HP 1000 SE ?
Thanks!
Lieven
Honestly, I wouldn’t bother. Better change the input tube, look for a NOS CV491
Peter McConnel
Thanks!
tony
bonjour,
étant possesseur d’un Auris HA2 SF avec commutateur à l’arrière pour modifier le gain, et d’un casque HEDDphone,
j’ai pu faire l’essais du casque Meze Empyrean, alors oui l’on gagne en séparation en précision un grave plus facile à gérer, ,.. je ne dirais pas que c’est un mauvais casque, ceux qui m’a surpris est la scène sonore plus réduite qu’avec le casque HEDD, le casque HEDD a une surface émissive plus importante, il est un peut terne c’est vrais, j’écoute en priorité du classique, j’ai besoin d’avoir cette ouverture dans le bas medium, un peut comme mon précèdent LCD 4 Audeze,
auriez vous SVP un casque ou deux à me conseiller, qui s’adapterait à l’ampli Auris,
en restant dans le budget du HEDD,
merci par avance pour vos recherches,
Tony
Jan
Hello, you write that the VU meters move with any headphone. Mine do not, just slightly vibrate at the very beginning of the scale. I have He1000se, topping dx7 pro in dac mode, regarding to volume I barely surpass the first quarter. Did your VU meters move with HE1000se? Silly question, but if they don’t, they are useless. The sound is amazing, anyway. Thanks, Jan.
Lieven
Do you have a V1 or a V2 with the switch on the back? The V1 unfortunately barely moves with normal headhpones