In this review we take a close look at the Cayin HA-3A. It’s Cayin Audio’s new tube headphone desktop amplifier selling for $1,599 USD.
Disclaimer: Cayin is not related to Headfonia in any way. The HA-3A was sent to me to be featured on Headfonia.com and doesn’t need to be returned as far as I know.
Cayin Audio
Cayin was founded in 1993 (2023 is 30th anniversary of Cayin) and it is a premium Chinese high end audio brand. Their focus has mostly been on dedicated HiFi equipment, covering every chain in the music reproduction path, from CD players to speakers, but the essence is no doubt their tube amplifiers. Their equipment ranges from around US$100 to just below US$10,000 per item, covering the needs of different requirements and budgets. Cayin has developed over 500 products to date, and they have received over 70 awards.
“We deliver music diligently, and we are prepared to go a long way for that.”
Lately Cayin has strongly been focusing on the portable market as well with successful units such as the N5ii, the N3, the N6II, the C9, the RU6 and the reference N8(II). If you’re still interested in finding out more about the Chinese company, then you can do so here.
The last Cayin unit we reviewed was the RU6 DAC/AMP dongle, which features the super popular R2R DAC technology. Today however, we’re looking at something completely different, the Cayin HA-3A desktop tube amplifier.
Let’s get started
HA-3A- Intro
Early August, we received the HA-3A as the very first non-Chinese publication. It’s one of the first ten production units that were built from the initial batch. It’s been officially announced by Cayin on August 15.
The HA-3A fills the gap in Cayin’s product line-up between the HA-1AMK2 ($799) and the almighty HA-6A ($2,499 USD).
The Cayin HA-3A shares the same design as HA-6A and HA-300MK2. The HA-3A incurred a lot of amplification technologies from its bigger brothers, it is a very compact design with a footprint roughly the size of an A4 sheet. More on that later!
The Cayin HA-3A’s price is estimated to be $1,599 USD.
HA-3A – Main Features
The Cayin HA-3A’s dedicated web page can be found here, it’s only been online since last week.
The Cayin Ha-3A is a transformer coupled, fully vacuum tube driven headphone amplifier with a small footprint. Cayin states it’s about the size of an A4 paper, but it’s a little bigger than that. Oh, and it’s very heavy amp for such a little device.
The HA-3A uses two 6V6 output tubes, two 12AU7/ECC82 driver tubes and one single 22DE4 rectifier tube. The HA-3A has two analogue inputs: balanced XLR and single ended RCA. The outputs are: 4-Pin XLR balanced, 4.4mm balanced, and 6.35 single-ended. The amplifier offers 3 impedance settings (Low, Mid, High) and it is available in black (and later a silver) version. Our version, as you can see in the pictures, is the black one.
One of Cayin’s distinctive R&D objectives with the HA-3A is to deliver the best quality within certain limitations. The HA-3A is not aiming at “driving” the most difficult headphones on the market such as the Susvara, HE-6(SE) and the HEDDphone. As a result, the HA-3A is relatively low-powered when compared to its siblings such as the HA1AMK2, the HA-6A, and the HA-300MK2. However – according to Cayin – the audio performance will be closer to its bigger brothers when working within this design limitation.
It’s important to explain that the Cayin HA-3A desktop tube amplifier is not a fully balanced one from input to output. The HA-3A’s 4.4mm and XLR-4 phone outputs are balanced driven, however. The Cayin HA-3A shares the same signal processing concept as the HA-6A and the HA-300MK2. The tube amplification circuit is single-ended, but the headphone outputs are balanced driven through a pair of output transformers. For those who are unfamiliar with the function of the output transformers and how they convert the single-ended output from power output tubes (the 6V6 in this case case) to balanced phone outputs, please check out this discussion here to learn more about it.
HA-3A Tube Galore
The Cayin HA-3A uses 5 tubes in total: 2 for the input, 2 for the output and 1 as rectifier.
For the input tubes, Cayin has opted for the famous and often used 12AU7/ECC82 tube types. As output tube, Cayin opted for a 6V6 tube, often seen in guitar amplifiers. The rectifier tube is a 22DE4 tube which is less common.
The 12AU7 tube was introduced back in 1947 and it is a dual triode tube, it’s also known in Europe under its ECC82 name and there are many tube equivalents for this tube type. Think: 95-126-01 – CC82E – 13D8 – B749 – 6067 – CV4003 – CV491- M8136. You can learn more about 12AU7 tubes here. You can get new production 12AU7 tubes for very little money (under $20), and they’re quite good. The (much) better NOS tubes are more expensive, and prices can go up quite high. I have many amplifiers that use this tube type and as such I have built up a nice collection of different plate types ECC82 tubes from Brimar, Mazda, RCA, WestingHouse and many more.
The 6V6 is a beam-power tetrode vacuum tube. The first of this family of tubes to be introduced was the 6V6G by Ken-Rad Tube & Lamp Corporation in late 1936. Equivalents for 6V6 are: VT-107 – CV510 – 6V6G – 6V6GT – 6V6_DDR – CV511 – GT6V6 – OSW3106 and VT-107A. You can learn more about 6V6 tubes here and here. 6V6 tubes aren’t very expensive and you can get them either newly built (under $25 USD) or NOS ($35 and up). This is my first 6V6 amplifier, so I didn’t have any fancy tubes for it yet. That’s why I ordered a nice set of NOS Mullard CV511 and JAN CNU 6C6GT.
Last but not least is the 22DE4 rectifier tube. It’s a Half-Wave Rectifier Diode Tube of the glass-octal type and it is identical to 6DE4 and 17DE4 but has different heaterratings. These tubes are not the easiest to find but they are quite cheap, even for NOS tubes (under $10 USD). You can find out more about this tube type here. I didn’t get any replacements for the rectifier tube.
The stock tubes that come with Batch 1 of the Cayin HA-3A are JJ tubes for both the input and driver tubes. The stock 22DE4 was a NOS RCA tube. The reason why I mention Batch 1, is because it’s not sure yet that the second production batch will come with JJ tubes, as there could be production delays forcing Cayin to look elsewhere. We will see.
In the part on sound later in this article, we will cover the sonic differences between the stock/new production JJ tubes and the NOS tubes I ordered for this amplifier.
The review continues on the second page. Click here or use the jumps below.
Page 1: Cayin, HA-3A intro, HA-3A Features, Tubes
Page 2: Box & Packaging & Usability, Design & Layout, Specifications
Page 3: Sound intro, Sound Original Tubes, Sound Aftermarket Tubes, Sound Headphones Pt. 1
Page 4: Sound Headphones Pt. 2, Comparisons, Conclusions
Mike
HA-3A vs C9 for driving LCD-5: Any advise? The price of both amps are in the same range.
Lieven
C9 is dead atm, batteries have given up
James
How’s the heat output? If I sit next to this amp, will I feel too warm?
Lieven
next to it no, on top of it, yes. At the back op the cage. In fact, it’s only the 6V6 that will make it hot, it’s a tube amp after all.
jaz
cmon, no shots of the rear ports? You gave me like 34 photos of the front…I want to know what Im working with if I am gonna integrate this into my system…
Lieven
Back image is on Page 3
Brendan
Thanks very much for the review. I have Sennheiser HD 800S headphones and am looking for my next amp. Currently using a Chord Mojo, however looking to upgrade to either this or a Woo Audio WA2. Looking at pairing it with a Denafrips Pontus II DAC. In your opinion for Classical, Jazz, some Rock and Electronic, which amp will perform better?
Lieven
It’s been a very long time since I listened to the WA2, so I couldn’t really say. sorry
Albert G
Thanks for the review. I’ve been looking at the HA-6A for some time now and looks this could be like a cheaper (and much smaller) alternative. Do you have any low impedance dynamic driver headphones like Fostex TH900/909? Those are really easy to drive but kinda amp picky…
MARC
“Last but not least is the 22DE4 rectifier tube. It’s a Half-Wave Rectifier Diode Tube of the glass-octal type and it is identical to 6DE4 and 17DE4”
May I know if that sentence implies that 6DE4 and 17DE4 are substitutes for 22DE4?
Lieven
The heater is different. So I would stick to the 22de4
Thomas
Hi
Have you tried hifiman ha-1000v2 with the ha-3a?
//Thomas
Hume
I’d like to know how the HE1000v2 work with this too.
Lieven
I will try the combo if I find some time
Hume
Much thanks! I’m on the “edge” (haha) of buying this for mainly IEM use, but it’d be nice to know if the HE1000v2 sounds at least good with it.
Hume
I’m going to reply to my own comment since I have now purchased the HA-3A and have had some time to listen to it.
To my surprise, this amp drives the HE1000v2 well, very well. In comparison to my Ferrum Oor, it gives the HE1000v2 an even bigger sound stage and gives it more body and bass punch/overall impact. The bass, and overall sound, might not be as tight and articulate as with the Oor, but it’s more vivid and realistic with a nice softness that takes off any edge (the HE1000v2 can be intense) even more than the Oor does. At the same time, the HA-3A is very revealing, resolving and has great technicalities so this is no overly warm/fuzzy tube amp. It’s powerful, lively, engaging and a pleasure to listen to. It really does rival my Oor: these are both top tier amps that have different strengths and will match better with different cans.
The HA-3A also makes my Odin IEMs sound fantastic, the best I’ve heard them yet, especially in terms of sound stage “bigness” since the HA-3A has a big, immersive sound stage. Using the low impedance setting on the 4.4 out I hear no noise with the Odins at normal listening volumes. It might not be the solid state black background, but it’s not far off: no nasty hiss or interference I can hear.
This is an fantastic amp and I’m glad I bought it. I will be keeping it for sure. All these impressions are with the stock tubes fwiw.
Célio
How does this amp compare to the Crack w/speedball with high impedance headphones?
Lieven
I don’t have a speedball mod, sorry
Dave
Any good with focal clear mg?
Kate Timmons
“The HA-3A was sent to me to be featured on Headfonia.com and doesn’t need to be returned as far as I know” …….. you hope 😉
Oscar
Thanks so much for this review. For the Meze Audio Elite with the Cayin HA3A, is it better the 4 pin XLR output or the 6.3mm? Or the difference is unsubstantial?
Thanks again
Lieven
You’re welcome. I always go for balanced but just try and see which you like most
Oscar
Thanks! I will try both since a 4 pin XLR is on the way
entiskg
Great written review!
I was wondering, how does the Cayin HA-3A pair with the Sennheiser HD 660S2?
Lieven
Thank you. Good combo, though it scales up even better with higher end amps. Do also try OTL for Sennheiser