EarMen L-Amp Review

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Versatility & Usability

The EarMen L-Amp has the following features:

Intuitive Controls:

• Volume buttons for precise adjustments.
• Play/Pause button for easy control.
• Bass+ Function (B+): Enhances dynamic sound at lower volumes.
• IEM Mode: Dedicated circuitry for optimal performance with in-ear monitors.
• Dual USB-C ports: One for data and one for external power supply, preserving your phone or device battery life.
• Compatible with USB power banks or external chargers for uninterrupted playback.

Built-in Safety Features:

• Full Power Protection: Automatically resets to protect headphones and the device from potential damage caused by overdriving.
• No Pop & Click Design: Eliminates annoying start-up and shut-down noises, ensuring safety for your ears and equipment.

I have found the L-Amp to be very easy to use, though I have only tested it at my desk. While you can perfectly use it on the go, I don’t see how you could put it in your pocket when in use. The L-Amp rather requires the typical stacking option like in the good old days. Cypher Labs and ALO, I am looking at you.

The L-Amp during my testing worked immediately with my laptop (Roon and Windows) as well as with my OnePlus Open phone. You in theory can connect it to any DAP with a digital output, should you want to. The EarMen L-Amp also can be used as a preamp, though we in this review do not explore that use case.

The only more negative thing I can say from a usage point of view is that there because of the tubes is a soft high-pitched tone audible with sensitive gear, when plugging headphones in/out, when using the controls (try to use your computer sound control) or when tapping hard on the case. This tone quickly dies off however and it never annoys. You probably won’t even hear it when you’re listening to a song. But should you use it while moving around a lot, it becomes an issue, so desktop use in my opinion is recommended.

The L-Amp allows you to change the volume but not the song, there only is the play/pause option. All-in-all the L-Amp is easy to use, as a dongle type of unit should be. And for those wondering the unit does not get hot when in use.

While The L-Amp does have an IEM setting, I feel the unit is more suitable to be used with headphones.

L-AMP Specifications

Sound – General

For the part on sound, I mostly used my laptop as source. I listened to a large number of dynamic and orthodynamic headphones, all in balanced mode.

The beaty of the L-Amp is how it perfectly mixes the tube liquidity of the amp section with the precise and revealing nature of the ESS DAC chip. The L-amp blends precision and detail with smoothness and some warmth, resulting in a revealing yet highly musical presentation.

Another thing that really impressed me is the sound stage. It is excellent in both width and depth and the layering from top to bottom is worthy of the high-end label. Add to that a spacious and airy presentation with a natural vocal presentation and you get a top-level sound performance. The mids are extremely impressive in this regard.

The EarMen L-Amp has a good amount of body in mids and bass and if you require even more oompf, the B+ feature will help you out. With this feature the bass gets a boost but the lower mids also.

The L-Amp is not the most proficient DAC/AMP when it comes to tightness (bass) and speed. It’s more a relaxed, liquid and slower presentation. The PRaT isn’t bad, but it’s not the most energetic, fast performer.

The L-Amp is very easy to listen to, it is soft on the ear but energetic enough at the same time to keep things exciting. Even if the top end is on the softer side. The top end decay here could be a bit better.

As said, the level of detail the L-Amp produces is impressive but that shouldn’t be a surprise with an ESS Sabre DAC chip. The note extension in the mids a pleasure to listen to, where it is aided by the airiness. Separation-wise the L-Amp does well, but there’s still margin for improvement here.

Is it all sunshine and rainbows? No, it’s not. The L-amp with this tube design, is not dead silent and there is background noise audible when no music is playing. When listening to your music it isn’t audible at all, but it is important that you are aware of this.

The other thing that might bother you is that the unit produces a high-pitched tone when connecting headphones, as well as when you push any of the buttons. Strongly tapping the unit also creates the ping, but it quickly fades out. The ping level does depend on the sensitivity of your IEM or headphone.

Anyway, these 2 issues for me don’t prevent me from absolutely enjoying the L-Amp’s sublime performance. The L-Amp is musical and precise. It brings a smile on your face with its effortlessness and addictive character.

Sound – Headphones

The headphones chosen for this chapter are the Hifiman HE1000 Unveiled, the Abyss JOAL, the Meze Audio POET, the Sennheiser HD 800 S and the Austrian Audio The Composer. All were connected in balanced mode.

As I said before in the IEMs chapter, you will hear a short high-pitched tone when connecting the headphone or pushing the buttons, but it quickly fades out. It is less (or with some not) audible with headphones and not audible at all when music is playing. With any of the headphones tested could I hear any noise.

I will right away start with my favorite headphone in combination with the L-Amp, and it the Hifiman HE1000 Unveiled. Here you get a revealing, clean sound with a good amount of body and a high level of precision. The L-Amp makes the HE1000U sounds energetic yet easy, fast, clear and tight. The delivery is smooth and it has just enough tube warmth in it to make it sound super musical and engaging. And if you want more body and bass, you can flick the B+ switch and smile even more. For me this combo has it all. It is easy to the ears and it perfectly blends pure enjoyment with refinement. This is a combo you want to listen to non-stop, and then some.

With the Abyss JOAL you get a relaxed but detailed sound, presented in an airy and spacious way. The amount of body and weight in mids and bass is more neutral but activating the B+ nicely works its magic here. I have actually been using this combo a lot as it is soft to the ears and very easy to listen to. The JOAL like Abyss’ other headphones is very revealing, and the L-Amps ESS DAC and tubes nicely complement this typical tuning. Note that the top-end here is softened out, and that the vocals blend in more to the back where they have less energy.

The part on Sound continues on the third Page. Click here or use the jumps below.