EarMen Sparrow Review

EarMen Sparrow

Sparrow Features

 

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  • Balanced 2.5mm output power up to 4.0 Vrms
  • Plays all 32bit/384kHz formats: PCM, DoP, DSD64, DSD128 and MQA
  • Supports playback from iPhones, Android smartphones, MacOS and Windows computers
  • At its heart is the legendary SABRE®DAC audio converter with HyperStream®II modulation that provides the ultimate in sound quality and stable sound field.
  • Sparrow delivers sound performance all the way to the headsets, with up to 4.0Vrms output voltage, ensuring plenty of headroom for demanding headsets.

Sparrow Specifications

Input USB C Female
Output 3.5 mm
2.5 mm Balanced
Power 2.5 mm Balanced 3.5 mm
2.0 Vrms into 32 Ohm 1.4 Vrms into 32 Ohm
4.0 Vrms into 600 Ohm 2.0 Vrms into 600 Ohm
THD+N < 0.004% < 0.004%
Audio formats
DSD 64 / 128 DoP
DXD 384/352.5 kHz
PCM Up to 384 kHz
MQA Rendering Up to 384 kHz

 

 

 

Sound

The part on sound was tested with a series of IEMs and headphones, with the Sparrow connected to my ROON laptop. During use the EarMen Sparrow gets a bit warm to the touch, but nothing to worry about.

Do note that the Sparrow is quite powerful and IEMs can get loud fast, especially from the balanced output. I’m listening with the volume set at 2 or 3 out of 100 so there’s a lot of room for hard to drive gear.

In Single ended mode you get a completely clean, noiseless sound which is detailed, clear and simply good. It’s a very linear and balanced sound but it is more intimate or inside your head. Body from bass to highs is good. Bass is tight, deep and fast, vocals are very good and the treble region is energetic and lively. The depth and layering are quite good as good. It’s a more neutral, very linear tuning.

EarMen Sparrow

EarMen Sparrow

In Balanced mode you get a more natural, spacious, out of your head presentation with better extension from top to bottom. The depth and layering vastly improve everywhere, as well as the timbre, note extension, decay and micro detailing. The bass goes very deep with great rumble down low, yet loses a bit of the tightness. The balanced texture/timbre is to die for. Mids are detailed, dynamic and extremely musical, the vocals are smooth and addictive. The treble section is extended, detailed and very energetic. With the balanced output there’s less linearity, but a higher level of musicality and technicality.

While the Sparrow in single ended mode is good to very good, the balanced mode is exceptionally good. The whole package in balanced mode just works magically well: you get the best possible technicalities with a seriously high musicality. It’s really impressive.

Let’s go into more detail.

Bass-Mids-Treble

Bass SE

In SE mode the bass is fast and tight and it has good body. Bass in SE mode is never too much and it both in body and impact is perfectly normal. Bass goes very low but is missing the real sub rumble.

The level of detail is good, but the extension, decay and layering in the lower region is limited.

Bass Balanced

In balanced mode bass becomes more spacious and goes much lower and it gets very impressive sub rumble. Bass body does increase and you get a fuller, impressive bass. Like it said it does lose a bit of tightness but it improves in detail, texture, note decay, layering and dynamics. Depending on the ear- or headphone in use, bass might become a little bit too much for those who don’t like a more than neutral bass presence.

EarMen Sparrow

EarMen Sparrow

Mids SE

IN SE mode the mids connect perfectly to the bass and they have the same amount of body and presence. This is a linear presentation where the mids are nicely separated and tight. The depth and layering is good but nowhere near how good it is in balanced mode. The spaciousness in the mids in SE mode is limited and the presentation isn’t the most “airy”, delivering a more intimate feeling.

The vocals blend perfectly in the mids and higher mids, and they sound natural and engaging. It’s probably what I love most of the mids in single ended mode.

Mids Balanced

The mids section in balanced mode vastly changes and improves. You get a fuller, wider and deeper sound, with better layering and extension. The spaciousness and airiness also increase, resulting in a more out of your head and open kind of sound. The very dynamic and powerful mids perfectly connect to the fuller bass. The mid texture/timbre and note extension are impressive and incredible to listen to.

In balanced mode vocals somewhat sound more forward and they get more focus, but they at the same time are very engaging end energetic.

Highs SE

In SE mode the extension, detail and liveliness of the highs is good but not spectacular. The spaciousness, depth and layering are a little less present. It are more basic highs, but they still sound energetic and they perfectly connect with the bass and mids.

EarMen Sparrow

EarMen Sparrow

Highs Balanced

Like the bass and mids, the highs seriously improve when switching to the balanced output. More extension, more space, better detail, layering and especially energy. In balanced mode the dynamics and naturalism are way better, and the clarity and energy improve. Highs never become hot or sibilant, for me they’re just right

Sound Conclusion

The balanced output of the Sparrow is very impressive and it’s incredible to hear the high sound quality EarMen manages to get from such a small device. The ESS chip implementation must be perfect. In Single Ended mode you get a more balanced and neutral sound, but it’s technically less strong and less musical. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still very good, but the balanced output is just so incredibly good that it’s hard shutting up about.

Even more on sound can be found on the third page, just click HERE or use the jumps below.

4.3/5 - (145 votes)
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Lieven is living in Europe and he's the leader of the gang. He's running Headfonia as a side project next to his full time day job in Digital Marketing & Consultancy. He's a big fan of tube amps and custom inear monitors and has published hundreds of product reviews over the years.

11 Comments

  • Reply July 31, 2020

    THierry

    Great review, how is it compared to the lotoo Paw S1 (soundstage,tonality ,etc..)?Which one do you recommand ?(even all is subjective with the sound)
    Thanks
    Thierry

  • Reply August 7, 2020

    Matus Mydliar

    Hi, as always a fabulous review. You mentioned that Earmen will be releasing the Eagle dongle, do you know when (I can’t find any info on it)

    • Reply August 7, 2020

      Lieven

      I have it with me already, but the real release date isn’t known yet as far as I’m aware. Think weeks to months.

  • Reply September 14, 2020

    Fabio

    Hi! Congrats for great review. Can you tell me how is the ifi hip dac compared to the Sparrow? I can’t find comparisons.
    Thanks

    • Reply September 14, 2020

      Lieven

      Hi Fabio. thank you. The Sparrow and Hip Dac are a few thousand kilometres apart from each other. So I’m afraid we can’t do this comparison at this time.

  • Reply October 24, 2020

    Scott Leslie

    Any updates on a comparison with the Lotoo Paw S1?

    • Reply October 26, 2020

      Lieven

      different locations in the world (still)

      • Reply November 1, 2020

        Scot

        Having used the S1 and having the Sparrow now, from memory the S1 was a bit warmer, less dynamic, and less detailed than the Sparrow balanced out.

        I never used the SE out of the S1, so I can’t say how the two SE compare. Also from memory the Sparrow seems to have more drinving power. Hopefully this helps people until you get the chance to compare.

        I’ve tried a ton of dongles, and this one is easily the tops in SQ. Negatives are no control buttons on dongle and I do get interference if I have mobile data turned on on my cell.

  • Reply November 1, 2020

    Scot

    Sorry I of course meant driving power 🙂

  • Reply December 24, 2020

    Alfredas

    Excellent review as always, can you comment on how Sparrow compares to NextDrive Spectra X in terms of sound quality? Looking for portable and capable DAC/AMP to stream Tidal from my iPhone to AEON FLOWs

  • Reply March 13, 2021

    becauseim

    Will Sparrow work with the TinHiFi P1/P2?

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