In this article we look at the EarMen ST-Amp DAC/AMP, selling for €599.
Disclaimer: The EarMen ST-Amp was sent to us free of charge in exchange for our honest opinion. We thank EarMen for the possibility.
EarMen
If EarMen doesn’t ring a bell yet, then the Serbian “Auris Audio” just might. In fact, if you’ve been following Headfonia you will know that we’re quite the Auris fans here. Their amps have won multiple of our awards, and models like the Euterpe, HA2-SF and Nirvana get praised all over the world.
A while ago Auris Audio decided to enter the portable market and to do so they came up with new brand name: EarMen. EarMen is registered in the US but all of their products are built and assembled in Europe to ensure the highest standards in production quality.
EarMen is all about delivering the best possible value for money and their new product line-up consists out of multiple models:
The EarMen Line-up
- The Donald DAC – A USB-DAC only with an RCA output to hook up to your dedicated amplifier
- The TR-Amp – A portable DAC/AMP solution
- The Eagle – A single ended USB DAC/AMP dongle and DragonFly Cobalt competitor.
- The Sparrow – A single ended and balanced USB DAC/AMP dongle.
- The Tradutto – An ultra-high resolution fully balanced compact DAC with advanced BT streaming capability.
- The Colibri – A dongle sized transportable DAC/AMP with volume control, lots of power and double outputs
- The Angel, a fully balanced portable DAC/AMP
- The CH-Amp – A mini sized fully balanced amplifier from the Tradutto range
- The Staccato, a streamer from the Tradutto range
- The ST-Amp, a compact desktop DAC/AMP with pre-out
We with this ST-Amp review have covered all of EarMen’s models. Let’s take a closer look at the all-in-one EarMen ST-Amp.
Intro
So far the EarMen ST-Amp is the last unit of the EarMen series. So far we haven’t heard any rumours of a new EarMen unit. Auris Audio has mostly been focusing on updating their desktop headphone amps, and they now use a completely new design with new materials. The newest unit under the Auris brand is the HA2-SE+ and we’ll be looking at that tube amplifier soon.
I have really been enjoying the EarMen gear, especially the full CH-Amp and Tradutto stack, which won our 2022 Best Stack award. Let’s hope excellent EarMen product will keep coming in the near future.
ST-Amp
On to the ST-Amp, and we can immediately see that EarMen is still using funny names for their products. It’s a bit of fun but it also makes it easier to remember, so a win-win for everyone.
The dedicated ST-Amp web page can be found here and you can buy the ST-Amp from one of their dealers or via their webshop here. The ST-Amp manual is over here.
The ST-Amp is a small desktop sized but fully balanced DAC/AMP unit, that can be used as an AMP only should you prefer that. The ST-Amp delivers an output power up to 1.85W. There also is a pre-amp output, which you can use with your power amp in example. I often use it as a pre-amp for my speaker setup. According to EarMen, the amplifier is carefully made for headphones, so you cannot experience the unpleasant Pop and Click phenomena when turning it on or off.
The EarMen ST-Amp is a fully balanced amplifier, but EarMen is also using the same topology for the single ended signals. EarMen states that as a result the SE signal becomes balanced in a special way with almost no phase shift, additional noise or THD. The headphone outputs are powered by two TPA6120 opamps and combined with the balanced ALPS potentiometer, that contributes to an excellent experience.
EarMen especially advertises the impressive Dynamic Range (>126dB) and Ultra Low THD.
The DAC chip used in the ST-Amp is the ESS Sabre ES9280, which we have seen before in the EarMen Eagle. It’s a good but simple DAC chip, though it isn’t very often used. There’s no MQA support.
ST-Amp Specifications
Inputs: RCA Single End Input & Balanced 4.4 mm Input
Outputs: SE 6.35mm & Balanced 4.4mm
Pre Outputs: RCA (SE output) & Balanced
DAC: ES9280
Audio formats: DSD 64/128 DoP & DXD 384/352.5 kHz & PCM Up to 384 kHz
Dimensions: 170x30x150 mm / 6,69″ x 1,18″ x 5,90″
Weight: 1100 gr / 2,42lbs
Box & Accessories
The ST-Amp arrives in nice but simple box, as you can see in the pictures and video. It’s the typical kind of box that EarMen has been using for their desktop series.
The accessory list is short, as in, there are no accessories except for the user manual. The unit doesn’t come with anything, not even a power cable or IC. To me that’s ok as I have plenty, but do take this into account when you’re ordering this as your fist and only unit.
So yeah, there could be a little something extra.
The article continues on the second page. Click here or use the jumps below.
Page 1: EarMen, Intro, ST-Amp, Specifications, Box & Accessories
Page 2: Design & Build Quality, Lay-Out, Usability, Sound pt. 1
Page 3: Sound pt.2, Comparisons, Conclusions, Summary
Eduardo
Thanks for the review, lieven! Does the St-amp have a similar signature to the A20? because you know the A20 well and liked it with the Hd650.
The hd660s2 was tested on the balanced output, you even listened to the Se output to know if the outputs are similar as indicated on the website.
Even though it has a warm signature sound, is this amplifier V-shaped or would it be neutral/linear?
Lieven
The EarMen is not as warm sounding, it’s more neutrally tuned than the A20
Eduardo
Would the a20 make the hd650 darker or would there not be a big difference in the sound using the hd650 with the St-amp? I have the St-amp and use it with the hd58X. I was wanting a warmer sound. If getting the hd650 would help, as I’m not interested in changing the amplifier. Is the Amiron warmer and smoother than the hd650?
Lieven
That’s a yes on both cases.
Eduardo
ok Lieven, thanks. The St-amp is a great amplifier, and its finish and materials are of excellent quality. Would you be able to test it on the HD650? I already had the hd650, but not with this amplifier, from what I remember, the hd650 has a more distant and smooth sound than the musical hd58x and the hd660s2. Did you also find the new hd660s2 with very close sound? with the feeling of the person in the middle of the instrument, this shows more details, but it takes the focus away from the general and the centrality of the singer, and some music becomes more tiring. As the st-amp is more neutral, I want to clarify, so I’m thinking about buying the HD650.