Audio Video News

Oppo has boosted the performance of its Top Pick winning HA-2 headphone amp/DAC in the HA-2SE, which features an upgraded digital-to-analog converter (DAC) chip.

While the HA-2SE looks the same as its predecessor and carries the same $299 price, it incorporates the flagship ES9028Q2M DAC from ESS Technology’s SABRE32 Reference series. Oppo said it has also lowered the amplifier’s noise floor and optimized its signal-to-noise ratio for highly sensitive in-ear headphones.

The battery-powered HA-2SE is engineered to enhance music playback from mobile phones and portable music players through high performance digital-to-analog conversion. It supports PCM audio up to 384 kHz/32-bit, DSD audio up to 12 MHz (DSD256 or DSD4x).

Noting that the updated amp/DAC is a “Made for iPhone” certified device, Oppo said it is ideal for the iPhone 7 as it provides a “significant improvement in sound quality” over the output adapter required to make a hard-wire connection.

The HA-2SE functions as an external battery pack for charging mobile devices and its internal battery can be charged in about 30 minutes with the supplied rapid charger, according to Oppo.

When used with the right apps, Oppo said the HA-2SE supports bit-perfect playback of high resolution music, exceeding the 48 kHz sample rate limitation of using the phone’s built-in headphone output or headphone adapter.

In addition to USB DAC inputs, the HA-2SE provides a 3.5 mm line-in jack that doubles as a line-out when the HA-2SE is used as a DAC. The headphone amp has two gain settings: High Gain for large power-hungry headphones, delivering up to 300 mW into 16-ohm headphones, and Low Gain mode for sensitive earphones. The HA-2SE also has a Bass Boost that is implemented via analog circuits.

As with the HA-2, a leather case is included.

For more information, visit oppodigital.com.