Headphone amplifier
Bakoon Products HPA-21 Price (in Korea): 2995 USD Manufacturer: Bacoon Products International Contact: B1 1022-4 Unjung-dong | Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si Gyeonggi-do | 463-440 | Korea tel.: +82-70-8677-5513 | fax: +82-31-706-5513 e-mail: info@bakoonproducts.com Manufacturer’s website: www.bakoonproducts.com Country of origin: Korea Text: Wojciech Pacuła | Photos: Wojciech Pacuła Translation: Andrzej Dziadowiec |
Published: 3. July 2013, No. 110 |
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In April 2013, Srajan Ebaen published a long and extensive review of the HPA-21 headphone amplifier from the Korean manufacturer Bakoon Products International (see HERE). I found out that our Korean friend and the company’s head, Soo In Chae, was preparing this type of product at the end of 2012, about the same time Srajan did. We made an agreement with Soo In that the chief editor of “6moons.com” will be the first to publish his test, seeing as he was the one who discovered the company to Western Europe and he deserves to go first. Having access to Bakoon’s materials about the new design at a very early prototype stage, he superbly portrayed how the amp was being developed. I won’t repeat that, sending instead all interested to Srajan’s review. For those who don’t feel like it, don’t have the time, or don’t care about other reviews let me say a few words of introduction. The first component from Bakoon Products International that gained recognition in the West was the AMP-11R integrated amp. It’s a small, wonderfully made modestly powered machine with an outboard power supply and optional, fantastic RCK-11 anti-vibrational platform. Its heart is the SATRI-IC-EX implementation of the proprietary SATRI Circuit. It’s a current-mode integrated circuit with amplification in the current not voltage domain. It therefore works best with current-mode signal and the amp features special BNC SATRI-Link inputs for that. Until now, the only source with suitable outputs has been the EQA-11R phono preamplifier, but there’s a DAC in the making that should be soon released. The HPA-21 is the outcome of a careful reflection on the incredible popularity of the previous AMP-11R model commonly used as a headphone amp. Although its 6.3 mm port was added just for user comfort and the amp was designed with speakers in mind, many users including myself began to treat it as a headphone amp with an option to drive the speakers. This is nothing new to mention another integrated amp, the Leben CS-300 (and its following versions) that met a similar fate. Its Custom edition custom made for me has long been a reference headphone amp in my audition system. Due to much lower HPA-21’s power output, Mr. Soo In was able to design a cheaper unit that offers even a better sound than the integrated amp. The new machine could also be equipped with another trademark company product, battery powered power supply. Based on the BPS-02 power supply circuit (see HERE), it has a much higher output voltage. As Mr. Soo In says, the power supply features a dual design and employs four Samsung batteries, working at the highest permitted voltage of 16.8 V. The unit is powered by plugging in a small switched mode PSU. When we power on the HPA-21, the battery-charging section is disconnected and the amp works solely on battery power. The batteries allow for 6.5 hour of continuous playback, despite the amp’s Class A output topology. Charging them fully takes nearly the same amount of time. Bakoon’s proprietary bias system allows for a quick thermal transistors stabilization. The machine is ready for playback and achieves optimal sound after as little as 10 minutes. SOUND Albums used during this review
I’ve been listening to this amp for the past four weeks, nearly non-stop, with obvious breaks for sleep, auditions and family life. However, all my remaining time, even while writing this review right now, I’ve spent with headphones on my ears. During this time a few things changed in my system and every single one of these changes only reinforced my belief that the HPA-21 is one of the best, if not the best, headphone amp I’ve known, regardless of price, technology, country of origin or my preferences. This Korean amp clearly showed all the changes in a bullet-point list, both in terms of its sound and design. Klutz Design Michael Hollesen, the owner of Klutz Design (pictured below), showed me the orange-thread edition in Munich. It’s made specifically for use with Bakoon products, which Michael is a big fan of. I decided to get the white thread version, mostly because it’s more universal. It’s the fourth stand from this company I own. When you see the CanCans for the first time, you’ll be surprised by how large they are – they’re 310 mm tall, the width of the base is 140 mm, and they weigh 2.1 kg. They’ll be visible in any system and in any room. Their finish precision is perfect. You can order them in different colours, in different finishes with different “pins” which you spool the cables around when you’re not using your headphones; you can set them up to ideally cater to your expectations. The class of Bakoon and Klutz designs are from the same top shelf. It’s no wonder that the companies work together very closely – people with a similar mindset quickly find a common language. The newest version of stand is finished in black leather. I think it was black matte first, with black pins and the unofficial name Black Knight, prepared as a tribute to the latest Batman movie. The leather is a natural extension of that project. www.klutzdesign.com |
If you remember my review of the AMP-11R integrated (which can also work as a headphone amp), you’ll know that its incredible cleanness combined with outstanding resolution opened before the listener’s a wide open window to what’s before the unit. It’s an outstanding machine. I’ve heard a very similar effect when plugging in headphones to the HPA-21’s output labelled “Voltage”. I think that lowering the output section requirements and powering the whole unit with an ultra-stable battery voltage has pushed the whole deal forward. Although the improvement isn’t massive, one can hear even more information that the signal carries and the top-range is even more open and precise. The amp used in this way would probably be the cleanest-sounding machine I have ever come across to drive headphones, with the least amount of own coloration. Everything else, including my beloved Leben, seems saturated, as if their sound was more “set up”, and often even manipulated. I’m not talking about flawed designs but about the best ones, like the Leben CS300XS [Custom Version], SPL Phonitor 2730 (see HERE) Funk Tonstudiotechnik LAP-2.V3 (see HERE), Ear Stream Sonic Pearl (see HERE), or even the Phasemation EPA-007 (see HERE). Only the last one was equally resolute and selective. The Leben, on the other hand, showed a better saturation across the whole range and was fuller. It was also much more natural at presenting low frequencies. None of them, however, I repeat: none of them sounds like the Bakoon does via its “Current” output. I had a great time with all the aforementioned amps, listening to one album after another, changing headphones, sources, and cables. At the end, when I finally had to describe what I heard, I would return to my Leben to find again something new and more absorbing in its sound. After a few days I was right back under its spell, embarrassed that I’d ever doubted in it. But now is not the time. At the moment I don’t feel the need to analyse anything. The amp’s sound in combination with the Sennheiser HD800 headphones is unbelievably natural. It’s obviously resolute and selective, differentiating and detailed, except that none of these traits “jumps out”, asking for attention. The most important thing for me is the excellent balance between resolution and selectiveness. The first is infinite in its character – the more, the better. There is no such thing as too high resolution (or differentiation, at that). On its own, without proper tonal support it is irrelevant. Yet it is the driving force, the power behind a natural, normal presentation which is close to what we hear live. The resolution shows HOW the individual sounds differ from one another. Selectiveness on the other hand, or the ability to separate really close, similar-sounding sounds, instruments, and events – often mistaken for detail – is a quantity which should be kept in balance. It can be exaggerated and when the selectiveness is too high, it will shatter the illusion of live sound, leaving nothing but pitiful hi-fi in its place. The amp we’re talking about does a wonderful job at setting it up – it’s very good, but not exaggerated, and the notes aren’t forcefully separated. The resolution, on the other hand, is so remarkable that it gives the feeling of smooth, silky sound, despite lots of information and detail. Together they give a lot more than in other machines, allowing to break through the analytical layer. Despite the high selectiveness, and probably thanks to what I’ve described above, the amp gives lots of pleasure regardless of what album you’re listening to, no matter how it was mastered and produced – as long as it’s musically ‘digestible’. We notice many elements we didn’t hear before, and that’s normal. But its key to success is something different – a perfect harmony of color, soundstage, imaging, body and tangibility. At first, and for a very long time, I listened to recordings from before the year 1600, mostly vocals recorded in large churches. It’s easy to mess something up and to dig out vocalists or reverbs. And although the amp clearly pointed out better and worse recordings, I had no problems listening to any of them and nothing really pushed me away. Only after an audition and giving it some thought I started deciding which CDs I wouldn’t listen to and should put them back in a box. They were decisions based on musical taste, however, not their sound. Conclusion During the review I mostly focused on the HD800 headphones from Sennheiser. I had a very good reason for that – it’s an excellent combination. I’m full aware of the weaknesses of the top designs from this German brand, but their advantages are much more important to me. The HPA-21 allowed me to discover them all anew, and showed me some for the very first time. The Korean amp sounded very well with all of my other headphones, although the higher the impendency, the better it was. I least liked the combination with the Beyerdynamik DT-770 Pro {Limited Edition} with a 32-ohm impendence. The amp receives the RED FINGERPRINT award DESIGN Mr. Soo In Chae, who in my opinion is responsible for the mechanical part of this design, has truly gifted hands. His products are small and extremely solidly and precisely made. The HPA is no different. Its enclosure is made of thick aluminum panels. No joining elements can be seen as the top panel is mounted with long screws from the bottom. Electronic circuits are divided between two printed boards mounted above each other. The boards, the assembly and the components used are all of the highest quality. After removing the top panel the upper board that houses the batteries charging circuit. Next to it are Omron relays to disconnect the outboard power supply after powering on the amplifier. Specifications (according to the manufacturer) Since my opinion and final verdict on the HPA-21 largely coincides with Srajan Ebaen thoughts and findings, we both felt that the new Korean amplifier deserves a special award. Srajan suggested that our joined award might be called blue fingerprint which I thought to be an excellent idea. The Bakoon HPA-21 thus becomes the first ever recipient of this special Blue Fingerprint award. It is a mark of our appreciation to two great minds behind this design. Congratulations Nagai-San and Soo-In Chae! The amplifier receives Blue Fingerprint award |
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ANALOG SOURCES - Turntable: AVID HIFI Acutus SP [Custom Version] - Cartridges: Miyajima Laboratory KANSUI, review HERE | Miyajima Laboratory SHILABE, review HERE | Miyajima Laboratory ZERO (mono) | Denon DL-103SA, review HERE - Phono stage: RCM Audio Sensor Prelude IC, review HERE DIGITAL SOUCES - Compact Disc Player: Ancient Audio AIR V-edition, review HERE - Multiformat Player: Cambridge Audio Azur 752BD PREAMPLIFICATION - Line Preamplifier: Polaris III [Custom Version] + AC Regenerator, regular version review (in Polish) HERE AMPLIFICATION - Power amplifier: Soulution 710 - Integrated Amplifier: Leben CS300XS Custom Version, review HERE LOUDSPEAKERS - Stand mount Loudspeakers: Harbeth M40.1 Domestic, review HERE - Stands for Harbeths: Acoustic Revive Custom Series Loudspeaker Stands - Real-Sound Processor: SPEC RSP-101/GL HEADPHONES - Integrated Amplifier/Headphone amplifier: Leben CS300XS Custom Version, review HERE - Headphones: HIFIMAN HE-6, review HERE | HIFIMAN HE-500, review HERE | HIFIMAN HE-300, review HERE | Sennheiser HD800 | AKG K701, review (in Polish) HERE | Ultrasone PROLine 2500, Beyerdynamic DT-990 Pro, version 600 - reviews (in Polish): HERE, HERE, HERE - Headphone Stands: Klutz Design CanCans (x 3), review (in Polish) HERE - Headphone Cables: Entreq Konstantin 2010/Sennheiser HD800/HIFIMAN HE-500, review HERE CABLES System I - Interconnects: Acrolink Mexcel 7N-DA6300, review HERE | preamplifier-power amplifier: Acrolink 8N-A2080III Evo, review HERE - Loudspeaker Cables: Tara Labs Omega Onyx, review (in Polish) HERE System II - Interconnects: Acoustic Revive RCA-1.0PA | XLR-1.0PA II - Loudspeaker Cables: Acoustic Revive SPC-PA POWER System I - Power Cables: Acrolink Mexcel 7N-PC9300, all system, review HERE - Power Distributor: Acoustic Revive RTP-4eu Ultimate, review HERE - Power Line: fuse – power cable Oyaide Tunami Nigo (6m) – wall sockets 3 x Furutech FT-SWS (R) System II - Power Cables: Harmonix X-DC350M2R Improved-Version, review (in Polish) HERE | Oyaide GPX-R (x 4 ), review HERE - Power Distributor: Oyaide MTS-4e, review HERE COMPUTER AUDIO - Portable Player: HIFIMAN HM-801 - USB Cables: Acoustic Revive USB-1.0SP (1 m) | Acoustic Revive USB-5.0PL (5 m), review HERE - LAN Cables: Acoustic Revive LAN-1.0 PA (kable ) | RLI-1 (filtry), review HERE - Router: Liksys WAG320N - NAS: Synology DS410j/8 TB ANTIVIBRATION ACCESSORIES - Stolik: SolidBase IV Custom, read HERE/all system - Anti-vibration Platforms: Acoustic Revive RAF-48H, review HERE/digital sources | Pro Audio Bono [Custom Version]/headphone amplifier/integrated amplifier, review HERE | Acoustic Revive RST-38H/loudspeakers under review/stands for loudspeakers under review - Anti-vibration Feets: Franc Audio Accessories Ceramic Disc/ CD Player/Ayon Polaris II Power Supply /products under review, review HERE | Finite Elemente CeraPuc/ products under review, review HERE | Audio Replas OPT-30HG-SC/PL HR Quartz, review HERE - Anti-vibration accsories: Audio Replas CNS-7000SZ/power cable, review HERE - Quartz Isolators: Acoustic Revive RIQ-5010/CP-4 PURE PLEASURE - FM Radio: Tivoli Audio Model One |
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