Singxer SA-1 Headphone Amp Review

Thanks to APOS Audio for sending me a Singxer SA1 for review. You can buy it from APOS audio at this link: www.hear.audio/go/sa1 and support my channel at the same time.
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00:00 Start
00:22 Feature overview
05:18 Size comparison
05:47 IEM tests
07:44 Full-sized headphones
15:22 Resolving ability
16:55 Soundaware P1 comparison
17:50 Summary
18:28 Support me!

[@Farazao]

I was about to sell my SA-1 and keep my Jot 1 until I watched your review. Right after I bought the jumpers and installed them (super easy) and damn... Already took my ad off. It becomes a totally different amp with the jumpers in, it's crazy. The dynamics as you said, but also the timbre, which is absurdly more natural, most noticed on acoustic guitars. Thank you for saving me some money between sales and new purchases. You're currently my top reviewer for audio gear. Awesome job!

[@Filopo07]

hi Victor, what DAC are you pairing the SA-1 with?

[@Farazao]

@@Filopo07 hey Felipe, I'm pairing it with a Schiit Bifrost 2

[@Filopo07]

@@Farazao I see, thanks man! 👍

[@-Ambos-]

Hi Victor, do you know about the risk that comes with bypassing the capacitors with the jumpers? I just read about it but I haven´t got the knowledge to assess the risk

[@RandomShites]

Almost bought your SA-1 on fb before it disappeared lol. Ended up with a Jot 2 🤷. Glad to know it worked out for you

[@Tallnerdyguy]

The "warranty void if removed" doesn't apply to US. According to US law, that sticker is actually illegal and doesn't apply to products sold in the US. It may hold up internationally, but doesn't hold up in the US.

[@alexh5343]

Nice review, I have the SA-1 and the SDA-6 advanced combo along with Beyerdynamic T1.3 and its easy going and detailed, very pleased.

[@irondad007]

I've owned this amp for several weeks now and love it. It is much smoother in sound and more exciting with its staging than the 789 that it replaced. I'm a fan. Great review!

[@suryapramoddev]

How does it sound with Sundara?

[@irondad007]

@@suryapramoddev it sounds great! The Sundara takes a lot more power than the specs would have you believe. In low gain, the volume pot is usually used between 3 and 5 o'clock! But no worries, because does not use a linear volume pot.

[@soulfulfool]

@@irondad007 must say that my T60 Argon at high gain depending on recording run at 5 oclock (balanced, SE probably could not run them for pleasure)

[@TheTwistedmachine]

Thanks for your review. Bought one after watching this video. Very happy about what it brings to my Arya.

[@jamescook6890]

Thank you for going into such detail about the need to void warranty explains why so many lesser reviews struggled

[@Shozimus]

That is a really comperhensive review, many thanks :) Wonder If You could do a class A amps comparison. Also would love to see Your take on The Benchmark HP4 someday.

[@x-techgaming]

Oh man, that black Chord with the chrome buttons...

[@dynamic-audio]

Amazing video. Excuse me, if i not pretend to bypass dc in sa-1, Which has wider soundstage sa1 or jout2?

[@saadmh]

Love the Chord gear Amos, especially the Dave!

[@Currawong]

Yeah, and now I'm entirely ruined for everything else.

[@IHearEverythingDude]

@@Currawong oh yes. After Dave your ears are spoiled. There is no going back. Waiting for the full review.

[@grasshopper33xx]

Better than the Hollow spring?

[@ruusta8042]

@@Currawong If that means that you aren't letting go of it, then I'd be happy for you to get a Holo May in to put up against it! That's a comparison that I'm particularly interested in at the moment.

[@nolly485]

@@ruusta8042 Dave wins. This test has been done a number of times.

[@adrianmorrish8494]

bit of a killer with the warrenty though, so v2 has a couple or 3 things to fix, a dC protection circuit that dosent cripple it if it's possible, a second gain increase to over 18 and said gain swapped if necessary with the impedence switch, by now the icb designer probably wants my head on a platter but just saying.

[@audioaficionado9494]

I recently got Jot2. Running it balanced into Sandara. Best set up I've owned so far. Still fun to watch reviews on other gear, but no gear envy except maybe a better DAC. HOLO MAY is interesting.

[@briandorsey6437]

I have too much gear currently & can sell you my Holo Audio Level 2 KTE for a decent price - perfect condition.

[@Maver1ck911]

Did you get a Holo? The May only runs NOS so that's kinda a bummer and almost requires the external pre-amp adding 4 grand. The Spring 3 KTE with on board Pre-Amp module is the ticket for the money.

[@Mestre_tainha]

@@Maver1ck911 agree with you there.

[@davidparr3748]

I am the guy who did the mod, it takes a few days to settle in then it's smooth across the mids and highs. Modded it's exactly what I wanted and very happy. Thank you so much Currawong for doing a preview and the jumper mod. I was itching for pro to confirm the differences and have the breath of experience to compare other amps to it... Very happy with the purchase. Keep up the good work it's appreciated. Cheers Dave Aka Middy 🙂👍

[@Currawong]

Cheers! I had already left the amp running for days beforehand, so the highs were already smooth after the mod for me.

[@hifihillbilly4843]

Is this what I need for the jumper mod? ZYAMY 30pcs 2.54mm Black Jumper Caps Standard Circuit Board Jumper Cap Shunts Short Circuit Connection Pin Blocks www.amazon.com/dp/B077957RN7/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_E6EJK3A0HJSCR8JJ594Z

[@Currawong]

Yes, those are the ones.

[@suryapramoddev]

Could you please help me in answering how does SA-1 sound with Sundara?

[@Nicholas-rm2gp]

Hey how did you find out about this mod? And do you know the consequences/risks to the amp aside of the voided warranty?

[@devenmajmudar839]

Great video. Please review T+A HA 200 Headphone Amp/Dac. Thanks

[@ruusta8042]

That would be an excellent unit to compare against the DAVE!

[@albertguev]

Great review as always. No matter how good it is, if I had to void the warranty to get to its full potential, I wouldn't buy it 😞

[@theodoroschronis2966]

Noone can talk faster and continuously without a full stop than Currawong!

[@CLaudiusClemensJimmy]

i think marshall matters aka eminem had him for his guru

[@joosteijkenboom1988]

Great review as always. Thanks. Think I might actually buy this amp :) what DAC would you advice with it?

[@Currawong]

The Schiit Bifrost is currently the DAC I recommend at a similar price point.

[@ninjap323]

@@Currawong if you only had one amp to run with the bifrost 2 would it be the sa-1 or the jot 2?

[@xzackly7131]

Thanks for the review. Another amp I've seen compared to the Jotunheim 2 is the Rebel Amp/Flux Labs FA-12s(same amp?), if you ever get that in for a comparison it'd be interesting.

[@mauriziopapa2177]

Hello and congratulations for the review, I kindly ask you to indicate the jumpers to buy if you have a link .... thank you

[@Currawong]

amzn.to/3Q3f5Oy

[@seanc5827]

Could you please video review the Singxer DDC that you referenced at the beginning of your review? Thanks

[@SweetLead]

Zeos Pantera / Zreviews compared the GS-X Mini to the SingXer SA-1. And he said they sound the same. Definitely a must buy for me is SingXer SA-1 because I live in Europe and headamp has no resellers in Europe. If I ordered from US, I would pay extra taxes and it is too expensive for me. And I'm still saving a lot of money with that. I’m glad it sounds very similar. I was informed that SingXer SA-1 is the best solid state amp for my future sennheiser hd 800 s headphones. At first I wanted to buy a topping a90 with hd 800 s but I found out that this combination would sound too flat and sterile and it would be a boring sound in music.

[@Currawong]

As per my reply to the other video you posted this on: With what music and what source did they "sound the same"? Definitely it's not worth buying a higher-end amp if everything else wont get the most out of it.

[@Maver1ck911]

Would you say that the IEM port is necessary over the 3.5mm on the RME ADI 2 DAC? Or would it impart class A A/B sound TO IEM's? Might just get the Jott 2 for Headphones and stick with the RME 2 IEM port or save for a Feliks Elise.

[@ks_3.14]

That hidden Dave, I like and I own

[@KitaristChannel]

Did you ever test Topping A90 and how does it compare to this one? :)

[@r00s.]

I have both this SA-1 [for about 2 months] and a Jot 2 [gotten in December 2020]. I have not done the jumper mod yet bc I am worried about the warranty. So far, I think the Jot 2 is slightly better with my main phones [Focal Clear, Elegia, and HiFiMAN HE6SE v1], but am really intrigued about modding the SA-1 to hear the improvement. I might just keep both bc for now. I can use the SA-1 with IEMs until the warranty expires and then mod it afterwards. I will also say that I think the SA-1 sounds a bit better than the Jot 2 as a pre-amp for my powered monitors. Decisions, decisions...

[@Someone-ig8ct]

Hey man, did you end up doing the mod? If so, how's the sound difference? I'm really interested in the comparison with the he6se!

[@ohnonate]

did the pre amp change the sound from your active speakers?

[@tillespeli7652]

Hey Currawong, thanks for the review! What amp is that where the balanced headphones are plugged in? (Below the THX-789)

[@Currawong]

Soundaware P-1, as mentioned in the video.

[@johnbeton2.0]

What about the singxer in comparison to the gustard h16?

[@Yu-ej1cy]

Would the Singxer SA-1 be an upgrade compared to something like amps that use the AMB Laboratories M3 design (Rebel Amp/Flux Labs FA-12s) ?

[@UntakenNick]

I wish people who talk about the mod specified what headphones they used to test the difference since the higher the impedance, the more likely it is that the difference will be noticeable. I use Arya Stealth, which have low impedance, and I wouldn't like to void the warranty for them to sound just like before.

[@Currawong]

The mod has no effect on the output, and has nothing to do with the impedance of the headphones. It only affects the input.

[@alivm8088]

can it drive he6? any plan to review cayin iha6?

[@adrianmorrish8494]

I am now at buy time, for my next step up in amp, the sa-1 is very reasonably priced in UK compared to the Jot2, still more but much smaller gap. If I am not willing to do the mod during the warrenty period am I better off with the Jot2, also I believe the Jot2 has better dynamics and slam (etc) and as I listen to a lot of electronica and EDM as well as almost all genres with my least being classical and jaz? My main hp’s at moment are 2020 Sundara, Deva pro, 6xx and next planned are the DCA noire and Hifiman Ananda

[@i0001w]

Can you try DAVE as dac to SA-1 ?

[@antpage2]

Can you review and compare the GSX Mini please?

[@Currawong]

Organised and waiting.

[@yujinpark6374]

Looking at the crosstalk measurements of the SA-1 it is ruler dead flat even...not the slightest bit rise in the treble whatsoever 🤔 - Secondly would that also not imply that balanced amplifiers (which inherently have low crosstalk(~-140dB)) that also measure flat in frequency response not sound nearly identical?

[@Currawong]

Everything else being equal, I reckon so. We notice differences in frequency response the most. One thing we don't have a corresponding measurement for is detail retrieval.

[@Rev0ltTTV]

Should I get a Singxer sa-1 if I already have a Jot2 and THX887? I'm pairing them with a Qutest and thought I would get more benefit buying a more expensive amp like a burson soloist or headamp gsx mini.

[@Currawong]

An SA-1 wouldn't be much different to what you already have. Indeed, save up and get something much better.

[@shh532]

The DC mod is really interesting. From what I know Singxer will be removing the jumpers on future units, making these old SA-1s something somewhat unique. I am personally not sure whether or not to give it a shot... thinking a lot about getting some Aryas to pair with it too.

[@Currawong]

Where did you find that out?

[@shh532]

​@@Currawong Tom Chen, I believe the lead designer of the amp, said so posting on ASR in Amir's full review (P. 9, Post #173). Apparently they are just for testing and they will consider removing them in the future.

[@Currawong]

I hope they remove those capacitors as well then, as they harm the sound quality quite noticeably.

[@KytexEdits]

@@Currawong What are the main sound benefits of doing it and what are the risks of running it without the caps? I ordered mine a few days ago, if it's really that important I'll probably mod it.

[@Currawong]

Watch the video! :)

[@pewpewpower]

The SA-1 at $600 is 50% more expensive than the Jotunheim 2. What xx% greater performance or better sounding (roughly, overall) would you say is the SA-1 over the Jot 2? And with headphones like AKG 7xx, Sennheiser HD800s, and Hifiman HPs, would you say one is a clear winner over the other even with the 50% price difference?

[@KytexEdits]

My take on the situation is this: The Jot 2 is $399 and SA-1 is $599. Now, that may be the case in the US but as an example here in Europe a Jot 2 would actually cost $399 + $90 import tax + $50-100 shipping, making it a total of $540-600 for the Jot 2 while the SA-1 costs $599 (499 euros) in Europe, plus shipping. This also applies for much of the world outside the US. My conclusion as an SA-1 owner from europe that also wants a Jot 2 and has read every single head-fi/ASR/SBAF thread and watched every review is this: *If you're from the US or have no import taxes the Jot 2 is a great deals, if not then the SA-1 may be more efficient in terms of price/performance.*

[@bltzcstrnx]

@@KytexEdits this is true, US vendors such as Schiit and JDS Labs also very uncompetitive where I live in Southeast Asia. All I see in my local marketplace is either Topping, FiiO, SMSL, Gustard, and Shanling.

[@KytexEdits]

@@bltzcstrnx It's a damn shame. American headphones are also very uncompetitive price wise. Luckily I was able to get my Borealis through customs without paying anything so there's that.

[@bltzcstrnx]

@@KytexEdits I think US vendors need something like Shenzhen Audio but for US. It can help especially smaller vendors to distribute internationally. Shenzhen Audio have many partners in multiple regions. So smaller companies in China just put their product there. I don't see this kind of distributor in the US, the one that focuses on International market. Most US vendors and distributors only focused on domestic market.

[@n00buo]

Had both amps Jot 2 and SA-1, Jot 2 is brighter compared to SA-1 as Currawong said, I never tried DC mode as I bought a Kinki THR-1 and sold both amps but If I had to choose I'd go Jotunheim 2 over SA-1 (default - non dc mode). I tried with Arya, Clear and D8K Pro

[@pointsofhonesty]

what did you end up going with? I am in the market

[@n00buo]

@@pointsofhonesty My real end game where I don't visit any audio website or reviews etc is Pontus 2 > Kinki THR-1 and Final D8000 Pro.... I sold D90, X16, BF2, Ares 2, SA-1, Jot 2, Valhalla 2 etc...

[@MayTheSchwartzBeWithYou]

@@n00buo What is your opinion of BF2 -> Jot 2 -> Arya? What would be the weakest link in that chain?

[@n00buo]

@@MayTheSchwartzBeWithYou Sorry for late response, that setup is killer but you'd need to EQ the Arya just a little bit

[@x-techgaming]

Did you mean that you tested Yggdrasil balanced VS BF2 SE, and then Yggdrasil SE VS BF2 balanced?

[@Currawong]

1. Yggy SE vs. Balanced. 2. Yggy SE vs. Bifrost balanced.

[@aceofspades6667]

Was between this and Burson Soloist 3XP... ended up going with Burson.

[@hassabsaeed9993]

good choice

[@tysontyson1244]

I considered Burson but I have read about too many problems with them. So, I went with the Singxer SA-1. If I could have afforded the HeadAmp GS-X Mini, I would have purchased it. However, I am quite happy with the Singxer SA-1.

[@ashiqulsadman8849]

Please review the daart aquilla 2

[@brzozx7651]

do you recommend any dac in 400$ budget to pair with Singxer sa-1 ?

[@Currawong]

www.hear.audio/faq

[@-Ambos-]

How do you assess the risk of damaging headphones when using the jumpers to bypass the capacitors?

[@Currawong]

There's still the volume control between the input and the rest of the amp (and your headphones).

[@-Ambos-]

@@Currawong Ah okay thank you. I didnt know that it is just the volume that can hurt the headphones. I thought for whatever reason it could damage the headphones in a way that doesn´t have to do with volume

[@bltzcstrnx]

@@-Ambos- DAC output usually have their own DC protection capacitors. My DAC have a jumper to bypass it like this amp.

[@AftermathXJ220]

It's a no go for me if I have to void the the warranty of a $600 piece of equipment to get $600 performance out of it.

[@epicmike3915]

No only that. why buy something and then have to mod it to get the best out of it. People in this hobby are weird af.

[@Nicholas-rm2gp]

Interesting advice with the mod. I'm a little puzzled why the manufacturer would intentionally "cripple" their amp without good reason. Can you share the link where this feature is described? I'm interested in this amp, but voiding the warranty doesn't sound smart regardless of asking price.

[@Currawong]

It was posted on Head-Fi in the thread about the amp, on the first page. I then looked at a picture of the inside of the amp to determine which screws I had to remove to open the case.

[@Nicholas-rm2gp]

@@Currawong Ok thanks for the reply and for your time creating this review. I'll most definitely be skipping this amp.

[@juanmillaruelo7647]

But there IS a good reason: preventing warranty claims. Your upstream gear may let DC through.

[@neilrobins3329]

@@juanmillaruelo7647 put an Audiolab DC Filter in the chain?

[@fixxxer4234]

is this compared to Jotenheim or Jotenheim 2? Asking for ZMF VO.

[@Currawong]

Jotunheim 2. I've never had the original here.

[@clabbem74]

hi , dont know but at the moment this amp its harsh and shiny,,, using Arya and chord dac..., the treble is very hard and not at all sweet or rounded, my eardrum whistles ..................... I still burning if improve something 25 hrs,... (I made the mod)

[@Currawong]

Something might be not working properly in your setup.

[@clabbem74]

@@Currawong i have the Arya V2 and when the all 4 switches are in high gain, all ita too bright, I can't stand listening to more than 2 rock songs. (acdc is unbearable for me to listen to)... in low gain its better.. however a lot less clearly..

[@JoeThorntonJr]

This thing looks exactly like the Topping A90.

[@minigaangsta]

I am looking for an amp to pair with the hifiman arya stealth .. this one absolutly made me interested as I am looking to get away from the clinical thx sound i have been "enjoying" so far to a more dynamic experience. Any thoughts or do you maybe have a better recommendation for me? What would be a good DAC pairing were I dont loose any of the dynamics or detail without going overkill?

[@Currawong]

I'm inclined towards the Schiit Bifrost/Jotunheim pair for the Arya Stealth.

[@minigaangsta]

@@Currawong Thanks alot I am now tending towards the Lake People G111 or G108 though. Have you heard those? I havent yet seen any reviews from someone whos opinion I trust but they seem to be pretty good.

[@Kolobok-Travoed]

Мне не совсем ясно с этими перемычками, кто то их просто уберает а вы в свою очередь наоборот убераете две и добавляете еще вторым этажом, зачем?

[@chefsteve8381]

Gain switch's are deal breaker for me ill wait till they maybe fix it in v2

[@tysontyson1244]

Have you ever accidentally switched on a gain switch on your amplifier and had a wake up call of blasting music in your ear? I have many times. However, I have never done this with the Singxer SA-1, because the switches are on the bottom. . The Singxer SA-1 has a power switch on the front. The Singxer SA-1 has a pre-amp switch on the front. To me, this control layout makes a lot of sense. I love it.

[@chefsteve8381]

@@tysontyson1244 No i have never accidentally switched on high gain on any amp not never in the last 30 years of using audio equipment, so you think its smart to have to disconnect the amp and turn it on its back every time i need to change gain for different headphones, who are you kidding!

[@epicmike3915]

@@chefsteve8381 Yep not sure who accidently high gains lol.

[@exodusvelo]

Amos Moses

[@20puskinas1992]

lol

[@malinyamato2291]

I know why they crippled the amp -- because they want everyone to destroy the warranty sticker to uncripple it, so that they don't need to botter with warranty claimS. Smart! if you drill a hole in the chassis you can insert the jumpers without destroying the warranty sticker.

[@Currawong]

Drilling a hole will void the warranty as well.

[@malinyamato2291]

@@Currawong damn! Maybe there is a way to put the jumpers in the pins by using the vent holes somehow. I ordered an SA1 and to know if it sounds ok I need to do the mod but if I do then I cannot send it back if I don't like the sound.

[@v8purrr92]

I own the Jot2 and was thinking to buy the SA1, but came across the Flux Lab FA-12. I'm so glad I gave this amp a try! It turned out to be far superior than the Jot. It's connected to the Yggy A2 Unison, and my ears assure me that this is the most enjoyable DAC and Amp pairing they have ever experienced. It provides a wide soundstage, great instrument separation, and most importantly for me, the natural timbre of instruments and vocals I'd been searching so long. Earlier this year, I sent my unit to Amir from ASR because there weren't any professional reviews on this amp at that time. I'm not a science nerd but was happy to find out that the FA-12 not only did sound great, but also ranked as the best-performing Class A headphone amp ever measured on ASR. @Currawong It would be great to hear your opinion on this amp if you ever get the chance to review it.