Soncoz SGA-1 Headphone Amplifier Review

Thank you to HiFiGo for sending me the Soncoz SGA-1 headphone amplifier for review. Could this be one of the best value headphone audio amplifiers available? I tested them with some of the best high-end headphones available.
------------
You can buy the SGA-1 at this link, and support my channel at the same time: www.hear.audio/go/sga1
------------
Don't forget to read the FAQ! hear.audio/faq
------------
Become a supporter, see my reviews and product impressions in advance, and get my buying advice any time:
www.hear.audio/go/support
------------
I have been using Backblaze’s unlimited cloud backup to protect all my data - terabytes of it - for a flat monthly or yearly fee, for years. I highly recommend them as a backup solution.
www.hear.audio/go/backup
------------
00:00 Start
01:04 Inputs and Outputs
02:32 Functionality
05:02 Sound Impressions
10:30 GS-X Mini comparison
11:26 Different Sources
12:13 Conclusion

[@cyberstyle2229]

Eagerly awaiting that gorgeous Audio-GD R27HE review 😍

[@Ray-dl5mp]

Great video ! I love how you break down everything we want to hear. What sound it has , and how it compares to the other products you know we are thinking about. It would be cool to hear your thoughts on best amps under 1k for different sounds - euphoric, warm, soundstage, neutral etc… would be cool to hear an updated video from you as I think you can help a lot of people. I think a lot of people want to hear what is a good value for a certain sound. It’s boring if I pay more for the same sound.

[@deepakkumarkumar4807]

I856u8

[@TheSaniwaa]

I hope you'll get to review all the new audio-gd stuff, the R27HE looks bonkers

[@violin-schwerin]

nice review! I use a Feliks audio echo MK2 otl tube Headphone amp, are they available in Japan? really great gear

[@TheBillclark2]

Thanks again for the review. Most bizarre UI I've seen. Who thinks to make it that way? Someone wasn't thinking.

[@Currawong]

It reminds me of the very first BMW iDrive.

[@JonasKarlssonSE]

How would SGA-1 compare to a classic amp in the same price range like the Audio-GD NFB1-AMP?

[@akn_9220]

So can the SGA-1 drive the HE6se v2 decently or no? You only said the Singer SA-1 didn't have enough power for those.

[@Currawong]

No, this is the wrong kind of amp for super-insensitive planars like the HE-6se and Susvaras.

[@kyron42]

Some people claim that tube amps boost the sound. How can that be? Is there any way to measure soundstage and imaging?

[@Currawong]

Adjusting the crosstalk vs. frequency and even-order harmonic distortion can have that effect. It doesn't have to be a tube amp to do that though.

[@kyron42]

@@Currawong I know that phono cartridges tend to have higher second harmonic distortion at higher frequencies which might explain why so many people like records. So proper measurement of amplifiers should include crosstalk versus frequency and second harmonic distortion v frequency and third harmonic distortion v frequency and total harmonic distortion and noise vs frequency for various loads such as 32 ohms, 150 ohms and 600 ohms.

[@Currawong]

That'd definitely be something to experiment with. Also, manufacturers tend to go on about THD and THD+N, but their IMD measurements don't look so pretty, though a factor of that is IMD vs. output.

[@kyron42]

@@Currawong yes a full IMD analysis might reveal something. I was also thinking about TID though Schiit doesn't think TID is an issue.

[@GadZookz]

That amp must be for fidgety people who like to interact with their music in an agitated state. The controls belong on a set of Bluetooth headphones.

[@Vamp898]

I think this whole power topic is getting out of hand anyway. The HD800(S)/820, in my experience, aren't really that hard to drive at all. A lot of people consider them hard to drive, but even from my DAP (250mW @ 16Ω) i could drive them just fine. For most Songs, even without using High-Gain. There are amps (Especially ChiFi) that have, on paper, tons of power, but if you actually listen to them with headphones, they sound weaker than they should be. On the other hand, there are enough amps that don't seem to have a lot of power but still sound excellent even with harder to drive headphones. (Of course there are also Amp that have a lot of power and sound like that). One of my most favorite amps does have 1300mW @ 32Ω but handles a lot of hard to drive Headphones better, than an ChiFi amp i have also here with 3000mW @ 32Ω Especially, the 1300mW does have consistent power. At half volume it sounds as good as on full volume. The ChiFi amp sounds like its lacking power, the louder im turning it. If i put the 1300mW amp to 100%, it sounds much more powerful than the ChiFi amp at the same volume (far from its limit). The ChiFi amp is getting the Headphone much louder, i give him that,, but as you said, who wants to kill his hearing? What does volume help me, if it doesn't sound good? As long the amp produces enough power for an sufficient volume, i don't care that much about the volume. Rather decrease the output power and put some nice capacitors in there that can actually back the power demand.

[@kyron42]

How can an amplifier sound warmer if it has a flat frequency response and distortion below human perception. If you put a 1 kHz square-wave into 2 quality amplifiers ban limited to 20 kHz I seriously doubt you would see any difference on a scope.

[@Currawong]

Because it's not the frequency response being changed. Remember that measurements are only an instantaneous snapshot of a single aspect of how a device is performing. They don't show you time-related distortions, which you'll get when playing music, and not test tones.

[@jeremyhowell2647]

The new goldensound video on the limitations of amp/DAC measurements is a great perspective on how subjective sound can be different than objective measurements due to how measurements are taken and presented

[@kyron42]

@@Currawong a square wave will show up time-related distortions and any underdamping or overdamping as long as the load is the actual headphone. This is something I can test myself if I put in some time. Thanks.

[@kyron42]

@@jeremyhowell2647 thanks. I don't remember him specifically talking about how an amplifier can sound warmer but definitely worth listening to again.

[@jeremyhowell2647]

@@kyron42 Well I was thinking specifically about how devices can have different amounts of distortion at various frequencies. SINAD could measure well at 1khz, but not so well from other test frequencies. If some frequencies cause enough distortion, the result could be audible coloration. Perhaps I misunderstood, but that was part of my take away.

[@Satansclawps3]

WARM COLD RICH POOR DARK LIGHT. BUY HEADPHONES GOOD QUALITY £300 TURN SOUND TO MAX THAT'S IT. AND I LISTEN TO AN ECLECTIC MIX OF MUSIC FROM DAVID SYLVIAN TO THE KLF .

[@Currawong]

I was just watching the old KLF videos the other day. They have a very odd back story which I knew nothing about until now.