SONCOZ SGA1 HEADPHONE AMPLIFIER REVIEW. INCLUDES A BONUS PRE-AMP MODULE & BALANCED MODES

Fully balanced with the addition of a pre-amp to boot, Paul Rigby reviews the SGA1 headphone amplifier.
VIDEO CONTENTS
00:00 - Intro
1:33 - Closer Look
7:20 - Sound Quality
7:52 - Single-Ended Mode Testing
11:07 - Balanced Headphone Testing
13:26 - Balanced Output Testing
16:09 - Pre-Amp Testing
17:55 - Conclusion
#headphones #amp #amplifier #soncoz #preamp #balanced
Thanks to HiFi Go for supplying the unit for review. You can buy the Soncoz from this company too at: bit.ly/3tVNi9b
Check out my website for more on headphone amplifiers at: theaudiophileman.com
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[@jeremiahchamberlin4499]

Loved the review, love to try this product in my balanced system.

[@ibaneye]

Another great review from Mr Rigby! Paul has a way of making things easy to understand. I learn a lot watching these reviews, beyond the item in question. I leave with more audio equipment knowledge than I came with.

[@TheAudiophileMan]

Well, that's very kind of you Iain, Thank You.

[@rockfidelity8229]

How bout a review of the outlaw rr2160. Seems like an amp that you would.

[@pickyaudiophile]

Mr Rigby can you rule out your source in combination with the SGA1 causing these imbalances perceived between S-E and BAL? Do you rember other dual input gear where there is no audible difference when using that particular source while switching back and forth? If there is any gear you rember as "even", one may just conclude S-E input is of inferior quality.

[@TheAudiophileMan]

Mr Picky - the source is the source because it's my reference and I know it backwards, having utilised it/them on many other review products. The review product under review is the only unknown variable. I wouldn't call single-ended mode noticeably inferior on the Soncoz, just disappointing. It's fine. It's workable. Balanced is just superior and the highlight. And just because balanced is included doesn't and will not guarantee good sound. I've reviewed plenty of balanced options in other products in the past which have, in and of themselves, sounded poor. Producing quality balanaced output remains, in my opinion, an art. Its sound quality is earned, its not there by right of inclusion.

[@pickyaudiophile]

@@TheAudiophileMan Thank you so much for making clear your source has been subject to double checks passed at numerous occasions in before. When looking at the comments some people just seemed to misunderstand. Maybe I am a little oversensitive to general "balanced" audio praise. There is a lot of cheesy "balanced" gear outside like $60 "balanced MQA" dongle DACs plus $20 "balanced" IEMs which only make me sad and angry through their sheer existence.

[@TheAudiophileMan]

Indeed - and to further emphasise the point, here's one Soncoz where 'Balanced' didn't quite go to plan :) : theaudiophileman.com/la-qxd1-dac-review-soncoz/

[@Extremesam43]

Seems like balanced wins every time. I'd like to see more manufactures offer it. I know I'd be happy to pay the extra money.

[@pickyaudiophile]

As we do not know anything about the source used it's highly speculative what really causes the difference perceived. Without a measured source that only differs in voltage between S-E and BAL with an equal THD and SNR under comparable load it's plain guessing.

[@ionobelisk]

Interesting review thanks, but what is an "Anglog Output"?😂

[@TheAudiophileMan]

Do you know what? I completely missed that! Maybe I was reading what I expected to see. Thanks for flagging it up. Seems like the guys across the way there still have a few things to learn :)