Sound Check
One thing in advance: 32-ohm headphones of uncertain origin and with unclear technical data, it is better not to operate at full load on the A20, otherwise the folded membrane may tap the eardrum faster than you might like. And that always pulls out of your ear so awkwardly. But sh(m)erz aside, it really is a headphone amplifier, in which a pure power can blow away the brain smoothly down to the high ohm range. A toy looks different.
I tested the A20 first with the Beyerdynamic T 90, a Sennheiser HD650 and then with the Amiron Home, which I also analyzed in detail last week in the individual test ("Beyerdynamic Amiron Home in the test – relaxed hi-fi headphones not only for the living room"). Whether it's Sennheiser's very warm (and slightly darker) interpretation or the two Tesla listeners, where the Amiron Home gives the clearest and brightest picture – everything from 250 Ohm impedance will definitely not sink into insignificance, because for those very much Headphones (or even more high-impedance) are made of the A20 yes.
It is in fact the afterburner for any low-breasted analog source, on which one cannot operate headphones of these Ohm's dimensions sensibly. This even applies to the noble motherboards with specially advertised and cleanly priced audio-klimbim, because I could not even get reasonable levels with any of the parts available here. The currently used DACs are already really good, but you can't find power amplifiers. Gain switch also does not. What the topic would have done on the PC would have been if you didn't rely on separate sound cards of the upper price range, which can also deliver such levels.
And this is exactly where the A20 can then elegantly start to jump. Whether as a power amplifier for the PC, as a single fighter with the direct turntable connection or as a useful addition to the home system, in which the headphone outputs almost always vegetate only at compromise level – it is at the end of the pleasure factor that the insults grumbling reason with Schmackes sent into the corner. But after so many generalities, I also want to go into the details that Really struck me as a real distinguishing feature.
First of all, there is a really uncritical dynamic, which stretches from the slightest nuances to the craggy finale Furioso, without even producing the hint of scratchiness. Klirr can still be imagined at most, but if something really sizzles and sizzles, it was certainly already in the recording. The level strength is excellent and above all very variable sound carpets with a very wide-band mixture of different sources with very different intensity are simply a pleasure when consuming.
Especially the Amiron Home with the slightly pretentious Beyer-Peak is the ideal test headphones for the high-frequency range. And it is precisely there that the discretely equipped AB power amplifier of the A20, together with the rather strong counter-coupling, now has no audible weakness at all. In direct comparison with all three headphones to the already good external Asus Xonar Essence STU, the gain in level strength and attention to detail, as well as the astonishing nuances, are clearly audible even in difficult passages. Not to mention the maximum level and the dynamics. The low bass is not only clearer and cleaner, but also more combative in the final sequence.
And in the middle of it? With the impulse fidelity, the lower and upper middles then somehow there is a tie, because the Essence STU is not so bad again. It can be used more universally and is also much more connective. Only the (all) last kick is missing. I've found it now on the A20, after all. On the PC I have rediscovered the onboard sound for me, because the built-up DAC is (as already mentioned) usable. However, the A20 afterburner is then unavoidable and it is of course also gaming beyond the 16- or 32-ohm-strings…
Summary and conclusion
However, even the A20 can't save what the headphones can't do even then. Which would have made us elegantly able to reach the target group again. Because a headphone of at least equal ness is already mandatory here. That you are already scratching at the four-digit range or is already in it is a gift. But I don't want to start again with the graphics cards, where obviously every sum seems acceptable. Just forget the colorful pixel grout and think about your ears and the distant future! Because one thing is also certain: you still have the same fun here in long-term operation even after 10 years! Try this with graphics hardware, a lot of fun…
The A20 does not offer frills, a DAC and digital inputs have also been omitted. Thus, this is pure analog purism, which can be found good or bad, depending on the situation. In any case, I have been promised this very solid interpretation of simplicity, which, as always, is so difficult to solve. If you have a good headphones and analog signals are sufficient: it is deliciously prepared. The rest will go out to eat as always.
