Sounds from the studio

A high-resolution portable DAC and headphone amplifier, the new Sony PHA-2 lets you enjoy high-resolution audio with very good details and nuances within the music.

According to Sony, PHA-2 is the first portable DAC/amplifier to be compatible with virtually every high-resolution digital file format, including up to 192 kHz/24-bit PCM and both DSD (2.8MHz) and Double DSD (5.6MHz).

High resolution technology has been applied to digital audio recordings to allow you discover and enjoy subtle details and nuances within the music, in the same way as you would experience it in the recording studio or live performance.

High-resolution audio is known as the “192kHz/24bit” format, which is the rate of digital sampling of an original analogue audio source. CD audio, which used to amaze us, has the sampling rate of 44.1kHz/16bit.

Apart from using the high sampling rate, an alternative means for digitising an analog source is a method called DSD (Direct Stream Digital), which quantises in 1 bit increments at an extremely fast 2.8MHz or higher. This mean is called DSD 1bit/2.8MHz and Double DSD (5.6MHz).

Due to the amount of data carried in High-Resolution Audio files, the file sizes tend to become very large so the digital recording needs to be done using compression that will not sacrifice the sound quality.

The 192kHz/24bit audio files often use FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) or ALAC (Apple Lossless Audio Codec). DSD technology uses DSD(DFF), which is the DSD file format used in professional equipment for the manufacture of Super Audio CDs. DSD(DSF) is a PC-friendly format created for use in VAIO PCs, and a DVD burned using DSF data is referred to as a “DSD disc”.

So to make most of the sound quality of PHA-2, you will also need these files.

The PHA-2 features an Asynchronous Transport Mode that utilises a dedicated signal generator to reduce timing errors for more accurate, jitter-free converter performance. It also incorporates a high precision D/A (digital to analog) converter, along with such devices as a custom headphone amplifier IC with high slew rate, ultra-low distortion operation; OCL (output capacitor-less) current feedback architecture; as well as a dual power supply operation for more stable and accurate reproduction.

The PHA-2 uses a durable aluminium chassis that’s fully protected from external interference.

Its headphone amplifier also has a variable gain headphone input that supports a wide range of impedances; as well as Zinc die-cast bumpers to protect the volume control and headphone connector from external shock and vibration.

You can connect the PHA-2 to both PC and Mac computers via its USB 2.0 interface. It also has a dedicated digital input for iPod, iPhone and iPad products. The package provides a cable to connect to your iPod, iPhone and iPad. 

Other portable audio sources such as Android smartphones and digital music players can be connected via the analog audio input. There is also a mini USB port for connecting to a high-resolution supported Walkman.

The PHA-2 comes with a built-in Lithium-ion battery, which runs for up to 6.5 hours with a digital connection and up to 17 hours with an analog connection on a single charge.

I tested it by connecting it to my PC’s USB 2.0 port. Unlike the PHA-1, you need to install the provided driver software to have the PHA-2 operate with your PC.

To have PHA-2 decode the high-resolution audio signal, you need a player program that supports hi-res audio formats. 

I tested it with Sony Hi-Res Audio Player that supports the popular high-resolution formats. 

To enjoy high-resolution audio, you will also need a pair of headphones that can receive the high-resolution analog audio signals decoded by PHA-2.

I tested it with Beats New Studios and Sony XBA-H3, the flagship in-ear headphones of the XBA-H series.

I found that the audio quality was very good when I played FLAC files and a sample DSD file for the PHA-2 to convert.

For example, when I listened to Roger Waters’ “Is It the Fifth” in FLAC format, I noticed a lot of music details, even small details added to enhance the mood of progressive songs – and this despite the songs were coded in 44.1 kHz/16bit format, not in 192 kHz/24 bit format. 

When I listened to a sample file of 192 kHz/24bit format of a violin track, the violin sounded so real and sweet. It’s important to be aware that 192 kHz/24 bit files in FLAC compression will be very large. Just the 29-second sample file uses a massive 16.3 megabytes of space.

I tried listening to a DSD 2.8 MHz file, Shostakovich Cello Sonata, and I was very impressed by the quality of the music quality. It is a classical duel between a cello and piano and it yielded a lot of music details. Again, the file is massive: 126 megabytes of storage for just three-minutes.

Sony PHA-2 has a suggested retail price of Bt21,990.

 

 

Key specs

_ Supported impedance: 8 - 600 Ohm

_ Frequency Range: 10 Hz - 100 kHz (AUDIO IN input)

_ Audio Distortion: 0.01% or less (1 kHz)

_ Supported sampling frequencies/bit: PCM: Maximum 192 kHz/24 bit/PC, WALKMAN NWZ-F880 series, DSD (PC only): 2.8 MHz, 5.6 MHz

_ Digital Audio Input(s): Inputs (3): USB Micro-B input (for charging & PC), USB Mini-B input (for Walkman), USB Standard type A (for iPod/iPhone/iPad)

_ Analog Input: 1 3.5mm stereo jack

_ Case Type: Aluminium chassis

_ Type of Use: Portable and Home

_ Power On/Off: Integrated: Rotary power/volume knob

_ Output(s): Outputs (2): PHONES (stereo mini-jack, only 3-pole supported), AUDIO IN/LINE OUT (stereo mini-jack, only 3-pole supported)

_ Power source: DC 3.7 V built-in lithium-ion rechargeable battery

_ Battery life: Analog connection: Approx. 17 hours, Digital connection: Approx. 6.5 hours

_ Charging time: Approx. 7 hours

_ Dimensions (w/h/d):  Approx. 68 mm ×

_ Dimensions (Approx.): 68 mm x 29 mm x 140 mm

_ Weight (Approx.): Approx. 270 g