DAC 200 – DAC with Preamp and Headphone Amp By T+A HiFi

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The T+A HA 200 is a flagship headphone amplifier and DAC designed by T+A for listeners seeking uncompromising performance from their headphone system. Combining advanced analog amplification with sophisticated digital conversion, the HA 200 is engineered to explore the full potential of high-end headphone listening.

At the heart of the design is technology derived from T+A’s T+A HV Series, featuring powerful Class-A output stages capable of driving even demanding headphones with ease. The amplifier provides adjustable output impedance across its headphone outputs, allowing users to better match the amplifier to different headphone designs and personal sonic preferences. A selectable crossfeed function can also be activated to create a more natural soundstage positioned in front of the listener rather than inside the head.

Separate power supplies for the analog and digital sections—each supported by dedicated toroidal transformers—provide ample power reserves for stable and consistent performance.

Advanced DAC Architecture

The digital section of the HA 200 incorporates proprietary conversion technology developed by T+A. It features the company’s T+A True 1‑Bit DAC, capable of handling extremely high-resolution DSD 1024 bitstream playback, along with a quadruple 32-bit / 768 kHz PCM converter architecture for PCM signals.

Like other current T+A digital components, the HA 200 uses a completely separate decoding architecture for DSD and PCM, ensuring each format is processed using an optimized signal path for maximum accuracy and fidelity.

Amplifier Section

The analog amplifier stage is a critical part of the HA 200’s design. Inspired by principles used in the HV Series, it employs a pure Class-A analog circuit with carefully selected MOSFET transistors. The signal path avoids operational amplifiers and integrated amplifier chips, focusing instead on discrete components for precision and transparency.

Volume control and loudness adjustment are handled through gas-tight encapsulated gold-contact relays, which help maintain signal purity and reliability over time. These relays are integrated directly into the circuit design to keep signal paths extremely short and minimize potential distortion.

Because headphones can vary widely in impedance—from around 10 to over 1000 ohms—the output stage is engineered to handle both high-current demands from low-impedance models and stable voltage requirements for high-impedance designs.

Monitoring & Control

Operating the HA 200 is designed to be straightforward despite its extensive functionality. A combination of front-panel controls and a menu system allows users to configure settings easily.

Two precision QPPM (Quasi Peak Programme Meter) VU meters provide accurate visual feedback similar to professional studio equipment. These meters can display parameters such as input level, output level, temperature, and signal quality. The high-resolution display also shows key operating settings including volume, selected input, output impedance, oversampling filter type, data rate, and crossfeed status.

Display brightness, LED intensity, and even the meter color can be adjusted to suit personal preferences. All functions can also be controlled via the included T+A FM8 Remote Control.

Premium Construction

The HA 200 features a robust chassis built entirely from non-magnetic aluminum. The front panel is machined from solid metal, while the top, bottom, and rear panels are constructed from precision-cut aluminum plates. The heatsinks are manufactured using custom extrusion tooling to ensure efficient heat management.

With more than 2300 components inside and the sophisticated HV-based circuitry, the HA 200 is larger and heavier than many headphone amplifiers. The solid construction helps ensure excellent mechanical stability and effective heat distribution for optimal operating conditions.

Extensive Inputs & Outputs

The HA 200 is equipped with a wide range of analog and digital connections, allowing it to function as a central component within a high-performance headphone or desktop audio system.

Designed for Reference Headphone Systems

While the HA 200’s primary role is to serve as a high-performance headphone amplifier, its broad range of inputs and advanced DAC architecture also make it suitable as a standalone digital hub for various audio sources.

By combining advanced Class-A amplification, proprietary DAC technology, and a wide array of connectivity options, the T+A HA 200 is designed to deliver exceptional performance for serious headphone enthusiasts and demanding audio systems.

HiFi Knights Poland
“The HA200 is a fantastic device for music connoisseurs, and you definitely should listen to it also with the excellent Solitaire P. This is an absolutely outstanding set! It’s expensive, you may say. True, but with these new products the T+A simply targets those looking for the best performance in the most feature-packed and great-looking audio components for whom price is not a deciding factor.”

http://hifiknights.com/reviews/amplifiers/ta-ha200-2/

HiFi and Music Source
“It is hard to fault such a fine piece of equipment, so I won’t. It is, simply a masterpiece of headphone amplifier loveliness. With such a high degree of flexibility, it will be difficult to find a pair of headphones that wouldn’t benefit from the dynamic control from this Class A product. It is the easiest 5 star of the year, what an outstanding headphone amplifier.”

https://hifiandmusicsource.com/2020/05/ta-ha-200-headphone-amplifier-hifi-review/

Stereo-Magazine
“A Perfect Pair – There is not really a more spectacular or successful way to enter a new segment than T+A did with their Solitaire P headphones – with this first model, the German company succeeded in crowning a new king of headphones. Now the matching HA 200 headphone amplifier aims to perform the same feat. “

HiFinews
“You can quibble about what it doesn’t do – I’d prefer built-in network and USB HDD playback, and analogue line outs – but what the HA 200 does, it does to sensational effect. Explore all its flexibility, wondering at the design and build, or treat all that as over-engineering, plug in a good pair of cans and let the music take you. If you take hi-fi headphone listening very seriously, you’re going to love it. “

https://www.hifinews.com/content/ta-ha-200-usbdac-headphone-amp

Stereophile
“My experience with other products by mainstream amp and speaker manufacturers “getting into headphones” has been mostly disappointing. French loudspeaker company Focal is the shining-star exception: Their best headphones are as good as any other company’s best headphone. After spending a couple of months with the Solitaire P and HA 200 amplifier/DAC, I think T+A has beat the odds: Their first-try headphone products played with the best of the world’s best, at the uppermost point of the gold-tipped asteroid. Bravo T+A! “

https://www.stereophile.com/content/gramophone-dreams-45-ta-solitaire-p-headphones-ha-200-dac-headphone-amplifier

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Analog section

• Frequency response +?0?/???3?dB: D0,1 Hz?–?200?kHz
• Signal/noise ratio : 110/114?dB
• THD ?/ ?Intermodulation: <?0,001?%?/?<?0,001?%
• Channel separation: >?108?dB
• Class A operation: up to 700 mA
• Loudness: switchable, adjustable on the speaker efficiency
• Sound control: switchable, channel separated. Bass and treble -6 dB to + 8 dB
• Headphone outputs:
  • 6.3 mm plug, 4.4 mm Pentaconn, XLR-4 pin
  • Impedances: 8, 12, 18, 25, 40, 80 Ohms

Analog inputs

• High level (RCA) / balanced (XLR): 250 mVeff … 4,5 Veff / 10 kOhms | 500 mVeff … 9 Veff / 20 kOhms
• Channel separation: 110 dB

Digital inputs

• 1 x AES-EBU 32…192 kHz / 16-24 Bit
• S/P-DIF: 2 x Standard Coax, 2 x optical TOS-Link 32…192 kHz / 16-24 Bit,
• 1 x BNC 32…192 kHz / 16-24 Bit,
• 2 x USB DAC: Device-Mode 44,1 … 768 kSps (PCM) and up to DSD1024*, supports asynchronous data transfer.
• *DSD 512 and DSD 1024 with Windows PC and appropriate driver installed or Linux PC with Kernel 4.4 or higher only. Supports DoP up to DSD 256 (0x05/0xFA Marker).
• 2 x HDMI IN, 1 x HDMI OUT with ARC (as an option)
• Bluetooth : A2DP (Audio), AVRCP 1.4 (Control) / aptX® HD, SBC, AAC

D/A converter section

• PCM: Double-Differential-Quadruple-Converter with four 32-Bit Sigma-Delta D/A converter per channel
  705,6 / 768 kSps conversion rate
• DSD: T+A-True-1Bit DSD D/A converter, up to DSD 1024 (49,2 MHz), native bitstream
• Upsampling: T+A signal-processor – synchronous upsampling with four selectable oversampling algorithms. FIR short, FIR long, Bezier/IIR, Bezier, NOS (non-oversampling))
• Analog filter: Phase-linear Bessel filter 3rd order, switchable with 60 or 120 kHz cut-off frequency

Mains / Accessories / Dimensions

• Mains: 100?–?120?V or 200?–?240?V, 50?–?60?Hz, 100 Watts
• Standby: < 0,5 Watts
• Dimensions (H?×?W×?D): 10 ×?32?×?34?cm, 4 x 12.6 x 13.4 inch
• Accessories: Remote control FM8, power cord, USB-cable for charging RC,USB cable 2.0 for DAC, RCA cable
• Weight: 6,5?kg, 14.4 lbs
• Finishes: Alu silver anodized (43), Alu black anodized (42)

User manual HA 200