Luxury Precision EA4 Flagship Portable High-Power TubeAmp
10th Anniversary Edition
























Head-Fi Review: Luxury & Precision EA4 Portable Amp Review
Head-Fi Review: Luxury & Precision EA4 Portable Amp Review
























Head-Fi Review: Luxury & Precision EA4 Portable Amp Review
First order of business - full marks to the Musicteck team. Received a sealed, brand new unit for my "like new" purchase. Properly packed and delivered halfway across the world in a flash. Overall a top notch experience.
On to the EA4 itself: I was in the market for a portable amp specifically to power my headphone collection, specifically the Sus OG, HD800S, and a heavily EQed Final D7000. Shortlisted a few options - XD05 Pro, C9ii, Enleum HPA-23, and of course the EA4. I didn't have the time/opportunity to demo each of these, so my primary source of information was other users/reviews on the Internet. It came down to Enleum vs EA4: I ultimately settled on the EA4 for its unique and many sound shaping options and superior aesthetics (yes at this price point that matters).
Now, 6.5W (@32ohms) of power is a serious number, even for a desktop unit let alone a (trans-)portable one. Certain manufacturers have gained notoriety for obfuscating power numbers in creative ways to avoid admitting the limits of their engineering. I of course lack the equipment to accurately test the EA4's claim, but the sheer ease with which it drove my OG Susvaras (with a 4db sub-bass shelf mind you) makes it very clear the EA4 is not mucking around. There is detail, space, authority, control, rumble - all those adjectives that jump in one's mind when they hear a pair of cans like the Susvara driven right. It is quite unbelievable. This not-so-little thing is right up there competing with serious desktop gear.
But the EA4 is more than just power. It has refinement and smoothness in spades that works well with quieter compositions, but also surprisingly with more aggressive tracks. Don't be fooled by the tube-centric design - this amp can punch when it needs to. I am yet to find a pair of headphones, or a track/genre of music that hasn't sounded delightful on the EA4. I won't lie - I had my doubts about the EA4, but 2 weeks in, I am sold. This is a long-term keeper, something that will unlock where and how you listen to music and what headphones you can use away from your main setup. It might just become your main setup. The edgy design, weight, lack of built-in DAC, and price, are a few things you'll need to get creative about, but once you find a pairing, and a way to carry them conveniently on your person you will unlock a whole new dimension of listening.
TLDR; buy it blind! And preferably from Musicteck.
The overall tuning feels flawless to me. The soundstage is very 3D with impressive width and height. Mid-bass has satisfying slam, and the sub-bass is the star of the show: textured, detailed, and full of rumble. The mids are lush and smooth with slightly forward vocals that never overshadow other details. Both low and upper mids carry enough weight to keep vocals sounding full-bodied.
Treble is airy, well-extended, and detailed without being fatiguing or overly bright.
Huge thanks to Leo and Andrew for the work they put into this set—it truly stands out.
I still remember the first time I heard Canpur 622b and was completely smitten with the intoxicating mid’s and sparkly but dry treble. The bass had nice texture but was a bit lackluster, a bit too rounded and lacking extension. The mid’s stole the show and at this time I was very focused on engaging mid’s and warmth over all else. Since then, my tastes have evolved and the first few minutes of listening to Canpur’s latest flagship the 752b I knew I was going to fall hard for its sound as it hits very very close to my current preferred taste. Engaging, clear, hint of warmth, extended and resolving treble, spacious and resolving mid’s with a supportive deep hitting bass. My only negative is the lack of DD bass timbre, decay and slam.
The Canpur is insanely detailed and technical. It literally just pours out information in the most liquid way possible. No shout, no fatigue. A huge open stage with notes that seem to float around you. The tonality is a bit more dry than textured throughout the FR but not to its dismay, it works for the tuning very well. To quote @aaf evo “Ugh I love 752B. Idc if this sounds like 3 year old water it’s the tastiest stale water of my life” I love this statement because…well…its funny but more so because it so accurately describes how I also vibe with the 752b. Or another way of saying it in more romantics terms, is that 752b is luxuriously refined. It works very well as an all rounder for me.
Bass is not the star of the show here but it also does not take a back seat. The bass is very satisfying, deep and rumbles nicely when called upon. Although you will not feel the push of air like that of a Dynamic Driver or hear an earthy timbre. It does still fill the head with nice reverb that is not distracting.
Mids are naturally distanced with plenty of space around each instrument/voice. Imaging and layering is spectacular here and nothing ever feels even the slightest congested or smeared. The stage is quite spherical, to my ear equidistant in all directions out of the head. Notes are not dense but more dry, light with super sharp transients from edge to edge of notes. Notes seem to float instead of feeling anchored. They float in there correct places with great stage structure. My only teeny complaint is the timbre of vocals and acoustic guitar can sound a bit thin at times. It’s not a deal breaker as it’s not to the point of being annoying. However it is how I hear it.
Treble is very resolving, layered and extended. There is a very occasional peak but for whatever reason it doesn’t come across fatiguing or piercing, to my ear I hear it like a very pronounced sparkle. The treble isn’t as dry sounding as it was on 622b and it is much better extended than that set as well. It still has a dryness to it but also a nice thick outline to the notes with defined edges.
The Dynamic range is also wonderful. Macro and micro dynamics swing with ease and shift in accordance to the music playing. Every nuance is heard. Imaging reached 3D holographic levels. This is true Summit techs. It is extremely immersive and even at low listening volumes nothing is compromised. 752b is so easy to drive as well. I used both the Quloos MUB5 and Ibasso Dx340Ti, both work very well for 752b. The 340Ti having better treble res while MUB5 offered a slightly richer tonality.
The 752b has really taken me by surprise, I held off on purchasing it for awhile as I thought it would bore me or become too much over long listening sessions but both could not be further from the truth! It has truly captivated me and is in good complementary rotation. Going to Fulgrim from 752b reminds me why I love the Fulgrim and going to the Asteria from 752b again reminds me why I love the Asteria and vice versa going from each of those to 752b reminds me why I bought the 752b and have fallen hard for its sound
Sounds great on iems and headphones. I find this pairs well with extremely low impedance iems, especially for bassheads.
The A&O Omega is a beautiful piece of art. The design, the premium drivers, the cable…all top notch. In today’s day and age, an IEM this special under $3k is significant. Before I get too far into this, it is best to throw a neutral/natural source at the Omega. Something overly warm will leave you missing the higher-end technicalities that it can produce. While it doesn’t HAVE to have a lot of power, something that gives plenty of headroom will benefit the Omega, and your listening enjoyment. Basically, just remember that synergy is king…doesn’t always have to be the most expensive source kit to get the most out of a higher end IEM.
The tonality is full, with a warm tilt. I hear no edginess or sibilance regardless of where the switches are. The bass is just spectacular. If you, like me, had a romantic inclination towards something like the Legend X (or Evo), this is a wonderful upgrade from that general category of sound signature. It evokes the same emotion to me as the X did back in the day. I’ve had the chance to trade with friends a couple of times and just can’t imagine enjoying anything more without breaking my bank with the Fulgrim. Don’t hesitate to give the Omega a try.
