Audio-Technica Consumer AT-BHA100 Balanced Headphone Amplifier

Overview of Audio-Technica Consumer AT-BHA100 Balanced Headphone Amplifier

The AT-BHA100 balanced headphone amplifier is designed to deliver unmatched audio quality from high-resolution sound sources, and is ideal for use with hi-fi headphones such as the ATH-ADX5000, ATH-MSR7b, and those in the ATH-AW Series. This compact desktop unit is compatible with Direct Stream Digital (DSD) and other high-definition formats to reproduce every detail of the original recording.

The AT-BHA100 features a hybrid system of vacuum tubes and power transistors to enhance the beauty and warmth of amplified sound. It employs four completely independent amplifier circuits, a high-quality New Japan Radio MUSES8820 operational amplifier, and specially designed low-noise relay switches to emphasize the depth and warmth of vacuum-tube sound. A four-layer board structure with high-quality audio-grade components from Nichicon, WIMA, and Shinyei Capacitor ensures rich, natural audio.

The amplifier is equipped with a 4.4 mm TRRS jack and a 4-pin XLR terminal, plus a low/high gain selector switch, allowing it to accommodate a wide range of balanced headphones with varying sensitivities and impedances. It also has two 6.3 mm (1/4") outputs with independent volume controls that can be used simultaneously for comparative listening.

Specifications:

Corresponding Headphone Impedance: 16 – 600 ohms

Instantaneous Maximum Output Level:

• 6.3 mm headphone output (10%, 1 kHz):
  • 680 mW + 680 mW (16 ohms load)
  • 320 mW + 320 mW (32 ohms load)
  • 240 mW + 240 mW (64 ohms load)
  • 30 mW + 30 mW (600 ohms load)
• Balanced output (10%, 1 kHz):
  • 1,500 mW + 1,500 mW (16 ohms load)
  • 1,200 mW + 1,200 mW (32 ohms load)
  • 800 mW + 800 mW (64 ohms load)
  • 120 mW + 120 mW (600 ohms load)

Frequency Response:

• Line input: 10 Hz – 100 kHz (0, -3 dB at 32 ohms 10 mW output)
• Balanced input: 10 Hz – 100 kHz (+0.5, -3 dB at 32 ohms 10 mW output)

Total Harmomic Distortion: <=0.25% (20 Hz - 20 kHz at 32 ohms and 1 mW output)

Gain:

• 6.3 mm headphone output: 10 dB (high gain), 1.5 dB (low gain)
• Balanced output: 16 dB (high gain), 7 dB (low gain)

Noise:

• 6.3 mm headphone output: -100 dBv (A-weighted high gain), -103 dBv (A-weighted low gain)
• Balanced output: -92 dBv (A-weighted high gain), -95 dBv (A-weighted low gain)

Separation Between Channels:

• 6.3 mm headphone output: 75 dB (load: 32 ohms, 1 kHz)
• Balanced output: 100 dB (load: 32 ohms, 1 kHz)

Analog Input Connector:

• Line input (pin jack) x 2
• Balanced input (XLR combo connector) x 2

Output Terminals:

• 6.3mm stereo headphone output × 2
• CLR 4-pin balanced stereo headphone output
• 4.4 mm balanced stereo headphone output
• Line output (pin jack) x 2

Input Selector (front panel): Line input, balanced input

Output Selector (front panel): 6.3 mm headphone output, balanced output (4.4 mm/XLR 4-pin)

Power Supply: 100 – 120V AC, 50/60 Hz, 15V DC/2.4 A (AC adapter provided)

Power Consumption: 25 W (max)

Dimensions: 44 mm (1.73") H × 210 mm (8.27") W × 266 mm (10.47") D (excluding protrusions)

Weight: 1.8 kg (63.5 oz)