AURIS AUDIO HEADONIA 300B HEADPHONE AMPLIFIER REVIEW

Auris Audio is well known for its turntables and headphone DAC/amps, including products from its sister brand, EarMen. Founded in Serbia in 2013, Headonia 300B represents the brand’s 10th-anniversary model. It costs a whopping €11,999. This is a serious headphone amplifier, made for the most discerning of headphone users, so let’s look at what this headphone amp is capable of.

BUILD QUALITY AND FEATURES OF AURIS HEADONIA 300B

Firstly, this amp arrived in a huge wooden crate, weighing 36kg, which was fun to lug up the stairs to my apartment. However, it was pretty easy to unbox, though the amp does weigh a whopping 23kg without the box and its large footprint meant that it was reviewed on my table rather than by my main headphone system. It is huge, so it’s worth ensuring you have ample space to be able to fit it into your system.

The build quality is excellent, though, with sturdy metal parts throughout, leather-covered side panels and a screen on the front. The valve sockets are of excellent quality and the screen has a menu system where you can check the number of hours on the valves, change the OLED brightness, and a couple of other options.

On top of the transformer at the back is an impedance dial, allowing you to choose the closest value to your headphones of choice for the best sound quality. Auris are using well-renowned Lundahl transformers (this is a SET amplifier), Mundorf capacitors, Alps pot, and other high-quality internal components. Out of the box it comes with a pair of Psvane 6SN7-T Mark II input valves and a pair of Psvane 300B-T Mark II valves, there are 2 pairs of RCA single-ended inputs and 1 pair of XLR balanced inputs on the rear of the amp.

On the front panel you have a knob that is used as a selector for the various inputs as well as being the gain selector (push it in to change between L/H gain). You have both 4-pin XLR and 6.3mm headphone outputs, on the back you have a pair of RCA and XLR pre-outs, this is a dedicated pre-out section and is not the same circuit as the headphone side of things. It comes with a rechargeable remote which is handy if using it as a pre-amp.

Output power isn’t really a concern for the Headonia 300B, with up to 7w per channel (both in single-ended and balanced) it can drive any headphone out there. It also has very high voltage output when set at high impedance, something those with high-impedance headphones will be glad to hear (more on that later).

Setting it up was easy, you can only fit 300B valves one way, the same with 6SN7, so they were nice and easy to install. There is a master power switch on the rear and a normal power switch on the bottom of the amp – it sits high for this reason, you can easily reach the button when it’s sat in place. The feet are vibration absorbing which is useful, as valves do pick up vibrations.

I cannot find any faults with the build quality or setup. It is a solid piece of kit and one that is built to last, as you’d expect it to at this price.

SOUND QUALITY

The Headonia 300B has been used with the iFi NEO Stream run into the NEO iDSD 2, balanced output into the amp, the amp was then used with the HiFiMAN Susvara, Susvara Unveiled and Beyerdynamic DT880 (600Ohm).

Listening to the OG Susvara on the Headonia 300B is a wonderful experience! CVRCHES – Screaming came on and the delivery of this song on this combo was simply joyous. The full and punchy bass line delivered with a great sense of body and control, vocals perfectly centred with heaps of space around them, swirling synths and high notes handled with poise and never a sense of brightness. This isn’t what I would call an overly romantic-sounding valve amp, much like the Feliks Audio Envy, it has that 300B way of delivering exceptional detail and air with “just right” tonality that is quite addictive. The Susvara requires a decent amount of power to get the best out of them and the Headonia 300B has more than enough oomph on tap, it is how it delivers it that matters. This amp gives these headphones plenty of headroom which is what they appreciate, thus bringing out the best in them and you get a huge soundstage, bass that has depth, body and punch, and a lovely overall balance without harshness.

Moving on to the newer Susvara Unveiled, this is a headphone that ups the dynamics a little and has a bit more detail over the original. The Headonia 300B once again shows that it can handle any headphone with ease, the bass is full yet controlled and overall, there is a sense of effortlessness to the sound of this amplifier. It isn’t trying hard to make itself unknown, yet once you switch back to something solid-state, you realise that it is adding a little flavour in a highly enjoyable way. Take Mumford & Sons – Not With Haste, the delicate fingerpicking at the beginning is detailed, the deep piano notes never get lost in the background, and Marcus’ vocals are incredibly lifelike. Harmonies during the chorus are easily placed, there is absolutely no bleed between instruments, and everything has air and space, whilst remaining coherent and natural overall, with the double bass line effortlessly giving the sound a sense of body. This is a linear yet natural presentation that is so easy to appreciate and enjoy.

Taking a slightly different direction, Jonny Craig – The Upgrade, with an electronic beat that digs deep without a hint of roll-off (the extension here is impressively linear). This isn’t the best recording in terms of production quality and there is some clipping in the vocal track, however, Jonny’s vocals are so unique, and the way this amp and headphone combo renders vocals means that I don’t care. The reverberation effects are fantastic, the whole sound is snappy yet full and engaging – it really drags you into listening to your favourite tracks in a new way and you end up hearing subtleties that are often held back. This amp is a real beast in the way it is so detailed and yet natural.

Changing the switch to 600Ohms and plugging in my Beyerdynamic DT880 (600Ohm) again highlights this amp’s ability to present music naturally. OK, no one is buying this kind of amp for such a “budget” headphone, yet it is always fun to see how far you can push these headphones and how they scale up. With Pearl Jam’s Dissident, these headphones can at times err on a brighter sound, yet this amp really helps control the top end whilst also offering up some lovely body to the sound. Bass guitar lines are articulate, the kick drums have punch, but it’s the midrange where these shine once again, and the vocals are perfectly balanced with the guitars panned to each side. The guitar lines are controlled and detailed, snares are snappy, and the cymbals crash without harshness. This amp in no way manages to dull the energy of these headphones, they are still lively and punchy, but it just gives them a bit of power to really get a hold of the sound and bring the best out in them.

No matter which headphones you choose to pair with the Headonia 300B, it delivers on the sound front by being natural, effortless and an overall powerhouse. It can drive any headphones out there with authority and control, it doesn’t try to colour the sound too much and yet it does impart a little valve magic, allowing for hours of listening pleasure without fatigue. It excels at bringing out the finer details in your tracks without forcing them in your face, the soundstage isn’t artificially enlarged and stays true to the headphones you pair with it. In my opinion, it has the ability to bring out the magic of your favourite headphones and I honestly found myself just kicking back and enjoying the sound for hours on end.

At this price we are well into diminishing returns with headphone amps and you are paying for build quality, quality components, and longevity. Is it £4k better than the Feliks Audio Envy Performance Edition – only you can make that decision, what I can say though is that neither will disappoint you in terms of build and sound quality. The Headonia does win when it comes to output power, though, so if you plan to keep buying hard-to-drive headphones this amp will not break a sweat powering any of them.

QUIBBLES

Having the power switch on the bottom of the amp isn’t the most intuitive and its sheer size means finding somewhere to put it could prove problematic in headphone systems.

CONCLUSION

This is a top-level headphone amp, there is no question about that! If you are considering one, get down to an audio show and have a listen. I remember hearing it in Munich last year for the first time and being mightily impressed with how it sounded, and using it at home reinforced that sentiment. It’s a solid SET amp that provides quite a clean sound for a valve amp, it’s not overly “romantic” sounding and lets details shine through, with just enough valve magic to take the edge off sharper notes. You can roll the valves to your preference, which is always a big factor with valve amps, yet, out of the box it is a superb-sounding amplifier that will do justice to all your high-end headphones.

A highly impressive headphone amplifier for those lucky enough to warrant owning one, and one that really can bring out the best in hard-to-drive headphones.

AT A GLANCE

Build Quality And Features:

Heavy and solid

Headphone and pre-out are separate circuits

Sound Quality:

Clean, detailed and balanced

Slight valve warmth without sounding overly coloured

Value For Money:

It’s hard to quantify value when a headphone amp costs this much. You do get top-quality parts and build, with a sound to back up the cost. So, whilst it might not be considered a bargain, you don’t feel short-changed

We Loved:

The effortless sound and its ability to easily power any headphone

Solid build quality and high-quality parts

We Didn’t Love So Much:

My back didn’t appreciate the weight and its size makes it a little trickier to place in a head-fi system

Elevator Pitch Review: If you have a collection of top-of-the-line headphones and are looking for the ultimate valve amp to drive them, the Headonia 300b is likely to be on your shortlist. Whilst it may be costly, it’ll drive any headphone with ease and has an effortless sound that keeps you engaged and wanting to listen to track after track, album after album. It’s one of those amps that keeps you listening for longer, which to me is an important factor, so if you have a chance to demo this amp, I highly recommend you do so – it is quite something.

Price: €11999,00

Oscar Stewart

SUPPLIED BY AURIS

SUPPLIED SPECIFICATION

Analog Inputs	2 x RCA	1 x XLR
Headphone Outputs	1 x 6.3mm	1 x XLR
Pre Out Outputs	1 x RCA	1 x XLR
Tubes	2 x 300B	2 x CV181/6SN7
Max Power Output	7W
Output Impedance	32/80/150/300/600 Ω
Dimensions L x W x H	460 x 440 x 310 mm	18.11″ x 17.32″ x 12.20″

Headphones	SE Out	BAL Out
Max Power	7W	7W
	32 Ω   = 15V	32 Ω   = 15V
	80 Ω   = 23.5V	80 Ω   = 23.5V
	150 Ω = 32.5V	150 Ω = 32.5V
	300 Ω = 46V	300 Ω = 46V
	600 Ω = 65V	600 Ω = 65V
THD+N	0.45% dB at 1W	0.45% dB at 1W
Frequency response	±0.45 dB at 1W	±0.45 dB at 1W
	±0.9 dB at Max Power	±0.9 dB at Max Power
SNR	100 dB	100 dB
Input Sensitivity (for max power/voltage at output)	SE input	BAL input
	0.8V	1.6V

Pre Out
Max Output voltage	17V
THD+N	0.06% for VOL<20 [Vout=7V]
Frequency response	±0.2 dB for VOL<20 [Vout=7V]
SNR	100 dB