Soncoz SGA1
Full Balanced Headphone Amplifier Preamplifier
Soncoz unveils with its SGA1 a fully balanced headphone amplifier and preamplifier combo that is extremely powerful and musical. Benefiting from an intelligent and neat architecture as well as a sober and elegant design, it will delight the most demanding audiophiles and music lovers.
Test by Audio Science Review
I am going to recommend the Soncoz SGA1 on the strength of its its ability to drive high impedance headphones, nice looks, and perfect channel matching. If these match your criteria, you are good to go.
High end connectivity
The SGA1 is equipped with high quality connectors, capable of adapting to both balanced and unbalanced audio systems. Indeed, whether it is for input or output, we find balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA. The headphone output is on the front panel, balanced on XLR 4 pins or 4.4mm jack or unbalanced on 6.35mm jack.
One button to rule them all
The front panel of the SGA1 displays a single button that gives access to all the parameters and functions of the device. It allows to select the active input and output, the volume level and the gain level. A bright and readable screen displays all this information.
Gain & volume control
The SGA1 embeds a MUSES72320 volume controller offering excellent performance in terms of noise and distortion, as well as a ladder circuit. The volume adjustment is done on a range of -110.75dB to 0dB, by steps of 0.25dB in the case of a gain equal to 0dB or by steps of 0.5dB in the case of a gain different from 0dB.
The adjustment of the gain level, also using a MUSES72320 chip, is limited by the software layer according to the output so as not to generate distortion.
The combination of volume and gain settings for each input and output can be saved independently. When adjusting the parameters in the options menu, the SGA1 mutes the output. Once the adjustments have been made, the output will reactivate gradually to protect your audio system.
A perfectly controlled power supply stage
The Soncoz SGA1 benefits from an optimized power supply stage, using high quality components. It includes a custom toroidal transformer with a multi-layer shielding. This one allows to reduce considerably the noise and the harmonics of the frequencies 50/60Hz.
Linear regulators have also been selected to provide a stable, noise-free power supply to all key circuits. The rectifier circuits use two large 8200µF ELNA capacitors to ensure ultra-low ripple.
SGA1 & SGD1, a perfect combination
The SGA1 has been designed to work perfectly with the Soncoz SGD1 symmetrical DAC. This set allows you to enjoy an audio system with incredible sound performance, while ensuring a coherent visual integration and design.
Technical characteristics
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Product type | Headphone amplifier Preamplifier |
| Inputs | 1x Single-ended stereo RCA 1x Balanced stereo XLR |
| Preamplifier outputs | 1x Single-ended stereo RCA 1x Balanced stereo XLR |
| Headphone outputs | 1x Balanced 4 poles XLR 1x Balanced Jack 4.4mm 1x Single-ended Jack 6.35mm |
| Headphone amplifiers parameters | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Analog inputs | XLR | RCA | |||
| Amplifier outputs | Single-ended | Balanced | Single-ended | Balanced | |
| THD+N @ 1kHz | < -117dB | < -118dB | < -117dB | < -118dB | |
| Freq. @ 20Hz-20kHz | ±0.1dB | ±0.1dB | ±0.1dB | ±0.1dB | |
| Dynamic range @ 1kHz, A-Weighting | < -124dB | < -126dB | < -124dB | < -126dB | |
| SNR @ 50mV, A-Weighting | < -92dB | < -91dB | < -92dB | < -91dB | |
| Crosstalk @ 10kHz | < -118dB | < -102dB | < -118dB | < -120dB | |
| Output voltage @ V=0, G=0 | 4Vrms | 7.8Vrms | 4Vrms | 7.8Vrms | |
| Output impedance | 0.1Ω | 0.05Ω | 0.1Ω | 0.05Ω | |
| Noise | 1.8µVrms | 3.6µVrms | 1.8µVrms | 3.6µVrms | |
| Output power @ V=0, G=0 | 33Ω | 420mW | 420mW | 420mW | 420mW |
| 300Ω | 210mW | 840mW | 210mW | 840mW | |
| 600Ω | 105mW | 420mW | 105mW | 420mW | |
| Preamplifier parameters | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Analog inputs | XLR | RCA | |||
| Preamplifier outputs | RCA | XLR | RCA | XLR | |
| THD+N @ 1kHz | < -117dB | < -118dB | < -117dB | < -118dB | |
| Freq. @ 20Hz-20kHz | ±0.1dB | ±0.1dB | ±0.1dB | ±0.1dB | |
| Dynamic range @ 1kHz, A-Weighting | < -126dB | < -126dB | < -126dB | < -126dB | |
| SNR @ 50mV, A-Weighting | < -95dB | < -94dB | < -95dB | < -94dB | |
| Crosstalk @ 10kHz | < -132dB | < -136dB | < -132dB | < -136dB | |
| Output voltage @ V=0, G=0 | 2Vrms | 4Vrms | 2Vrms | 4Vrms | |
| Output impedance | 100Ω | 200Ω | 100Ω | 200Ω | |
| Noise | 1.5µVrms | 3µVrms | 1.5µVrms | 3µVrms | |
| General | |
|---|---|
| Supply voltage | 110-220VAC (Power cable included) |
| Consumption | < 10W |
| Dimensions | 250 x 225 x 55mm |
| Weight | 2kg |
| Color | Black |
