The Auris HA2-SE+ was kindly provided in extended loan for reviewing purposes. I didn’t receive monetary or any other kind of compensation and I don’t use affiliate links. The price of the Auris HA2-SE+ is $2.399 and can be ordered directly from Auris Audio online shop.
Auris Audio
Founded in 2013, Auris Audio’s mission was then, and to this day remains, to fulfill the desires of the most demanding audiophiles and delight both listener’s ears and visual senses. Based in Belgrade, Auris Audio is a Serbian brand that specializes in building “High End” tube amplifiers both for speakers and headphones. They also have great expertise in the field of analog music reproduction where they make state-of-the-art turntables, tone arms, phono stages and external PSU’s. A lot of readers might be more familiar with Auris Audio sister brand, the well known EarMen, which specializes in the field of personal audio listening with many successful products like the EarMen Angel and Colibri.
Auris HA2-SE+
Back in 2017, Auris Audio released the original HA2-SE, a transformer coupled tube headphone amplifier which proved one of their most successful products until 2021 when it was upgraded to the HA2-SF. Fast forward to 2023 and for the celebration of their 10th year anniversary, Auris Audio decided to release the HA2-SE+, the true successor to the HA2-SE with similar design basis and price range but with a lot of improvements and additions compared to its predecessor. As the main feature, it is adorned with a balanced input and output, just like the HA2-SF, and with an internal linear power supply.
The Auris HA2-SE+ is not internally balanced, it has a single-ended working principle and features four 7-pin Ei PL95 pentode power NOS tubes, equivalent to 6DL5, and a current production, single ECC81 dual-triode input tube, also known as 12AT7. The amplifier is also compatible with EL95 power tubes because their different heater current needs can be easily accommodated by using the relevant switch which is located at the back of the chassis. These NOS tubes are not very rare and can be easily sourced around the net with prices starting from €5 for the PL95 and €15 for the EL95 variant so you should not be worried about the longevity of the amplifier. Each tube that comes with the amplifier undergoes rigorous individual testing and internal inspection, ensuring that only the finest tubes with optimal characteristics are incorporated into it.
It is generally known that the quality of the power and output transformers are paramount to sound quality and this is why the Auris HA2-SE+ incorporates manually wound transformers on a double “C” core. These transformers adhere to stringent requirements, delivering near-linear characteristics across the entire acoustic range for exceptional sound reproduction.
Design and build quality
Most Auris Audio products are designed using premium wood and leather but for the HA2-SE+ they have decided to use a metallic enclosure for better EMI shielding and for lowering production cost to make the amplifier more affordable. Both the main chassis and the transformers enclosure are made from thick aluminum with a black finish and a rounded design. The front and back panels are slightly rounded and extend out from the main body of the chassis.
You have the option to fit the included glass panel at the top front to keep the tubes protected and separated from the control section. But the truth is that the five tubes are so aesthetically pleasing, especially under dim light conditions, that I never used the protection panel to block their glowing beauty.
Measuring 310x360x195mm and weighting 9.5kg, the Auris HA2-SE+ is not exactly desktop friendly, this an amplifier that must be placed in a dedicated audio rack or at least in a sturdy and stable surface that should also be well ventilated.
Build quality of the amplifier is excellent, it is well made and finished with a smooth black color. All plugs and switches are of high quality while all three knobs are made from aluminum.
Layout and operation
The front panel features an on/off switch, the input line selector and the 4-pin XLR balanced output from left to right. The main volume control knob takes center stage while the 6.3mm single-ended headphone output is conveniently positioned next to it. On the far right side there is the headphone impedance selector which allows optimizing performance for various headphones with impedance options of 50/150/300/600 Ohms.
At the rear of the unit there are one XLR and two RCA stereo inputs along with the RCA pre output. The tube EL95 or PL95 switch is positioned in the middle for easy access while on the right side there are the voltage selector, AC plug and the master on/off switch. You can have all inputs simultaneously plugged in and select the desired one with the front knob. The amplifier can support an optional remote control for adjusting the volume but it is not yet produced.
Power output and associated gear
The Auris HA2-SE+ is a powerful amplifier that can produce a maximum of 1W per channel and has the ability to match various headphone loads thanks to the embedded impedance selector. The amplifier felt equally at home with headphones as diverse as the power hungry, low impedance, low sensitivity HIFIMAN Susvara or the high impedance and quite sensitive Drop + Sennheiser HD8XX. For most part of the testing I have used as a source the Lab12 dac1 reference.
As per usual practice the amplifier was left playing music for more than 100 hours in order to allow the tubes to settle down. All headphone cables and the amplifier power cable are made by Lavricables .
Noise floor
At the lowest, 50Ω setting of the impedance selector, the amplifier is dead silent with most headphones except some very sensitive ones. Everytime you select a higher value, the noise floor also increases and becomes more audible so you have to use lower sensitivity headphones. This is something that is not always possible so if you experience too much background noise then it is recommended to use a lower setting. As an example the Drop + Sennheiser HD8XX has a 300Ω impedance rating, so what more natural to use the 300Ω setting on the amplifier. But because of its relatively high sensitivity, it picks too much noise and the 150Ω setting works better as it produces lower noise without sacrificing anything in sound quality or driving ability. So don’t strictly follow the rules and always experiment till you find the best setting for your headphones.
Listening impressions
Magic is not exactly a standard term for describing audio performance but this is the first word that sprung into my mind after spending some time with the Auris HA2-SE+. Magic as it imbues the music being reproduced with some kind of magical dust and makes everything sound extremely realistic and lifelike. The timbre is perfectly natural, colorful and intense while you can hear all the complexity of the harmonic structure and the diversity of the various overtones.
At this point someone can be easily confused and think that the Auris HA2-SE+ is some kind of an old school tube amplifier that has the tendency to add too much of syrupy warmth or make the music sound blurry, overly saturated and dark while lacking in technicalities. Well, the truth is by far the opposite. This is a modern tube amplifier that is designed to combine tube goodness with solid state linearity, technicalities and transparency. The sound is crystal clear and well defined with superb layering, great resolution and top class refinement while always staying true to the source.
The amplifier is very dynamic and impactful with a low-end that sounds fast, tight and controlled, weighty and visceral. The mid-range is rich, musical and engaging with plenty of organic texture but at the same time it is not devoid of clarity, spaciousness and definition. The treble is airy, extended, energetic and vivid but also smooth and pleasing to the ear, without anything negative associated like brightness, harshness or sharpness.
The soundstage is no less than what is normally expected from a great tube amplifier. It blends striking holography, impressive grandness and full sized images with excellent depth layering, accurate positioning and sharp imaging.
The Auris HA2-SE+ is not strictly speaking as technically performing as the best solid state amplifiers of the same category, like say the Violectric V550, but it is not that far behind either. And if the Violectric V550 is an excellent solid state amplifier with a touch of tube magic then the Auris HA2-SE+ is an excellent tube amplifier with a great dosage of solid state technicalities.
The amplifier pairs well with all types of sources and most headphones while feeling at home with all kinds of music but the truth is that it gets fully enjoyed and is literally made for listening to high quality acoustic music. This is an amplifier that when combined with a headphone like the Meze Elite, offers one of the most soul exhilarating and realistic experiences while listening to classical music.
All the sound magic is also available through the pre-output, the Auris HA2-SE+ is excellent as a preamplifier for driving power amplifiers and active monitors.
In the end
The Auris HA2-SE+ is an excellent sounding amplifier that combines plenty of tube magic with a great dose of solid-state technicalities. Musical, analog and organic, it will make your music sound alive and lifelike with both planar and dynamic headphones. The Auris HA2-SE+ offers near end-game performance at a very reasonable price that is hard to beat and is highly recommended for everyone looking to experience high-end tube sound without having to spend a fortune.
Copyright – Petros Laskis 2023.
+ Musical and analog sounding + Realistic sound signature + Natural timbre without artificiality + Great technicalities + Impedance selector + Suitable for both planar and dynamic headphones + Plenty of power to drive the most demanding loads + Ore-output + Easy tube selector + Balanced input and output + Three line inputs + Excellent build quality + Gorgeous looking + Reasonably priced for what it offers - Not internally balanced - The remote control is not available yet - A 4.4mm output is missing - Limited tube rolling options
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