Rise Of The Clean DAP Experience – TempoTec V3 Blaze DAP Music Player
TempoTec V3 Blaze is a $199 USD Music DAP or Digital Audio Player with Tidal, Qobouz, 2x AK4493SEQ DACs, and High-Resolution support. It is part of the Tempotec Variations series of Digital Audio Players or Portable Music Players, and today we will review the V3 Blaze, explore each feature and broadly compare it to the current market, including alternatives around the same price point.
Introduction
TempoTec is a rather popular company from China, with a focus on creating some of the most interesting high-end DAPs, IEMS and more. It was not far long ago when TempoTec would create products for HIDIZS, but now they are their own company, and at times their DAPs surpass HIDIZS in popularity with customers and people who want a fresh and clean DAP. Even with all this being said, TempoTec has a tight collaboration with Hiby Music now, as they usually provide software for TempoTec.
As an Amazon Influencer, I earn from qualifying purchases, and using the purchase links in my reviews helps me maintain this website and Youtube Channel. Huge thanks to TempoTec for providing the sample for this review, in exchange for my honest opinion.
Product Link
Amazon – https://amzn.to/3Hatjy4
Aliexpress – https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_opwSnki
Official Link – https://www.tempotec.us/pages/v3-blaze
Build Quality/Aesthetics
We start strong right off the bat, with V3 Blaze being a Portable DAP with two DAC chips at the heart, running a dual AK4493SEQ for decoding. This allows it to decode DSD512, MQA 8X, and PCM 32 Bit / 768 kHz. A couple of variations of this DAC have been seen before, but the AK4493SEQ currently was found only in Shanling UA3, but in a single DAC configuration. This DAC chips allows V3 Blaze to have a SNR of 124 dB, and a THD+N of 0.00026%.
The size of the V3 Blazer is rather small compared to the usual Audiophile DAP, at 100mm * 65mm * 17mm. For the outputs, we have a 4.4mm balanced headphone output with a maximum driving power of 1650mW, a separate 3.5mm headphone output, along with USB and Bluetooth outputs. Speaking of which, the bluetooth connection supports LDAC, AAC, aptX-HD, and V3 Blaze can be used as a USB DAC as well. With a microSD slot capable of reading cards up to 2tB, it will be able to handle a huge collection without breaking a sweat. The quoted driving power is 825mW + 825 mW for the 4.4mm balanced headphone output for a 32 OHM impedance, and 245 mW + 245 mW for a 32 OHM impedance, for the 3.5mm single ended headphone output.
Variations V3 Blaze also has a pyramid analog circuit for, including the AKM chips at the top, OPA1652 buffers, Switches between line out and Headphone output, and a separate set of 4 SGM 8262 OP-AMPs that power the single ended and the balanced headphone output. Overall, those OP-AMPs indicate that there is a difference between the balanced and the single ended outputs.
To process everything, V3 Blaze Variations uses an X1600E Low-Power AIOT Micro Processor, and all is powered by a 3500mAh battery life, which gives it a battery runtime of around 8 hours if you’re using the balanced output and 9-10 hours if you’re using the single ended output. For 10 USD extra, you can add a case to V3 Blaze, and I would do that as it will protect it from scratches.
USB DAC / Subjective Usage / Software / Battery
Starting with the software, Tempotec Variations V3 Blaze runs a custom firmware, which seems to be based on Linux and programmed by Hiby, as we see Hiby Link, allowing you to use your smartphone to operate the V3 Variations. You can do a number of things using the V3 Blaze, including listening to music locally, from your microSD card, streaming music using either Tidal or Qobuz, use wireless connections, including Bluetooth, Wifi, Hiby Link, importing music via wifi, DLNA and Airplay, and reading eBooks.
As we have a display that is 3.2″ and has HD resolution, V3 is likely going to be used for music rather than reading books. Firmware updates come over-the-air, and the only thing that I did not enjoy doing very much was typing the password for my Wifi network, as the keyboard is one of those that emulates an old phone keyboard rather than a qwerty. On the bright side, we have access to Hiby’s Excellent EQ, including PEQ, MSEB and all the other nice features it has,
I feel like Blaze is a good name for the V3, it runs fast, smooth, everything happens almost instantly, and it has no lag. Every single feature is rock solid, including Bluetooth support and streaming. Copy speeds if you’re having the microSD card written by V3 Blaze are around 20 MB/s, and you can use it as a USB DAC too. Subjectively, the display TempoTec used is very sharp, you can see the individual pixels, but it is incredibly colorful, has a really nice glow to it, color black has an incredibly high luminance, which makes it look a bit gray, but the entire display is very bright and easily visible on all sunlight levels, and it has a strong orange / red / warm tint, which makes it really easy on the eyes. I love playing with the V3 Blaze because of this.
USB DAC works properly, there is between 50 and 100 ms of delay, around 70 ms to be more precise, you can play real-time content and for the most part you should not notice it, but it may get distracting with fast games, or fast music. There is no pop sound when starting music playback, stopping or pausing it, which is extra pleasing. All in all, it works well, as long as you don’t rely heavily on the USB DAC function to be instant.
Sound Quality
Pairings and Match-up – To test the TempoTec V3 Blaze, I have paired it with a collection of Headphones and IEMs, including HamornicDyne Baroque, HIDIZS MP143 Salt, Simgot EM10, ZiiGaat Arcadia, Moritz Dragon, Crosszone CZ-8a Enhanced, Erzetich Mania V2024, Ecoute TH1 (Wired), Soundz Flame, and Tin HiFi P1 MAX II. Generally, it has enough driving power for easier to drive headphones, and it can drive HarmonicDyne Baroque and Crosszone CZ8a Enhanced really well, but it will struggle with very hard to drive headphones, and the limit is HIFIMAN Arya Organic, anything harder to drive than it being too much for the V3 Blaze.
With all the IEMs I tested, I could not hear the background noise floor or any hissing. As a minor downside, the balanced output has a higher noise floor, and you may notice it with ultra sensitive IEMS, but even YanYin Carmen, and IE900 have zero noise if using the 3.5mm single ended output. I would say it is generally recommended for IEMs.
Overall Signature – Sonics of the V3 Blaze depend on multiple factors, and one of them is the volume, it sounds a bit bloomy, warm, goofy and relaxed / laid-back at lower volumes, but comes alive and becomes vivid, colorful, punchy and dramatic at higher volumes, which makes it really enjoyable. Usually, most DAPs and Portables have a lower variation of sonic signature with volume, and V3 Blaze Variations is one of the DAPs that really makes it obvious that someone was listening to it at a certain volume when describing it. This unfortunately makes it a bit hard to describe in general, as I listen to music on the louder side, and at medium it is much closer to how it sounds at lower volume, so please consider this entire sonic review relative to how loud you listen. The crossboundary point is around 90 dB, below it I will be describing the sound as quiet, and above it as loud. There’s enough headroom for a lot of EQ and fine tuning, but as usual, I will describe the sound of the V3 Variations Blaze at the default with all EQ profiles disabled.
Bass – Starting from the lowest levels, V3 Blaze is a rather neutral sounding DAP without much coloration, but a powerful bass when the song calls for it. I noticed a trend of people being surprised by the rather natural – lean tuning, and I have to agree, it is quite a surprise that a it also sounds relaxed, bass is not the usual thumpy style, it is laid back and gives music body, but a musical – soft impact.
Midrange – In the midrange is where V3 Blaze really shines, it has a really musical, slightly soft, musical presentation, with an excellent resolution, wide soundstage and a holographic presentation. It emphasizes both male and female voices equally, it has a really nice groove to it, has a smooth texture, and while it is not a technically centric DAP, it has a beautiful, lean and laid-back sound.
Treble – Treble is also relaxed and laid-back, which emphasizes the feeling that sound has a musical approach with a soft punch, so you will hear a lean, laid-back treble, most music will never be fatiguing harsh or annoying, and in my experience even bands like Infant Annihilator will sound rather smooth. Trick is, you hear less bass bite and punch, and a smoother treble, which allows guitar solos to really shine, giving music a bloomy, fun presentation rather than a fatiguing, harsh or technically aggressive sound.
Dynamics / PRaT / Textures – You can count on the textures to be lean, laid-back, relaxed and enjoyable. There is a clear tendency for V3 Blaze to sound musical rather than technical, it is super polite and natural.
Soundstage – I find it surprising, but V3 Blaze has a wider, more holographic sound stage than even certain flagship TOTL DACs, it has such a beautiful way to expand and project music in both the lateral and the vertical plane, it gives sound depth, all sound feels 3D, not necessarily surgically processed and separated, but atmospheric and airy.
Value and Conclusion
For the price paid, V3 Blaze is an excellent package with a laid-back and natural sound, huge soundstage, and a good battery life. Maximum driving power is enough for the headphones you’re most likely to want to pair with it, while background noise is not audible with any of the IEMs I tested it with. While Streaming is a bit of an afterthought, for the small display, that display is also bright, excellent for outdoor usage, and Bluetooth supports hi-res codecs too.
At the end of the day, TempoTec V3 Blaze is an outstanding DAP or Digital Audio Player, for the price range. While it won’t really compete with ultra-technical or flagship units, at this size, shape and price it is one of the best in the market, and if you’re looking for a really relaxed, laid-back and smooths sound, you ought to check it out and give V3 Blaze a listen, you might stop in the entry-level for the DAP as it is a fully recommended purchase.
PROs
- Beautiful display that has a warm tone and ultra bright backlight
- Ergonomic, fun and lightweight
- High maximum driving power
- Streaming, High-end Bluetooth is included
- Very snappy and fast in general
- Excellent for local music playback
- Relaxed, Mid Centric Sound
- Not stressful regardless of the volume
- Excellent for the price
- Wide and holographic soundstage
- Not a strong noise with IEMs
Cons
- Not a bassy or a bright sound, can sound too laid back and relaxed at lower and medium volumes
- Really comes alive at high and very high volumes
Product Link
Amazon – https://amzn.to/3Hatjy4
Aliexpress – https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_opwSnki
Official Link – https://www.tempotec.us/pages/v3-blaze
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Full Playlist used for this review
We listened to more songs than those named in this playlist, but those are excellent for identifying a sonic signature. I recommend trying most of the songs from this playlist, especially if you’re searching for new music! The playlists are different for Spotify, Tidal and Youtube, and based on the songs I enjoy and are available on each!
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_cjBXGmwSHSdGcwuc_bKbBDGHL4QvYBu
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5J3oloz8Riy9LxEGenOjQ0?si=979ba4f082414be7
https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/330fd544-8e5b-4839-bd35-676b2edbb3d5
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