Aune N7 Headphone Amplifier Stereo HIFI Preamplifier Review – Edge Of Musica Prima
Aune N7 is a $429 USD Purist Class A Headphone Amplifier with PreAmp function, Twin-JFET input, Two-Stage Class-A Bias Control and R2R Volume control. Today we will review Aune N7 and also compare it with other amplifiers including Aune S17 PRO Evo (799 USD), Singxer SA-1 V2 (599 USD) and Sparkos Gemini (995 USD).
Introduction
Aune Audio is one of the popular DAC and AMP designers from China having been the ones behind the Aune S9C and Aune S17 PRO, both products that sold in the hundreds thanks to their design, sonic ability and overall quality. Aune products are available on their own website, through HIFI sale channels, on Amazon and sometimes Aliexpress.
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Product Link
Amazon – https://amzn.to/4pbfHU8
Aliexpress – https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c4KUEm13
Build Quality – Design
Aune N7 is a powerful Class-A Headphone Amplifier and Preamplifier with a Pure Class A design. It uses a few of the technological developments we’ve seen in Aune S17 PRO Evo, including an efficient Twin JFET input, which produces a smooth, tube-like sound, and a Two-Stage Class A Current Control. With a fully balanced circuit, it is a compact and fully discrete AMP and PRE capable of delivering up to 6500mW per Channel in Balanced Mode.
The idea of having a Two-Stage Class A current control in the output stage, both in Class A results in a more refined control over the power and amplitude of the attack in the sound. To match the otherwise brilliant circuit, Aune implements two R2R volume chips from JRC combined with dedicated operation amplifiers to create a 4-Channel balanced regulation, delivering precise management and perfect channel balance. The two gain stages allow N7 to deliver the insane 6570mW per channel in balanced output, but this is about a quarter up to 1900 mW max in Single Ended output.
You have access to everything you may require as N7 has two headphone outputs, two line inputs and two line outputs. The chassis is fully made of aluminum, and a special 3D thermal architecture ensures a stable Class A operating conditions, and N7 has a 3″ display with multifunction control knob for operation, or you can also use the included remote control.
Spec wise, Aune N7 has an RCA input impedance of 10 kOhm, RCA output impedance of 200 OHM, XLR input impedance of 22 kOHM and XLR output impedance of 100 OHM. It also has an 1 OHM output impedance for both the SE and Balanced headphone outputs. For both headphone outputs, SNR is higher than 105 dB, crosstalk lower than 100 dB, THD+N is equal at 0.0004% and frequency response should not deviate from a perfect line by more than 0.05dB. Aune Audio also has an entire table with the gain levels for each impedance.
Subjective Usage
Aune N7 is a very simple device on the outside and in usage, you connect a line input, and you press play. It has two gain levels, one for gain and one for current, and it has a simple display that shows you the current input, RCA, XLR and PRE/AMP or headphone output. I am delighted to report that heat is not just not an issue, but N7 runs pretty cool. I’ve been running it on high gain, high current non-stop for hours on row, even placed on top of Luxsin X9 and FiiO K17, and it never went above 43 degrees celsius in my room, although if your environment is quite a bit hotter, it might reach 50, but it gets nowhere near close to the maximum 69 degrees it can withstand before reducing the current gain.
You get two headphone outputs that work well, all line ins work well, and so do the line outs. The display is a bit blurry for my eyes, and it is an IPS display with a strong glow, but you can set it to turn off after a while, and that’s about what N7 allows you to configure. You can set the volume between 1 and 30, and it is not sensitive to DAC noise, and has zero self noise, external or internal.
Sound Quality
Pairings – To test the Aune N7 Headphone Amplifier, I have paired it with multiple headphones and IEMs, including Raptgo LEAF D01, Palma DHS-1, KBEar Cepheus, Crosszone CZ-10 Enhanced, Erzetich Thalia, Erzetich Mania V2024, TinHIFI T7, FiiO FT13, NFAudio NE4, Sivga Peng, Moritz Dragon, Crosszone CZ-8a Enhanced, Sendy Audio AIVA 2, Tangzu TianPeng, Soundz Flame, YanYin Canon PRO, Dunu Vulkan 2, Letshuoer Mystic 8, and HIFIMAN Isvarna.
Driving power – Aune N7 currently has the highest driving power in the sub 500 USD price class. It has more power than Luxsin X9, FiiO K17, JDS Labs Element IV, and more than amplifiers immediately above it in pricing like Singxer SA-1 V2. It produces a higher and cleaner voltage than all those options, so for ultra high-impedance headphones it works better, but has absolutely zero noise with IEMS. You can use the current gain and gain to get more volume control with IEMs.
Overall Signature – Aune N7 sounds pretty detailed, but warm, organic, a bit warm, a bit smooth, it warms up most headphones, but produces a highly dynamic, highly revealing sound without coming through as dry. It has a hard impact, and a natural-slightly intimate soundstage, bringing vocals to be intimate with you, but allowing instruments in the background to expand heavily in the 3D stage.
Bass – Starting from the bottom, Aune N7 has the characteristic Aune Audio bass presentain, a bit warm, a bit thick and with a bit of extra substance on the top. Warmth and a bit of fuzz is Aune’s N7’s mastery, it gives music a bit of swing, deepens the bass and adds weight to each musical note, gives body to voices, violins, pianos and guitars, makes everything smokey black and tarry thick.
Midrange – Aune N7 brings voices to the central point in each song, gives both males and females weight and presence, keeps everything intimate and personal, gives music an organic, lush presence with a slightly smooth texture. Everything is very personal, emotional and present. This is a good word, it is the opposite of laid-back, but not aggressive, it is involved and present. Instruments tend to play a lot in the 2nd layer, voices in the 1st one while cymbals, pianos and air in the extended 3rd layer outer to the others.
Treble – At the top end Aune N7 is a smooth, silky performer with no hard edges, relaxes the treble, which may balance out the very involved and direct midrange. This is quite a unique approach, but very similar to what Aune did with their S17 PRO Evo Headphone Amplifier, as N7 is like a mini version of the S17 Pro Evo, but almost just as good, if not even a bit more involved, younger and punchier.
Dynamic Range And Textures – aune N7 has a smoother, warmer and thicker texture with a fun presentation, excellent impact and dynamics. It tends to allow the dynamic range to breathe, but because it has a more personal soundstage and approach to vocals, the dynamic range does not feel particularly wide. The texture is almost always full, lush and heavy.
Loudness Saturation Gradient – Aune N7 sounds the same at all volume levels. It is surprising how much driving power it has, and I just had the chance to test a pair of headphones with an impedance of over 600 OHms (review coming soon) as well as Susvara and N7 handles both better than anything in the price range.
Soundstage – Aune N7 is a personal, slightly intimate sounding amplifier, it downsizes the soundstage, keeps vocals personal and keeps everything close to you. This is a rather obvious effect but it is part of how it keeps music engaging and personal.
Comparisons
Aune N7 vs Aune S17 PRO Evo (429 USD vs 799 USD) – N7 and S17 PRO Evo have about the same functions, but S17 PRO Evo has an internal power delivery, takes in a cattle plug, and it is much larger, and also matchy with the Aune S9c DAC AMP. Sonically, they are very similar, S17 Pro Evo has a wider soundstage, bigger sound, but also a warm, chuggy and smooth sound, so they are very comparable. N7 sounds like a younger, more personal, more involved version of the same sound S17 Pro Evo offers.
Aune N7 vs Singxer SA-1 V2 (429 USD vs 599 USD) – Singxer SA-1 v2 has basically the same functions as N7, and adds an XLR balanced output on top, but sonically they are rather different. Aune N7 has a higher voltage, higher driving power at maximum, and a more involved, personal sound. Singxer Sa1 v2 sounds laid-back, relaxed and smoother, a bit more neutral in the bass and less colored. If you’re looking for more neutrality, SA-1 V2 offers that nicely, but has a lower maximum driving power, while Aune N7 has a higher driving power, with a more colored sonic signature.
Aune N7 vs Sparkos Gemini (429 USD vs 995 USD) – Gemini takes in a tube inspiration, but it is single ended only, so you don’t have an XLR balanced PRE or Balanced line in. At the same time, sonics are different. Driving power is higher on the Aune N7, but not by a large margin. Gemini has a more dynamic, more personal sound, less colored, less warm, less smooth, more natural and without as much tilt. Aune N7 sounds warmer, smoother, deeper, thicker, more chugg and with more body, more lush. Soundstage is more personal and intimate on the Aune N7, as it draws everything to play more personally for you.
Value and Conclusion
With a price tag of below 500 USD, but outperforming as a headphone amplifier all of the competition that is DAC AMP or even just AMP, Aune N7 is a particularly sweet deal, complete, with both PRE and HP functions, XLR and RCA line in and line out, and with basically no thermal issues, no overheating and no background noise with IEMS. Darn perfect at this price point really.
At the end of the day, Aune N7 is excellent, it is cheaper, and considerably so, compared to Aune’s other amplifiers, has similar power levels, a similar sound, but no overheating issues, it has pre function, no audible noise, and with the power out of the chassis, it is small and dandy. If you’re looking for a thick, chuggy, personal and involved sound, Aune N7 will deliver that with a smile on its face and warmth in its midrange, being a fully recommended purchase today on audiophile-heaven.
PROs
- Small and pretty design
- Chuggy and fun sound
- Fun and persona, involved and delightful signature
- Warm and thick
- Personal soundstage, a bit on the intimate side
- No thermal issues
- Balanced design
- PRE output
- Very low price for the feature list
- Great overall deal
Cons
- Definitely a colored sound
Product Link
Amazon – https://amzn.to/4pbfHU8
Aliexpress – https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c4KUEm13
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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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