Goldenwave x HIFIMAN GA-10 Tube Headphone Amplifier – Deepest Bass Slams Planar Headphones
Goldenwave x HIFIMAN GA-10 is a $1599 USD high-end top of the line headphone amplifier celebrating the 10th Anniversary of Goldenwave, with a delicate and clear SEPP Architecture and carefully selected vacuum tubes and components. Built around the World-Renowned ECC83 / 12AX7 and EL84 Vacuum tubes, today HIFIMAN GA10 is the star of our review and we’ll also compare it with other high-end amplifiers including Goldenwave x HIFIMAN Prelude (2499 USD), Sparkos Gemini (955 USD), and Feliks Audio Euforia Evo (2991 USD)
Introduction
HIFIMAN has already proven that together with Goldenwave they can create some amazing headphone amplifiers, but GA-10 is the first model that is based on Tube tech, so today we review our first Tube Headphone Amplifier from HIFIMAN, and this is a celebratory model too, as it is a landmark model for the 10th year anniversary of Goldenwave.
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. Audiophile-Heaven has no Ads and our Youtube Channel has no midroll ads, and our work is supported by Affiliate Links and Donations. Huge thanks to HIFIMAN for providing the sample for this review, in exchange for my honest opinion.
Product Link
Amazon – https://amzn.to/46d6Kmm
Aliexpress – https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_oombmdR
Build Quality – Design
HIFIMAN GA 10 is rather heavy, large, and a bit part of that is the special designed, shielded 120 W transformer that combines with an independent low-noise voltage amplifier, stage voltage regulator for left and right channels and a low noise negative voltage regulator to produce clarity and the sonic of GA-10. High-End tube Amplifiers are known for many things, but GA-10 wants to deliver the delicate, and clear sound they are known for in the most expensive of amplifiers.
In terms of physical connections, we have a power button on the left side, then a series of XLR 4-Pin balanced headphone output, 6.35mm single ended headphone output and a 4.4mm balanced headphone output, a volume control large wheel at the center-right spot, and two selectors, one for output impedance matching and one for selecting the current input of the GA-10.
For tech savvy readers, HIFIMAN GA-10 has a frequency response of 20 Hz – 24 kHz, a THD+N of 0.001% for an impedance of 300 OHMs, at 1 kHz, much lower than most tube headphone amplifiers on the market, with a power output of 3000mW for an impedance of 300 OHMs, and 600mW for an impedance of 32 OHMs, and a rather low total power consumption of 70W.
Deep within the user manual, we can find that GA-10 uses tubes, and it is not ideal to leave it running for more than 24 hours continuously, and that when it is not in use, it is best to turn it off, to prolong the useful life of the tubes, which are consumables for any Tube AMP. It is best to allow 30 minutes for GA-10 to cool down before opening it up after it has been turned on, and it is essential to not cover the right and left sides to allow it to cool down while it is in use. You can actually see the tubes inside through the cooling slits.
Subjective Usage
Using HIFIMAN Ga-10 is rather easy, you just need a high-end DAC like HIFIMAN x Goldenwave Serenade, and a set of high-end XLR Interconnect cables, like Ricable Invictus XLR RX1. You simply connect the cables, turn it on and allow it around 3 minutes for the tubes to reach ideal working temp to enjoy it. All headphone outputs at the front work at the same time, it is working as soon as it is powered on, and you can instantly switch between the XLR and RCA inputs.
From what I can gather, it automatically matches XLR and RCA inputs in volume, which is nice, so it is likely that the RCA input is routed through the internal balanced amplifier circuits, and turning the large volume wheel at the front is super satisfying. I noticed that most headphones sound best in Low Impedance rather than high impedance, with the exception of headphones that have a high impedance.
While it is so incredibly easy to use, finding a place for GA-10 is a bit harder, it is a tank of an amplifier, one of the largest and heaviest headphone amplifiers I have ever seen in my entire life. Build quality is superb, every edge matches, every corner ends nicely, it has feet that are made of rubber, making it very stable on my desk, but also keeping it above the desk to allow for better cooling. It gets rather warm during usage, which is normal for a tube AMP, and it has both RCA and XLR inputs. There is no preamplifier output, no XLR or RCA output, just input and headphone output.
Sound Quality
Pairings – For this review, I have used as a DAC the HIFIMAN x Goldenwave Serenade, FiiO K17, FiiO K15, Rose Technics RT-5000, and JDS Labs Element IV. For the interconnect cable I have used either Ricable Invictus XLR RX1 or Ricable Dedalus DX15, and for the power cable to power HIFIMAN GA-10 I have used Ricable Invictus Power Reference RP15.
To test the actual power amplifier, I have paired Goldenwave x HIFIMAN GA-10 with IEMs and Headphones including KBEar Cepheus, Crosszone CZ-10 Enhanced, NFAudio NE4, NfAudio NA2+, Rose Technics QT-X, Palma DHS-1, Audeze MM-100, HIFIMAN Shangri-La Electrostatic System, Kiwi Ears Atheia, FiiO FT7, ZiiGaat Luna, Erzetich Thalia, Erzetich Mania 2024, Moritz Audio Enzo, HIFIMAN Susvara Unveiled, Dunu Vulkan 2, Sivga Peng, HarmonicDyne Baroque, Mrotiz Dragon, Sivga AIVA 2, Soundz Flame, YanYin Canon, and RAPTGO LEAF D01.
When it comes to the driving power of HIFIMAN Ga-10, I read a couple of opinions and they are mostly spot-on. The upper limit of how hard to drive a pair of headphones can be for GA-10 to handle is HIFIMAN Susvara Unveiled, while the lower limit for IEMs is one with 16 OHMS of impedance. While I got most IEMS working and I could not hear any background noise or hissing, Ga10 is a bit too large to be practical to keep on a desk and listen with 1.2 meters cables and IEMS to. Quite the irony, but I feel like HIFIMAN GA-10 works best with the new Unveiled series of headphones as it balances their brighter and more dramatic sound with a bit of deep, dark, smoothness and gives them a truly relaxing and calming tone.
Overall Signature – HIFIMAN Goldenwave GA10 is a darker, smoother, deeper sounding amplifier that draws in a warm bass and blends it with a rich midrange, which is usually characteristic of the tube amp design that is inside. The soundstage is wide and a black background dominates the signature, giving HIFIMAN GA10 the unique signature and tune it has. Treble is on the smoother end, but doesn’t dampen resolution or clarity.
Bass – GA10 has a deep, powerful bass that is super smooth and clean. When it comes to how thunderous it can be, you have to imagine the kind of thump that a canon would give if it was fired right next to you. The whole signature has a gentle L-shape where bass is the most forward element in the sound of GA-10, creating a dark bassline that is deep and groovy. As it has a rather smooth bass texture, GA-10 is impressively versatile for music styles, including sounding great with EDM, Pop but also classical and orchestral.
Midrange – Here you will hear a bit more of that texture, GA-10 has tubes at the heart, and this means a richer harmonic presence, with a vivid and lively voicing. Despite sounding smooth and lush, GA-10 can totally render emotion, drama and micro dynamics, the sound it produces is controlled, but powerful, authoritative but gentle, and very detailed. It generally feels euphonic and musically rich, with a colorful midrange that feels realistic, vivid. It is one of the AMPs that sounds closest to real life and renders orchestral and classical music best.
Treble – As GA-10 has a gentle L-Shaped signature, it has the least presence for the treble relative to the bass and the midrange, but this doesn’t mean that GA10 lacks emotion and air, and quite on the contrary, there is more than enough to keep music interesting and engaging. Since HIFIMAN mostly makes brighter sounding headphones, the smoother, more relaxed treble of GA10 pairs incredibly well with all hifiman headphones, but especially the more dramatic unveiled new series of headphones.
Dynamic Range And Textures – HIFIMAN GA-10 has a highly dynamic sound, the dynamic range is insanely high and it also has a rich, euphonic and organic texture. Out of most tube headphone amplifiers, it sounds the most cohesive, and THD is not increased just for the sake of sounding Tube-Like, GA-10 has a rather low distortion in general, just a rich midrange. Uniquely revealing of textures, it reminds me of Feliks Audio Euforia Evo more than most tube amps, as it has just a bit of tube magic, not a high tubey distortion.
Loudness Saturation Gradient – this is the only part about GA-10 that people might argue about, as it has a rather low driving power considering the price point and design, but the purpose of GA-10 as I see it, is for it to drive the new series of unveiled headphones, which it does really well. It also works really well with most headphones that are as hard to drive as HIFIMAN Arya Organic, but it sounds best if impedance is set to low impedance, and it works best via the XLR input if you have a DAC that has XLR outputs.
Soundstage And Instrument Separation – Finally, we can talk about the best characteristic of HIFIMAN GA10, the huge, deep, dark soundstage with an exceptional instrument separation. GA-10 is incredibly deep, layering is just excellent, and it sounds like it places each instrument in its own space. Quite a strong performance for orchestral and complex music, I love how GA-10 can render layers like petals in a rose.
Comparisons
Goldenwave x HIFIMAN GA-10 vs Feliks Euforia Evo – (1599 USD vs 2991 USD) – From a built perspective, Euforia Evo shows the tubes instead of hiding them, uses a different set of tubes, but also is very heavy and bulky. Both amplifiers have both XLR and single Ended headphone outputs, but Euforia Evo has only XLR and 6.3 headphone outputs, while Ga-10 has a 4.4mm headphone output. Euforia Evo has PREamplifier RCA outputs while GA-10 has only line inputs, but has both balanced and RCA single ended line inputs. Both are super well made and have a low noise.
Sonically, Euforia Evo is more neutral, flatter, and reproduces exactly what is being fed with far less coloration. GA-10 has a uniquely distinct black background, better instrument sep[aration, more slam, more impact, more depth and more bass. The midrange is smoother, lusher, and more dark as presented by GA-10 and more neutral – linear as presented by Euforia Evo. Both are great for rock, metal and modern music, as well as classical music, but the richer, more tube-like sound of Euforia Evo fits in better with orchestral and classical, while GA-10 is more versatile for electronic, EDM, Metal and commercial, new music. As there is a rather large price difference, GA-10 is more of a standalone tube headphone AMP, while Euforia Evo is more of a Headphone AMP and high-end stereo Preamp.
Goldenwave x HIFIMAN GA-10 vs Goldenwave x HIFIMAN Prelude – (1599 USD vs 2499 USD) – Prelude is a uniquely potent headphone amplifier, but it is a full solid-state design, it has more balanced headphone outputs and no single ended headphone outputs, it has XLR and RCA Line inputs, but also XLR and RCA line outputs, it can be a versatile stereo preamplifier, it has a display and has a more dampened, but physically smaller volume wheel.
Sonically, they are similar, and you can feel that HIFIMAN together with Goldenwave tuned both. Both have a dark background, and a smooth, lush sound, but GA-10 has a richer, more ironically pleasing midrange, a more neutral presentation, more treble sparkle and brilliance, while Prelude sounds smoother, darker, more bassy, and has less treble energy. This being said, Prelude has more driving power and can even handle the original Susvara, while GA-10 is best for the unveiled series, it has a lower power delivery, yet the more magical, more rich midrange makes it a more viable option for the new unveiled series.
Goldenwave x HIFIMAN GA-10 vs Sparkos Gemini – (1599 USD vs 955 USD) – Gemini is a much smaller headphone amplifier with an XLR and a 6.3mm single ended octopus, and with Sparkos OP-AMPs instead of tubes or traditional OP-AMPs. Gemini is single ended only, with RCA line inputs and rca line outputs, it has one visible little tube, for the PRE, and you can dial in more or less tube character for the sound. It is a mini headphone amp, but with a bit more driving power than GA-10, being able to control and deliver a blow with Susvara, and good for the unveiled series too.
Sonically, GA-10 sounds richer in the midrange with less distortion, deeper and more voluptuous, more layered and with a better kick, while Gemini sounds more happy, more open, a bit more brilliant and more airy. The sound of Gemini is wider, while the sound of the GA-10 is deeper, more mature, more refined. Both work equally well for most music, but GA-10 has a more magical midrange that you can hear is driven by tubes, while the tube pre in Gemini mostly adds noise, and I turned it to have the minimum impact, whereas the tubes inside of GA-10 have a much lower noise and THD.
Value and Conclusion
HIFIMAN GA-10 has a much higher price efficiency than Prelude and most high-end top of the line headphone amplifiers, it offers a very nice sound, but costs much less than most of the direct competition that offers a similar quality. This being said, it also comes with no PREAMP function, so value is great, but it is meant to be a simple headphone amplifier with tubes, not a stereo preamp.
At the end of the day, Especially if you have a HIFIMAN Unveiled pair of headphones like HIFIMAN Susvara Unveiled, or even a pair of HE1000SE, or basically most headphones under the sun, HIFIMAN GA-10 will be one of the best amplifiers if you want to hear real slam, control, a black background and exceptional layering with top notch instrument separation and power delivery.
PROs
- Reliable, high-end design
- Beautiful and well-made
- XLR and RCA inputs
- Single ended and balanced headphone outputs
- No audible noise, tube amplifier
- High power delivery with outstanding control
- Black background
- Insane instrument separation and layering
- Lush, voluptuous sound with strong slam and impact
- Excellent value
Cons
- Gets hot during usage
- Very heavy and large
- Tubes will need replacing down the line
Product Link
Amazon – https://amzn.to/46d6Kmm
Aliexpress – https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_oombmdR
--- Please remember to stay safe, and always have fun while listening to music!---
- If you have a dime to spare, please donate, and help us! It would make the day brighter for me and my wife-
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
--- Contact Us ---
