Dethonray Honey H2 DAC AMP Review – Sweeter Than Sugar, Smoother Than Butter
Dethonray Honey H2 is a $699 USD portable DAC Headphone Amplifier, the result of five years of relentless tuning to carry on the legacy of the mighty H1. Today we review the H2 and also compare it with other options in the price range including Burson PlayMate 3 (599 USD), Rose Technics RT-5000 (699 USD) and Cayin RU9 (499 USD). As we did not review the H1, a comparison wouldn’t be possible, but other Dethonray products will heavily be mentioned all throughout the review.
Introduction
Dethonray is the kind of company known for their sound, for their exceptional build quality and design. Although the products they make are usually not as complex as the competition, the sweet and superb sound is always to die for and people always come back after hearing just one Dethonray product.
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Product Link
Amazon – https://amzn.to/3TUUYts
Official Link – https://www.dethonray.com/en/products/dac/honey-h2/
Build Quality – Design – Subjective Usage
Build Quality – Dethonray Honey H2 is a very solid DAC and Headphone Amplifier, with a clean blue design, solid metallic chassis and with a beautiful golden volume wheel that is also complemented by the balanced 4.4mm headphone output in a symmetrical fashion. The whole DAC AMP is solid, nothing moves inside and it is sturdy, with the finished being of an exceptional quality.
Design – To overcome the limitations of the previous H1, engineers working on H2 actually drew inspiration and designed it based on the M1 design, an epic DAC that we reviewed. This allows H2 to deliver an explosive power and yet sharp precision. Cooling is handled nicely, as it does get warm during usage, but not hot and even with the transport case on the unit, you shouldn’t have problems using it even in hotter climates.
DAC – At its heart, Honey H2 comes with a combo of an AK4499EX DAC and an AK 4191EQ working in tandem to produce its sound. Those occupy different places in the circuit board and are not redundant as the AK4191EQ handles the digital processing and special sound effects, while AK4499EX handles the D A digital to analogue conversion. They are isolated and two separate circuits for improved channel separation and a low distortion.
Power output – For controlling the volume, H2 uses a digital controller that powers an analogue circuit. This combo has 28 levels of volume, and you can hear that when you are turning the volume wheel, the volume increases in steps and it is not a smooth increase as pure analog circuits offer.
Battery – Besides the battery inside, Honey H2 uses a Desktop Grade Power Supply DPPU, with isolated rails for digital and analogue circuits, eliminating internal crosstalk and distortion. This drastically reduces charging noise, ensuring that you can use H2 while it is charging, as for a DAC AMP of this style, it is a big part of how people will be using it. I managed to achieve around 8 hours of music listening which is great, and H2 has two ports, one for data and one for charging. Following my experience, it charges from the data port unless you give it separate power, for example from a battery, although it really is not necessary and it sounds as good with one USB cable charging from the dirty port of your computer as it would using an external LPS or battery to power it. It takes around 4.5 hours to fully charge the battery if you deplete it, and it has a large size. For most of the time you really don’t mind or notice it existing.
Outputs – There are two headphone outputs on the H2, one that is balanced and 4.4mm in size, and one that is single ended and 3.5mm in size. The power output is quoted for voltage, at 2.4Vrms for the single ended headphone output, and the same voltage for the balanced output. This is because both have the same driving power and I asked Dethonray to confirm, the SE output draws power through a special circuit that allows it to have the same power and sound quality, similar to what iFi does in their DAC AMPs.
Special features – Inherited from Dethonray’s experience with the SG1 series, H2 embeds the best Bluetooth design in hi-end audiophile so far, with a better circuit than was previously possible. Technically, H2 has an extremely high SNR of 114 dB, a very low THD of 0.03%.
Software – H2 has support for Data rate up to PCM 384kHz, DSD256 over the USB input,m and Coax input up to 192 kHz / 24 Bit. The bluetooth module has support for all modern BT protocols, including SBC, aptX, aptX LL, LDAC, and many others. Detohnray used an implementation that allows H2 to sound quite controlled and have a low noise, but it turns off the output after less than one second without any sound playing. This means that there’s a slight pop sound when sound stops playing, so that you will not hear the background hissing, but it does have perfect USB DAC sync and will have zero delay, being perfect for gaming and watching video content. Bluetooth is a separate discussion as you could enable Bluetooth LL or Low Latency, but it sends less data and will sound less detailed than LDAC or aptX standard. You can hear the effect that sound is stopping because when seeking a music video, there’s half a second of pause as it stops receiving data, then starts powering up the new data.
Sound Quality
Pairings – Dethonray Honey H2 is quite a colorful source, in the literal sense as it is a brilliant blue in color, but it is a very capable one too. This means that I was able to pair it with the latest IEMs and Headphones that I reviewed and the full list of pairings includes Faith Audio E1000, Lily Audio Genesis One, KBEar Cepheus, Crosszone CZ-10 Enhanced, TinHIFI T7, NFAudio NE4, Sivga Peng, Crosszone CZ-8a Enhanced, Soundz Flame, Dunu Vulkan 2, Moritz Aura, Hiby Digital Yume, HIFIMAN Audivina LE, Westone Mach 80,BQEYZ Winter II, Fosi Audio IM4, Aune AC55, iBasso Cookie Ti Jr
As there is no actual data rating for the H2, I can only test what it can drive and what it cannot drive. On this note, it is more than enough for IEMs, portable headphones and most standard transducers, but it will not handle Susvara Unveiled, Susvara or Lily Audio Genesis One, having less power than Luxsin X9 for very hard to drive headphones. This being said, it also has a bit of hissing with very sensitive IEMS, and from experience, I would say that the output impedance is likely to be around 1 OHM, and compared to other sources I have around the house, the power should be in the ballpark of around 1W per channel. The hardest to drive pair of headphones that H2 can handle is HE6 Remastered which was a pleasing surprise, but the max volume this way is around 100 dB, which is not extremely high.
Overall Signature – Dethonray Honey H2 is one of the warmest, thickest and deepest sounding DAC AMPs ever made, with a full, powerful tuning that gives music a bold body, excellent impact and an engaging, strong signature. It comes with a tendency to give headphones and IEMS extra oomph, a deeper soundstage and more volume, both in the volumetric sense and the loudness sense also. Since we have both LG and HG, low gain and high gain, H2 can control IEMs really well, but I usually just leave the gain on high for having a higher headroom. I like how it renders most music, from rock to pop to punk, but it seems to be especially good with brighter and more open sounding headphones and IEMS, as it gives them body and substance without overdoing things. It is a lush sounding DAC AMP that although has the bass at the focus, sounds really warm and pleasing in the mids, with a slightly soft and relaxed treble that makes music euphonic and beautiful.
Bass – Starting from the low-end, H2 can more than just render the bass of songs, it can put the bone back in backbone, it gives most headphones and IEMs extra power, extra punch and kick, with a bold and full bass. This is a thick, natural speed bass with a bold impact and which stands out nicely, creating an outline for bass guitars in rock and metal, and giving EDM and Dubstep extra oomph and extra impact. H2 controls volume really well and will not cause bass bleed, and instead it can give better bass control and more bass quantity even at extremely high volumes.
Midrange And Vocals – Vocal range is clean and colorful, bold and vivid. H2 sounds sweet, euphonic and gives music a special grain-free smoothness that makes all tracks easy to listen and to enjoy. It is equally good for male voices and female voices giving a vivid presentation to both, even to guitars, violins, and pianos. Basically, it emphasizes all instruments and creates a playful, enjoyable tune that works well for all styles and tracks. Resolution is far above what you’d expect from the price point, but it is presented in a cohesive and natural fashion, making all music stand out without feeling textured or grainy, instead feeling fluid and effortless. This is the most obvious characteristic of the midrange, how effortless, fluid and musical it is despite sounding rich and detailed.
Treble – As with most Dethonray devices I reviewed to date, H2 has a relaxed treble with less presence, less impact and less quantity than what is neutral, but it is not rolled-off in the sense where it would be absent, instead sounding smooth, fluid and fatigue-free, effortless. This makes the treble excellent for most commercial music, but if you want a slightly smoother tone, it works well for rock and metal too, it has the right extension for clarity, detail and will not feel limitative.
Dynamics And Textures – H2 has a huge dynamic range and feels great for both dynamically compressed music and also classical / orchestral. Dynamic range is high enough for it to handle extreme compression well, and most music will sound more acoustic than it usually does, especially at low and medium volumes. There is a slight compression effect if listening very loud, but it is not strong. H2 has a smooth, fluid texture for which Dethonray is popular. This means that most music will be grain-free and will sound relaxed, slightly laid-back, but extremely detailed and rich. It is immediately different in tuning from all other DAC AMPs.
Loudness Saturation Gradient – You can push H2 to extreme volumes with no loss in resolution and quality as it can keep its cool even above 120 dB or above its maximum volume. I actually am testing this right now via HE6 Remastered which barely reaches 100 dB at max volume on high gain, but sounds controlled, clean, sharp and without any added noise powered by H2. It is an excellent source for quiet listening too, as it works well with IEMS, although it does have an audible noise floor at extremely low volumes. Max loudness is not all, and I am really happy to report on its excellent overall sound. There is no audible difference in volume between the 4.4mm and 3.5mm outputs which is an effect of the company implementing a special SE circuit that allows it to sound as good as the balanced circuit.
Soundstage – Lateral definition is exceptional and so is directionality, but H2 sounds a bit larger than most Dethonray products I heard to date, expanding on the size of the soundstage, having an extreme depth but also a laterally impressive presentation. It tends to still be a sl;ightly intimate experience vocally, so voices tend to sound personal and close to the listener rather than distant but the background layers can extend a lot in the lateral and distant planes. It is an exceptional DAC AMP if you want the vocals to still be personal but the instrumental to sound holographic and 3D.
Comparisons
Dethonray Honey H2 vs Rose Technics RT-5000 (699 USD vs 699 USD) – RT-5000 is a full desktop DAC AMP and it is a very good one, but not quite the same thing as H2. Both can drive headphones and both will struggle a bit with hard to drive headphones. In fact, the power they have kind of overlaps, and they also have a bit of noise with IEMS, but H2 is more silent with IEMs and has a bit of extra driving power at maximum. Sonically, both are warm, thick and lush, but H2 sounds more detailed, has a higher resolution, improved clarity and a better, more natural vocal range, while RT5k sounds smoother, but has less bass, it is more mid centric and less detailed compared to H2. Out of the two, I would generally go with H2 for sound and versatility, but RT5K has XLR outputs for desktop and that is a big win if you don’t want the DAC AMP portable.
Dethonray Honey H2 vs Burson PlayMate 3 (699 USD vs 599 USD) – PM3 is an excellent desktop DAC AMP, but it has some limitations, including having only an RCA output, and it has actually a bit less noise with IEMS and a bit more driving power for headphones. With PM3, the main reason you’d still choose H2 is due to the tuning of the H2, because even with the Burson Vivid Op-AMPs installed in Burson PM3, Honey H2 still sounds sweeter, deeper, smoother, more musical and fuller. Overall, PM3 is the most natural play mate so far but it still is brighter and more neutral than H2, great if you have dark or bassy sounding headphones, but H2 is much better if you have bright or analytical sounding headphones or IEMS. You cannot really go wrong with either, but H2 has a more magical sound that has a cult following, while Pm3 allows for OP-AMP rolling which can hugely increase the sound quality of it.
Dethonray Honey H2 vs Cayin RU9 (699 USD vs 499 USD) – There are a couple of reasons to go for either, and while RU9 comes with multiple novel technologies, including Tube AMPs and R2R DACs, Honey H2 can actually deliver a thicker, warmer, more engaging and more emotional sound than RU9 despite not having a technical special DAC AMP combo as RU9. For very sensitive IEMS, RU9 has a slightly lower noise floor, but for hard to drive headphones, Honey H2 has a bit more power, and better control with a lower distortion at high volumes. Both DAC AMPs are brilliant, but H2 has a more special, sweeter, more enthusiastic and emotional sound while RU9 sounds warm and a bit smooth or very textured depending on which settings you chose.
Value – Conclusion
Dethonray has a nice value with their H2, and although it is not cheap for a portable DAC AMP, it is actually competitive in the high-end market. It is one of the few if not the only one that has such good Bluetooth coverage, and the kind of sound signature it bears. It comes with a transport case that looks stunning and it also works in real time to watch movies and play games, being perfect for all common tasks but also for dedicated audiophile music listening.
There are very few devices that deliver such a pleasing overall tuning and sound, and mostar of them are also made by Dethonray. Once you hear the type and quantity of bass H2 can deliver you will understand why there’s such a cult around Dethonray products and why people are always excited to hear the latest DAC AMP they made, H2 being a natural evolution for the company and an excellent choice if you’re looking for depth, volume, kick and punch.
PROs
- Reliable build quality that is solid with no loose parts inside
- Type-C port that works well for music listening and also for charging H2
- Thick and warm sound with a full bass
- Smooth and relaxed treble with no noticeable rolloff
- Excellent resolution and definition, better than the direct competition in the price range offers
- Such a pleasing tuning that it is an instant cult classic, like most Dethonray DAC AMPS
- Fluid texture with a high dynamic range that has minimal to no compression at low and medium volumes
Cons
- Slight audible background noise with sensitive IEMS
Product Link
Amazon – https://amzn.to/3TUUYts
Official Link – https://www.dethonray.com/en/products/dac/honey-h2/
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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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