The new Cayin iHA-8 headphone amplifier is a fully balanced, solid state headphone amplifier designed to achieve a high level of detail and integrity for listeners with its high-power, high-current design.
The iHA-8 features a four-channel discrete pure Class A input buffer amplification circuit. Incorporating TI low-noise mono Op-Amps, each channel consists of two Toshiba audio grade JFET connected in parallel with a constant current source. This design ensures lower noise and lower distortion, as well as a higher current and stronger driving ability. Built-in adaptive power, gain, and low noise current switching circuits enhance overall performance and deliver an exceptional listening experience.
The iHA-8 features a special "Hyper Mode" for maximum performance. Pressing the Hyper Mode button makes further adjustments to static operating current and voltage, delivering up to a truly astonishing 9500mW of output power. Class A operation is maintained even in Hyper mode, delivering ultra strong, transparent sounding amplification to create a dynamic soundstage.
The IHA-8 features 6.35mm single ended and 4-pin XLR / 4.4mm balanced outputs ensure compatibility with a wide range of headphones. iHA-8 supports both line level and pre-amp input via RCA and XLR connections, meaning that you can use iHA-8 as an integrated headphone amplifier, or as a pure power amplifier with fixed output.
The iHA-8's volume control circuit combines an ALPS potentiometer with a pair of high end 130 step JRC MUSES72320V volume control chips. This hybrid design means that while the volume control is electronic, the final volume adjustment occurs purely in the analog domain, ensuring stable and highly precise volume control.
Carefully selected premium components are a sign of Cayin's cutting-edge power engineering:
- 70W high-power low magnetic leakage toroidal power transformer
- 50,000uF Nichicon main filter capacitor
- BYV79E ultra-fast recovery rectifier diodes
The headphone amplifier circuit is powered by a four-channel high-dynamic high-current discrete linear voltage stabilizing circuit. The voltage amplification and HeadAmp output stage are independently powered. A secondary enhanced voltage stabilizing circuit is specially designed for the JFET input buffer amplifier circuit, volume controller, and other audio circuits.
A monolithic Protector IC safeguards the amplifier by performing output DC detection, power-on delay squelch, power-off noise cancellation, and overcurrent/overload protection. This is to protect the power amplifier circuit and headphones from power-on to power-off, and every step in between.
The new Cayin i-Series features an L-shaped aluminium cover plate, precision mould extrusion, CNC precision machining, fine sandblasting, and anodized surface treatment. The amplifier has a uniform texture, designed to be durable over time. The left and right side panels are designed as ridged heat sinks — the resulting extra surface area enhances heat exchange and improves heat dissipation capacity.
Specifications:
| Amplifier Modes: |
Pure Class A, Hyper Mode |
| Headphone Outputs: |
Single-ended (6.35mm), Balanced (4-pin XLR, 4.4mm) |
| Analog Inputs: |
Single-ended RCA (x2) |
| Volume Control: |
MUSES72320 stereo e-volume (x2), ALPS potentiometer |
| Power Supply: |
75W toroidal transformer |
| Power Management: |
50,000uF Nichicon capacitors with ultra-fast recovery rectifier |
| Dimensions: |
270 x 215 x 70 mm (L x W x H) |
| Weight: |
Approximately 5 kg |
| Gain Control: |
High Gain (+12dB), Low Gain |
