Violectric HPA V202 | Headphone amplifier

The Violectric HPA V202 is an analog headphone amplifier and the entry-level model in the Violectric portfolio. The model follows on from the HPA V200 and, according to the manufacturer, has been further developed in terms of circuitry. The Violectric HPA V202 is designed for users who want to use a high-quality headphone amplifier with a classic, unbalanced headphone connection in hi-fi, desktop and audio setups. The device combines an analog input stage with a powerful amplifier section, PRE-GAIN adjustment and a compact desktop format.

On the input side, the Violectric HPA V202 offers two analog stereo inputs on the rear of the device. A balanced XLR input and an unbalanced RCA input are available. The inputs can be switched via a switch on the front. This allows two different playback devices such as streamers or CD players to be connected directly to the headphone amplifier and conveniently selected. The Violectric HPA V202 is therefore designed for setups in which several analog sources are operated centrally on one headphone amplifier.

The Violectric HPA V202 provides two unbalanced outputs for connecting headphones. There is a 6.3 mm jack output on the front and a 4.4 mm Pentaconn output, which is also unbalanced on this model. The Violectric HPA V202 is therefore aimed at users who use classically connected headphones and also require a modern 4.4 mm connection option. The manufacturer describes the HPA V202 as an affordable option for demanding listeners with classically connected headphones.

An important feature of the Violectric HPA V202 is the PRE-GAIN circuit for adapting to different sources and headphones. The gain can be adjusted in seven stages on the rear panel to -18, -12, -6, 0, +6, +12 and +18 dB. This PRE-GAIN adjustment is used to compensate for differences between the source level and headphone sensitivity and to tune the headphone amplifier for different combinations within the audio chain. According to the manufacturer, this supports minimal noise, low distortion and high channel balance.

According to the manufacturer, the Violectric HPA V202 works with very low internal amplification for low self-noise, with an internal 50-volt operating voltage for high output voltage and with powerful amplifier stages for high output power. The low output impedance is specified as less than 0.25 ohms. The amplifier is therefore designed for different types of headphones, including low-impedance and high-impedance models as well as magnetostats. The amplifier structure is specified with 2x 8 transistors and is designed as a powerful stereo amplifier.

The Violectric HPA V202 is equipped with an ALPS RK27 volume potentiometer and a 38 mm aluminum volume knob. The device is housed in a compact and robust aluminum housing in desktop format and is manufactured in Germany. With its combination of analog stereo inputs, unbalanced headphone outputs, 7-stage PRE-GAIN adjustment and powerful analog amplifier section, the Violectric HPA V202 is designed as a headphone amplifier for precise and flexible monitoring applications.