Alo Audio Rx New Headphone Amplifier Optimized for IEMs

March 31 2015, 04:00
Audio Line Out LLC (Alo Audio) first introduced the Rx portable amplifier in 2009. Years later, considering the significant changes in the world of portable audio, the company decided to update its concept with a new Rx portable headphone amplifier, redesigned and optimized for IEMs, with low output impedance and extended frequency response from below 10Hz to above 50kHz.

The design in the new Rx benefits from an attractive nickel plated CNC’d aluminum enclosure, reminding us the Rx is proudly made in Portland, Oregon, USA. A high quality conductive plastic element type potentiometer allows for extended life, high resolution and high reliability over carbon element type pots. Otherwise, the Rx features a simple single-ended 3.5mm stereo input, a 3.5mm stereo output and a micro USB connector for charging.

The new Rx employs a wide band dynamic 15 Volt integrated amplifier design and push pull power supply with improved power filtering to provide an extremely quiet supply and ultra low noise floor. According to Alo Audio, the new 15 volt rails used for the amplifier allow for improved dynamics and headroom for the loudest passages to be reproduced wide open and without distortion. This is coupled with a filtered power supply to keep the overall design quiet and free of distortion, using also newest low ESR Aluminum Organic Polymer Capacitors.

The super low output impedance allows the Rx to improve audio performance with all types of earphones and more specifically, low impedance In Ear Monitors (IEM). Apart from a better tolerance to different drivers, Alo Audio says it focused on the damping ratio with low output impedance to better control the drivers in different headphones and get better fidelity.

The cut-off frequency in the new Rx headphone amplifier was also designed to be near 80kHz, insuring that no unwanted effects are present in the desired audible frequency range, unaffected below 50kHz. Keeping distortion to a minimum was another key focus for Alo Audio, with a distortion target of .002% for the new Rx.

Finally, focusing also on convenience, Alo Audio designed the new Rx to be rechargeable from any normal USB charger - automatically adapting the charging current to match the charger used and monitoring for any drops in the input voltage. The maximum charging rate is set at 900 mA, allowing the Rx to take advantage of any available charger and enable faster charges.

Typical charging is less than three hours from the included charger, and a similar charging time is achieved from a standard high current port on a laptop. The headphone amp ships with a high-quality Green Line USB cable.
www.aloaudio.com
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