E1DA D review

Well‐machined, as small‐shop. A little larger than a computer dongle. Very simple, USB in and 3.5mm socket out. The finish and printing may scratch (I read E1DA are now etching lettering). Strong aluminium and strangely light in weight—the alien metal. I note that, in the modern style, the USB‐C cable will not push flush into the dongle, and is tight into the test smartphone socket. The orange LED is a wonder. If you don’t mind craft, I make it good style.

I’m sure with it’s USB power supply, and as by far the weakest model in the range, the D can be beaten, but for my use it has tanks of power. Good volume range too. Timing can catch the floating edge power of a string section. And it cruises through swells, alert on every side. I noticed no frequency oddities, maybe a little glass in the treble. Then again, it puts detail onto bass, which is a trick, and into decays, which is remarkable. And drove otherwise cheap drivers to create bass I didn’t know they had in them. Positions are accurate, the scale is wide if not the widest.

Orchestral instruments float in air but with weight. The replay can be risky for rock, the treble shine splits from the rhythm section. But there is drive with stability and timing, so the amp usually gets away with it. In pop, where the timing is less important, the solidity and detail is outstanding—and this amp can motor like a V8. Soundtracks are a dose of real cinematic weight and atmosphere, without muddle.