HeadAmp Blue Hawaii Special Edition Electrostatic Tube Headphone Amplifier

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General:
Very capable tube electrostatic headphone amplifier from HeadAmp. $6,495 when new.

Featuring an external power supply for reducing interference along with modern EL34 tubes. Both the amp and power supply feel very well constructed and put together.

During testing this headphone amplifier sounded fantastic across several different genres of music. It includes its original box, umbilical power cable for linking the two chassis together, and owners manual. 

Note the machined and finished aluminum spike feet are the only feet included. The original box displays a checkmark for rubber feet which is no longer the case.

More from HeadAmp:
No other amplifier on the market can provide electrostatic headphones with the accuracy, drive, and control of the Blue Hawaii SE.

When paired with the Dan Clark Audio Corina, Stax SR-X9000 or Audeze CRBN, the headphones come alive with detail, transparency, and bass control unheard on with lesser amplifiers. With more power on tap than any other commercial electrostatic headphone amplifier, the Blue Hawaii SE can find a home in any audio system, and its clean, modern lines will always draw admiration.

The Blue Hawaii SE is the flagship HeadAmp product, and based on over a decade's experience building electrostatic headphone amplifiers, it is designed not only to power the toughest headphone loads on the market, but to do so for a lifetime.

No expense was spared in the design and build of the Blue Hawaii SE, and every amplifier is tested extensively throughout the build process, as well as before, and after an extensive burn-in process to ensure the best possible performance.

The Blue Hawaii SE is available with two volume control options. The first is a 24-level step attenuator, providing perfect channel matching at each possible volume level. For those who desire infinitely granular volume control, we offer the ALPS RK50 potentiometer, the highest-grade part of its' kind, which gives you the freedom to set the volume just-so, without compromising sound quality.

There are also two options for feet on the Blue Hawaii SE. The precisely machined and finished aluminum spike feet match the accent color of the front panels ad tube rings, and are compatible with various audiophile isolation platforms. We also include a set of rubber feet that offer different isolation characteristics, and a non-mar option for delicate surfaces.

SkyFi Cosmetic Notes:
A light blemish is present on the volume knob. Overall very good condition.

SkyFi Technical Notes:
This unit was fitted with a matched quad set of current production Mullard Reissue EL34's.

Note the machined and finished aluminum spike feet are the only feet included. The original box displays a checkmark for rubber feet which is no longer the case.

Ownership:
Single Owner

Connections:
XLR, RCA, IEC Power, Electrostatic Headphone Outputs (2)

General Sound:
Smooth, uncolored, undistorted natural and clean

Cosmetic Condition:
8/10 = Very Good. Excellent front faceplate, one minor flaw on chassis side or top. See our detailed rating description here.

Working Condition:
Working perfectly and tested in our lab and listening room.

Included:
Exactly as pictured and described above.

Packing:
Original Manufacturers Packing

Original MSRP:
$6,495.00

Specs:
Output Voltage: 
1600 V peak-to-peak

THD: 
0.003% @ 1 KHz / 100VRMS C

Frequency Response: 
5 Hz - 20 KHz (+/- 0.3dB)

Input Impedance:
50 kOhm

Operating Voltage: 
US Voltage (115v checked on box)

Power Consumption During Operation:
180 W

Dimensions:
Headphone Amp: (W) 15.5" x (L) 13.5" x (H) 8.5"
Power Supply: (W) 7.7" x (L) 12.5" x (H) 4.5"

Weight:
31 lbs.

Recommended Cables:
Kimber Kable - RCA Interconnects - Better

Kimber Kable - RCA Interconnects - Best

Kimber Kable - BALANCED XLR Connectors - Better

Kimber Kable - BALANCED XLR Connectors - Best

Kimber Kable - Power Cords - Better

Kimber Kable - Power Cords - Best

Testing Process:
We start with a visual inspection of all internal components to make sure that there are no signs of heat stress or damage. Capacitors are checked for telltale signs of predictive failure including bulging, shrunken wrappers, or physical leakage. We also inspect the PCBs for discoloration from resistors or transistors that may have been running hot. On vintage units we often spot check select capacitors for value and ESR.

If the device has the ability to decouple the preamplifier from the power amplifier, we remove the jumpers and independently test each section. If the device cannot be decoupled, we assess the electronic condition of the piece by analyzing the speaker level output only.

We start by connecting the "Pre-Out" jacks of the integrated to a Sencore PA81 Power Analyzer which simulates real world loading conditions and gives us an oscilloscope interface. The first order of business is checking that the volume control works smoothly throughout its entire range with acceptable channel balance. This is accomplished by feeding a 1 KHz sine wave into one of the preamp’s line level inputs while monitoring the preamp’s output on an oscilloscope.

We then switch to a 1 KHz square wave to test the tone controls, loudness function, and filters where applicable. During this step we are watching for equal alteration of the test signal by both channels. This also helps us identify dirty controls that will need treatment.

Once the basic line stage functions are verified, we test each input individually. This is especially important for devices that use relays to select their sources.

If the preamp section is equipped with a phono stage we test that as well. We use an inverse RIAA filter which allows us to feed a reference test signal into the phono input with the proper RIAA equalization and level. A square wave or sine sweep is used to verify that the device’s phono stage is faithfully reproducing the RIAA curve.

Next we test the power amplifier section by connecting the integrated amplifier speaker outputs to a Sencore PA81 Power Analyzer which acts as a dummy load, DC offset monitor, and oscilloscope interface. We start with a low level 1 KHz test signal at the "Main In” jacks and slowly increase its amplitude while monitoring the output on an oscilloscope for signs of noise, clipping, distortion, or improper channel balance. We continue increasing the signal level until the amplifier reaches clipping.

At this point we take an output power measurement and compare it to the spec sheet of the amplifier to verify proper performance. We finish off the bench evaluation with a 1 KHz square wave check and a 20 Hz to 20 KHz sine sweep to assess the amplifier’s frequency response characteristics.

This battery of tests will usually reveal if the amplifier has any issues that need further attention.

If the preamp and power amp both pass these tests, we reconnect the sections and verify that the preamp section can drive the power amp to rated power with a 1KHz tone on one of the line level inputs.

Before the device leaves the bench, we perform a listening test with actual music using a variety of preferred test tracks. Our benches are outfitted with familiar monitor speakers which help us identify inconsistencies that will not always show up on our test gear. The main things that we are listening for are hum or noise with no signal present, proper center image, clicks, pops, or any other obvious undesirable audio characteristics.

If the unit passes all of these tests it moves to our long term testing rig where we simulate real word operating conditions for 6-8 hours minimum. This allows us to monitor the unit for signs of thermal runaway or intermittent issues that only crop up when the unit has fully come up to temperature.