Cayin HA-3A

The Cayin HA-3A is a compact transformer-coupled, balanced-driven vacuum tube headphone amplifier, the fourth and final piece of Cayin's transformer-coupled tube amplifier lineup, bridging the gap between the HA-1A MK2 and the HA-6A. Built with the same design principles and hand-wiring standards as the HA-6A and HA-300 MK3, the HA-3A packages genuine transformer-coupled tube amplification into a desktop form factor roughly the size of a sheet of A4 paper.

Type and Technology

Single-ended vacuum tube headphone amplifier with transformer-coupled balanced output. Tube complement: 2x EHX 6V6GT output tubes (matched pair), 2x JJ 12AU7/ECC82 driver tubes (matched pair), 1x RCA 25AX4GT rectifier tube. The output transformer secondary winding provides an alternative phase to compose a balanced output from a single-ended circuit, both single-ended and balanced headphone outputs are genuine transformer outputs rather than conversions. Cayin in-house designed, wound, and tested output transformers with premium high-inductance, high-efficiency design and reinforced shielding. Three impedance settings selected by front panel switch: Low (8 to 64 ohms), Mid (65 to 250 ohms), High (251 to 600 ohms), separate output transformer windings per setting for optimal impedance matching. Three headphone outputs: 4-pin XLR balanced (high power), 4.4mm balanced, and 6.35mm single-ended. Two analog inputs: balanced XLR and single-ended RCA. Front panel input and output selection switches plus impedance selector. VU meters with white backlighting. 60-second startup delay and tube preheating circuit to extend tube and amplifier life. Point-to-point hand wiring throughout. Removable tube protection cage.

Sound Character

Warm, textured, and musically engaging, the 6V6GT output tube produces a tonal character that is lighter and more transparent than the 300B used in the HA-300 MK3, with a natural midrange and a balanced presentation that works well across genres and headphone types. The transformer-coupled outputs give the HA-3A authority and control that direct-coupled tube designs lack. The impedance matching system means the amplifier is properly loaded for whatever headphone is connected, producing better performance from both low-impedance and high-impedance designs than a fixed-impedance output could achieve.

Build and Finish

Compact desktop chassis approximately A4 footprint. All-black gloss faceplate and body with gold finish accents, white-backlit VU meters, and removable tube cage. Point-to-point hand-wired throughout. Available in black and silver. Cayin-designed internal transformers with reinforced shielding. Shock-absorbing aluminum footer isolation feet.

Best For

Audiophiles who want the musical authority of transformer-coupled tube headphone amplification on a compact desktop, particularly those with multiple headphones across different impedance ranges who want a single amplifier that optimizes output for each.

What's in the Box

• Cayin HA-3A headphone amplifier
• 6V6GT output tubes (x2, pre-installed)
• 12AU7/ECC82 driver tubes (x2, pre-installed)
• RCA 25AX4GT rectifier tube (x1, pre-installed)
• Tube protection cage (foam)
• Power cable

Specifications

What Reviewers Say

Z Reviews calls the Cayin HA-3A an under-rated transformer-coupled tube amplifier and one of the best value tube amps available, praising its smooth tube midrange and surprising bass weight.