Immediately, Meldrick evaluations the TempoTec Sonata BHD Professional, a twin CS43131 dongle DAC able to as much as DSD256 and 280mW of balanced output energy. It’s at the moment priced at $69.90.
Disclaimer: This pattern was despatched to me in alternate for my sincere opinion. Headfonics is an impartial web site with no affiliate hyperlinks. I thank TempoTec for his or her help.
Click on right here to study extra about TempoTec merchandise beforehand reviewed on Headfonics.
Be aware that this text follows our newest scoring guidelines which you’ll learn in additional element right here.
Via its Sonata product line, TempoTec has been steadily releasing a sequence of aggressive Dongle DACs such because the Sonata E35 and Sonata iDSD, with at the moment’s overview specializing in their newest launch, the Sonata BHD Professional.
Priced at $69, the Sonata BHD Professional is the corporate’s flagship dongle providing single-ended and balanced output choices and a horny design. On paper, the Sonata BHD Professional is a novel entry throughout the sea of Chi-Fi Dongles.
In my full overview with comparisons beneath I discover out if TempoTec’s newest flagship can sustain with different choices within the moveable DAC area such because the Kiwi Ear’s Allegro and the not too long ago launched FiiO BTR13.
Options
Just like the FiiO BTR13 and different moveable DACs throughout the value vary, the Sonata BHD Professional sports activities a pair of Cirrus Logic CS4131 DAC chips.
This DAC configuration lets the unit natively decode as much as 32Bit/384kHz, DSD256 natively, and even MQA. The Sonata BHD Professional helps as much as 8X MQA unfolding, a function that has develop into a rarity inside this value vary.
Numerous pages have been written arguing for and towards MQA, particularly after Tidal introduced they dropped help for the format. Nonetheless, it’s nonetheless a further function that might be beneficial to audiophiles with MQA file collections.
Lastly, the Sonata BHD Professional’s comparatively excessive energy output is a standout function at this value level. With as much as 280mW of balanced output energy the Sonata BHD Professional outclasses equally priced but much less moveable competitors.
Design
The Sonata BHD Professional has a CNC-machined aluminum physique with an anodized end, giving it a clear aesthetic that pairs nicely with most Chi-Fi gear.
Accessible in Black, Gray, or Inexperienced, I obtained a inexperienced unit for testing. The steel has a clean, cool floor that feels sturdy and handles comfortably. Throughout testing, I discovered it was fairly proof against scratches, dings, and fingerprints.
On the high, the TempoTec emblem is engraved close to a slope that leads right into a clear window. This window provides some visible curiosity by permitting a view of the interior circuitry, although it does decide up fingerprints extra simply than the steel physique.
Above the window, there may be an LED indicator strip that modifications coloration in response to the file format being performed. On the facet, a quantity rocker offers tactile clicks, making it simple to regulate the quantity.
The underside panel is connected with two Philips screws and options engraved MQA and Hello-Res Audio logos. Although uncovered screws on a transportable dongle are uncommon, I favored how the silver screws stood out towards the inexperienced end.
The Sonata BHD Professional consists of 3.5mm and 4.4mm output jacks on the underside and a USB-C enter port on the high. All enter and output ports match securely and labored with out points all through my testing.
I/O
The Sonata BHD Professional comes with a well-rounded set of enter and output choices, it has a single feminine USB-C enter, 3.5mm SE, and 4.4mm for actually balanced output.
Whereas this mix of enter and output choices is turning into extra widespread within the sub-$100 value vary, it does a superb job of with the gear pairings and wishes of customers with IEMs/headphones inside an identical value vary.
The unit’s USB-C port works with the included Lighting and USB-C cables, or another suitable cable. This removable cable design permits simple connection to all kinds of sources making it extra versatile than opponents with mounted cables such because the ddHiFi TC44Pro 2.
The Sonata BHD Professional’s 3.5mm output offers broad compatibility for extra inexpensive IEMs generally used with dongles on this value bracket. The 4.4mm output helps higher-end setups with balanced cables and IEMs or headphones that want extra energy.
Controls
Persevering with the pattern of newer moveable dongles, the Sonata BHD Professional options 60 steps of quantity adjustment impartial from the OS degree quantity.
The Sonata BHD Professional’s quantity management implementation different relying on the OS and system I attempted. On each iOS and macOS, plugging within the Sonata BHD Professional absolutely disabled the cellphone or laptop computer’s quantity management, forcing the person to regulate the quantity utilizing the dongle’s quantity rocker.
On Home windows 10, the Sonata BHD didn’t disable the system’s capacity to vary the OS quantity. I discovered myself simply maxing out the quantity on the Home windows 10 mixer and utilizing the Sonata BHD Professional’s quantity rocker for finer quantity management.
Whereas I admire the extra granular 60-step quantity management of the Sonata BHD Professional, attempting to succeed in a particular listening degree might be annoying due to how lengthy the quantity button must be held.
Because the unit additionally lacks a show or quantity indicator, it’s arduous to see what actual quantity degree I’m utilizing. That is usually not a difficulty on different dongles, however a quantity indicator would have been appreciated with the unit’s 60-step quantity.
Packaging & Equipment
The Sonata BHD Professional is available in a easy black field that features:
- One USB Sort-C to Sort-C information cable
- One USB Sort-C to Lighting information cable
- Sort-C to straightforward USB-A adapter.
- Brown carrying pouch.
Whereas it appears easy, the Sonata BHD Professional has every thing wanted to attach with most of my sources. I appreciated the inclusion of a USB-C-to-Lightning cable, letting me shortly join the Sonata BHD Professional to my iPhone 14.
I discovered that it may be troublesome to discover a brief high-quality USB-C-Lightning cable to pair with dongles, so TempoTec together with it out of the field is a particular value-add
A USB-C to USB-A adapter can be a welcome addition because it allows the Sonata BHD Professional to be suitable with older laptops and desktop motherboards ‘out of the field’.
Sound Impressions
All sound impressions had been accomplished utilizing the Moondrop Blessing 3, the Yanyin Canon II, the LETSHUOER S08, and the Sennheiser HD 580 Precision full-sized headphones.
Bass
The Sonata BHD Professional has a flat sound signature with a slight emphasis on the higher mid-range. This offers the bass a clear and tight presentation that sadly lacks some punch.
Kick drums and different devices within the sub-bass area come off as a “thump” as an alternative of the deep-hitting slams I’m extra accustomed to in different dongles. Even in additional acoustic tracks, I discovered the Sonata BHD Professional’s sub-bass missing.
In songs with extra boosted sub-bass, the Sonata BHD Professional can articulate a good quantity of texture however doesn’t have the dynamics to ship a satisfying listening expertise.
Its mid-bass efficiency isn’t significantly better both. Strums from bass guitars come off skinny, sounding like pitched-down acoustic guitars. They don’t have the weightiness that often creates a lush and huge soundscape.
These shortcomings should not too noticeable when listening to extra stripped-down acoustic tracks. Nonetheless, most trendy music requires a little bit little bit of bass to keep up the tonal steadiness of the monitor.
Mids
The Sonata BHD Professional’s vocal and string instrument performances are one among its key strengths. Every guitar strum is articulated with good element and pleasing harmonics.
The strums by no means overstay their welcome or overshadow the opposite devices within the mid-range, however its clear and resolving presentation stands out from the remainder of the monitor.
Keys and different acoustic string devices are offered with good power that stands out in well-mastered preparations of a number of devices.
The lean bass presentation additionally ensures that not one of the low-end bleeds into the mid-range, preserving the clear presentation. Feminine vocals have a superb sense of element and forwardness whereas sustaining a natural-sounding timbre.
Different sources with good feminine vocal efficiency have a tendency in direction of being on the sting of sibilance. Nonetheless, the Sonata BHD Professional delivers good decision whereas retaining a comparatively organic-sounding vocal presentation.
Treble
The Sonata BHD Professional delivers an lively, well-defined treble, with hi-hats and cymbals sounding crisp and distinct. This treble readability provides brightness and a way of openness to tracks, giving music an lively high quality.
With pop recordings, this sparkle creates a energetic, partaking really feel, whereas higher-pitched feminine vocals are rendered with a delicate shimmer and smoothness.
Hits from percussive devices on the upper finish of the frequency response, like snare drums, have a ahead presence that’s nonetheless detailed and clear with out harshness or sibilance.
Staging & Dynamics
The Sonata BHD Professional has good staging efficiency for a dongle. I used to be impressed by its capacity to exactly place totally different string devices even in advanced preparations.
On the opposite dongles I’ve tried, similar-sounding string devices tended to mix, making each troublesome to find. However the Sonata BHD’s flat and clear mid-range presentation prevents this.
The Sonata BHD’s dynamics are sub-par. Particularly within the bass area, notes hardly ever had the affect I’ve develop into accustomed to. This led to a thick-sounding presentation that negatively impacted my listening expertise.
This shocked me since most dongles I’ve tried lately are often respectable at worse, however the lack of weight within the bass area hurts the Sonata BHD Professional when evaluating it towards its friends within the value vary.
Click on page 2 below for my recommended pairings and selected comparisons.
Trending Merchandise
