When In Manila and you are one of the 1% who are audiophiles, and are out to seek that tube amplifier sound while being able to use it as a desktop tube amplifier or a portable tube amplifier, well here’s ALO audio again with another innovation to modern day high fidelity audio reproduction. Introducing the ALO audio The PanAm tube amplifier and DAC.
The PanAm, The PassPort and The Gateway stacked together.
The ALO audio The PanAm comes with 2 NOS (New old stock) tubes and I have happened to receive their optional Russian military grade tubes. To take note, ALO audio cryogenically treats their tubes as well, similarly to their cables. I was actually puzzled at the beginning with why there is an optional “The PassPort” and “The Gateway” stacks for The PanAm. Initially, ALO audio stated that The PassPort was an external battery, while The Gateway was an external power supply. It was actually smart how the ALO audio The PanAm can be used both as a USB DAC + tube amp, as well as just a tube amp. In my honest opinion, it was a good move to add into their line-up The PanAm with versatility to cover most of what else audiophiles are seeking. What is more interesting is that, purchasing the ALO audio The PassPort external battery for The PanAm instantaneously turns The PanAm into a portable tube amplifier. Pretty darn neat! Oh and don’t neglect The Gateway. The Gateway gives the ALO audio The PanAm improvements in its sonic performance and eliminates noise from AC power.
Reminds me of The National’s front facade. Very Classy.
Build/Packaging: Upon receiving The PanAm, The PassPort and The Gateway, they all had similar foot print sized boxes which were pretty identical to the box design of the ALO audio The National. It had the simple vintage white cursive style writing on a simple black box. Very nostalgic and cool if I may say. Each box includes a flash card style manual and had tantamount accessories that you wouldn’t be seeking much of anything else that you might need.
To the build of all 3, I admired the size of the ALO audio The PanAm. Most desktop amplifiers occupy more desk space naturally and yet, The PanAm had deliberately a small foot print size which is of course, a plus for desktop use. Stacking all 3 together only added bulk in height due to how they are all shaped and how they were meant to be stacked on top of each other. Talking about the durability, this is where ALO audio has remained strong with all of their line of products. The PanAm retains the metal durable body which still has a good size to weight ratio. Also to note is the fit feel of the plugs. Makes me always feel assured far from thinking about wear and tear from usual plugging and un-plugging of jacks and plugs.
Watch ’em tubes glow!
Sound Quality: Now, to the creme of the crop, the sound quality. I for one, have heard and tried more amplifiers in my life than headphones. Yup, I am that crazy in finding the perfect match for my headphones. Even to the point of having tons of DIY cables made aside from pre-made hifi cables just to find that perfect synergy. Until now I love how my Audeze LCD-2 has resolved my music and plugging it into the ALO audio The PanAm just caught me in awe. It is as if The PanAm was made exactly for the Audeze LCD-2! I’ve tried to purchase high-end tube amplifiers ranging from desktop to portable, and to my disappointment, the Audeze LCD-2 doesn’t really match satisfyingly with high-end tube amps to my experience. I have always preferred solid state amplifiers matching the Audeze LCD-2. But using the LCD-2 together with The PanAm was just prefect synergy. I noticed how the mid range body has expanded more and added more air into the soundstage. I have always sworn by about the ALO audio RxMK3-B amplifier matching with the Audeze LCD-2 on balanced mode, but the The PanAm is just a much much more enticing combination. I noticed better dynamics on The PanAm, and how the combination of the LCD-2 with the ALO audio The PanAm matched more with different genres than most amps I have used the LCD-2 with, even taking into account the Triad-Audio L3 with the LLP.
Having The Passport or The Gateway is a plus in my book. Both gave The PanAm, additional space and cleanliness to the sound. Although I noticed slightly that The Passport gave less grainy sound over The Gateway though. But most of the time, I use The Gateway since I mainly use it for home listening and I don’t feel like lugging around another set-up which is even bigger than my already big AlgoRhythm Solo + RxMK3-B set-up. No worries in having The Passport feed power to The PanAm though, since it is usable while charging.
Overall, this is one of the best matches for the Audeze LCD-2 that I have ever heard, and the big bonus with the ALO audio The PanAm is the fact that it can be used as a desktop amplifier, a desktop DAC and a portable amplifier. All with its tubey goodness! If you have the money and own an LCD-2, put it on your list!
ALO audio The PanAm: headphone tube amplifier and USB DAC
