Before I wrote the contrasting text about the thousand-ear headphones, I found that my previous image was unacceptable. This time, I decided to try something different—mei (to paint), tu (to sketch), xiu (to refine), like a refined head, focusing on the figure that truly represents the value of friendship.
This time, the main character is an amp from the early 1000s. The new Poke from Shenzhen Yidu Technology is actually a decoding amplifier.
Hey... Finding or comparing efficiency in a fixed format
Reasons to Buy
The first reason is the laziness of changing equipment. I've been stuck in a fish pit more than once, and it's possible that this could be called the "dove" attribute. One thing is that pushing down the price comes with a variety of wonderful reasons for returning, which really gets tiring. It's simply impossible to get into anymore. The digital output of the A35 is still a dedicated WM-Port interface for Walkman users for years. Since the A35’s WM-Port is relatively closed, there are Dafa’s own chips, and you need authorized authentication to use it. Therefore, there are few commercially available integrated versions. The only truly perfect compatibility is Dafa’s own PHA series and the Poke optimized for the Walkman. The calculation of the limits can only be intertwined between PHA-1a and Poke.
Why buy a decoding amp instead of a pure amp? Because the A35 uses the S-Master full digital zoom AH, its greatest significance is when using a portable turntable: control, battery life, portability, and other features were previously used by the Kaiyin N6 domestic HIFI pure tone player (referred to as "Brick"). Then, the two parts that determine 99% of the front-end sound quality—decoding and amplification—are moved to independent HIFI machines like PHA and Poke.
Looking at the configuration: PHA-1a uses the WM8740 decoder, TPA6120 amplifier, and LME49860 op-amp. The Poke uses the AK4490 decoder, OPA1622 amplifier.
Looking at the parameters, the PHA-1a has a thrust of 80mW@32 ohms, supports up to 24bit/192KHz via USB, and has a battery life of 6 hours. The Poke offers 250mW@32 ohms, supports up to 32bit/384KHz, has a hard solution for DSD, and provides 8 hours of battery life.
Compared to domestic HIFI products in the same price range, the Poke definitely has a clear advantage, especially in terms of power and decoding quality. Plus, the Poke is more compact and lightweight, fitting perfectly with the A35. And with its face value, after two nights of hesitation, I finally made the decision to go all in.
Appearance Gallery
The first combined shot shows a very harmonious fit. The wooden Poke has a 0.91-inch monochrome display, split into two rows: the top row shows power, sample rate, and volume; the bottom row includes filter, input, and gain settings. There's an optional Velcro sticker, a black one that fits in the middle of the two devices. It's water-washable and very firm. You can't completely tip it over with one hand. The biggest advantage is that it doesn’t require binding tape, which affects touch operation. (Here is the official picture.)
The standard Walkman digital cable is also good, even though it looks long in the photo, it's still portable. If you switch to a U-shaped horizontal connection, it would be even better. In addition to the large USB main input port at the bottom of the machine, there's also a micro USB charging port and an aux-in/out analog port. This means the Poke can decode externally as an amplifier or connect to active speakers. It can also be used independently to connect CD players or line outputs. A practical possibility is decoding games with active speakers.
The side buttons are simple. One side has volume buttons and filtering options. The buttons are similar to the A35, but since the Poke is mainly for earbuds rather than headphones, it uses digital volume control instead of an analog potentiometer. At low volumes, it won't have the same issue as other amps. As for filtering, it's more complex. With my current knowledge, I can't explain the principle, but I know there are four levels. There are slight differences in soundstage and overall flavor (analog vs. digital taste).
The other side follows a similar operating logic to the A35, making it easier to use when bundled. However, the button has been changed to a lever, which controls key functions, input/output options, gain, and bass boost. Overall, the Poke and A35 are almost completely “flush†in design.
Experience & Feelings
Sound quality: Since my main earphones are EN700PRO copper-tipped, I’ve already mentioned that I prefer female vocals. Copper tips tend to be a bit boring, and the soundstage is crowded. Even though the impedance is only 16 ohms, its sensitivity is just 101dB/mW. The A35 struggles to push this 10mm ultra-high magnetic composite moving coil unit, so I wanted to buy an affordable amp to enhance the lower power and make the copper tips sound more open.
After adding the Poke, the most obvious change wasn’t increased volume, but the high-frequency clarity. The tremolo of the violin, and even the subtle plucked sounds of the guitar, became more distinct. The female voice also sounded younger, thanks to the more transparent high frequencies. The overall soundstage improved, and the sense of space became more noticeable compared to before. The audience’s voice at the concert scene moved from being inside my head to spreading out around me.
Compared to the improvement in high frequencies, the low end seems to shrink slightly. It has a light and fast style, not the heavy bass that the A35 used to produce. It doesn’t sound embarrassing or overly full. The clarity and fullness of vocals have improved, and the overall vocal shape moves slightly forward.
When I turned on high gain and then activated the bass gain, the feeling was completely different. The strength and low-frequency intensity increased significantly. At this point, the Poke felt heavier than the A35 in terms of sound. After repeated adjustments, I gradually got used to the Poke without the bass gain. After all, I rarely listen to electronic or metal music. This clean, straightforward style with moderate bass performance is sufficient for European, American, Japanese, and Korean styles. The key is that it effectively solves the problem of the A35 directly pushing the copper tips, which were considered boring and crowded.
Summary
As a domestic portable decoding amp specifically designed for the Walkman, this product's design idea is still quite bold. It further sub-divides in the niche market, accurately targeting Walkman users. For us A35 direct push users who have small output, it's undoubtedly a great gospel machine with outstanding value, high quality, and transparent tuning. It improves the Walkman's power and high-frequency performance, offering excellent value for money. However, there are some disadvantages. When connecting some mobile phones, there may be occasional signal interference noise. The line for iOS devices needs to be purchased separately. If you don’t activate the bass gain, the volume at low levels might not be high enough, even less than the A35 directly pushing. Finally, I recommend everyone try before buying to reduce risks, consider whether to proceed after listening, and be cautious because there's a risk of fever and burning. I wish all of you a meaningful 2018, and a happy new year filled with valuable friendships!
Silk Printing Graphic Overlay,Membrane Panel Switch,Membrane Keypad Panel,Custom Membrane Labels
CIXI MEMBRANE SWITCH FACTORY , https://www.cnjunma.com