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Untainted- Tempotec Sonata HD Pro Review

Project A³by Project A³0 comments
Sound Review by machinegod
Disclaimer: Tempotec has graciously provided us with this sample unit in exchange for an honest review. The views discussed below are a reflection of Project A3's thoughts surrounding the product. The sample has been run-in for at least 50 hours prior to reviewing in order to achieve an accurate representation of the product.







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TL;DR
Not Recommended if you like:
  • A pocketable portable solution.
  • An added flavor to the sound.
Recommended if you like:
  • A natural sounding DAC/AMP
  • To drive relatively inefficient Headphones/IEMs
  • More flexible volume control than compared to phones.




Introduction:
Tempotec Corporation has 3 main series of products in their arsenal: The Sonata Series, The  Serenade Series and The Fantasia Series. While the Fantasia and Serenade series of products are dedicated for the stationary audiophile, The Sonata Series are dedicated for the audiophile on the go. The Sonata HD series is a regularly updated iteration of Tempotec's portable dongle DAC/AMP. The latest iteration of the series, Tempotec Sonata HD Pro has two variants: Android and Android+iOS variants. Today we are going to take a look at the Android Variant which currently as of writing this review retails for 37$ on their AliExpress Store. 
(Purchase link for Android & iOS version: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000328408705.html )



ProsCons
  • A refined and uncolored sound signature which is refreshing to see in the dongle scene.
  • Has plenty of power on tap to drive high impedance headphones (up to 300 ohm).
  • Presents an overwhelming amount of "correctness" in it's sound presentation.
  • Splashy treble when using high impedance transducers at high volume
  • Volume steps are farther apart than I'd like.



Specification:
  • DAC- Cirrus Logic CS43131.
  • Material- Aluminum.
  • Size- 47mm x 17mm x 8mm.
  • Cable Length- 10 cm.
  • Output Power- 60 mW @ 32 ohm.
  • SNR- 128 dB.
  • Mic Input- No.
  • Weight- 10g.
  • Compatibility- Windows, Mac OS, Android, iOS (iOS version).
  • Max Decoding- 32bit/384 kHz; DSD256 Native.


 
Unboxing:
The unboxing experience is a pleasant surprise given its price range. It comes in a sizeable metal box nestled in which is the dongle and its cable along with the USB A adaptor, and you get a separate Hi-Res sticker. The metal box is sturdy enough for storing and carrying the dongle without any worry. You can even store other portable equipment if you remove the slotted foam layer. Thumbs up to Tempotec for the nice metal box.





Build Quality:
It is made entirely out of Aluminum and it feels like a tank in the hand. There is no sign of flex or cheapness in its build which is always good news. The cable is relatively well made and is flexible in its own part. The dongle has beveled edges so the edges are smooth and rounded. I do wish it came in other colors to stand out in the market of black dongles.

 

Functionality:
The unit which is being reviewed is the Android version. Tempotec also sells an Android+iOS version which comes at a 3$ price premium at this time of writing this review. Kudos to Tempotec for not leaving out the iOS users. Coming on to the buttons, you get the standard + and - and one must note that they are not bound to the hardware volume keys. You do get best results when you max out the volume on your hardware (phone/laptop/PC) and then adjust the volume through the Sonata HD Pro. The buttons are tactile and require a moderate amount of pressure to be registered. I do wish the size of the buttons were bigger and/or were raised higher further for easier registering. 



Reference Used


Moondrop Blessing 2, QoA Pink Lady, AKG K361, Sennheiser HD6XX. 

Nokia 6.1+ phone, Apple iPad Air 1, Windows 10 PC, Windows 10 Laptop.



Lows
Pros
  • The lows are not boosted, the quantity is almost solely depending on the transducer. Neutral heads and people who prefer an uncolored sound will prefer this.
  • Increased speed and control in subbass.
Cons
  • Bass shy IEMs/headphones cannot take advantage of the slight boost in subbass present in other dongles.
Reference Tracks / Remarks:
-





Mids
Pros
  • The upper midrange has remarkable amount of control. It somehow manages to avoids upper midrange hotness all the time, even in tracks that are prone to such flaws.  
  • Female vocals have a natural timbre to them, and is soothing to listen to.
Cons
  • Lower midrange could use a little more heft.
  • Sometimes, the male vocals fails to carry forward the heft which does affect timbre a bit.
Reference Tracks / Remarks:
Kim Waters- After Midnight 

A track that can be ear piercing in many scenarios, the upper midrange is brilliantly controlled avoiding shoutiness.




Highs
Pros
  • The same level of control is seen in the highs. It avoids sibilance and harshness remarkably well in tracks.
  • Mid treble region is more emphasized than the upper treble region and the timbre in this region is almost spot on.
Cons
  • A very slight lack of Air.
  • Treble gets audibly splashy and harsh when using high impedance headphones at relatively high volumes.
Reference Tracks / Remarks:
The synergy with AKG K361 is nothing short of blissful. The Sonata HD Pro pairs best with balanced sounding IEMs/Headphones. Unfortunately, treble gets splashy when driving the HD6XX. It has more than enough power to drive the 6XX to deafening levels of volume but the treble region takes a hit, making it sound harsh and sibilant.





Soundstage
Pros
  • Soundstage presentation is natural. Does width better than depth.
  • A feeling of the stage being more enveloped around the listener is easily noticed.
Cons
  • Soundstage depth is not affected, which other dongles tend to help enhance.
Reference Tracks / Remarks:
-





Separation
Pros
  • Separation is very good for the price range but there are better examples available in the dongle world.
  • Imaging is just good for the price range.
Cons
  • Center image is not as present and clearly etched out.
  • Image clarity is a bit fuzzy, but not a deal breaker in the price range.
Reference Tracks / Remarks:
-



Comparison Chart
How we compare: We chose other similarly priced earphones or similar offerings from the same brand that Project A3 has reviewed in the past, to ensure that we remain as impartial as possible in our comparisons.
Tempotec Sonata HD Pro Zorloo Ztella MQA DDHifi TC35
Suggester Retail Price38 USD (Android)99 USD21 USD.
Lows Fast and controlled, no boost. Boosted midbass with increased speed. Boosted subbass.
Mids Most natural tonality among the three. Edgier sounding midrange with slight glare in upper midrange. Midrange has good tonality but not as forward as the other two.
Highs Slight lack of air but retains natural tonality, slight emphasis on mid treble. Rolled off treble. Boosted upper treble region, adds sparkle.
Soundstage Natural soundstage width, not much depth. Comparable width with Sonata HD Pro but more depth and better layering. Weakest layering and depth capabilities among the three. 
Separation Better than DDHifi TC35 but loses out to Zorloo Ztella MQA in terms of image clarity. Best image clarity among the three by a considerable margin. Center image is pushed further back in comparison to the other two.
Remarks Perfect recommendation for the neutral head looking for a natural and mostly uncolored sound signature with an almost spot on timbre for the most part. More suited for users who want an edgier and colored sound with some of the best image clarity and separation seen in dongles yet. The perfect recommendation for someone who is new to this dongle world looking for an upgrade to the phone's onboard audio.



Conclusion:
The Tempotec Sonata HD Pro has a sound signature that is rare and unseen in the dongle world. It's sound signature is natural and the timbre is "correct" which is felt the moment you connect them. It best synergizes with balanced sounding IEMs/Headphones. Technicality wise, not the best in the market but at 38$, a good recommendation!

Be sure to follow Project A3 on Facebook for more reviews.















 *All ratings are accurate as of date of publication. Changes in price, newer models may affect Project A3's views on the performance and value of the reviewed product.




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Project A³
Project A³ is a collection of individuals that are passionate and dedicated to consumer and enthusiast audiophile products. Originating from various countries and involved in different fields what they all have in common is an appreciation for listening to music in the best way possible.
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