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Designed in partnership with acclaimed high-end audio manufacturer Auris, the EarMen Sparrow is a high-performing USB digital to analogue converter, preamplifier and headphone amp rolled into one compact unit.

Sparrow is powered by the ES9281 Pro DAC chip, the crown jewel in ESS’s range of conversion technology components. ES9281Pro offers remarkable detail, clarity and precision audio performance at an amazing 124dB DNR. The ES9281 is also ESS’s first USB product to offer integration with MQA rendering for automatic detection on Master Quality Authenticated musical material.

To assure high quality performance and robust design every part of the Sparrow’s assembly is formulated in-house at EarMen’s research and design facility. From its CNC milled aluminium enclosure, to its transformers and PCBs, every step has been meticulously selected and optimised to deliver the best audio performance possible.

Thanks to its low-ESR Tantal capacitors, high grade power supply and 4-layer golden circuitry, incidental operating noise is kept to an absolute minimum allowing the finer details of higher resolution files to flourish.

Sparrow’s digital architecture supports up-to-the-minute streaming platforms including Tidal via iOS and Android smartphones, and Qobuz via iOS/Android, Mac and PC.

Thanks to its built-in adaptive drive, there is no need to install third party drivers. Simply plug in either directly to a computer via USB, or to an iPhone or Android smartphone via a lightning or micro to USB camera adaptor and experience new realms of audio clarity.

Technical Specifications

Connectors
Input: USB C female
Output: 2.5mm balanced, 3.5mm

Performance
Balanced Voltage: 2.0 Vrms @ 32 Ohm, 4.0 Vrms @ 600 Ohm (2.5mm)
Unbalanced Voltage: 1.4 Vrms @ 32 Ohm, 2.0 Vrms @ 600ohm (3.5 mm)
DSD: 64 / 128 DoP
DXD: 384/352.5 kHz
PCM: Up to 384 kHz
MQA: Rendering Up to 384 kHz
THD+N: -112 dB
Gain: 124 dB DNR

Physical Properties
Dimension: 42 x 8 x 22 mm (LxHxW)

Brand

1 review for EarMen Sparrow Pocket Preamplifier, DAC & Headphone Amplifier

  1. Home Media

    I received the Earmen Sparrow today. I am pairing it with a pair of ACS Custom iems.

    Suffice to say that I’m really impressed with the Earmen Sparrow! The effectiveness of the balanced output is really telling. All the music I played back using this output opened up so markedly… more detail of course & much more besides: space, tone & timbre across the full frequency range. It’s the first time I can remember hearing such a clear equivalent to the soundstage I hear from my main system.

    I’ve had a few of these types of devices over the years & this device compares very favourably with much more substantially-sized & priced dac amps I’ve used.

    Thank you for stocking this device & selling it to me! More people should know that for this money & some decent iems it’s possible to achieve a really remarkable level of high performance sound.

    An acquaintance of mine, Sam, recommended I check out Home Media a while ago & this purchase was just a happy coincidence!

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