If you buy after clicking affiliate links on this site we might receive a commission from companies such as eBay, Amazon etc This does not affect the price you pay.
If you buy after clicking affiliate links on this site we might receive a commission from companies such as eBay, Amazon etc This does not affect the price you pay.
Click here to see similar items on eBay, and to buy.
In Excellent condition. I bought this in January 2018. The amp has been used very lightly, less than 10 hours run time. Works perfectly well. Supplied with the stock tube it came with, however in my opinion the stock tube doesn’t have great soundstage so I’ve installed a much better quality tube- 5963/12AU7/ECC82 RCA (GREY PLATE) NOS TUBE/VALVEBoth tubes are in great condition and haven’t been used much. Please be aware that due to it’s hybrid nature the tubes don’t glow that much, especially the upgraded one. This might be important if you are after that tube glow. How Does it sound? The power this thing can pump out is astonishing, it will have no problem driving the most demanding headphones. I usually leave the knob at 7 o’clock and find this plenty loud on my Grado SR 80s, Philps X2’s and Status Audio CB1’s. This amp produces a beautiful warm tube sound with plenty of punch. Plenty of low end. Great soundstage on upgraded tube. Stock is fine but may sound a bit lacking in low end and soundstage. This can be used as a preamp or tube buffer. Mini jack input and RCA input, RCA output and headphone jackIncludes original packaging, power cables and instructions. I’ve included good quality audio cables.Why am I selling? I need to release funds so that I can install some upgrades in my vintage NAD 3120. The hobby should perpetuate the hobby 🙂
Will post internationally, send me a message if interested.
REVIEW:
https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/bravo-audio-ocean.13734/reviews
Bravo Audio LTD was established in May 2010. They are a Chinese company developing Tube Headphone AMPs, Tube speaker Amps, USB DACs and Guitar Amps. They were one of the first companies to produce affordable, high quality tube amplifiers. Today I’m reviewing the Bravo Audio Ocean.
Disclaimer:
The Bravo Ocean was sent to me by Bravo Audio for the purpose of this review. The opinions here are my own based on my experience with the product. I’d like to thank Henry from Bravo Audio for the opportunity to test the Ocean.
Bravo Audio website: http://www.bravoaudio.com/index.php?route=common/home
Bravo Ocean product page: http://www.bravoaudio.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=50
Features (taken from the official website):
Powerful dynamic and sweet TUBE soundWith Shu Guang 12AU7 TUBEMultiple input output option, no more adapters.Aluminum Casing and Beautiful lookingPure Class A Tube amp, No op amp ICLow voltage, good safetyPowerful for any Headphone
In Put PowerDC24VInput Sensitivity100mVInput Impedance100KOhmOut-Put Impedance20~600 OhmGain30dBFrequency response10Hz-60KHz +/- 0.25dBSignal/Noise Ratio>90dBDynamic range84.6dBA(300 ohm) 89.8dBA(33 ohm)THD0.016%(300 ohm) 0.45%(33 ohm)IMD + Noise:0.045(300 ohm) 0.42(33ohm)Dimension115mm (D) X 82mm (W) X 78mm (H)InputStereo RCA x1, Stereo 3.5mm x1OutputStereo 6.35mm x1
Packaging and accessories:
The Ocean came in a fairly compact white and blue box with Bravo Audio logo on the front and a QR code on one side. Opening this up I was presented with another plain white box. Inside the second box is the amplifier, seated in some nice, sturdy black foam with the tube pre-installed. There’s also the small power adapter included and a little User’s Manual.
Build:
The Ocean is made of a high quality brushed aluminium and feels strong and well built. The blue color is rather striking and is matched by black front and back panels. There’s an U shaped protector that sits over the tube for protection against knocks. While this makes it more difficult for those wanting to roll tubes, I find it a sensible addition and it also adds to the overall aesthetic of the unit.
My only gripe with the build is the lack of any feet on the amp. Some simple rubber domes on the bottom would help raise the amp off the surface allowing better airflow and would help to keep temperatures a bit lower.
On the front panel we find the power switch, 6.35mm and 3.5mm headphone jacks, a (very bright) red power indicator LED and the volume knob. The power switch is sturdy and the volume knob is smooth with a nice amount of resistance to it.
On the back panel is the power socket, a 3.5mm line in, RCA line in and RCA line out.
Sound:
This is my first experience with a tube amp and the sound is in line with what I was expecting but surprised me as well. It adds a bit of weight to the low end and fills out the sound spectrum with a subtle warmth that’s very pleasing. What surprised me the most however was the fact that very little detail is lost in the music and the highs don’t lose any of their sparkle or impact. The Ocean seems to add some airiness and a nice analog presentation.
Equipment used:
Arcam irDAC-II
JDS Labs Element
Music:
Arne Domnerus Group “Jazz at the Pawnshop” album [flac]
Helen Jane Long “Embers” [mp3 320 kbps]
Ludovico Einaudi “Islands” album [flac]
The Pineapple Theif “Your Wilderness” album [flac]
Michail Eick “Midwest” album [flac]
Bass extension is good and the Ocean doesn’t appear to suffer from any ‘slowness’ that is sometimes attributed to tubes. Kick drums retain their punch but sound a little fuller overall.
Midrange sound natural and warm making the Ocean great with vocals and classical music. Listening to “Indaco” by Ludovico Einaudi and “Embers” by Helen Jane Long, violins, cellos and piano sound fantastic and rich with good tonality.
Highs retain their sparkle as I mentioned above and extension is good. While playing Arne Domnerus Group’s “Barbados” from “Jazz at the Pawshop” cymbals and high hats remain clear throughout with no noticeable roll-off and they don’t get lost in the busy drum solo sections.
In use:
The aluminium body of the Bravo Ocean does get quite hot but hey, it’s a tube amp so this should be expected.
This thing has ‘powah’! Serious, brain melting power. I never take the volume knob past 9 o’clock (7 o’clock is the minimum!) I haven’t tested it with anything super inefficient or with very high Ohms but I’m confident it has the grunt to push any headphone you could throw at it. There is a slight channel imbalance at very low volume but this disappears before 8 o’clock on the knob and was never an issue for me.
Unfortunately I don’t really have anything to compare the Ocean with so this review will be a ‘standalone’ effort.
Conclusion:
This is a good option for anyone who wants to dip their feet into tube amping without having to spend a ton of cash. The Bravo Ocean pairs particularly well with neutral sources and cold or bright headphones but worked well with everything I tried. For those that want to tube roll the Ocean works with 12AU7 tubes which are abundant and can be found quite cheap online. This is a great little amp and is a no-brainer recommendation.
crabdog, Oct 4, 2016Replies (4)
If you buy after clicking affiliate links on this site we might receive a commission from companies such as eBay, Amazon etc This does not affect the price you pay.
Click here to buy, and to see similar items on eBay
Category: Sound and Vision:Home Audio and HiFi Separates:Amplifiers and Pre-Amps
Location: Warwick