Bravo Audio Ocean Tube Headphone Amplifier Review

When I first saw the Bravo Audio Ocean Mini Class A Tube Headphone Amplifier I scoffed – there is no way such a tiny unit at that price will be good for anything besides looking pretty.  Man, was I wrong!  What I quickly found out was that its’ small dimensions contain power enough to match the performance that other larger, more expensive products can provide.

bravo audio ocean

I could just put this unit on the table and stare at its teal aluminum casing, which it turns out does serve a specific purpose, but I’m getting ahead of myself.  Let’s take a closer look at this unit with this Bravo Audio Ocean review.

Specifications of the Bravo Audio Ocean

  • 5.7 x 5.4 x 4.5 inches
  • Weighs about 1.5 pounds
  • Features an upscale and pleasing exterior appearance
  • Comes with a simple and straightforward construction
  • Has a very functional design
  • Marketed as a Class A headphone amplifier
  • Allows different types of audio players to produce powerful tube sounds
  • Comes with 2 input ports and 3 output ports
  • Makes use of 3.5mm RCA jacks to connect to an audio source
  • Makes use of 3.5mm or 6.35mm RCA jacks to connect to a headphone or power amp
  • Works well with the latest audio sources such as iPhone, iPod and laptop
  • Equipped with a 12AU7 tube

Pros

Like the GemTune X-1, the Bravo Audio Ocean Mini Class A Tube Headphone Amplifier remains a popular alternative for many audiophiles and individuals who are fond of listening to high-quality music since it is capable of producing high-fidelity sounds. It is lauded for its relatively smaller dimensions, lightweight construction and power similar to that of larger tube amplifiers.

It is also admired for its durable components and high-grade aluminum casing that effectively dissipates heat and allows the device to work well even for longer hours without overheating.

The Bravo Audio Ocean Mini Class A Tube Headphone Amplifier is famous among sound engineers and high-quality sound enthusiasts since it is equipped with 2 input ports that enable the device to be connected to audio sources like an iPhone, iPod or laptop.  Like the Loxjie P20, this unit is great for use with turntables.

It is also equipped with 3 output ports that make use of either a 3.5mm or 6.35mm RCA jack to connect to a power amplifier or headphones. On top of that it is sold at a reasonable price.

Cons

The Bravo Audio Ocean Class A  Headphone Amplifier, despite the abundance of useful and desirable features is usually criticized for it easily goes out of stock. The aluminum casing used in its design usually becomes hot and might cause burns. In addition to that, the product is not eligible for shipping in some countries and not backed by an applicable warranty.

 

Comparison

Aside from the Bravo Audio Ocean Mini Class A Tube Headphone Amplifier, the HIFIMAN EF2C USB-DAC Headphone Amplifier and the Little Dot I+ 6JI X2 Tube standard Hybrid Headphone Tube Amplifier are also considered by many as other top product options. This is because both of these products are lightweight, compact and durable. In addition to that, these products are capable of producing high-quality sounds that audiophiles are fond of listening to.

The HIFIMAN EF2C USB-DAC Headphone Amplifier is sold with dimensions 5.7×4.3×3.1 inches and weighs about 2.8 pounds. It comes with a hybrid design which features two 6J1 tubes that handle its input along with the OPA2604 for its output.

It features a built-in step potentiometer for more improved volume control. Given all of these features, the amplifier is very much capable of generating organic and sublime tones.

The Little Dot I+ 6JI X2 Tube standard Hybrid Headphone Tube Amplifier comes with dimensions of 3.8×3.9×7.1 inches and a weight of 3.3 pounds. It is sold as a hybrid transistor vacuum tube headphone amplifier.

It is equipped with gold-plated unbalanced RCA input jacks along with ¼” gold plated stereo headphone output jack. It is also equipped with other advanced components that allow it to provide versatility and impressive sound quality.

Upon looking at the features that these tube headphone amplifiers have, it is quite clear that they are among the best. But out of the three, the Bravo Audio Ocean Mini Valve Class A Tube Headphone Amplifier proves to be the best option for it is lighter, smaller yet very powerful compared to the other two.

The HIFIMAN EF2C USB-DAC Headphone Amplifier can be considered as the second best option for it provides almost the same set of features that the Bravo Audio product has but at a much higher price. Finally, the Little Dot I+ 6JI X2 Tube standard Hybrid Headphone Tube Amplifier comes in at third for it offers all the useful features that buyers expect that a good tube headphone amplifier has.

 

Verdict

Although it comes with a number of downsides, the Bravo Audio Ocean Mini Class A Tube Headphone Amplifier is usually regarded as a best buy for many consumers given that it is lightweight and compact yet powerful. Aside from that, it is designed to work well with almost all types of headphones and audio sources such as an iPhone, iPod or laptop.  Like the Loxjie P20, this unit is great for use with turntables.

The product has 2 input ports that enable it to be connected to an audio source along with 3 output ports to connect to a power amp or headphones.

CHECK AVAILABILITY NOW AT AMAZON.COM!

CLICK HERE FOR MORE OF THE BEST TUBE AMPS UNDER $400