LD Systems HPA 1

Was really excited to receive this product as a solution for wired in-ear monitors. The spec looked really good and looked like a lighter-weight alternative to the Behringer Powerplay P1.

First of all I was very surprised how light it was. Which in a way was good but in another made me worry about the quality.

There are loads of great features about this unit. I like the dual pot Power On Switch / Volume Control. By having that combined in a dual pot it saves any harmful 'pop' pressure sounds if you have your earbuds already in your ears and then you bring up the volume to a comfortable level.

The battery compartment in conveniently located with a pivoting door (doesn't come off so you won't lose it on a dark stage!) and you just slot your 9V PP3 battery straight in. Great.

Not so sure about the belt clip... Another reviewer aired his concerns too so I'll just have to see how I go with it. Luckily the clip itself is reassuringly long (unlike the Behringer P1) so it shouldn't unexpectedly jump off your belt. The clip is mounted straight onto the housing of the device so if the clips bent back a little too far (if you crouched down and the device is mounted to the front of your body) it could snap; and it would snap on the body not the clip so you couldn't fit a replacement.

I know the product description states a 'soft touch' tactile surface but the chassis is entirely plastic and I am worried that if I dropped it from a height or even from my waist it would not survive the fall and may shatter.

Sound quality is fantastic however (using it with Shure SE-215's). The built in limiter gives me confidence that I won't damage my hearing if there are any audio spikes. Battery life has exceeded the stated time too so that's another plus.

This product is almost perfect. I emailed LD Systems to offer feedback and suggestions for improvement but haven't heard back...

So my conclusion of this review is, the sound quality is great but it is way overpriced. Bear in mind this device is around the same price as a budget smartphone but I figure it would cost less than $10 to make. If it was a little less expensive, it would be good value, OR if it was higher spec'd (metal housing, dual XLR / Jack inputs) and a tone control) then I would be happy with the price or even pay more.

I've used loads of headphone amps over the years. Results have varied wildly. This is a really great sounding unit but not quite perfect. I am going to buy a Behringer Powerplay P1 so I can do a A/B comparison and then keep it as a backup to the HPA-1. Just in case I drop it!