JP
EN
  • HOME
  • Desktop
  • HP-A4
HP Series

HP-A4

DA Converter & Headphone Amplifier
Discontinued
HP-A4

HP-A4

HP-A4

HP-A4

HP-A4

Headphones are not included.

Top
Features
Specifications
Support

High quality sound DAC + headphone amplifier supporting DSD 5.6MHz / PCM 192kHz for easy high-resolution experience via USB bus power.

Notice

About Windows 10 (Anniversary Edition) or later

Please use FOSTEX USB Audio Driver Ver2.2.1 or later version.

About Windows 10 (Creators Update) or later

Since Windows 10 Creators Update, the USB AUDIO 2.0 driver, which has been prepared exclusively by the device manufacturer, is now included in the Windows standard, causing a problem. Please check the FOSTEX USB Audio Driver download page for a temporary solution.

About macOS10. 13 High Sierra

2017.10.13 Update: We have confirmed that the device works with the device software version 1.10 or higher.

Note when using on macOS 10. 12 Sierra

HP-A4 software version 1.10 or higher must be installed in order to operate.

The latest version of the software can be downloaded from the software download page at the following URL.

https://www.fostex.jp/cms/download/hp-a4_verup/

By updating the HP-A4 firmware to V1.10, the following behavior will change

  • P.4 of the instruction manual for this unit ③ Input indicator

Before change: All input indicators are off when no signal is input or when an audio signal in a format not supported by this unit is input.

↓ …

After change: When no signal is input or an audio signal in a format not supported by the unit is input, the 44.1 kHz LED flashes. (Unlocked state)

Features

Operates on USB bus power.


●Linear PCM audio up to 24bit/192kHz and DSD audio up to 5.6MHz can be played back.
DSD audio playback requires DSD-compatible playback software on a PC. This unit supports DoP and ASIO methods.

●HI/LO gain switching (10dB) supports a wide range of headphones.

Asynchronous mode (asynchronous mode) using a custom crystal (crystal oscillator) is adopted.

Digital filter with roll-off characteristics and cut-off frequency that can be switched according to the sound source.

High-quality sound DAC (Burr Brown PCM1792A).

USB Audio Class 2.0 compatible.

Compatible with Windows XP (SP2 or later)/Vista/7/8/8.1/10 and MacOSX10.6 or later.

　*When using on Windows, installation of a dedicated driver is required.

　　 Please download from the utility software.

　Windows XP 64-bit version is not supported.

A microSD (SDHC) card drive is built in for future firmware updates.
This unit cannot play audio data on a microSD card.

*The image is the Mac version.

Fostex Audio Player (free software) makes high-quality sound file playback easier and simpler.
High-resolution sound sources such as WAV and DSD can be easily enjoyed in high sound quality by using this software in combination with Fostex Audio Player, a high sound quality player software for our USB DAC products that supports high-resolution sound sources running on Windows and Mac OSX.

If a file does not play (an error message appears), please check if the “FOSTEX Audio Player” application and the “PLUG IN” folder are in the same hierarchy (folder). We have received an increasing number of reports of problems where the “FOSTEX Audio Player” application itself has been moved from the folder and separated from the “PLUG IN” folder, causing the files not to play. Please create a shortcut to the “FOSTEX Audio Player” application instead of moving the application itself.

Specifications

Main Specifications

input
USB terminal
connector

Type B (standard)
interface

USB High Speed
quantization

1bit(DSD)/16bit/24bit(PCM)
sampling frequency

PCM 44.1kHz/48kHz/88.2kHz/96kHz/176.4kHz/192kHz

DSD 2.8MHz/5.6MHz
Supported OS

WindowsXP (32Bit version SP2 or later *64bit version not supported)/Vista/7/8/8.1/10 ( FOSTEX USB Audio Driver must be installed)

MacOSX10.6 or later

*We do not guarantee operation with test versions such as public beta.
DIGITAL INPUT terminal
connector

square optical
(computer) format

S/P DIF
quantization

16bit/24bit
sampling frequency

44.1kHz/48kHz/88.2kHz/96kHz/176.4kHz/192kHz
output (e.g. of dynamo)
PHONES jack
connector

Stereo Standard Jack
output (e.g. of dynamo)

Output at 32Ω load: 100mW+100mW

Output at 300Ω load: 20mW+20mW
Applicable load impedance

16 Ω min.
THD

0.04% or less (at 1kHz, 32Ω load, 100mW output)
frequency response

20Hz to 80kHz±3dB (at 1kHz, 32Ω load, 100mW output)
ANALOG OUTPUT(L, R) pins
connector

RCA pin jacks
output (e.g. of dynamo)

2Vrms
Applicable load impedance

10k Ω min.
THD

0.01% or less (at 1kHz)
frequency response

20Hz to 80kHz ±3dB(at reference level)
DIGITAL OUTPUT terminal
connector

Rectangular Optical
(computer) format

S/P DIF *Not output during DSD playback.
quantization

16/24bit
sampling frequency

44.1kHz/48kHz/88.2kHz/96kHz/176.4kHz/192kHz
general
microSD card slot

Supported cards: microSD card (SDHC)
accessory

USB cable (x 1), rubber feet (x 4)
External dimensions

113(W)x34(H/excluding feet)x155(D/including protrusions) mm
Mass of main unit

Approx. 500g
power (button on TV, etc.)

USB bus power
Power consumption

2.5W

*This product complies with the European RoHS Directive.

Support

Product Materials

You can download software to use the product comfortably.
Please read the usage and precautions carefully before using the software.

PC Driver

FOSTEX-AudioPlayer

Product Version Up

The software may be used free of charge for both commercial and non-commercial purposes, but the copyright belongs to our company. (You do not need to apply for permission or credit the name of the product for use of the software.)
Selling, leasing, renting, or redistributing the software is prohibited. (No permission application or credit notation of the product name, etc. is required for use of the software.

Product Materials

Various product documents are available for download.
Acrobat Reader is required to view PDF files.

Manual

The user manuals, product specifications, and product images may be used free of charge for both commercial and non-commercial purposes, but the copyright belongs to our company.
(No permission application or credit notation such as product names is required for their use.)
Selling, leasing, renting, or redistributing the product is prohibited. (No permission application or credit notation of the product name, etc. is required for use of the image.

FAQ

Q
Can devices other than a computer be connected via USB for playback?
A

The USB for this product is for PC (Windows and Mac) use only.

Q
Can I use an AC (household outlet)-USB power conversion adapter instead of a computer's USB power supply to operate?
A

It is possible to operate the device, but even if the operation becomes unstable or the performance does not show up, we cannot guarantee the operation.

Q
Why does the sound sometimes skip when playing on my computer?
A

In the case of Windows OS, increasing the Buffer Size in the settings screen of the FOSTEX ASIO Driver in the Control Panel may improve the problem. However, this will affect the performance of your computer, so please adjust the settings as you go along.

Depending on the computer used, changing the power options or energy-saving settings in the control panel to a more performance-oriented setting may improve the problem. For details, please contact the manufacturer of your computer.

If the device is connected via a USB hub, please plug it directly into a USB port on the PC.

Q
Does it support Dolby or DTS playback?
A

Only 2-channel (stereo) PCM and DSD are supported.

Q
The power LED on the HP-A4 does not turn off when the computer is turned off.
A

The HP-A4’s power supply is powered by USB, so even if the computer is turned off, the LED will light up as long as power is sent from the USB port.

The only way to cancel this is to change the setting on the computer side.

In the Windows OS, this can be changed in the power options of the control panel, and some PC models have a dedicated setting item. For some models, it is not possible to change the setting in the OS, but it may be necessary to change the setting in the BIOS. For details, please contact the manufacturer of your PC.

Q
What is the difference between the two types of digital filters?
A

Filter 1 reproduces the sound of the source purely (with little change), while Filter 2 has the effect of making the sound more natural.

It is not an equalizer that dramatically changes the sound quality, but a subtle and subtle effect.

Q
An error message appears when this product is connected to USB after the USB Audio Driver is installed on Windows 7.
A

Run Windows Update to bring your OS up to date.

Q
The indicator (LED) for a different sampling rate than the file being played is lit when USB is connected.
A

Behavior will vary depending on the specifications and settings of the playback software used and the communication path.

In the case of Windows OS, if DS (Direct Sound) or similar is selected for communication, the sampling rate will be converted to the sampling rate set in the sound settings in the OS control panel before being sent to this unit.

For example, if the file being played is 192 kHz, but the sound setting is 44.1 kHz, the indicator will show 44.1 kHz because the file is downsampled to 44.1 kHz and sent to this unit.

This problem can be avoided by using a communication method such as WASAPI or ASIO that does not depend on the sound settings of the OS. These settings are made on the PC side, and there is no need to change the settings on the HP-A4 itself.

Please check the specifications and settings of your playback software.

Q
When using macOS, there is no sound or only noises such as blah blah blah.
A

If the sampling rate of the FOSTEX USBAUDIO HP-A4 playback device is set above 192 KHz in the AUDIO MIDI settings in the Applications-Utilities folder in macOS, such noise will be played back. Please set the sampling rate to 192 KHz or lower.