The Auris HA-2 SE+ is a balanced tube amp with an ECC81/12AT7 preamp tube and four PL95 power tubes.
The Auris HA-2 SE+ Is the Next Big Upscale Audio Exclusive Buy-In.
When seasoned hi-fi enthusiasts look at our listing for the Auris HA-2 SE+, they become suspicious, asking, “How can this be so inexpensive?” After all, they’re looking at a full-sized (21 lb.!), beautifully built tube amp with a host of great features for just $1,499.
The answer? Kevin Deal. The HA-2 SE+ is the latest of Upscale Audio’s famous special buys, where Kevin leverages our buying power and warehouse square footage to land exclusive, often upgraded versions of components he’s fallen in love with.
Obsessive Hi-Fi
Kevin was so mesmerized by the first Auris he heard that he sat listening—uncharacteristically still—for so long that employees thought he was gone. That amp was the $6,499 Nirvana, which absolutely delivered the performance you paid for. Kevin was properly smitten when he encountered the HA-2 SE+, recognizing it as one of those rare products where price and performance make magic together.
A Kevin’s Stash NOS British Mullard 12AT7/CV4024 is included with the amp at no charge.
Looking at the build and features of the HA-2 SE+, Kevin saw it was designed by a fellow obsessive, especially when he encountered the PL95/EL95 switch at the back. The two power tubes are very similar in performance but have different heater voltage requirements. By including this heater voltage switch, Auris has greatly expanded the pool of suitable vintage tubes. Many manufacturers recommend either tube but don’t bother with a voltage switch, meaning that one or both variants will run slightly over or under the recommended voltage.
The stock preamp tube is a JJ 12AT7, and Kevin is going to include a very special NOS tube: the British Mullard 12AT7/CV4024 made for the Royal Air Force. Kevin found these 25 years ago, and the master pack is marked RAF Carlisle, the home of the No. 14 Maintenance Unit, which was in operation until 1996. It’s not just a great tube in itself: the one you receive will be Kevin’s Stash grade. These are cryo-treated and part of a handful of the very best-performing tubes, which Kevin historically kept for himself.
There are many more aspects of the HA-2 SE+ that totally belie the $1,500 price point, so it is truly worth buying before it sells out. And once it sells out, it’ll be gone for good, as Auris is not making lower-priced models anymore. Kevin has bought the entire remaining stock, so Upscale Audio is the only place to get a super-low-priced, high-end tube headphone amp with a truly special NOS tube included.