Shortlist of cheap but reliable Class D amps?
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| Posted on September 23, 2020 at 16:28:39 | ||
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Posts: 3330
Location: New Orleans Joined: October 14, 1999 |
I was given a pair Definitive Technology Pro Monitor 800 speakers - little satellites with 4.5" woofer and passive radiator and a tweeter. They are 8 ohms and 87db sensitive. With no other amp in my house except my big AtmaSphere MA-1 tubed monos, I hooked them up to see if they worked and how they sounded. They work and sound fine. Actually, they image very nicely due to their narrow front baffle, but replace my big ole JBL's they won't. Being about 10db less sensitive than my JBL's, they sure can suck up some power - I really had to turn it up to get some decent volume levels. What cheap but reliable Class D amps might I consider to power them with for a second system? I've seen many a comment on the super cheap (sub $100) amps like Lepai and the like arriving DOA or crapping out after a few months. I'm not looking for or expecting fantastic sound quality, just something that works and should continue to do so. Built in Bluetooth would be nice since this would be for a secondary system for which I have no source for save for a TV or internet. I have a standalone Bluetooth receiver that I could used if need be. I do like the size and BT feature of the Dayton amp I inked to below (sadly no longer available), but no idea of the quality of this brand but realize it is one that Parts Express has been selling for quite a while. A Class A/B amp would be fine too, but I'm really aiming for cheap, little heat, and a small footprint. TIA. voolston - audiophile by day, music lover by night!
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| $98.80, posted on September 24, 2020 at 12:44:28 | |
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Posts: 1040
Location: Vancouver BC Joined: April 25, 2003 |
I just got back from a summer vacation in a 19x13 room using a Dayton DTA-120 from when they were Class-T (a variation on Class D that is no longer produced) with my beloved Onkyo SKF-4800 speakers. This room - and I emphasize this particular room - with that little amp and the ultra-cheap Onkyo's were the best disappearing act I've ever had - or heard. Tiny sounds way way way deep in the soundstage could be heard like you were wearing headphones - with all the ambience that surrounds them right in place. The leading edge was so clear - and could stop as quickly if that makes sense. The separation of even the tiniest of sounds - even when in a whirlwind of music - had to be heard to be believed. Every song was a riveting experience. Never heard anything like it - it was the lotto winner of synergies in my 40+ years of audiophile-ing. Had the Daytons over a decade before that happened - sure picked the right vacation spot! As always - get back home to a very similarly sized and treated room - same system exactly - measured right to how I had them set up while on vacation - sounds nothing like it. I can hear that the sound is perhaps "in there" but you have to work to hear it a bit - to reconstruct what I know it could be. It's impressive and holographic - but within the soundstange things get overly warm and muddied. Sometimes wonder if audiophiles realize just how much even similar sized/treated rooms can be so different - makes recommending gear on audio forums almost useless. I'm on day 2 now of being home and am doubting I'll be able to re-create it. The current DTA-120BT2 might be worth a try for the fun of it - but I have to wonder just how much the "Class T" design of mine plays a role. Also don't know how it would deal with high-res music, as I listen mostly to streaming - CD at "best". It also has bluetooth here
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| +1 (nt), posted on September 25, 2020 at 09:05:59 | |
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Posts: 1346
Location: Tempe, Arizona Joined: November 13, 2003 |
nt
Open up your mind, in pours the trash. - Meat Puppets, 1987
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| RE: Rega Io??, posted on October 9, 2020 at 13:51:27 | |
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Posts: 179
Joined: April 25, 2005 |
The io is pretty incredible.
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