I've been looking at small amplifiers for nearfield listening at my desktop. The majority of what I see recommended is cheap Chi-fi class D amps, some of which measure really well here on ASR. Something like the Aiyima A07 sounds perfect for me, on paper. However, I find the lack of quality control that seems to be associated with many (most/all?) Chi-fi class D mini amps off-putting and I wouldn't mind paying a little extra for a more reliable product.
I came across the Audioengine N22, a small $200 class AB amp released in 2010 that gives 22 RMS watts per channel @ 4ohms. It has 1 input and 1 pre out for a sub, which fits my needs perfectly. Its rating distribution and reviews on Amazon and Crutchfield indicates to me that it's a pretty decent product. However, I find very little information about this amp on Reddit and ASR. How come? Could it be that it's an "old" product, a case of bad marketing, the fact that it's a class AB amp, a coincidence, or something else? I know that 22 watts is not much compared to most other amps, but do you really need much more than that for nearfield listening at moderate volumes?
I came across the Audioengine N22, a small $200 class AB amp released in 2010 that gives 22 RMS watts per channel @ 4ohms. It has 1 input and 1 pre out for a sub, which fits my needs perfectly. Its rating distribution and reviews on Amazon and Crutchfield indicates to me that it's a pretty decent product. However, I find very little information about this amp on Reddit and ASR. How come? Could it be that it's an "old" product, a case of bad marketing, the fact that it's a class AB amp, a coincidence, or something else? I know that 22 watts is not much compared to most other amps, but do you really need much more than that for nearfield listening at moderate volumes?