- Thread Starter
- #21
I will keep an eye on that Emotiva. Agree would make a good comparison.
Thanks. Unfortunately it is not available in typical US sources.dont know if this is available in the US? https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stage-Line-STA-1000-Stereo-Amplifier/dp/B0026R5T56
Reports from German forums say that the fan never turns on in domestic use.
Thanks. Unfortunately it is not available in typical US sources.
I've got three in my home system, and two more used for occasional PA, and never had a problem with any of them. They operate in Class AB, and have been totally reliable for about 5 years now.
My own measurements show that their spec is a bit optimistic in a couple of areas, but nothing to worry about. Safety-wise they look fine, properly earthed and with decent commercial quality components used. I've seen the various reports, both The Audio Critic and the Matrix Audio ones, but it would be really interesting for me to see something more comprehensive than the AC.
I like the metering, and the comprehensive I/O arrangements, and that it seems properly protected, at least, one of mine suffered no damage when I put a screwdriver across the output at full power. Big flash but no damage to the amp....the screwdriver was never the same again.
S
What Emotiva says about the amps. Apparently fans were needed to pass FTC power testing, and reports from users are they nearly never turn on.Oh, the Emotiva has two internal fans:
Bummer.
I use mine with the gain controls all at maximum, so that I have a known and fixed amount of gain, and adjust the individual levels on the crossover.I had one before going fully active, and was happy. The only thing is that it became audibly noisy if I turned the gain more than half way. How are yours in that regard?
However, I recommended it to a friend with an active 4 way system, who bought four. Two of them blew his tweeters without him playing too loud (or so he says), and in the end three failed on him completely... I bought him some beers and chocolate to try and cheer him up again.
So we are doing a ton of source (DAC) reviews. I think we need to fill that in with at least an amplifier or two.
What are some reasonably priced ones that should be measured but have not been?
Examples I am thinking about are PS Audio Sprout. That one has been reviewed and unfortunately has less than good measurements: https://www.stereophile.com/content/ps-audio-sprout-integrated-amplifier-measurements
Are chinese companies doing decent job here?
What's worth testing?
Oh, the Emotiva has two internal fans:
Bummer.
Aren't these just headphone amps?After hard looking for options the only Chinese company with products that have lower than 2OHM output impedance that NWAVGuy preached as a very important specification is Fiio. As such, the Fiio K5 gets my vote as an interesting option to test (it's the second amplifier I've got, after the iFi iCan Nano that didn't quite impress me with its power or published THD specifications and I wanted a better product to compare it to see if those shortcomings were audible (I've only noticed a little bit more noise on the iFi when nothing is playing and I turn the volume all the way up, vs the Fiio K5 that I can push all the way up in high gain and I hear nothing.
The Fiio K5 is also an interesting product by itself, in that is available in Amazon worldwide and can dock with Fiio DAPs and the Dac/Amp E17K. In the future I may be interested in buying an E17K and test and report my experience.
That would be great. As noted though and my bad for not being more clear, in this thread we are trying to see if we can identify some budget amplifiers for driving speakers, not headphones. Someone asked a recommendation for a complete system and I was not sure what to suggest for the amplifier.The Fiio K5 is also an interesting product by itself, in that is available in Amazon worldwide and can dock with Fiio DAPs and the Dac/Amp E17K. In the future I may be interested in buying an E17K and test and report my experience.
Aren't these just headphone amps?
2 ohms is too high for a normal amp driving speakers IMO.
I bet none of the other suggestions have output impedance that high.
That's a good candidate. I wish it was an integrated amp so that we could use DACs without volume control but I will put this on my potentials.
I am not a fan of it. It is hard to adjust on touchscreens. I like a remote so that I can quickly adjust the level.Is there a problem with using software volume control and having the DAC talk to the amp directly?
I am not a fan of it. It is hard to adjust on touchscreens. I like a remote so that I can quickly adjust the level.
The other problem is accidental level. With a normal remote controlled amp, the levels are never at 100% whereas this can easily happen with software level controls.