AIYIMA A70 Mono Amplifier Review

[Ktacos]

load dependency always gets a poor rating from me.

 

[Multicore]

How to pronounce AIYIMA?

 

[Sir Sanders Zingmore]

@amirm , in the available power graphs, is “both channels driven” a typo (this is a mono amp)?

 

[Guddu]

Nobody does.

I guess it was difficult for designer to realize what common settings should be provided on front panel…. or simply over-engineering a simple monoblock amplifier.

 

[CedarX]

As for the passive subwoofer use…
I noticed that AliExpress does lists a number of passive subwoofer—mostly small 6.5-8”.
Is there a much larger market for passive subs (and this type of amps) in China or South-East Asia than in North America or Europe?

 

[leebergtally]

The Fosi V3 Mono, while lacking the volume, subwoofer controls, and trigger seems to be a better choice for just a bit more money. That said, if you don't have a preamp to control the input the AIYIMA would be more practical.

 

[amirm]

@amirm , in the available power graphs, is “both channels driven” a typo (this is a mono amp)?

It is just a standard notation on that test when I start it and am too lazy to change it for mono amps.

 

[Sir Sanders Zingmore]

It is just a standard notation on that test when I start it and am too lazy to change it for mono amps.

Thanks. Lazy you are not!

 

[NwAvGuy]

It really is amazing what a hundred bucks will buy in the amplifier world. These little amps must really make the big brand product managers lose sleep at night thinking how they can compete.

Is your second statement serious??

 

[restorer-john]

Is your second statement serious??

He's being sarcastic, I hope.

 

[AdrianusG]

He's being sarcastic, I hope.

Yeah, i already see Accuphase , Luxman, Krell , Bryston and many many more losing sleep over it, NOT.

 

[DSJR]

Subs in the UK are more for home theatre use rather than music I feel and the two 'needs' in a high quality speciality sense don't seem to cross over in our smaller homes unless 'himself' has a man-cave and money to spend. This little amp seems so nearly there, but the sub facilities would be wasted largely I think.

 

[Robbo99999]

How to pronounce AIYIMA?

ieema?? A bit like ???? I'm guessing though!

 

[Ajax]

Surprised by the general negativity and poor rating by members towards this amp.

I understand that the sub out is not as it should be, however, if simply employed as a power amp its performance is only a bee's whisker off excellent and it only costs
$US116 x 2 for 80 watts into 8 ohms. To quote Amir:

"AIYIMA A70 MONO amplifier brings highly competent performance to the table with performance that beats majority of amplifiers I have tested. Yet it costs so little. Having balanced input, selectable gain for RCA and trigger are much appreciated."

 

[Multicore]

Surprised by the general negativity and poor rating by members towards this amp.

I understand that the sub out is not as it should be, however, if simply employed as a power amp its performance is only a bee's whisker off excellent and it only costs
$US116 x 2 for 80 watts into 8 ohms. To quote Amir:

"AIYIMA A70 MONO amplifier brings highly competent performance to the table with performance that beats majority of amplifiers I have tested. Yet it costs so little. Having balanced input, selectable gain for RCA and trigger are much appreciated."

I don't rate anything here or elsewhere but I was surprised at that conclusion.

The distortion performance of this amp is not what we are used to.

How do you set the gain in a stereo system? I'd rather have a gain switch on a mono power amp than a knob, especially one with no position marker.

Frequency-dependent gain is a concern, warrants closer testing.

As you pointed out, the subwoofer features are a complete mystery. How do we use that in a 2 or more channel system, assuming we understood the controls? I'd rather handle sub cross-over upstream or in an active sub.

It's like it doesn't know if it's a power amp or an integrated amp. Who wants a mono integrated? (Me, I know, but I need 2-ch inputs and downmixing.) Perhaps it was designed by a committee in which one member really wanted that case with those front panel knobs.

 

[Ajax]

I don't rate anything here or elsewhere but I was surprised at that conclusion.

The distortion performance of this amp is not what we are used to.

How do you set the gain in a stereo system? I'd rather have a gain switch on a mono power amp than a knob, especially one with no position marker.

Frequency-dependent gain is a concern, warrants closer testing.

As you pointed out, the subwoofer features are a complete mystery. How do we use that in a 2 or more channel system, assuming we understood the controls? I'd rather handle sub cross-over upstream or in an active sub.

It's like it doesn't know if it's a power amp or an integrated amp. Who wants a mono integrated? (Me, I know, but I need 2-ch inputs and downmixing.) Perhaps it was designed by a committee in which one member really wanted that case with those front panel knobs.

Hi Multicore,

The point I was trying to make is that if this amp didn't have any "features", such as subwoofer out etc, and it was simply employed as a power amp it would be viewed by many as a bargain. If you require DSP and a subwoofer out etc it could be incorporated in the DAC, such as a MiniDSP Flex or one of the Wiim devices.

For just over $500 you could have a near SOTA system suitable for the average home. Really quite amazing what's now available if you know where to look (thanks Amir). Compared to what the major manufacturers are producing, and the prices they are demanding, this stuff is incredible.

 

[Hiten]

Total cost of this amplifier for stereo would be 116x2=232 US$ add to that approximately 100 US$ for power supply.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Here is comparison with 3e Audio Amplifier module.

Honestly dont know how it translate or relate to subjective hearing.
Regards.

 

[Multicore]

The point I was trying to make is that if this amp didn't have any "features", such as subwoofer out etc, and it was simply employed as a power amp it would be viewed by many as a bargain.

What you wrote was that you were surprised at the negativity and poor rating. Responding to that, I presented my thoughts.

For just over $500 you could have a near SOTA system suitable for the average home. Really quite amazing what's now available if you know where to look (thanks Amir). Compared to what the major manufacturers are producing, and the prices they are demanding, this stuff is incredible.

We've seen a bunch of chip amps that do a better job than this one at comparable prices, including of the same brand. I've got one downstairs. They're great. But relative to those this one turns in disappointing performance on Amir's bench and its features make no sense.

 

[yo!]

How to pronounce AIYIMA?

Chinese: Aéma (means love or something)
In the west: Who cares?

 

[Multicore]

Chinese: Aéma (means love or something)
In the west: Who cares?

Two reasons why I care. 1. Every time I have to say it I stumble. If I could learn it right now then I can practice a bit and save myself a lot of stumbling. 2. If I practice while looking at the word then I stand a chance of being able to spell it when I need to type the brand name, which at present I cannot do. I'm less likely to be able to spell that right than buroaucratic.