AIYIMA A70 Stereo Amplifier Review

[Destination: Moon]

Please specify what problem you see with that graph.

The steep fall off above about 45 hz and the comment Amir makes: " I cant see how this is useful to anyone"...... Does not sound like a good test result?

If I am wrong (happy to be wrong on this) then the next question I have is: Can I use the XLR on my DAC / Amp combo and make use of the Amps RCA SW out (to SW LFE In) and expect a mostly linear response of the mains / SW speakers when adjusting the volume at reasonable listening levels?

 

[magreen]

The steep fall off above about 45 hz and the comment Amir makes: " I cant see how this is useful to anyone"...... Does not sound like a good test result?

If I am wrong (happy to be wrong on this) then the next question I have is: Can I use the XLR on my DAC / Amp combo and make use of the Amps RCA SW out (to SW LFE In) and expect a mostly linear response of the mains / SW speakers when adjusting the volume at reasonable listening levels?

That graph is with the low pass filter on the Aiyima set to its lowest. Sure, it's a useless filter, which is what I believe Amir is saying. But that doesn't matter -- just set it to its highest frequency so it doesn't do any crossover duties. Then let your SW handle it. Your SVS sub has its own proper low pass filter, so use that.

 

[3eaudio]

The steep fall off above about 45 hz and the comment Amir makes: " I cant see how this is useful to anyone"...... Does not sound like a good test result?

If I am wrong (happy to be wrong on this) then the next question I have is: Can I use the XLR on my DAC / Amp combo and make use of the Amps RCA SW out (to SW LFE In) and expect a mostly linear response of the mains / SW speakers when adjusting the volume at reasonable listening levels?

i think that is the intent of the SW in A70, if your woofer has individual volume control that will be ok to match your high in A70 and Low in your sub.
A70 has 20dB Gain with XLR

 

[antcollinet]

Would it improve sound over the RX-V6A?

Probably not.

 

[Nam]

Is there anyway to remote control A70 volume?

With XLR input, It sounds slightly better than my Yamaha a-s501. A big difference in bass which sounds soft, I do not like that, but when I test with the Salnotes zero 2, bass sounds soft too. Perhaps the Yamaha a-s501 distorted low frequency and I like that.

 

[dangogh]

Can this power kef q350 at higher volumes? I'm new to this so please forgive my ignorance. I'm planning to get those speakers and use this amp if ever.

 

[mermayer]

The AIYIMA A70 replaced my Sonos Amp, which, to my surprise, was rated so poorly by Amir.
My setup: Node 2i (set digital pass through on) > the fantastic RME ADI-2 DAC (volume control) > AIYIMA A70 (connected via XLR). Additional i use the trigger output from the Node for the A70 (A70 standby = 0,33W) and a active subwoofer, connected to the A70.
But, contrary to Amir's test, I have no power on plop but a plop on power off. That's the only thing that bothers me.

 

[IceLord]

Can this power kef q350 at higher volumes? I'm new to this so please forgive my ignorance. I'm planning to get those speakers and use this amp if ever.

Absolutely!

 

[magreen]

Anyone know the RCA input impedance of this amp? I don't see it measured in this thread or listed on Aiyima's product page.

 

[dangogh]

Absolutely!

Thank you! I went with the q150 since my room is only 15x15 ft., as suggested by many and a svs sb1000(will arrive in a week together with the aiyima a70). Which brings me the question on how do i set a proper crossover with my setup. What do i set on the aiyima a70 and sb1000 crossover? The more i research about the svs sb1000 crossover the more i get confused about it, like it has some settings to dial-in beside the crossover. Then the aiyima a70 have a high crossover or idk what to call it, it goes 150hz to 600hz. I'm really lost here, how to i dial a proper crossover with this sub and amp?

 

[magreen]

Thank you! I went with the q150 since my room is only 15x15 ft., as suggested by many and a svs sb1000(will arrive in a week together with the aiyima a70). Which brings me the question on how do i set a proper crossover with my setup. What do i set on the aiyima a70 and sb1000 crossover? The more i research about the svs sb1000 crossover the more i get confused about it, like it has some settings to dial-in beside the crossover. Then the aiyima a70 have a high crossover or idk what to call it, it goes 150hz to 600hz. I'm really lost here, how to i dial a proper crossover with this sub and amp?

Ignore the Aiyima low pass filter. Just set it to its highest frequency and use your subwoofer's controls to handle the low pass filtering.

 

[dangogh]

Ignore the Aiyima low pass filter. Just set it to its highest frequency and use your subwoofer's controls to handle the low pass filtering.

Okay got it, thanks! Will update my experience with wiim pro plus, aimiya a70, kef q150 and svs sb1000.

 

[IceLord]

+1 to ignore the Aiyima sub cutoff (just leave it at its higher level and use the sub controls).

Having the Q350 at 359€ I'm not really sure that the smaller brothers Q150 worth the money.

https://www.studio-22.com/kef-q350-blanco-ocasion

Anyway, an SB1000 is a huge sub for such a room and may drive you to some bass management troubles. Are you sure you need it?

I'm using a pair of Canton Ergo 32 DC (~100€ pair second hand) on a 27m2 room and they fully fill the room with a bunch of dB more than you can manage at a safe level. No sub needed at all with those big driver vintage boxes. Q350 may provide you enough performance.

Start simpler and go further only when needed.

 

[dangogh]

+1 to ignore the Aiyima sub cutoff (just leave it at its higher level and use the sub controls).

Having the Q350 at 359€ I'm not really sure that the smaller brothers Q150 worth the money.

https://www.studio-22.com/kef-q350-blanco-ocasion

Anyway, an SB1000 is a huge sub for such a room and may drive you to some bass management troubles. Are you sure you need it?

I'm using a pair of Canton Ergo 32 DC (~100€ pair second hand) on a 27m2 room and they fully fill the room with a bunch of dB more than you can manage at a safe level. No sub needed at all with those big driver vintage boxes. Q350 may provide you enough performance.

Start simpler and go further only when needed.

I just started to build my first setup, not really knowledgeable and sure if i’m making the right choices.. tbh i made impulse buy on wiim pro plus on sale then got kef q150 at USD230. And i’m sitting here looking them while waiting for the aiyima a70 to arrive hahaha. Very very anti climactic having the speakers but can’t play them yet. Good thing I haven’t bought the sb1000 yet, as you suggested maybe I don’t need it. Thanks! That would be a huge saving.

 

[Brab]

Reserved for Adam to kindly include the specs.

Manufacturer Specifications:

View attachment 355040

View attachment 355041

Thank you for the review.
I bought it for a bedroom system driving Elac Debut 6.2 speakers hoping to improve on a Yamaha receiver. Despite expecting and wanting to love it, it's going back tomorrow. Problem is the tonality or timbre. Instrument don't sound like they should. At one point I couldn't tell if I was listening to a cello or an accordion.

 

[kennygwood]

Anyone know the RCA input impedance of this amp? I don't see it measured in this thread or listed on Aiyima's product page.

I emailed Aiyima sales , they tell me the XLR is 20k and the rca is 10k.

 

[magreen]

I emailed Aiyima sales , they tell me the XLR is 20k and the rca is 10k.

Thanks very much! In my application, I want to split the RCA output coming from my DAC with a Y cable into two amps, the A70 being one of them. The A70 impedance sounds a touch low on the RCA side but hopefully shouldn’t be a problem… right?

 

[kennygwood]

Thanks very much! In my application, I want to split the RCA output coming from my DAC with a Y cable into two amps, the A70 being one of them. The A70 impedance sounds a touch low on the RCA side but hopefully shouldn’t be a problem… right?

I'm not a tech expert (what am I doing on here ) but I think that you may find you end up low on overall volume. I'm using my A70 to bi-amp the bass drivers, source signal from an AV receiver HT output and I'm low on level from that so I'm in the process of acquiring a Sonifex RB-UL1 (phono to balanced xlr) to see if that helps me. I originally set it up on the Mid/HF but there is no individual channel gain adjustment and so the stereo image was noticeably off centre.

 

[antcollinet]

The A70 impedance sounds a touch low on the RCA side but hopefully shouldn’t be a problem… right?

Right

I'm not a tech expert (what am I doing on here ) but I think that you may find you end up low on overall volume. I'm using my A70 to bi-amp the bass drivers, source signal from an AV receiver HT output and I'm low on level from that so I'm in the process of acquiring a Sonifex RB-UL1 (phono to balanced xlr) to see if that helps me. I originally set it up on the Mid/HF but there is no individual channel gain adjustment and so the stereo image was noticeably off centre.

No, you won't. Lets say both amps are low at 10K, you'll have a source impedance of say 100ohms, so 100ohms and 5K (both amps in paralell) and you drop 100/5100 =0.0196 (2% reduction). With one amp it would be 1%, so an additional 1% of voltage loss. About 0.1dB

Not really worth worrying about.

 

[kennygwood]

No, you won't. Lets say both amps are low at 10K, you'll have a source impedance of say 100ohms, so 100ohms and 5K (both amps in paralell) and you drop 100/5100 =0.0196 (2% reduction). With one amp it would be 1%, so an additional 1% of voltage loss.

Not really worth worrying about.

Cheers !