Aiyima A80: TPA3255 Stereo Amplifier with ESS9038Q2M DAC: First Look

[Guddu]

Dear FMs,
There have been few messages shared on new Aiyima A80 in a few different posts, but I found Aiyima A80 on Amazon today and seems like it will be available around Christmas 2024.
While @AIYIMA mentioned HERE that A80 has improvements like PFFB, however they haven't mentioned it on their Amazon page. @AIYIMA Can you confirm?

A80 looks nice and clean in pictures, has large front screen/display with different display options.

 

[fredreadrick]

Dear FMs,
There have been few messages shared on new Aiyima A80 in a few different posts, but I found Aiyima A80 on Amazon today and seems like it will be available around Christmas 2024.
While @AIYIMA mentioned HERE that A80 has improvements like PFFB, however they haven't mentioned it on their Amazon page. @AIYIMA Can you confirm?

A80 looks nice and clean in pictures, has large front screen/display with different display options.
View attachment 408709

View attachment 408713

Someone asked on their fb page, and aiyima confirmed the pffb implementation.

 

[Neil08]

Aiyima have posted an unboxing video.....

 

[EddNog]

Geez, almost the only thing missing is an eARC input!

Also would’ve been a true home run if it had a subwoofer output and bass management.

-Ed

 

[elshaddai]

Aiyima have posted an unboxing video.....

Heh, I hope that describing the case as a fuselage does not mean they expect us to physically launch it... though the ventilation holes might help cool it while airborne.

 

[elshaddai]

Geez, almost the only thing missing is an eARC input!

Also would’ve been a true home run if it had a subwoofer output and bass management.

-Ed

Well, the aux out can be used for a sub, right? But I too would have thought that a HPF would be an option by now. Makes RSL look like innovators with their integrated amp...

 

[EddNog]

Well, the aux out can be used for a sub, right? But I too would have thought that a HPF would be an option by now. Makes RSL look like innovators with their integrated amp...

Wow just looked into that RSL and it seems like a nice little piece for the price! Somebody ought to create an upgraded version of that with TPA3225, PFFB, balanced inputs, and a bypass switch for the tone controls, and it would crush it!

-Ed

 

[Joe Smith]

Looks pretty cool! Nice that it has the big power supply with it. Would have been nice to include a headphone jack, perhaps. The display will be attractive to many, I think...

Price a bit below WiiM competitor...$230...will be interesting to see how this does...

 

[ICIETDIYEUR]

People hi .

Regarding this amplifier, don't be fooled by the 'TRS' (balanced) inputs

These are 'fake TRS inputs' since this amplifier uses the volume control chip NJW1194 which does not know how to 'process' a balanced signal

You can check in the DATASHEET

PS: and Bluetootht 'only' 5.2, 'old' ES9038, no HDMI ARC,...
... It all sounds a bit 'cheap'

Regards.

 

[T&T]

Beautiful you can change the opamps and have remote, wonder if cooling is better than Fosi V3, the competition is ON...who will get biggest screen lol

 

[scm77]

The high quality internal components has a typo with 63v3300uF quoted but the pic is for 63v2200uF.

Add in some DSP for PEQ and loudness and it is pretty much there - current winner for me is RME ADI-2 DAC FS + power amp - more expensive but has the needed features.

 

[KSTR]

People hi .

Regarding this amplifier, don't be fooled by the 'TRS' (balanced) inputs

These are 'fake TRS inputs' since this amplifier uses the volume control chip NJW1194 which does not know how to 'process' a balanced signal

You can check in the DATASHEET

Regards.

Most likely, and that's the proper way to do it anyway, there is a balanced-to-single-ended input circuit (subtractor circuit, diff amp) right at the input.

 

[Power Pop 23]

I'd prefer the space for TRS inputs be used instead for an ARC HDMI jack. With such an HDMI jack, I wonder if a manufacturer could offer the option of viewing what is on the front panel display (or the display of a phone or tablet) on a larger screen ?

After a recent firmware update, the USB-A jack of a WiiM Amp can be an output that can provide a 'pathway' to adding a jack for a wired headphone. With that and the convenience of Parametric EQ and Automatic Room Correction, I'd pay the premium for a (non-PFFB) WiiM Amp over the Aiyima A80.

I like the front panel display options of the Aiyima A80 and hope to see similar in more gear.

 

[Jeromeof]

I think this looks great, I do love VU Meters and the internals seem very solid with a good DAC especially for the price.

Throw a simple streamer like a WiiM Mini behind this and I think you have an excellent system.

 

[YungMusk]

No HPF is a serious mistake here. The only current solution to this is a Wiim Ultra/Amp/Amp Pro in the budget category.
Would have replaced my AO300 if this had a HPF.

 

[elshaddai]

No HPF is a serious mistake here. The only current solution to this is a Wiim Ultra/Amp/Amp Pro in the budget category.
Would have replaced my AO300 if this had a HPF.

Depending on needs, the RSL integrated amp offers an optional 90Hz HPF in the mini desktop format. $110 USD.

 

[Joe Smith]

Depending on needs, the RSL integrated amp offers an optional 90Hz HPF in the mini desktop format. $110 USD.

The RSL amp seems to avoid the high treble of most of the non-PFFB class D designs. Anyone know how they do that? I assume their little amp is a class D design as the case is not vented...

It's an attractive little amp for the price, definitely competitive with the Fosi and Aiyima products.

Kinda nice that RSL survived to be reborn again, my very first good speakers were from them, circa '74 in LA (their flagship store was on Van Nuys Blvd, that's where I also got my Marantz 2245, Dual 1229 and HK 1000 cassette deck). What a nice first system that was!

 

[EddNog]

No HPF is a serious mistake here. The only current solution to this is a Wiim Ultra/Amp/Amp Pro in the budget category.
Would have replaced my AO300 if this had a HPF.

What would make that a serious mistake? The cost?

-Ed

 

[YungMusk]

What would make that a serious mistake? The cost?

-Ed

Most integrated Class D amps with a subwoofer output lack a high-pass filter (HPF). Including one would have significantly disrupted SMSL's dominance in the market with models like the AO200 and AO300.

The Wiim Amp, even with an HPF, doesn’t match the power and performance of SMSL's Infineon chips or Aiyima’s TI-based amps.

Adding an HPF to an integrated amp typically requires a miniDSP, which costs several hundred dollars.

They missed a big opportunity here. A high-pass filter is a game-changer for a 2.1 desk setup compared to the low-pass-only sub out found in amps like the AO300.

 

[ICIETDIYEUR]

People hi !

I think you shouldn't rush and wait for the very next release of an O-NOORUS amplifier that takes the essence of this amplifier but with components that have better features (like the DAC ship, BT chip,...) as well as with additional features (like HDMI ARC )...
... it won't be long before you find out

I think it might be appropriate to ask O-NOORUS about this

PS: I don't understand why AIYIMA added (fakes) 'TRS' entries that don't bring ANYTHING AT ALL ???