AIYIMA D03 class D amplifier "Subjective review"

[TheWalkman]

Thanks for the warnings. Damage in shipping would be my biggest concern.
Lower prices on Aliexpress are not true of other brands (Topping, Loxjie) so I wondered what was special about the D03? I havn't checked the Aiyima Store in general.
Is paying by PayPal safer than a major credit card?

I can’t say with absolute certainty that PayPal is safer, but I really don’t want a merchant in China having my debit or credit card number so that’s what I do.

 

[trevor_bartram]

I can’t say with absolute certainty that PayPal is safer, but I really don’t want a merchant in China having my debit or credit card number so that’s what I do.

Thanks, it appears there is a 17% import value added tax for goods from China. I'm not sure how tax payment works?

 

[TheWalkman]

Thanks, it appears there is a 17% import value added tax for goods from China. I'm not sure how tax payment works?

Where are you located? I’ve imported several products and no Customs duties were added.

 

[trevor_bartram]

Where are you located? I’ve imported several products and no Customs duties were added.

USA.

 

[Marcorelle]

Same problem here too both on USB (Daphile notebook) and optical (TV).
No display disappearing though.
D03 "works" 5-6 hours/day (in weekends double that) both on USB and TV and it happens very rare. And I mean VERY rare. But it happens.

Anyway, I can live with that.

hi guys

I solved this problem ! how ? I ve just bought a new one and absolutely no more problem during one month !
I waited to post cos like I said, the problem didn't happen often but at least 2-3 times per day.
I think we have defective unit (perhaps a bad batch ? power supply or unit ? ) , but with the new one (I bought it on Aliexpress) , absolutely no sound cut during one sec the last month !

 

[SJN]

I have the same dropouts when using USB connected to my PC. It does it on all my USB ports. 2.0 3.1 and 3.2 USB standards, and at all different bitrates that you can choose in windows 11.
I was going to throw it out the window. But I have connected it to the TV`s optical port, and it has worked without problems for hours now. So Im using my Nvidia 1080TI audio driver though the HDMI cable to the TV, and then the optical cable from the TV to the D03. Using PCM mode on my samsung TV. But the windows setting are now limited to 24Bit 4800khz.......but that might be a limit by my old 1080TI video card.

Buying a new D03 is not a great solution

I have a Nobsound Q3 DAC , and it works perfect with the USB connection and PC....but it needs an amplifier.......thats why I "upgraded" to the D03 to simplyfy my precious setup.

 

[SJN]

Ok...the optical also had dropouts, but not as frequent as with the USB.

But I think I have fixed it. Pretty sure the chip was overheating
I opened it up to look for obvious faults.....and all looked pretty good.
I decided to remove the heatsink, and found some very dry thermal paste.
Its not a great design, as there is a thin aluminium spacer between the chip and heatsink, and plastic spacers at each screw.
Some of the white thermal paste was on the chips pins....should not be a problem.....but I cleaned it all off, and repasted with Arctic MX-4 thermal paste.
Also, you can easily tighten one of te screws too much so the heatsink does not make even contact on the chip......even with the plastic spacers which should prevent this.
There was also some white residue on the bottom of the board on some solder joints....guess it is flux. It cleaned off with alcohol.
Assembled it again, and have been running it a few hours with no dropouts in audio yet......looks promising, as they where quite frequent before.
Something else....I have not instelled bluetooth antenna....doubt it has anything to do with the problem, but someone earlier in the thread said it could be interferance....

I hooked up my nobsound DAC and amp to my B&W DM302 and it does just not sound as good as the D03.
With the D03, my old B&W`s that I bought in 1997 just sound great

 

[SJN]

Works perfect now. No dropouts. The heatsink still is toasty, so I decided for longevity to give it a bit more cooling

I wanted to drill some holes in a few lines over the heatsink, but aparently im not a machinist, so it looked like crap.
Decided to just remove all the material over the heatsink, and I resin printed a grill that I found for free on thingiverse to cover up the damage
The whole case is cooler now. But it is still warm.

 

[alex.r]

Hello, @SJN almost a month passed by, could you report if you faced issue since modification ?
Also please share the link to grill.
Thanks.

P.S. My own method works too (shared couple pages back), but it brings one more device in the line.

 

[SJN]

It is 99% fixed in my case. The last 1% is a windows/driver issue. Because if I do something cpu specific, while listening to some music on youtube, I can get a dropout.....but it only happens about once a day in average. Without the cooling solution, It would dropout every few minutes in the worst cases. I have installed the "aiyima driver" which adds a larger buffer it seems, but it does not make this 100% flawlwss....still the 1% is annoying me a bit

I uploaded my grill here: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6858052/files

 

[alex.r]

Hello @SJN, thanks for reply and shared model.

 

[Bushellj]

Had our Aiyima D03 now since it was launched in 2021. It has been on 24/7 using a 24v 200w power supply and has performed beautifully with no issues during this time providing more than adequate volume. It has very much become our go to amplifier for normal domestic use especially with its USB and Optical inputs for computers and TVs. We use the RCA inputs with an Amazon Echo Dot for most of our day to day listening. The Bluetooth is used occasionally from Tablets or Mobiles mainly by the grandchildren !!

Recently the display had started to fade in some segments making it difficult to read. Contacted Aiyima and they have just sent me a new display (about £15 including shipping and tax to the UK). Took a few minutes to fit as you only need to remove the front panel (2 screws underneath and the nut on the knob) and the old display is just attached by a ribbon cable that just unclips. No soldering to do !! Looks like new again.

In the early days of chip amps I bought quite a few of these little digital amplifiers. The ones that are still in active daily use are an Aiyima A07, two Aiyima A04 (used with Apple Mac Minis) and most recently I purchased a Fosi BT20A. Aiyima A07 is still my favourite as it just drives any speakers I have ever attached to it including some Electro Voice PA Speakers we use for events to insane volume levels for such a small box. The D03 remains my favourite for a Domestic amplifier due to more inputs and remote control and very “Wife friendly” as just a single box !

 

[Maerlin]

We use the RCA inputs with an Amazon Echo Dot for most of our day to day listening. The Bluetooth is used occasionally from Tablets or Mobiles mainly by the grandchildren !!

Hi Bushellj,

Do you experience or feel a drop of audio quality when using RCA input?
I plan to plug in an analog vinyle player. Would you say it's too bad for this?

Thanks!

 

[Bushellj]

The analogue inputs are definitely not as good as the digital inputs but they are good enough for day to day listening. I have only used it with an Amazon Echo which is hardly an audiophile device. I would try it and see. The Aiyima D03 is one of the best small amplifiers we use on a daily basis and I would certainly recommend it for day to day domestic use. We just wish it had a larger display !

 

[SJN]

I have tossed mine.......I must have got a defective device. I bought mine to use with my computer via USB. First there was the dropouts...and that was almost removed by improving the cooling of the chip.......but it still did it about once every 6 hours......and that is better than every 2 minutes. But the chip must be deffective since it gets too hot. Then, when playing at quite low volume I can hear static clicks....like dust on a vinyl LP.....really annoying. And then there is Windows11. The driver provided is just old and outdated. If I had opened 3 different youtube videos in different tabs, and I pause one, and go see the other....then sometimes when I go back and resume play......then the video resumes without audio. Really strange. So I can not reccomend the D03 for people that want to connect it to a computer as a DAC. Its a shame, as I really like the sound.
I have since bought the SMSL SU-1 , and it is an awesome DAC . Sample rate is higher too. Works perfect in windows with drivers that are updated. Downside is that you need and AMP. I use an inexpensive douk audio 1002p. Sounds fantastic. Thought I would upgrade it with a "better" fosi audio bt20a pro, but was dissapointed, and whent back to the 1002p.

 

[Bushellj]

I have tossed mine.......I must have got a defective device. I bought mine to use with my computer via USB. First there was the dropouts...and that was almost removed by improving the cooling of the chip.......but it still did it about once every 6 hours......and that is better than every 2 minutes. But the chip must be deffective since it gets too hot. Then, when playing at quite low volume I can hear static clicks....like dust on a vinyl LP.....really annoying. And then there is Windows11. The driver provided is just old and outdated. If I had opened 3 different youtube videos in different tabs, and I pause one, and go see the other....then sometimes when I go back and resume play......then the video resumes without audio. Really strange. So I can not reccomend the D03 for people that want to connect it to a computer as a DAC. Its a shame, as I really like the sound.
I have since bought the SMSL SU-1 , and it is an awesome DAC . Sample rate is higher too. Works perfect in windows with drivers that are updated. Downside is that you need and AMP. I use an inexpensive douk audio 1002p. Sounds fantastic. Thought I would upgrade it with a "better" fosi audio bt20a pro, but was dissapointed, and whent back to the 1002p.

Our D03 has been running 24/7 for 3 years with no issues other than recently needing to replace the display. I have not used the USB input but we do use the optical input for a CD Player and previously it was used with a TV.

We use a 24 volt power supply which maybe is a reason for it running cool and not overheating.

 

[SJN]

I also tried it on 24V. No difference. Just got unlucky and bought a dud. But that does not change the windows support issue it has.

 

[antcollinet]

Hi Bushellj,

Do you experience or feel a drop of audio quality when using RCA input?
I plan to plug in an analog vinyle player. Would you say it's too bad for this?

Thanks!

The analogue input won't be the limiting factor when the source is vinyl.

It will match, or exceed the quality the source can deliver.

 

[Maerlin]

The analogue input won't be the limiting factor when the source is vinyl.

It will exceed the quality the source can deliver.

That's very good to hear. I'll post some feedback anyway. My usage will be quite simple. Just a Chromecast audio and a vinyl player... For a pair of Ditton 44 Legend.

 

[Zek]

a vinyl player...

If your turntable doesn't have a built-in preamp, then you'll need to get a separate turntable preamp between the turntable and the amplifier.