Amp choice for Elac DBR-62

[hyperknot]

I'm looking to buy an amp for an Elac DBR-62 (ASR review). There is a section, where the review points out that it might need some proper amp to drive it.

Which amp would you recommend? Ideally I'd love to buy a WiiM Amp, but I'm afraid it might not be good enough. The Amp Pro is not yet out, unfortunately. I'm listening at moderate levels, mostly as a background music, so it might not need that much power. Still, I'm not sure about this part, hence I'm asking for your opinion.

What other options do I have? I was thinking either Topping PA5 II or PA5 II Plus, or 2x Fosi V3 Mono. Or a second hand Yamaha S501 or S701 maybe. The advantage of the Yamaha would be the built in DAC, as well as the known build quality and reliability.

What would you recommend?

 

[Grotti]

I'm looking to buy an amp for an Elac DBR-62 (ASR review). There is a section, where the review points out that it might need some proper amp to drive it.

Which amp would you recommend? Ideally I'd love to buy a WiiM Amp, but I'm afraid it might not be good enough. The Amp Pro is not yet out, unfortunately. I'm listening at moderate levels, mostly as a background music, so it might not need that much power. Still, I'm not sure about this part, hence I'm asking for your opinion.

What other options do I have? I was thinking either Topping PA5 II or PA5 II Plus, or 2x Fosi V3 Mono. Or a second hand Yamaha S501 or S701 maybe. The advantage of the Yamaha would be the built in DAC, as well as the known build quality and reliability.

What would you recommend?

When listening at background levels ( and quite a lot far beyond actually) the Wiim amplifier will provide enough power for sure! The speaker is rated at 86 dB at 2.83 V a meter at nominal 6 Ohm so the Wiim amp should work perfectly fine for you. If you want to squeeze out the maximum of dynamics of the speakers you should look for an amplifier with approximately double the power. But honestly: I listen to my speakers (two way speakers with comparable efficiency) at 1 or 2 Watts most of the time and 10 - 15 Watts continuously when I listen loudly...

 

[hyperknot]

Thanks! So you say I shouldn't be afraid of the WiiM Amp not being PFFB or not having enough power for my use-case? The alternative would be a Topping PA5 II with a WiiM Mini using the built-in DAC.

 

[Timcognito]

$500 for Yamaha 701 if the coupon from last two weeks still works. Did not try

Master "deals" (massdrop, ebay, Amazon, etc.) Thread on Audio Product Sales

Revel C563DT Black 6.5 inch ceiling speakers are currently $99.99 each at Harman's website (list supposedly $440 but Crutchfield has it for $330) Shipping is free. It's a bit of a strange bird, being a single "stereo" speaker with both R & L channel terminals. Per Crutchfield's description...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[Morbid_Florist]

Apologies for hijacking this thread but my question is related and I need a wee sanity check.

I'd like to double check that this setup will work fine: WiiM Vibelink Amp + WiiM Ultra + Elac DBR-62

WiiM Vibelink is rated as 100W per channel at 8Ω (stereo) so it seems more than adequate?

Its for a fairly small room with listening position approx. 2.5 meters away from the speakers

Thank you!

 

[JeremyFife]

Should be lovely

 

[Roland68]

Apologies for hijacking this thread but my question is related and I need a wee sanity check.

I'd like to double check that this setup will work fine: WiiM Vibelink Amp + WiiM Ultra + Elac DBR-62

WiiM Vibelink is rated as 100W per channel at 8Ω (stereo) so it seems more than adequate?

Its for a fairly small room with listening position approx. 2.5 meters away from the speakers

Thank you!

The WiiM Vibelink Amp has a power output measured by Amir of 73 watts at 8 ohms and 134 watts at 4 ohms, which, in my experience, should be sufficient for the DBR62.

However, I would rather invest the money in the more powerful 3E Audio A7 or A7SE; they offer better measured values and higher performance for the same or less money. 3E Audio is one of the leading manufacturers of TPA3255-based amplifiers, which is also reflected in the improved load sensitivity, and that would be more important to me, especially with the DBR62.
The external power supply also has the advantage that the amplifier and power supply don't heat up each other in the same enclosure.
3E Audio is available in Europe from Audiophonics.

I run the DBR62 in my desktop setup with a Sabaj A30a, which I highly recommend, but I'm also considering replacing it with a 3E Audio A7, as the A30a is too big for my desk.

 

[olds1959special]

I plan to use my SMSL PA200 with my DBR62's (when they get here), which should provide an estimated 122.5 watts into 6 ohms, which is just around the maximum recommended input for these. (120 watts)

 

[Ragapower]

I plan to use my SMSL PA200 with my DBR62's (when they get here), which should provide an estimated 122.5 watts into 6 ohms, which is just around the maximum recommended input for these. (120 watts)

Hi, how's it going with your PA200 and the Elac DBR62? I just bought the Elacs, but I don't have an amp, so I'm looking for one. Your comment would help me, and even more so if you have any advice that might not be related to the PA200s, but perhaps something of lesser value that you were considering before buying them.

 

[olds1959special]

Hi, how's it going with your PA200 and the Elac DBR62? I just bought the Elacs, but I don't have an amp, so I'm looking for one. Your comment would help me, and even more so if you have any advice that might not be related to the PA200s, but perhaps something of lesser value that you were considering before buying them.

My DBR62’s come tomorrow. I bought the PA200 because I found it used at a reduced price. You only need one in stereo mode, it will provide enough power, but you won’t be able to use the XLR input.

 

[bboris77]

3e Audio A5 works really well with my DBR62. So does the Yamaha A-S501.

 

[Concreteears]

FWIW I'm using a crown xli 800 with the wiim ultra on my DBR62. Also have old svs sub which helps clean up the sound some.

This gets way to loud to stand it at 90 watts 105 db peaks. in my untreated lively room. 90's grunge / alt don't sound great but everything else does.

Is there better of course. I have been pleased with it after a bunch of adjusting. Have thought about another amp but still on fence.

 

[Roland68]

Hi, how's it going with your PA200 and the Elac DBR62? I just bought the Elacs, but I don't have an amp, so I'm looking for one. Your comment would help me, and even more so if you have any advice that might not be related to the PA200s, but perhaps something of lesser value that you were considering before buying them.

Since the DBR62 has a minimum impedance of 5 ohms, the SE amplifiers from 3E Audio, or the PA5 II, are ideal.
The 3E Audio A5se or PA5 II are perfectly adequate for a desktop setup. For a more general setup, I would choose the more powerful A7se.
Due to its load dependency, the PA200 is not the best choice for the DBR62.

 

[Guddu]

Since the DBR62 has a minimum impedance of 5 ohms, the SE amplifiers from 3E Audio, or the PA5 II, are ideal.
The 3E Audio A5se or PA5 II are perfectly adequate for a desktop setup. For a more general setup, I would choose the more powerful A7se.

+1

Due to its load dependency, the PA200 is not the best choice for the DBR62.

wondering, where do you see that?

 

[Roland68]

wondering, where do you see that?

Amir has already tested the other two SMSL amplifiers with this Infineon chipset; the PA200 won't be any different, just like most amplifiers with Infineon Merus technology. Just look at the load dependence between 4 and 8 ohms, and you'll see what I mean.

 

[Ragapower]

Since the DBR62 has a minimum impedance of 5 ohms, the SE amplifiers from 3E Audio, or the PA5 II, are ideal.
The 3E Audio A5se or PA5 II are perfectly adequate for a desktop setup. For a more general setup, I would choose the more powerful A7se.
Due to its load dependency, the PA200 is not the best choice for the DBR62.

Thanks for your comments, I'll take them into account. How do you see the NAD C 316BEE V2 for these speakers? I'd like to have the treble and bass knobs handy, as well as a phono input in case I manage to get a good turntable in the future. In my search for sound, I'm looking for something natural with some good dynamic response. I have an I-FI Micro ISDS Black Label DAC (so you can keep in mind the composition I want to create).

 

[Steven Holt]

How do you see the NAD C 316BEE V2 for these speakers?

The 316BEEE is a splendid piece of gear and I came very close to buying it. The only thing that held me back was that it has no SUBOUT. Now, u can still use a sub, it's just more of a pain to wire it in. Honestly, between the Yamaha, the WiiM, and the NAD, you can't go wrong. Flip a three-sided coin.

 

[Guddu]

Amir has already tested the other two SMSL amplifiers with this Infineon chipset; the PA200 won't be any different, just like most amplifiers with Infineon Merus technology. Just look at the load dependence between 4 and 8 ohms, and you'll see what I mean.

I understand what you’re saying but normally SMSL are fine providing stats and I think I saw a fair frequency response on PA200 product page.
I would avoid assuming unless a measurement is published somewhere but just saying to keep it in prospective.
PA200 is GaN FET powered and their other GaN FETs have modest variation which I wouldn’t worry about much but others may have different conclusion.

 

[Roland68]

I understand what you’re saying but normally SMSL are fine providing stats and I think I saw a fair frequency response on PA200 product page.
I would avoid assuming unless a measurement is published somewhere but just saying to keep it in prospective.
PA200 is GaN FET powered and their other GaN FETs have modest variation which I wouldn’t worry about much but others may have different conclusion.

SMSL is keeping quiet about these measurements, and for good reason.
GaNFets in amplifiers are nothing more than a marketing gimmick, especially when the entire circuit has disadvantages, like the fundamental load dependence of Infineon. GaNFets could theoretically offer a 2-3% efficiency advantage over other Class D amplifiers, but that's precisely what doesn't work with GaNFets with highly variable loads. The measured values of SMSL's Infineon amplifiers are no better, and are even worse, than those of the over 30-year-old NAD 2200. Or take a look at a budget amplifier like the Fosi V3 Stereo.

With an A7se, you get more power for less money and better measured values across the board for the DBR62.

 

[Guddu]

SMSL is keeping quiet about these measurements, and for good reason.
GaNFets in amplifiers are nothing more than a marketing gimmick, especially when the entire circuit has disadvantages, like the fundamental load dependence of Infineon. GaNFets could theoretically offer a 2-3% efficiency advantage over other Class D amplifiers, but that's precisely what doesn't work with GaNFets with highly variable loads. The measured values of SMSL's Infineon amplifiers are no better, and are even worse, than those of the over 30-year-old NAD 2200. Or take a look at a budget amplifier like the Fosi V3 Stereo.

With an A7se, you get more power for less money and better measured values across the board for the DBR62.

Agreed, I am not suggesting PA200 over A7.