I am looking to get a small integrated amp for my bedroom. Will mostly be used off bluetooth. I like the VU meters on these two models and wonder if there is a big difference between them in quality at all. I see they use the same TPA 3255 chip, but not sure if there is any glaring difference between the two.
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Ampapa D1 or Aiyima a80
- Thread starter shortyg83
- Start date
Curious about these two devices also. I am wanting to make the jump to a new 3255 chip and would like VU meters, good sound and Tone controls for basic fixes to various passive speakers I would be using with it. Here's what I see between them:
+A80 combines a very capable DAC, while the D1 is only analog input
+D1 has HP and LP filters, so a sub output with LP filter can be nice, and HP for speakers
+D1 should have a higher SINAD but I have not seen any test reviews yet......
+D1 nice see through top
I know some claimed the A07 sounded better than the A80, and the DAC portion of A80 might not enjoy all the added heat.
Also, is there any advantage to buying the Ampapa version of the Douk version?
+A80 combines a very capable DAC, while the D1 is only analog input
+D1 has HP and LP filters, so a sub output with LP filter can be nice, and HP for speakers
+D1 should have a higher SINAD but I have not seen any test reviews yet......
+D1 nice see through top
I know some claimed the A07 sounded better than the A80, and the DAC portion of A80 might not enjoy all the added heat.
Also, is there any advantage to buying the Ampapa version of the Douk version?
Vini darko
Major Contributor
The ampapa has really caught eye my with it's looks. Waiting for it to be available on Amazon ATM.
KokoCollie
Member
I know it's been a month, but did you make up your mind yet? I own the Ampapa D1 and I'd be happy to give my opinion.
bennjude19
Member
can you share your opinion with the D1 please. thanks
KokoCollie
Member
I've really really enjoyed it.
I think its biggest downside is that the display, while it gets very bright, lacks contradt meaning "black" pixels are rather grey. It isn't bad, but it is noticeable compared to my DX5 II's display. Another gripe is that the space between the OP-Amps is not much, meaning you'll struggle to fit some wider options in (I believe Sparkos fit, but something like the SX52B, which is the best discrete OP-Amp for the price, will not without extensions).
It has plenty of power, the 12V trigger is really nice if you plan to use it, no hiss whatsoever even at maximum volume with something quiet playing. The crossover works great, though I wish it had more markings due to the fact that it isn't a linear knob. The beginning marking is "off", the middle marking is "60hz" and the maximum is "200hz", so trying to select 80hz may require some tinkering with a tone generator, which isn't hard.
When it comes to the D1 vs the A80, I'd say that, if you plan to add a sub to your setup, the D1 is a better choice due to the crossover knob. There are other benefits, like an argueably cleaner asthetic and the nice window + lights on top, which also helps with rolling OP-Amps. I also think that the selection of VU meters and display options is much cleaner on the D1.
If you don't care about having a crossover, the Fosi ZA3 is also a good option, but I much prefer the asthetics of the Ampapa D1.
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Schlippwhip68
Addicted to Fun and Learning
Has anybody found a way of turning off the display on the D1?
KokoCollie
Member
You can’t, unless you physically disconnect it internally, which isn’t hard.
Not sure why you’d buy a stereo amplifier with a display only to not use it.
The Aiyima A20 is a very similar price, with almost identical features except for the display and top window. If you don’t want an amplifier with a display, better options than the D1 exist for the same cost.
Schlippwhip68
Addicted to Fun and Learning
I certainly didn’t find any way to switch off the display. One person has said there is a setting that will do it called ‘A4’ and it works by switching off the screen after 10 seconds. To have that as an option would be good.
Not a deal breaker regardless.
Many amps/DACs with displays offer an Off or Off after x seconds function. Because my gear is right under my TV, I like them off at night when TV viewing to avoid distraction. Others just want to save the electricity or display longevity. I do not know how much impact it has but it makes them feel better and feeling better is the purpose of many amp differentiators these days. I do see you can adjust the brightness...a firmware update to adjust it to zero would be nice, as long as they provided a way to turn the display on again without using the screen
At 10% brightness perhaps the no-deep-black issue would be better as well.Good Black Friday/Cyber Monday prices on this right now. I am torn, I wish they offered a 32 or 36 volt power supply option like they do the Douk A5 Pro. It makes me feel better not generating the excess heat with the 48v for higher power levels I would not use.
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Schlippwhip68
Addicted to Fun and Learning
Aiyima sell 36v 6a power supply’s which is what I am using with the D1. It came with the 48v but I didn’t even take it out of the box. The 36v is minus 10watts of volume compared to the 48v but it’s a small sacrifice for the sake of not maxing out the amplifier continuously in regards to voltage at least and those Sagami coils stay much cooler with the 36v power supply.Many amps/DACs with displays offer an Off or Off after x seconds function. Because my gear is right under my TV, I like them off at night when TV viewing to avoid distraction. Others just want to save the electricity or display longevity. I do know how much impact it has but it makes them feel better and feeling better is the purpose of many amp differentiators these days. I do see you can adjust the brightness...a firmware update to adjust it to zero would be nice, as long as they provided a way to turn the display on again without using the screen
View attachment 493936
Good Black Friday/Cyber Monday prices on this right now. I am torn, I wish they offered a 32 or 36 volt power supply option like they do the Douk A5 Pro. It makes me feel better not generating the excess heat with the 48v for higher power levels I would not
I Would like to see Aiyima step their game up with their power supplies to be honest. Considering nearly all of their products are exterior supplies it makes sense to offer something a little more than standard, even a GaN 36v 6a is a step in the right direction for efficiency but it is their 36v 6a that I would like to see upgraded most of all.
I have my display on 10% and can clearly see it, with poor eyesight, 3 meters away.
The amps original sound with the NE5532 is very easy to listen to straight out of the box, very smooth sounding, definitely no fatigue on the ears.
For my personal preference I found it a little too warm and fuzzy, this is strictly down to the op amps and not the amplifier. I switched out the NE5532 and put the opa828 into the D1.
Completely different sound. Very detailed, no fuzzy warmth! Punchy deep clean bass, very clean detailed treble, better instrument separation. The mid range is a tiny bit little thinner than something like the opa2604 but not overly so and has a nice amount of air around the vocals. The Muses 02 has more textured forward vocal by comparison and just seems to lock the vocal down better than probably all the op amps I have tested but the opa828 is next level detail in an overall capacity with precision and speed dynamically, which I like, The bass is how I like it, tight as in precise performance but also has good weight.
I am running this into a pair of Q acoustics 5020 and they grabbing everything coming from the D1 with ease.
The D1 does go into standby with no signal after a few minutes with a rather unusual bright capitol N at the beginning of the word No and then dulls the rest of the sentence (see photo). Not sure why, I thought it might be a faulty display at one point but it seems intentional.
Compared to the Aiyima A80 I think the differences will be marginal with the same dac and internal op amp. It’s usually the case but the differences are there and though small do lead to preference with most people. The A80 is good value given that Aiyima have a built a very decent dac in there and compared to 3-4 years ago for something similar, today’s A80 is a very big step forward in fidelity from Aiyima.
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Does the "No Signal" go black after a while or is it on whenever it is in standby?
KokoCollie
Member
That's very fair. I didn't mean to sound judgemental in my comment, I've just got rather limited experience with DAC / AMPs that include displays, I didn't even know this was a thing!Many amps/DACs with displays offer an Off or Off after x seconds function. Because my gear is right under my TV, I like them off at night when TV viewing to avoid distraction. Others just want to save the electricity or display longevity. I do not know how much impact it has but it makes them feel better and feeling better is the purpose of many amp differentiators these days. I do see you can adjust the brightness...a firmware update to adjust it to zero would be nice, as long as they provided a way to turn the display on again without using the screen
View attachment 493936
Good Black Friday/Cyber Monday prices on this right now. I am torn, I wish they offered a 32 or 36 volt power supply option like they do the Douk A5 Pro. It makes me feel better not generating the excess heat with the 48v for higher power levels I would not use.
Schlippwhip68
Addicted to Fun and Learning
Stays as ‘No Signal’.
bennjude19
Member
Well got my D1 as well and loved the big VU meter compared to my A80. Aesthetic is done so well with precision and the side ventilation with Ampapa on it is so cool. There is still 1mm clearance between the Sparkos 3602 op amps. Im enjoying every minute of it
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Schlippwhip68
Addicted to Fun and Learning
+1…..like it too. I caught a Ampapa Q1 on Black Friday as well which will arrive next week to sit directly under the D1 in this little stack.
I was going to go with the Sparkos for this one but decided to stick with the opa828 with these speakers, the detail is off the charts!
AfterThought
Member
- Joined
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Kinda blows, I mean, 60 actual watts is great for what it is, but still blows. Anyone wondering, it's Wiliston Audio Lab that did the test...it was mentioned in a short followup video.
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