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auto on/off amplifiers

Willem

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I am looking for a 2x100 watt or so power amplifier with auto on/off functionality, just like most subwoofers, and available on the EU market. This is for use in the bedroom. I am currently using a 2x25 watt Ava Maestro 50 amplifier with this functionality, driving a pair of modest Q Acoustics 3010 speakers using a Chromecast Audio as a source. However, we are planning to move into a larger bedroom and are considering using my rather ineffficient Harbeth P3ESRs for much better sound quality. I don't want to spend a fortune. It really baffles me why there are so very few amplifiers with auto on/off. It would seem to be so attractive to have and then put the unit somewhere out of sight for less visual clutter.
 

labdoc

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Feb 16, 2018
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In our bedroom closet, I have an squeezebox network player on a NUC running Daphile software > USB out to DAC > NAD C275BEE amp. The NAD is auto on-off without a 12 volt trigger when the output from the NUC/DAC stops. The squeeze player (Daphile) allows one to turn off the player via network remote - no infrared line of sight required - and that is a key feature that allows placement of the unit in the closet. I use "Squeeze Ctrl"(www.angrygoatapps.com) on a Samsung android tablet or on an android phone to control the music selection, volume and NUC player on/off from bed or elsewhere in the house via wifi. The NUC is on a wired network connection to the wifi router, but could be wireless if needed as a built-in wifi feature is in Daphile. It all works very well. I bought the NAD used. Spec: Continuous output power into 8 Ω and 4 Ω (both channels driven) >150 W (ref. rated THD, 20 Hz – 20 kHz).
 

Apesbrain

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Parasound A23+ would fit your need.

a23+_high_angle_black.jpg
 
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Willem

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Thanks for all this. I am afraid I find both the NAD and the Parasound a bit expensive for a bedroom system. Fore this use a 350 euro Yamaha AS 501 would be more than good enough as an amplifier, but it does not have auto on/off. Thus far, my only option seems to nbe the new Sonus AMP. At 699 euro it is still more than I would prefer to spend but it doe sindeed get closer to my intended budget.
 

restorer-john

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Why not just build an auto on/off external switch? I did that many years ago for my bedroom system so we could go to sleep and the HiFi system would turn itself off after the music ended (around 5 minutes later).
 
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Willem

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I have seen descriptions but I am an economic historian and not an electronics engineer. It does surprise me that such gadgets do not seem to be on the market. I already have an excellent amplifier for the bedroom (a refurbuished Quad 405-2) so a simple external auto on/off gadget would be dandy. I would certainly love to have all my other gear out of sight as well, and switching on and off automatically.
 

DonH56

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