Douk A5 Budget Stereo Amplifier Review

[Audionaut]

A5 after 2h was on 71C

If the housing gets very hot, the aluminum block that connects the TPA3255 to the housing does not need to be any larger, as it then performs its task perfectly as a heat exchanger.
The actual housing is then too small for heat dissipation and you have to resort to additional means.
Either activated with a fan or passive with a heat sink.
As I don't like active cooling in hi-fi devices, I opted for a massive heat sink for the O-Noorus D1, which is also used in power amplifiers.
There are also cheaper solutions on AE, for example.

 

[Audionaut]

With the A5, of course, you have the problem that you have the glass cover at the top.
I would probably put it on an aluminum plate or screw it on, which is equipped with heat pads and is larger on the side than the A5 housing.
I would install two heat sinks on the right and left of the aluminum plate.
I hope that helps you.
Good luck

 

[Bruce Morgen]

The 3255 has very robust protection circuits in my testing. It will safeguard itself from over temp anyway.

Exactly -- IOW, "stand down from red alert!"

 

[Jmudrick]

...and it's now a tariffed $350 amp once Amazon stock is depleted. WINNING.

 

[btkli]

...and it's now a tariffed $350 amp once Amazon stock is depleted. WINNING.

That sucks man.. hopefully the tariffs will be temporary and will be gone soon

 

[Bruce Morgen]

In the latest "winning" move out of DC, the sub-$800 customs inspection exemption on shipments incoming from China has been lifted. That means that low-value direct shipments from China to U.S. customers will be delayed beyond transit time, possibly by weeks.

 

[LtMandella]

In the latest "winning" move out of DC, the sub-$800 customs inspection exemption on shipments incoming from China has been lifted. That means that low-value direct shipments from China to U.S. customers will be delayed beyond transit time, possibly by weeks.

Dern, I just completed a $20 Aliexpress order. Why couldn't you have posted this 10 minutes earlier

 

[btkli]

You can ship to your neighbors in Canada (e.g. ME ), I'll play around with your equipment a bit before shipping them back to you. Deal?

 

[LtMandella]

You can ship to your neighbors in Canada (e.g. ME ), I'll play around with your equipment a bit before shipping them back to you. Deal?

you know, if the tariffs last, you may be able to work a side hussle for American buyers...

 

[btkli]

you know, if the tariffs last, you may be able to work a side hussle for American buyers...

Haha... not a bad business plan. Haha, if only I have more time for that.

Anyways, I think the way things are, with everything going up in price, maybe it'll dissuade me from buying all these (toys). Or maybe selling my existing toys at an inflated price will give more more incentives to buy more... We can't win....

 

[bboris77]

This is an interesting little device with a high pass filter. Has anyone measured whether engaging the high pass filter at any of its settings has an impact on SINAD?
@amirm, any input on this? It would be interesting to know if the HPF is purely analog or is the entire signal digitized before it is applied.

 

[rattlesnake]

My A5 with the 48v, 5A power supply just arrived. I am impressed with the build quality, I love the styling, and of course it sounds clean and quiet. This review was very helpful and I love it!

 

[avl2]

is the characteristic of the volume potentiometer good for usage = for easy volume setting, especially at lower volumes and not only a fraction of the rotational range between min. and max. volume ? e.g. logarithmic, duple logarithmic or (pure) linear ?

 

[avl2]

another question: how to connect my REL T2 with a Douk A5 (I want to know "everything" before buying)

with my conventional amps I use the connetion REL recommends: high level input on the REL using the "neutrik speak on" cable, connected to the loudspeaker output terminals on the amp

on the Douk A5 there is the 3.5mm jack "Aux" output, obviously stereo; on the REL there is a low level single RCA input -> is there a stereo male jack to mono RCA female adapter (+ a typical RCA cable) needed ?

is there any potential issue putting a mono jack male into the 3.5mm jack "Aux" female on the Douk A5 ?

 

[btkli]

another question: how to connect my REL T2 with a Douk A5 (I want to know "everything" before buying)

with my conventional amps I use the connetion REL recommends: high level input on the REL using the "neutrik speak on" cable, connected to the loudspeaker output terminals on the amp

on the Douk A5 there is the 3.5mm jack "Aux" output, obviously stereo; on the REL there is a low level single RCA input -> is there a stereo male jack to mono RCA female adapter (+ a typical RCA cable) needed ?

is there any potential issue putting a mono jack male into the 3.5mm jack "Aux" female on the Douk A5 ?

The Douk uses RCA cables, and not 3.5mm. Even the AUX is the standard Subwoofer/RCA cable, which you use to connect to your subwoofer (I'm not familiar with the REL sub). For the speakers, you can use your typical speaker wires.

 

[Mr_RGB]

From another review...
"On the rear of the A5 there is a 3.5mm output connection labeled Aux Out. I confirmed that the A5's Aux Out level is variable, full frequency. (Douk Audio could have labeled the 3.5mm connection as Pre Out or Sub Out.) The Aux Out level is controlled by the volume knob setting on the A5."

 

[avl2]

The Douk uses RCA cables, and not 3.5mm. Even the AUX is the standard Subwoofer/RCA cable, which you use to connect to your subwoofer (I'm not familiar with the REL sub). For the speakers, you can use your typical speaker wires.

why do you write this definitely false thing ? why do you write if you are not familiar with the REL T2 ?

here on the top the situation of the connectors and below more with question mark: is this the proper solution to use such connectors ?

 

[unmutual]

why do you write this definitely false thing ? why do you write if you are not familiar with the REL T2 ?

here on the top the situation of the connectors and below more with question mark: is this the proper solution to use such connectors ?

Yes, you can use the AUX out from the DOUK to the low level input of the REL, using a 3.5 mm to RCA cable.

 

[avl2]

Yes, you can use the AUX out from the DOUK to the low level input of the REL, using a 3.5 mm to RCA cable.

no issue with stereo vs. mono ?

I mean: the Douk A5 obviously has a stereo 3.5mm out; the REL "expects" on single RCA both channels;

in good case first the 2 channels of the stereo must be properly (!) unified, like through Single Stereo auf Mono Konverter

I am not convinced what happens if a simple cable on one side with 3.5mm stereo Jack male and on the other side with RCA male connector is used; depends how the connections are done; e.g. bass not only from one channel arrives

 

[Vortex]

I imagine a 12v trigger would make it far more appealing to many.

btw trigger.. is a 12v trigger a constant DC voltage (triggered device ON as long as continuous DC is on the trigger cable) or a one-time signal-like ? (1 signal = ON, another one = OFF for the whole chain, with 0 Voltage on the trigger cable between switches).