help choosing an amp to replace my AD18

[Ludophoenix]

Hello everyone,

I am new to audio and hi-fi.

I want to improve my system and am looking for advice on how to make the right choice. I currently have an SMSL AD 18 which powers Monitor Audio Bronze 2 and an Eltax subwoofer.
As a source, I use an Android tablet and Spotify, mainly via USB and occasionally via Bluetooth.

I like the sound that the set provides, but it shows its limits at high volume. I would therefore like to change amps with a maximum budget of €300.
Amp with USB inputs, Bluetooth and subwoofer output, with of course a good sound (soundstage and dynamics) and above all more power than the SMSL AD18.

I identified an FDA the Aiyima D03 but I am not sure that the gain will be significant compared to the AD18. And I hear a lot about these two class D amps with integrated DAC Aiyiama A80 and SMSL RAW-HA1.

Could you please give me some advice to help me make my choice?
Thank you in advance.

 

[staticV3]

Hi @Ludophoenix! Welcome to ASR.

It's slightly over budget at 350€, but with your budget and needs, the WiiM Amp Pro is so much better than the competition that buying anything else is kind of a waste.

https://www.euronics.de/frankfurt-technikstudio/tv-und-audio/hifi-und-audio/hifi-bausteine/netzwerkplayer/amp-pro-vollverstaerker-und-netzwerk-player-space-gray-4065465063201

You can stream Spotify to it directly over the network, and the built-in subwoofer integration and room correction features are pretty much the best upgrade you can do to your system.

You can compare Amir's measurements here:
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...w-and-measurements-of-smsl-ad18-dac-amp.7325/

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...-pro-streaming-stereo-amplifier-review.57257/

120W vs 40W, that's a 5dB increase or about 40% louder.

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[Ludophoenix]

Thanks for the quick reply. I didn't know about this amp. It's available in France where I live for €369. So I'm going to continue my research before deciding if it's really worth the extra budget. Even though I admit that with the first readings I've done on the Wiim amp pro, it's starting to make me think

 

[Ludophoenix]

Édit : 459€ and not 369€

 

[Ludophoenix]

It's a shame that the Euronics website doesn't deliver to France.
Do you know of any other sites that offer the Wiim Amp Pro at a good price?

 

[staticV3]

Do you know of any other sites that offer the Wiim Amp Pro at a good price?

Best I could find in France: https://www.hifi.eu/fr/wiim-amp-pro-promo.html

 

[Roland68]

You could order here, they usually deliver to France too, but it costs an additional €30.49 for shipping.
https://heimkinowelt.at/wiim-amp-pro-streamer-verstaerker-a37204.html

Or wait until an offer comes up on Amazon or somewhere else.

 

[Ludophoenix]

Finally I opted for an Aiyima A80 which I managed to acquire for 120€.
For this price I told myself that it was worth a try especially since the amp has the same DAC and amplification chips as the Wiim amp pro. Thank you for your advice and your opinions

 

[Roland68]

Finally I opted for an Aiyima A80 which I managed to acquire for 120€.
For this price I told myself that it was worth a try especially since the amp has the same DAC and amplification chips as the Wiim amp pro. Thank you for your advice and your opinions

Great bargain, may I ask where and how you got the A80 for that price?

 

[DVDdoug]

with of course a good sound (soundstage and dynamics)

The soundstage is not affected by the amplifier. It mostly comes from the recording. It's also influenced by room acoustics and your speakers, and of course your brain since it's an illusion with the sound actually coming from a pair of speakers.

Dynamics are also from the recording. Amplifiers are linear and they don't affect the dynamics unless over-driven into clipping. If you push amplifier into clipping (distortion) that's a very-bad kind of dynamic compression but it's heard as distortion, not as compression. On the quiet-side, the dynamic range is limited by noise. Again, if you hear background noise it's heard as noise not as a reduction in dynamics.

 

[Ludophoenix]

Great bargain, may I ask where and how you got the A80 for that price?

Of course:

I ordered the amp from this website:

https://a.aliexpress.com/_EJ19O7G

I used the code CDFR20, which gives you a €20 discount on your €169 purchase.

And before placing the order, I visited this website: https://www.widilo.fr/, which currently offers a 25% cashback on the pre-tax price for purchases made on Aliexpress.

 

[Roland68]

Of course:

I ordered the amp from this website:

https://a.aliexpress.com/_EJ19O7G

I used the code CDFR20, which gives you a €20 discount on your €169 purchase.

And before placing the order, I visited this website: https://www.widilo.fr/, which currently offers a 25% cashback on the pre-tax price for purchases made on Aliexpress.

Thank you, very helpful, certainly not just for me.
Then I wish you lots of fun with the little one.

 

[Ludophoenix]

Hello everyone,
I'm posting this to let you know that I received the A80 and I'm delighted with it.
I use it with a USB-connected tablet as a source.
I find the sound clearer, more impactful, and of course more powerful than the AD18.
I don't regret the upgrade.
Just a note: the A80 heats up quite a bit and quickly.
Thanks again, everyone.