KingRex T20u amp+DAC measurements or other experiences?

[tjf]

Just ordered Topping PA5 II and Apple dongle . Am going to sell my Kingrex T20u, anyone interested ?
@tjf : Sorry, the Wiim will have to wait, I'm just not ready yet for a streamer, maybe next century...

As a listener who has heard an apple Dongle decoding a PC (Foobar and Amazon HD) and now uses a Wiim Pro Plus -- I think you really ought to try a Pro Plus with your PA5 -- I know you could probaly setup PEQ via you computer -- but for the moderate cost of a Pro Plus (I assume it's a moderate cost to you, apologies if it's not) you ought to try the Wiim in your system...

Yes, you'll need to setup your Soundcloud app, and I'd suggest trying other platforms too (Amazon HD, Tidal, etc.) -- playing files might be a bit of a stretch via squeeze, but hearing what the better streaming platforms can do would be a good thing to experience...

Good luck with the PA5

 

[Simfunk]

The Wiim is really a very interesting device, and the price doesn't shock me. I'm very likely to get one one day, but for the moment, a simple amp is exactly what I need. Btw I forgot to mention that I sometimes also watch videos while doing sports, so it's not audio only, and the laptop is the best all-in-one solution. Thanks again for this great idea, @tjf, but I suggest that we end our side-discussion here, in order to keep this thread on topic?

 

[Jobian]

Hi, I fell victim to the "Tripath fever" around 12 years ago and bought the Sure Electronics TK2050 Tripath kit, that was the higher powered implementation of the Tripath design with a separate Sigma Delta modulator chip (for Tripath's propriatary signal conditioning) and a separate Class D Power chip (based on a ST Microelectronics "ST series" class D power amp -- I think?) -- this tech was used in a LOT of inexpensive products in the early-to-mid 2000's that were marketed as "giant killing" amp tech, but today things have advanced (a LOT), thanks mainly to the group of Scandanavian designers that ended up inventing the current crop of T.I. Class D amp devices ASR is reviewing (T.I. 3255 PFFP, etc.) that you see in Topping PA5/7 amps, and other well reviewed products here, etc.

It's probably time to move on from the Kingrex amp (I still have their line stage preamp!) and consider the new Class D stuff from Topping, Axign, Hypex, Purifi, et al...

As far as USB is concerned - you ought to get a proper modern DAC with modern USB implementation to connect to a new amp design (that USB input on your Kingrex is a 1st gen 16 bit T.I. PCM2702 -- USB decoding today is waaaaaaayyyyyy improved)

A good DAC with a modern 24 bit capable USB input can be had for a few hundred $ ($200?), and then add the updated version of the PA5 with it's volume control....and leave the decade of the 2000's behind.

I'm not so sure? I find my kingrex usb very good! I do use my kingrex via laptop/ converter for hi res with my kingrex and it's also very good but not as loud? I use my kingrex in the bedroom with a pair of John blue speakers using the kingrex PSU ( blinding blue light lol ) my only gripe with 16 bit / 48kHz is that I pay for hi res streaming and feel that I should use the highest resolution possible? So on my main kit it's hi res and upstairs it's lowly 16 bit of audio goodness...I like the simplicity of my kingrex amp and using my iPhone as the streamer..very happy!

 

[Jobian]

The Wiim is really a very interesting device, and the price doesn't shock me. I'm very likely to get one one day, but for the moment, a simple amp is exactly what I need. Btw I forgot to mention that I sometimes also watch videos while doing sports, so it's not audio only, and the laptop is the best all-in-one solution. Thanks again for this great idea, @tjf, but I suggest that we end our side-discussion here, in order to keep this thread on topic?

I have a wiim and it's very good as a cheap streamer which you can control from phone..it goes into the optical on my jolida dac and sounds alright..my Chromebook into coax on jolida ( via converter ) sounds much better? Think my MF v link is 96 kHz and I think wiim is 96 kHz too! However for the cost of the wiim I'm not complaining...