Why does it seem hard to create a decent affordable speaker amplifier?

[Deleted member 9685]

It's relatively easy to create a decent affordable headphone amplifier such as JDS Labs Atom.
Do people simply not care enough? Or, are there fundamental design challenges?

According to Build Your Own Professional-Grade Audio Amp on the Sort of Cheap, a man built an amplifier out of EAUMT-0050-2-A amplifier board which uses TPA3250 chip. It cost 259 USD. It seems a useable amplifier might become cheap soon.

An emperor's toy becomes a commoner's tool in a few decades. Nowadays, it can take a few years instead of decades.

 

[LeftCoastTim]

If the material cost of this amp was $250, then suggested retail for a mass produced version (made by Sony or Yamaha) would be $1000. It could be bought on amazon for $800.

If an “audiophile” maker made this, it would be at least $5000.

Now you know ;-)

 

[Deleted member 9685]

A list of amps that I pay attention to.

• TPA3116D2
  • SMSL SA100
  • Nobsound TPA3116
  • Nobsound Dual TPA3116
    • Two TPA3116 chips make it twice as powerful.
• TPA3118 (similar to TPA3116)
  • Allo Volt+
    • People say this one is built well unlike cheap chinese TPA3116 amps.
    • This would probably be my choice if I cannot wait for a TPA3255 amp from Allo.com
  • Allo Volt+ Double
• TPA3250 (better than TPA3116 and TPA3118)
  • FX502S Pro
• TPA3255 (twice as powerful as TPA3250. Presumably the best class-D amp.)
  • Allo may come up with a TPA3255 amp soon. I'm looking forward to it.
  • No-brand 300W*2 amplifiers that look the same.