looking for a cheap Chi-Fi Class D Stereo amplifier for a 2.1 bookshelf setup
- Thread starter Bunn999
- Start date
You want to look at SMSL. It offers the best bang for buck and has the SQ to back it. Fosi is a bit crude and needs a good preamp. Aiyima T10 is also quite decent if you want something serviceable at half the price of an SMSL.
never bothered with Topping bcuz most users were not satisfied with their units from what I weaned over time on this forum and from reviews.
Never knew 140w equated to “mere”. But generally speaking, none of these amps truly achieve their fully rated power and the ones that do are at 10% THD. In any case, it would be nearly unreasonable, unless they hadn’t claimed so, to expect 300W x 2 from that tiny a form factor.
The Marantz M1 i use produces a solid continuous 100W x 2 @ 8 ohms <0.05% THD but it is nearly 4 times the size of the V3 despite being a compact Class D amp itself.
The Fosi ZA3 in monoblock config may be able to achieve 150w x 2 @ 8ohm but thats 26k and one too many wires.
Topping products should be able to achieve the rated power they advertise. Topping LA90 can do around 60w x 2 @ 8ohm but when switched to mono, its nearly 200. Same with Topping B200. Check them out but a word of caution - you’ll need two units of either to run stereo while achieving the desired power output.
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Those are the pitfalls with cheap Chi fi amps. I also run a Kinki Studio, which is also a Chi Fi amp and weighs the better part of 25 kilos, and it only produces around 280W @ 4ohm. Two units of Fosi ZA3 in monoblock config is still your best bet but chasing power is meaningless so i recommend you look at the SMSL or the Aiyima T10, power figures be damned.
COOLDUDE7808
Well-Known Member
You are going to match your speaker with amp and hence specs are important . Power ratings which are overstated way beyond the actuals can lead to wrong decisions and your speaker will go kaput . So do read reviews , test results etc available on the net from multiple sources and take a informed decision . Especially if you are buying Chinese Class D amps like Fosi , Aiyma or even Indian amps or any amp which does not reveal whether its ratings are continuous power or peak power etc
General Gyan on - power is not important , ratings don't matter , high current matters , you will never use this power etc etc is very valid and ok for discussion and understanding , but your speakers should not be underpowered . No Point in saving money on amp and losing your speakers
General Gyan on - power is not important , ratings don't matter , high current matters , you will never use this power etc etc is very valid and ok for discussion and understanding , but your speakers should not be underpowered . No Point in saving money on amp and losing your speakers
Do elaborate on losing speakers it them going kaput due to underpowering them.
In my experience, been using speakers having a minimum power requirement of at least 25W i.e. <85db with a 20W tube amp and they haven't gone kaput in 5 years. I also happen to know a few fine gentlemen who power their speakers with as low as a 2W tube amp and yet, none of their speakers happen to have gone kaput.
As I understand it, what you want to avoid is clipping and with Solid State amps, its often very obvious unless one is a savage.
However, if one does identify as a savage, definitely go for a high powered amp but again, you stand the chance of overdriving your speakers. Therefore, it must be a combination of high power handling speakers and a high powered amp.
yea i agree with this assessment.
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