AudioSource AMP One: A Low Priced Component Amplifier Suggestion

[DaveHo]

I have an Audiosource Amp Two. Same amp, more bells & whistles. Currently it is driving a 2 channel bedroom setup. In the past, I've also used it for powering multiple zones in my house. These are really nice sounding amps for the money. It had no problem powering mutiple sets of speakers when used as my zone amp. The auto on works fairly well. If you listen at extremely low volumes, it will not be sensitive enough to kick the amp on, but otherwise it works as advertised.

I've also owned a pair of Behringer A500s in the past. In bridged mode they put out a lot of power, but are not rated for 4 ohm use. The Audiosource amp will have no problem bridged into 4 ohm loads. As far as which sounds better, well, I still have the Audiosource.

-Dave

 

[maximoiglesias]

Tom Andry's review

More pics are needed. Not only is the cap rating low, but it's also only 50 volt. I could be incorrect about this but from what I understand about class AB amplifiers (which I believe is the topology of the amplifier in question) is if the amp has one transformer it has one power supply. The power supply consists of primarily a transformer and capacitors (as well as resistors, fuses, relays and such). No particular "channel" gets a cap or it's own capacitor bank. One cap gets used for pushing, and another for pulling current. Again, I could be wrong (it happens often).




Your receiver would not support this. Something like the Yamaha RX-V661 or RX-V663 would be great. If you are on a tight budget you might try and find an older Pioneer VSX-816 which was very well received for it's features in it's price bracket (basically the cheapest receiver to have preouts). Unfortunately Pioneer's more current 800 series AVR's lack preouts and that is reserved for the 1000 series only.

In Tom Andry's review of the SVX-516, which I own, he states that this reciever has pre outs and can be used with outboard amps.

Am I missing something?? Or did Tom made a mistake??

I do not see any pre outs jacks on the back of my reciever..................

 

[Seth=L]

In Tom Andry's review of the SVX-516, which I own, he states that this reciever has pre outs and can be used with outboard amps.

Am I missing something?? Or did Tom made a mistake??

I do not see any pre outs jacks on the back of my reciever..................

I believe you may have read his review incorrectly. It's worth mentioning, however, that there is no such thing as a Pioneer SVX-516. The receiver Tom reviewed is a VSX-516 (easy typo to make). The VSX-516 has 5.1 analog inputs, but only has a single subwoofer output. You would have to jump up to the Pioneer VSX-816 or older VSX-815 to get preouts. The VSX-817 and more current rendetions of that receiver don't have preouts for some reason.

 

[maximoiglesias]

Tom's mistake

I believe you may have read his review incorrectly. It's worth mentioning, however, that there is no such thing as a Pioneer SVX-516. The receiver Tom reviewed is a VSX-516 (easy typo to make). The VSX-516 has 5.1 analog inputs, but only has a single subwoofer output. You would have to jump up to the Pioneer VSX-816 or older VSX-815 to get preouts. The VSX-817 and more current rendetions of that receiver don't have preouts for some reason.

My mistake with VSX lettering.

Tom Says in his review:

". The digital connections are assignable to whichever input you'd like. The 5.1 inputs are a bit confusing as you have to connect the mains over on the left with the rest of the inputs while the rest of the speakers are connected closer to the center of the unit. This could create a problem for people that invested in a six cable bundle as the separation might be too great. Noticeably absent (but not missed) were the s-video inputs. DVI and HDMI were nowhere to be found (and won't be at the price). The unit has 5.1 pre-outs if you want to use outboard amps. The unit has this funky valley running horizontally across the front of the unit that made everyone think it was two components sitting on top of each other. I didn't find anyone (myself included) that really thought it was that attractive of a unit.

 

[jvgillow]

It doesn't have 5.1 preouts. Nor does the 517, which I have in my bedroom.

 

[roll - gybe]

I have the Amp 200 powering some very hungry speakers (low impedance/low efficiency). It works really well.

I use the auto on. It takes a few seconds to turn on - about 3 - and it works like a charm.

It is heavy too. I mean its no monster, but it is solid for sure.

 

[maximoiglesias]

Just for you to know............

and have an idea, in my country a USD200 reciever costs USD450.
Same for all audio gear.

What for you guys is a budget system, here is a mid price one.

 

[Seth=L]

He must have made a small error. Like you said from looking at the back of your VSX-516, there are no preouts (other than the subwoofer preout).

 

[spr1949]

Need AC output voltages at the secondary of transformer

This shows the amp internals.

I have one Audiosource Amp One, the mains transformer of which has been tampered by someone, resulting in 53V DC coming to the tank capacitors rated for 50V. Can someone help me by providing the AC output voltages present in the mains transformer?

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

6 year old thread... Grave digging much?


Rip WmAx/Chris

 

[j_garcia]

I have one Audiosource Amp One, the mains transformer of which has been tampered by someone, resulting in 53V DC coming to the tank capacitors rated for 50V. Can someone help me by providing the AC output voltages present in the mains transformer?

Contact Audiosource (now owned by Phoenix Gold).

 

[TLS Guy]

I have one Audiosource Amp One, the mains transformer of which has been tampered by someone, resulting in 53V DC coming to the tank capacitors rated for 50V. Can someone help me by providing the AC output voltages present in the mains transformer?

How did you measure the voltage? Were the caps hooked up, with a load on the amp. If the amp was unloaded that voltage sounds right. If I remember correctly that power supply is not regulated, and so if the amp was unloaded then 53 volts sounds right. What is the problem with the amp anyway that is making you have to investigate it? In any event an overage of 3 volts on a 50 volt cap is neither here nor there and not the source of your problem if you have one.

 

[slipperybidness]

How did you measure the voltage? Were the caps hooked up, with a load on the amp. If the amp was unloaded that voltage sounds right. If I remember correctly that power supply is not regulated, and so if the amp was unloaded then 53 volts sounds right. What is the problem with the amp anyway that is making you have to investigate it? In any event an overage of 3 volts on a 50 volt cap is neither here nor there and not the source of your problem if you have one.

Good points. How was it measured (DMM or O-scope) and was it unloaded? Are we talking 53Vp or 53Vrms? 53Vp on a nominal 50V cap might not be a problem, but 53Vrms might be a different story.

 

[TLS Guy]

Good points. How was it measured (DMM or O-scope) and was it unloaded? Are we talking 53Vp or 53Vrms? 53Vp on a nominal 50V cap might not be a problem, but 53Vrms might be a different story.

Well at the caps it should be DC, so peak or RMS does not apply. If you have AC across the caps, you have a major problem.

Another thing O-scopes are usually not highly calibrated, a high quality FET VOM is the most reliable way to measure voltage. However as I said a voltage of 53 volts DC across 50 volt caps is not a problem. You have to load caps at least to their rated voltage or they do not hold their rated charge.

You still have not told me what the problem is. If you have a problem this issue has nothing to do with it, of that I can be certain.

 

[slipperybidness]

Well at the caps it should be DC, so peak or RMS does not apply. If you have AC across the caps, you have a major problem.

Another thing O-scopes are usually not highly calibrated, a high quality FET VOM is the most reliable way to measure voltage. However as I said a voltage of 53 volts DC across 50 volt caps is not a problem. You have to load caps at least to their rated voltage or they do not hold their rated charge.

You still have not told me what the problem is. If you have a problem this issue has nothing to do with it, of that I can be certain.

I guess I missed that, or he wasn't clear enough in his description. Obviously if you measure across a charged cap then you sure as heck expect a DC voltage.

His statement was "53V coming to the tank capacitors", so that doesn't really tell us how/where he actually put the leads..........from your interpretation, that would be "53V coming off the tank capacitors". I'm guessing that you are right because now that I re-read the post he did say VDC and I doubt there is 53V DC from a transformer.

Edit:
On a side note, the OP called these "tank capacitors". I usually only see that terminology with LC oscillator type circuits. I believe the correct term to use here is "filter capacitor". At least in the USA, that should be the correct terminology, if you are in another country then it might be different.

 

[rojo]

This is largely a useless comment here, but I have an AudioSource AMP-100 driving my kinetic transducers. I like it. I just leave it on all the time with the auto standby turned off. I don't think it uses much power when my HT isn't playing. At least I haven't noticed a significant bump in my power bill since I plugged it in, anyway.

I mainly wanted to comment in this thread to remind me to read it through when I get a few minutes. Nothing to see here. Carry on.

 

[j_garcia]

I own one too. On loan to some friends because it was just taking up space in the closet since I gave my garage speakers to another friend in need.

 

[niccolosito]

Okay, let me add my own thoughts about this remarkable amplifier. I actually have two of them and they are what I love to call my "cheaper than a burrito" amps. The former owner needed room in his garage and sold them to me for $5 each, in addition to the $30 Carver CT-3 preamp that I came for. After replacing all the caps with premium Nichicons, the amps sound great driving my pair of the popular Andrew Jones designed Pioneer speakers. I have one amp driving its own speaker "power steering" style where one speaker is connected to one channel, with the other channel's power available when needed by the loaded channel. Along with a Sunfire True Sub Super Junior, this set-up could give my more expensive and powerful systems a run for their money. It sounds really good.