Sonic Impact Amp

[mtrycrafts]

Digital amps are much cheaper to produce than conventional class A/B amps. And this financial consideration in cost savings is the primary reason why manufacturers have been pushing digital amps.

Simply put, with 1/5 the manufacturing cost of conventional amps and charging 3x the prices of conventional amps, manufacturers make a much higher profit margin on selling digital amps.

Then those 'switching' amps should cost less than that Behringer A500, no?

 

[mtrycrafts]

A lower powered amp is still a low powered amp. Wattage is wattage, it doesn't matter if that wattage is coming from a SET amp, a tube amp, a digital switching amp, or a regular class A amp.

Low power output means that you have a great chance of introducing clipping into your speakers.

I am not totally sure about this one
A SET most likely has poor fr, THD+N, DF, etc.

 

[furrycute]

I am not totally sure about this one
A SET most likely has poor fr, THD+N, DF, etc.

You are hilarious!


But some people think that it is those distortions that make low powered tube amps, SET amps, sound "different."

It's like spending $20,000 on a set of RCA audio cables that can change the sound signature (really introducing all sorts of nasty distortions) of your stereo system. Go figure. Some people just have too much money on their hands.

 

[Rob Babcock]

I am a bit confused. Is the point now to buy a digital amp for the sake of having a digital amp?

Yes, Chris. I've gathered that the idea was to try a digital amp. Shocked though you may be, there are few benighted souls in this world who'd rather try something for themselves than take your word as gospel. Have you ever done anything in your whole life just for the fun of it?

I'm sure the Behringer amp is fuctional, but none of the stuff I've seen by them was designed for home use. I'm talking XLR inputs, Speakon outs, etc. Not very user friendly, plus the looks are pretty cheese- this means low, low WAF, if that's an issue. I don't mind the chintzy looks of my BFD, but I can see why others might.

 

[mtrycrafts]

You are hilarious!

Thanks. Who said we have to be serious all the time here


But some people think that it is those distortions that make low powered tube amps, SET amps, sound "different."

Yes! But at what cost???

It's like spending $20,000 on a set of RCA audio cables that can change the sound signature (really introducing all sorts of nasty distortions) of your stereo system. Go figure. Some people just have too much money on their hands.

Yes Or, something else that I will not interject here

 

[furrycute]

I'm sure the Behringer amp is fuctional, but none of the stuff I've seen by them was designed for home use. I'm talking XLR inputs, Speakon outs, etc. Not very user friendly, plus the looks are pretty cheese- this means low, low WAF, if that's an issue. I don't mind the chintzy looks of my BFD, but I can see why others might.

I don't know about the other stuff, but XLR connections are considered the wet dream of audiophiles. You have to spend upwards of tens of thousands dollars in order to have a complete XLR system in audiophile land. While in the pro market, you can spend far less to have an XLR system.

 

[markw]

An old saying that comes in real handy in this hobby.

I don't know about the other stuff, but XLR connections are considered the wet dream of audiophiles. You have to spend upwards of tens of thousands dollars in order to have a complete XLR system in audiophile land. While in the pro market, you can spend far less to have an XLR system.

"Sometimes you ahve to spend a lot of money to learn that you didn't have to spend a lot of money for the same results."

 

[furrycute]

"Sometimes you ahve to spend a lot of money to learn that you didn't have to spend a lot of money for the same results."

Wise words indeed.

 

[Nick250]

"Sometimes you ahve to spend a lot of money to learn that you didn't have to spend a lot of money for the same results."

How true. That was me and headphone amps.

 

[furrycute]

In my previous life (well, not that long ago) I was really crazy into this headphone stuff.

I purchased probably $1,000 worth of headphones, and another $3,000 worth of headphone amps. Yes that's right, $3,000 worth of headphone amps.

Fortunately after I realized the error of my ways, I quickly sold off most of that headphone stuff I accumulated without incurring too much of a financial loss.

Now I am strictly using the headphone out on my preamp to drive my headphones.

 

[Rob Babcock]

Not everything with XLR's is truly balanced. And while fully balanced may be the "wet dream" of some, I've noticed on the 'Gon that often a balanced peice either won't sell or goes for 15%-20% less than a single ended version would. Buy cables with XLRs limits your choices and increases your price, overall. And how many consumer cables have you seen with Speakon terminations?

 

[Mitch G]

FWIW, I have my squeezebox connected to one of these amps and it does a very good job driving some ($125/pair, low 90s efficient) rock speakers.

For $30 it does it's job quite well in a space efficient design.


Mitch

 

[buckyg4]

That is illogical. No such SET amps, just expensive ones. But, that doesn't mean people do not still enjoy SET amps as it is obvious that they buy them.

OK quality in terms of how I interpret the sound quality, not the usual measurements. If I could afford one, or if they made one in my price range, I would buy it and trade in my SS amps that have done me well for so many years. Of course I would also switch back to a turntable if they cut records of all of the music that I liked and if it was more convienent.. Just a preference of analog over digital sound.

 

[furrycute]

Not everything with XLR's is truly balanced. And while fully balanced may be the "wet dream" of some, I've noticed on the 'Gon that often a balanced peice either won't sell or goes for 15%-20% less than a single ended version would. Buy cables with XLRs limits your choices and increases your price, overall. And how many consumer cables have you seen with Speakon terminations?

1) Ultra "audiophile" grade components ususally have both balanced and unbalanced connections.

2) Balanced cables are quite a bit cheaper compared to those fancy "audiophile" cables. Do a search for some professional audio sites. You can literally buy a truckload of balanced XLR cables for the price you pay for one of those fancy Nordost vahalla RCA cables.

3) Choice in RCA cables... Balanced cables have many advantages over RCA cables, eliminates interference, can have much longer runs, etc. Do you really have that urge to buy those snake oil cables? Now that I think about it, Nordost makes XLR cables too. But those will cost you your pants.

 

[Rob Babcock]

I'm talking apples-to-apples, Furry- not sardines to Beluga cavier. Check the prices on balanced cables from Cardas or Analysis Plus. And I've never seen XLR-terminated cables any cheaper than the $.50 cent patch cables you can find from a variety of vendors. I've got several XLR cables, and while none are expensive, none of them were truly cheap.

Balanced has advantages in noise rejection, but with moderate length runs that's rarely an issue in a domestic setup. Again, you're assuming a component is actually balanced, not simply possessing XLR inputs. They're not necessarily the same thing.

Not everyone is willing to deal with buying cables with XLR's on one end and RCAs on the other. Which is exactly what you'd probably have to do. How many CD players have you seen with XLR outputs? Not a lot, I'm betting. Go ahead and try to find some cable boxes, videogames, DVD players & VCRs with balanced outs. Take your time, I'll wait.

 

[furrycute]

I don't buy Cardas cables. They are too expensive. Along with Nordost, Virtual Dynamics, etc., I consider them... ultra expensive boutique cables with a fair bit of snake oil mixed in.

I purchased a bunch of XLR cables from some professional audio suppliers. They are quite cheap, much cheaper than the Monster RCA cables you can buy at Best Buy.


As for a balanced setup, I can think of quite a few configurations for my audio setup.

A high end Sony SACD player (with balanced outputs), Benchmark DAC1 (has balanced outputs), hook those up with a high end Krell pre/pro and amp, and you have a knock out system.

 

[Rob Babcock]

I agree, that's a nice rig- but too expensive for many.

 

[wuchak]

Great review

Duffinator,
Here's a link to a great review of the amp at tnt-audio http://www.tnt-audio.com/ampli/t-amp_e.html The reviewer, Luccio Cadeddu, says of the t-amp, "Warning: this has been the most thrilling and incredible experience I've had with a component in, say, 25 years of HiFi listening. This website has existed since 1995, I've reviewed hundreds of HiFi components, inexpensive and ridiculously overpriced ones. I never - repeat - NEVER came across such a stunning piece of gear in all of these years. "

Here's a set of bookshelf/desktop peakers, MTX AAL600s on ebay that look like a good match for it, http://cgi.ebay.com/MTX-AAL-620S-6-1-2-2-WAY-SHEILDED-SPEAKERS-NEW-IN-BOX_W0QQitemZ5847295928QQcategoryZ14991QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

At 12"x9"x7" they're small enough for a desk, shielded, and a 4oms and 90db they'll get the full 15 watts from the t-amp. At $65 shipped for the speakers and $35 shipped for the t-amp you should have a smoking little setup.

Wuchak

 

[Duffinator]

Duffinator,
Here's a link to a great review of the amp at tnt-audio http://www.tnt-audio.com/ampli/t-amp_e.html The reviewer, Luccio Cadeddu, says of the t-amp, "Warning: this has been the most thrilling and incredible experience I've had with a component in, say, 25 years of HiFi listening. This website has existed since 1995, I've reviewed hundreds of HiFi components, inexpensive and ridiculously overpriced ones. I never - repeat - NEVER came across such a stunning piece of gear in all of these years. "

Here's a set of bookshelf/desktop peakers, MTX AAL600s on ebay that look like a good match for it, http://cgi.ebay.com/MTX-AAL-620S-6-1-2-2-WAY-SHEILDED-SPEAKERS-NEW-IN-BOX_W0QQitemZ5847295928QQcategoryZ14991QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

At 12"x9"x7" they're small enough for a desk, shielded, and a 4oms and 90db they'll get the full 15 watts from the t-amp. At $65 shipped for the speakers and $35 shipped for the t-amp you should have a smoking little setup.

Wuchak

Thanks Wuchak. This article is similar to other information I've read. Do you own one by chance? Looks like I'm going to have to order one of these just to play with it and I have a small pair of Polk surround speakers I'm no longer using that should match up nicely.

 

[googdot]

Hi All.

I own one of these and must say its a great little piece of gear. The reviews tell the story. I have mine hooked up to a regulated 13.8v linear bench power supply, and this is a definitely improvement over a smaller switching PS - a much 'fuller' sound.

It's a great bargain for a secondary setup in the garage, study, etc. Well worth every penny!