Help me decide on my new amp for my work system :P

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Hey guys.

So Kaido was kind enough to sent my a Sonic T-amp for Christmas last year
https://mywebspace.wisc.edu/sp...b/Random/Kaido%201.JPG
https://mywebspace.wisc.edu/sp...b/Random/Kaido%202.JPG
https://mywebspace.wisc.edu/sp...b/Random/Kaido%203.JPG
https://mywebspace.wisc.edu/sp...b/Random/Kaido%204.JPG
https://mywebspace.wisc.edu/sp...b/Random/Kaido%205.JPG
https://mywebspace.wisc.edu/sp...b/Random/Kaido%206.JPG

It gave me a great excuse to replace the Dell Soundbar I was using in my work system and get a pair of real speakers to use (I got a pair of b-stock X-LS from AV123)
https://mywebspace.wisc.edu/sp...LS%20grilles%20off.JPG

So anyway... I don't think I told even you Kaido, but shortly after I started using the T-amp, it started having problems powering on. The power LED would activate, but it wouldn't actually be giving a signal to the speakers. Turning it off and on several times would fix the problem though. Lately it's been getting really bad and I'm kind of sick of trying to turn it on 50-100 times to actually get it to work

So... I've contacted Sonic Impact about it, but I'm thinking about getting a replacement amp.

Requirements would be small-ish size, volume control, and a somewhat clean look to it.
It doesn't have to be very powerful (I don't get a chance to turn it up very loud in the office and I'm seated just a couple feet from the speakers which are 8 Ohms and 87 dB (@ 1 watt / 1 meter).

There are a couple small-ish amps that I've been looking at.

Emotiva BPA-1
http://www.emotiva.com/bpa1.html

Sonic T-amp Gen2
http://www.partsexpress.com/pe...fm?&Partnumber=300-958

Anyone have an opinion or other options in the sub $150 range?

 

[PurdueRy]

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe...fm?&Partnumber=300-956

Super T-amp?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: PurdueRy
http://www.partsexpress.com/pe...fm?&Partnumber=300-956

Super T-amp?

Yeah, I looked at that too.

My initial impression of it is that I'm not sure if it's really much better than the $70 T-amp?

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: PurdueRy
http://www.partsexpress.com/pe...fm?&Partnumber=300-956

Super T-amp?

Yeah, I looked at that too.

My initial impression of it is that I'm not sure if it's really much better than the $70 T-amp?

IIRC, you get more power, better build quality, banana jacks instead of spring clamps and probably better reliability due to higher grade circuitry.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: PurdueRy

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: PurdueRy
http://www.partsexpress.com/pe...fm?&Partnumber=300-956

Super T-amp?

Yeah, I looked at that too.

My initial impression of it is that I'm not sure if it's really much better than the $70 T-amp?

IIRC, you get more power, better build quality, banana jacks instead of spring clamps and probably better reliability due to higher grade circuitry.

Yeah, I guess I was thinking that if I was spending more than $100 it might be nice to get something with a little more kick in case I found a different use for it down the road that required more than ~10 watts per channel.

I'm going to look up some more info on it though.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Sonic Impact just got back to me on the e-mail I sent them. They said I could send it in for repair so I guess that's probably the smart thing to do

 

[Tiamat]

I know this is way above your price range, but check out audiogon for separate 2 channel stereo amps.

Here is one example at $250.

Another example for $175.

Yet another example for $300.

Perhaps a totally different idea...

Another pro amp for 200$.

Just seems like you can get a "real" amp for just a little bit more money.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Tiamat
I know this is way above your price range, but check out audiogon for separate 2 channel stereo amps.

Here is one example at $250.

Another example for $175.

Yet another example for $300.

Perhaps a totally different idea...

Another pro amp for 200$.

Just seems like you can get a "real" amp for just a little bit more money.

Oh boy, here we go

I have to save the big bucks for my actual real system

hmmm...

 

[Tiamat]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: Tiamat
I know this is way above your price range, but check out audiogon for separate 2 channel stereo amps.

Here is one example at $250.

Another example for $175.

Yet another example for $300.

Perhaps a totally different idea...

Another pro amp for 200$.

Just seems like you can get a "real" amp for just a little bit more money.

Oh boy, here we go

I have to save the big bucks for my actual real system

hmmm...

Heeh, yeah I know

With something like the Rotel RB-1050. If that was used for 2 years, it'd be $200. Its a great amp, and you wont be getting any questionable problems with it. The pro amps would be the same. They won't be giving random odd problems, that are usually associated with the 80-140$ amplifiers (due mostly to cost savings).

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Tiamat

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: Tiamat
I know this is way above your price range, but check out audiogon for separate 2 channel stereo amps.

Here is one example at $250.

Another example for $175.

Yet another example for $300.

Perhaps a totally different idea...

Another pro amp for 200$.

Just seems like you can get a "real" amp for just a little bit more money.

Oh boy, here we go

I have to save the big bucks for my actual real system

hmmm...

Heeh, yeah I know

With something like the Rotel RB-1050. If that was used for 2 years, it'd be $200. Its a great amp, and you wont be getting any questionable problems with it. The pro amps would be the same. They won't be giving random odd problems, that are usually associated with the 80-140$ amplifiers (due mostly to cost savings).

I think besides the money issue, I'm using a computer as source and I liked the convenience of having a volume control right on the amp vs. most of these real amps.

 

[Tiamat]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: Tiamat

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: Tiamat
I know this is way above your price range, but check out audiogon for separate 2 channel stereo amps.

Here is one example at $250.

Another example for $175.

Yet another example for $300.

Perhaps a totally different idea...

Another pro amp for 200$.

Just seems like you can get a "real" amp for just a little bit more money.

Oh boy, here we go

I have to save the big bucks for my actual real system

hmmm...

Heeh, yeah I know

With something like the Rotel RB-1050. If that was used for 2 years, it'd be $200. Its a great amp, and you wont be getting any questionable problems with it. The pro amps would be the same. They won't be giving random odd problems, that are usually associated with the 80-140$ amplifiers (due mostly to cost savings).

I think besides the money issue, I'm using a computer as source and I liked the convenience of having a volume control right on the amp vs. most of these real amps.

Ah, that makes sense. I forgot you didnt have an external passive volume control.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Hey, here's another "rotal"
http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bi...pl?ampstran&1201832885

 

[Tiamat]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Hey, here's another "rotal"
http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bi...pl?ampstran&1201832885

LOL, cant even spell what is in his/her picture.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

You know... the head scientist where I work is going to be getting a new system for himself in the $20k range. I went over to his place when he was getting a consultation about an acoustically transparent screen for his new system.

He's currently using 3 different two-channel amps to power his system. I wonder if I could buy one of his amps for a reasonable price when he goes with his new system. I didn't look too closely but I think they're adcom amps.

 

[darkswordsman17]

Kinda curious why you're not just using your HD-580s at work.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: darkswordsman17
Kinda curious why you're not just using your HD-580s at work.

Someone has to play Christmas (and non-Christmas) Music for the three of us in our office

https://mywebspace.wisc.edu/sp...m/ChristmasOffice1.JPG
https://mywebspace.wisc.edu/sp...m/ChristmasOffice2.JPG

(Plus I have to know when people are talking to me)

When I was doing a lot of individual scanning on a different floor, I used the headphones.

 

[montypythizzle]

IS that a Schrute buck??!?!?!?!?
Is this too much?!?!
http://www.amazon.com/AudioSou...qid=1197335105&sr=1-29

IDK the quality though, although it is flat so you should be able to easily put this under the Dell.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: montypythizzle
IS that a Schrute buck??!?!?!?!?
Is this too much?!?!
http://www.amazon.com/AudioSou...qid=1197335105&sr=1-29

IDK the quality though, although it is flat so you should be able to easily put this under the Dell.

I think that one has issues with the auto-on feature. (I read about it before if that's the same one I'm thinking of, and the amazon reviews seem to confirm that)

 

[montypythizzle]

IDK, I might get it, and it DOES have a headphone jack as well.....

And the auto-on feature is an option, as that one reviewer put it.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Oh and yeah, it's a Schrute Buck. I used it as a motivational tool for my co-worker.

The whole part about low signal levels not activating the amp has me worried for my puposes since I expect to be giving it relatively low volume signals and I don't want any sort of irritating noise from it coming on etc.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: montypythizzle
IDK, I might get it, and it DOES have a headphone jack as well.....

And the auto-on feature is an option, as that one reviewer put it.

Yeah, from what I understand it doesn't really work to turn it off though

(I briefly tried to find more that a single source to verify that and I couldn't find one, so I'll just go ahead and assume that you can indeed turn that "feature" off)

The Dayton clone of the Emotive BPA-1 is also supposed to have some auto-on problems.

I guess this isn't a big deal for me in either case since it will be no problem to just have it set to "always on" and then power it on / off manually.

 

[montypythizzle]

Or you can just leave it on if power saving is not too big of an issue. There is usually an issue with most auto-on features. YMMV. I personally do not care for the option and just want a basic amp for my new KLH floorstanders. I will try and see what my Onkyo can do with them when my parents are away, they will at least fill in the gap between where my old HTIB Onkyos left off and the Onkyo HTIB sub came in.

GAH, after I get this:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/ol...oduct&id=1190676939795

I am going to probably get a sub (if you can PM me with ~<250 options, then do it, please.) and then a headphone amp.

 

[herm0016]

somewhere i saw a review of a bunch of little amps. have to find it now... it was very interesting in that the sonic t amp 2 did very well, along with some other mid-fi over some of the hifi stuff tested.

 

[herm0016]

http://stereomojo.com/SHOOTOUT2007INTEGRATEDS.htm found it!!! check it out!

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: montypythizzle
Or you can just leave it on if power saving is not too big of an issue. There is usually an issue with most auto-on features. YMMV. I personally do not care for the option and just want a basic amp for my new KLH floorstanders. I will try and see what my Onkyo can do with them when my parents are away, they will at least fill in the gap between where my old HTIB Onkyos left off and the Onkyo HTIB sub came in.

GAH, after I get this:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/ol...oduct&id=1190676939795

I am going to probably get a sub (if you can PM me with ~<250 options, then do it, please.) and then a headphone amp.

How big of a room is this?

With $250, I think you have some of the better options already picked out from the sticky thread.

With the sales on Dayton subs from Partsexpress, it would also be a possibility to do dual subs (10s or 12s) for around $250.