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Desktop amp recommendations

E

EPOQ

[H]ard|Gawd
Joined
Dec 29, 2011
Messages
1,071
I picked up a brand new pair of Energy CB-20 bookshelf speakers, still in the box, off of Craigslist for about 1/2 of retail MSRP. Was originally planning on getting some powered speakers, but I didn't want to pass up a good deal. Now I'm looking for an amp to power them. I have been recommended the Emotiva Mini-X A-100, which meets my specs, but I was just curious if anyone else had any suggestions or thoughts on this particular amp should I choose to go with it. I do not want to go with a receiver due to space constraints, so I am looking for something that can sit on my desk or on top of my tower, so nothing ridiculously huge. Also planning on getting the Audioengine D1 DAC. Any help and input would be appreciated!
 
in before the first DTA-100A suggestion


http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=300-383



i was running a pair of polk m30 speakers with a SMSL SA-S3 (25wpc 4ohm 13.5 8ohm) t-amp, worked awesome..


since then I've gotten sort of fascinated by vintage stuff (made room) for a Pioneer SX-780 and SA-710 so now have my smaller T-15 bookshelfs to side of monitors (w/ the SX-780 driving them) and a pair of RTi4s w/ the SA-710 driving those (the RTi4s sounded like crap w/ the SX-780 for some reason)

but while my little t-amp is nice and all... I have to admit these 40~ year old pioneers (receiver and integrated amp respectively really kill the poor little t-amp in overall awesomeness.)


with a willingness to buy captica legs from ikea and 2 4ft boards you'd be surprised what you can fit on your desk :)







i'm really happy with my vintage stuff...however honestly my life was easier fitting stuff before when i had my t-amp instead...meh.


so basically blah blah blah 50wpc t-amp if you really can't fit anything else

or vintage receiver or intergrated if you wanna be AWESOME like me...or something like that.
 
hmm... sorry i didn't bother to look at the emotive before...it is 2x+ the price of the DTA-100A but i think i would totally get that over the DTA-100A


i wonder how loud that fan inside the mini-x is however...
 
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Haha yeah thus far the Emotiva is looking to be my best option. Will probably buy it by the end of the weekend unless I find something better for less money. Doubtful though.
 
you did see that emotive is 15" deep however right?... that may be a bitch to fit on a desk? my SA-710 is like 17" wide but it is only a foot deep
 
dont drive those speakers with a t- amp.

get the emotiva.

OR...consider this option:

get the audioengine D1...keep that on your desk....now...get a power amplifer. a used one, something like this:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ADCOM-535-P..._Audio_Amplifiers_Preamps&hash=item19d1024bf4

BUT, since you never need to touch it, keep it away from your desk. hide it wherever you want. keep the D1 on your desk. leave this one wherever.

sometimes you can pick up a Rotel for around $100-125...fucken steal.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAP...mHSYAXlodtOmYEVehBtlc%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc
This sold for $177 which is still a good deal...

take a look at my setup:
my dac is sitting in front of my power amp. but i could move that power amp away anywhere. consider the emotiva would be about the same size as my amp but about half the width:
http://i50.tinypic.com/33wmonc.jpg
 
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I guess the main reason is its a little boxy and plain looking and it lacks a headphone jack. Other than that its a perfectly fine amp and in reality its a Dayton re-branded Emotiva BPA-1. ;)
 
I did look at the Dayton. I have to say, not knowing a huge amount about desktop amplifiers other than what I've been reading over the last week, I can't say there seem to be huge differences in the two. I am going for the Emotiva strictly over aesthetics at this point, which I don't usually do, but it's going to be visible on my desk so I might as well get the prettier one.
 
nimbyfaygo said:
Any reason why the Dayton APA150 http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=300-812 isn't recommended more often? I've had mine for over a year, it's a beast. It will cleanly drive a good pair of bookshelves to their limits.

The only complaints would be it's a fair bit bigger than the other mini amps, the power led is very bright, and it's auto turn on sensitivity is too high.
Click to expand...

It is a beast, Can be a subwoofer amp for a passive subwoofer if you want.
 
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