Desktop speaker amp?

[orangecat]

I'm currently looking for a high quality amplifier to drive my new bookshelf speakers (possible review soon) and I want something small enough to fit on my desk. Right now I'm using a 30 year old Technics receiver and it literally sucks @$$. The amplifier I'm using has so many problems that i just can't use it so i need something new. i was looking at some of those small class T amps from companies like Topping and dayton Audio but nothing there seems to suit my needs. I was wondering fi any of you guys knew of a desktop amp i could use.

 

Also it has to be under 200$ and needs to be at least 50 watts per channel @ 8ohms and I won't settle for anything with more than 0.1% THD (preferably 0.05% or lower).

 

I've spent a few hours looking around and SMSL seems to have some descent little amps but they have problems with clipping and distortion when you start to really push them so i'm not 100% sure if I want one of those. I've also thought about getting the dayton APA100 and just putting it below my monitor but it's a little large and i'd only really consider it if theres no other option.

[manikyath]

i dumpster dived an ancient perpetuum-ebner for powering my (dumpster dived) speakers.

 

the company went bankrupt before your amp was even made, and its an amazing piece of kit if you like the tube sound.

 

if you're more into modern stuff, second hand pioneer can be pretty nice.

[orangecat]

i dumpster dived an ancient perpetuum-ebner for powering my (dumpster dived) speakers.

 

the company went bankrupt before your amp was even made, and its an amazing piece of kit if you like the tube sound.

 

if you're more into modern stuff, second hand pioneer can be pretty nice.

I'm not a fan of tubes simply because I like things pure and I need something rather small for my desk as I don't have much space at all.

[manikyath]

I'm not a fan of tubes simply because I like things pure and I need something rather small for my desk as I don't have much space at all.

i like my free monitor stands.

 

but yeah, i understand the "small" factor all too well...

i'm not sure how the audiophile headphone amps will do on speakers, but thats a thing i've been considering if this old thing finally kicks the bucket.

[dylan43270]

You could just get the SMSL SA98E which you should be able to get your speakers plenty loud enough without getting into distortion range. In reality if you are using them for desk speakers you really will not need that much power to get them to loud listening levels, which depending on the efficiency of the speakers, you will most likely be fine with less than 15wpc.

[Rmusic10891]

Unless you're driving some really inefficient speakers I can't imagine you would ever need to drive an amp so hard that you would run into issues with a 50 watt/channel amp clipping in desktop use. My Teac AI-301 is 60 watts/channel and it's obscenely loud at like 60% volume driving my Cambridge SX50s.

[Guest]

Unless you're driving some really inefficient speakers I can't imagine you would ever need to drive an amp so hard that you would run into issues with a 50 watt/channel amp clipping in desktop use. My Teac AI-301 is 60 watts/channel and it's obscenely loud at like 60% volume driving my Cambridge SX50s.

 

The Teac is also $400, so it probably puts out a true 60wpc.

 

Not so for these cheapo $50 amps.

[Rmusic10891]

The Teac is also $400, so it probably puts out a true 60wpc.

 

Not so for these cheapo $50 amps.

 

I'll give you that. I might order the SMSL SA-50/60 just to have a play around with them. Maybe the Q5 as well.

[Stagea]

I'm currently looking for a high quality amplifier to drive my new bookshelf speakers (possible review soon) and I want something small enough to fit on my desk. Right now I'm using a 30 year old Technics receiver and it literally sucks @$$. The amplifier I'm using has so many problems that i just can't use it so i need something new. i was looking at some of those small class T amps from companies like Topping and dayton Audio but nothing there seems to suit my needs. I was wondering fi any of you guys knew of a desktop amp i could use.

 

Also it has to be under 200$ and needs to be at least 50 watts per channel @ 8ohms and I won't settle for anything with more than 0.1% THD (preferably 0.05% or lower).

 

I've spent a few hours looking around and SMSL seems to have some descent little amps but they have problems with clipping and distortion when you start to really push them so i'm not 100% sure if I want one of those. I've also thought about getting the dayton APA100 and just putting it below my monitor but it's a little large and i'd only really consider it if theres no other option.

 

If you can spare the space, stereo receivers are cheap and fairly strong.

http://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-R-S201BL-2-Channel-Stereo-Receiver/dp/B00F0H88SY

 

The 100W x 2 rating is near full band at 0.2% THD. I am pretty sure it will still exceed 50W x 2 at a 0.1% THD threshold.

 

You can get a basic USB DAC for the remaining $50 (if you don't have one already). 

[orangecat]

You could just get the SMSL SA98E which you should be able to get your speakers plenty loud enough without getting into distortion range. In reality if you are using them for desk speakers you really will not need that much power to get them to loud listening levels, which depending on the efficiency of the speakers, you will most likely be fine with less than 15wpc.

Yea I know I don't need much power but I want about 50 watts per channel just so if I decide to use the speakers on a shelf or something i can just use the amp there too. All I'm really looking for is a small amp that can provide a good clean 50 watts or so.

[orangecat]

I'll give you that. I might order the SMSL SA-50/60 just to have a play around with them. Maybe the Q5 as well.

I heard the Q5 was total crap.

[orangecat]

If you can spare the space, stereo receivers are cheap and fairly strong.

http://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-R-S201BL-2-Channel-Stereo-Receiver/dp/B00F0H88SY

 

The 100W x 2 rating is near full band at 0.2% THD. I am pretty sure it will still exceed 50W x 2 at a 0.1% THD threshold.

 

You can get a basic USB DAC for the remaining $50 (if you don't have one already). 

I've got a good external DAC already and I'd love to get a nice stereo receiver instead of a tiny desk amp but the only place for it would be under my monitor or on a separate table and that just won't do =*(