My Favorite Audiophile Amps by Price 2021

Emotiva BasX A2Mini bit.ly/3rUpFPi
Aiyima A07 amzn.to/3lXv18t
Emotiva TA1 bit.ly/31Pr6nw
SVS Soundbase bit.ly/3s5V3Ky shop-links.co/cgbG4jshjk5 (Crutchfield)
Akitka GT102 akitika.com
Vista Audio Spark www.vista-audio.com/products/S...
Schiit Vidar www.schiit.com/
SMSL DA9 amzn.to/3GCwpoY
Cambridge Audio AXA35 shop-links.co/cgbHdJxWhZQ
CAM Store (New Products!) bit.ly/30Lgu4K
Crutchfield Holiday Deals shop-links.co/cf9yFEPeMyS
Best Buy Holiday Deals shop-links.co/cf9yDZeYtUH
apos.audio?sca_ref=552340.TY98BPcZ6P
massdrop.7eer.net/qnOye5
Amazon Music and Disney Plus Free Trial amzn.to/3DRAVj9
www.patreon.com/cheapaudioman
High Res Music Streaming for FREE!!!!
Amazon Music Unlimited Free Trial amzn.to/3fiiMPC
Test Track Playlist:
music.amazon.com/user-playlis...
Satanic Panic Playlist:
music.amazon.com/user-playlis...
Leg Warmers Playlist
music.amazon.com/user-playlis...
cheapaudioman
If you click on this link and sign up for a free trial I will receive a small referral fee.
If you use any of my links to purchase products I will receive a small commission on the sale of that item. Won’t cost you any more to purchase with the link.
Recommended Speaker List
Around $100 (These prices will fluctuate between $75 - $150)
Sony SSCS5 - Lively amzn.to/3pZNnGk
Pioneer AJ First Gen - Laid Back
Neumi BS5 -Neutral amzn.to/3q0SR3B
Around $200
Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ - Crystal Clear and Punchy emotiva.com?aff=9
Elac Debut b5.2 - Neutral amzn.to/2WPNQxw
Wharfedale Diamond 11.2 (In and Out of Stock) - Laid Back/Bassy/Detailed amzn.to/37W8hPA
JBL Stage A130 - Neutral/Great All Arounder at $179 the best value amzn.to/3t7gOHe
Around $400
Klipsch RP600M - Neutral amzn.to/3pBoXCf (This speaker’s price can fluctuate between $440-630 which is really dumb)
Jamo C93ii Bit - Boosted on Top amzn.to/3beIG6F (Can also be found cheaper at Crutchfield)
Q Acoustics 3030i - Neutral with Punch - amzn.to/2OQkpLo
Around $500
SVS Prime bit.ly/2LozJgF
Wharfedale Diamond 12.2 bit.ly/2ZckoD9
Around $600
Elac Uni-Fi UB5.2 - Neutral amzn.to/3s3srPG
Elac Debut Reference - Buttery but Detailed amzn.to/39bt6WC
Polk Reserve R100 - Neutral
Aperion Novus - Neutral and probably the best desktop speaker one can get $599 bit.ly/2Q1H9rW
Aperion Novus Open Box $449 bit.ly/3us8zGx
Wharfedale Diamonds Lush and Detailed amzn.to/3aBAso0 Come as singles
Recommended Amp List
Under $100
Aiyima A07 - Neutral and Full amzn.to/3g9YLNf
Around $130
SMSL AD18 - DAC/Amp Lively on top but solid tone controls amzn.to/3rVZxkN
SMSL SA300 $140 amzn.to/3u83oLs
Around $250
SMSL DA-9 Balanced Amp amzn.to/34SdbLs
Around $400
Emotiva TA-100 - DAC, Phono Stage, Pre Outs - Balanced and Tasty emotiva.com?aff=9
Vista Audio Spark www.vista-audio.com/products.htm
Recommended DACs
Ifi Zen DAC amzn.to/2T3wuyY
FX D01 amzn.to/3d9GY6U
SMSL SU8s amzn.to/2SWTGiw
Denafrips Ares 2 www.denafrips.com/ares
Subs
Emotiva SE8 emotiva.com?aff=9
Emotiva SE12 emotiva.com?aff=9
SVS SB1000 Pro bit.ly/3scmwsc

[@cheapaudioman]

Emotiva BasX A2Mini bit.ly/3rUpFPi --Aiyima A07 amzn.to/3lXv18t ---Emotiva TA1 bit.ly/31Pr6nw -----SVS Soundbase bit.ly/3s5V3Ky shop-links.co/cgbG4jshjk5 (Crutchfield) ------Akitka GT102 akitika.com -------Vista Audio Spark www.vista-audio.com/products/Spark/index.htm ---------Schiit Vidar www.schiit.com/ ----------SMSL DA9 amzn.to/3GCwpoY ------------Cambridge Audio AXA35 shop-links.co/cgbHdJxWhZQ ---------------CAM Store (New Products!) bit.ly/30Lgu4K -----------------Crutchfield Holiday Deals shop-links.co/cf9yFEPeMyS --------------------Best Buy Holiday Deals shop-links.co/cf9yDZeYtUH

[@vagabond719]

I am running the SVS Sound Base with the SVS Prime bookshelves. I currently have a Topping E30 DAC from my PC (my primary source). I wanted to see if you thought I could get much improvement from replacing the DAC. If so I would like to stay under $1000, what would you recommend?

[@rafaelgomezsanchez4593]

Thank you very much for your review, I am going to analyze the Akatika (sounds high end as Nakamichi)...do you have an opinion about REGA IO? Thanks

[@jeffjefferson7384]

I got a tattoo of a Yamaha RX-V4A on my lower back. It's my Amp Stamp.

[@patrickheredia1431]

Tell me your a dad without telling me your a dad.

[@Ineedtotakeabreak]

That’s so bad it’s kind of amusing.

[@cheapaudioman]

wow... nailed that one! Can I use that!

[@jeffjefferson7384]

@@cheapaudioman But of course

[@davidcoons89]

Dying at this 😂😂

[@welderfixer]

Mr. Randy, This is likely your best video ever! Love the background, audio is perfect, camera is perfect and the products are wonderful choices. THANK YOU!!

[@cheapaudioman]

Thanks, Kevin

[@blech71]

We have to commend just how far Randy has come with the quality of his productions! Amazing my dood! Great job!

[@RdandTrk1]

My wife bought me the SVS Soundbase for Christmas for my first serious 2.1 system. Can’t wait to get it hooked to the Emotiva B1+! You had a lot of influence over my selection of these components. Super excited to hear this combo! Thanks Randy!

[@RdandTrk1]

@Goes 2 Eleven that is awesome! I cannot wait to see how it sounds with the speakers I’ve chosen to drive with it. I chose the Soundbase specifically for the power at that price. It was the most clean wattage foe the money I could find.

[@greyorbit]

Has a great warmer sound for a D amp and really has some umph at the bottem too.

[@greyorbit]

@@RdandTrk1 the short comings are in the software and controls. The Yamaha has a better interface but the amp is not as powerful. I run a speakercraft/ nilies Poweramp d class and a Yamaha preamp/steamer. The soundbase is hard to beat for the $$

[@RdandTrk1]

@@greyorbit Yeah, I basically chose the Prime to use as an integrated amp for my computer. I imagine I'll largely ignore the streaming features, and the lack of remote doesn't bother me since I'll be sitting right there when I'm using it. I looked at several different amps from SMSL, Cambridge Audio, Emotiva, Yamaha, NAD etc., and the Soundbase was still the most quality wattage for the money. If they had a version of the Soundbase that didn't have the streamer for less money, I totally would have picked that.

[@greyorbit]

@@RdandTrk1 my buddy bought it from.me for that same use and loves it. The amp is amazing it reminds me of my sx828 oddly. The sound has a honey on it and wakes the bass up on all speakers. The led light on all the time is annoying but the sound makes up for every short coming

[@zackw4941]

I have an Emotiva TA-1 and am very happy with it! The internal crossover network really did wonders for my system. I have very capable JBL Studio 580's and not so capable Dayton Audio 12" powered subs. The crossover got the subs integrated very well. AB'ing high pass on and off with and without subs, I can verify that more details come through on the speakers with the high pass. The one detail they got wrong is that you cannot switch the internal amp to high pass and still get full range out of the free pre-out. There are already hardwired high and low pass pre-outs. Leaving one hardwired to full range would have been a no-brainer for adding another power amp for by-amplification of a full range speaker. But they didn't do it. They also only include one sub out. A second plug would have cost them $0.10 and saved me $7.. Otherwise, the unit is perfect and sounds great! It was a very noticeable upgrade over my SMSL AD18, which I still absolutely recommend for

[@doc0428]

I enjoy your reviews Randy. I just purchased a Cambridge AXA35.last week. Very happy with this amp. great sound,. Very close to the AXA25 I heared in an Audio store. My 85db monitors are just a little too hard to drive. Im looking at 90 db Triangle Borea Br03.

[@juliojimenez415]

Damn, video and lighting quality are looking great Randy…But more importantly, as always, content is awesome….

[@rancosteel]

I just purchased Cambridge Audio AXR85 after some research in the $500 range. Very nice construction, design and great customer service.

[@paulocsanchez]

Thanks for these reviews, Randy. It certainly started me into the road of better audio components. During the last 5 months when I started watching your channel, I went from having a small pair of powered speakers to a pair of Elac DBR 62 and a TA1, which I'm now very happy with. Wishing you a happy holiday season.

[@stevenslater4395]

That’s the problem with watching audiophile pages, you want it in your living room. I’ve spent countless hours and dollars trying to achieve great sound and its worth every penny. One of the only hobbies that gives you back as much as you put in.

[@paulocsanchez]

@@stevenslater4395 I know. Once you start going down that road, you're thinking about what the next improvement should be. I'm looking at subwoofers right now, that will be next for me.

[@DougMen1]

The standard transformers that we're used to in most receivers and integrated amps (especially vintage ones), that are rectangular or square, sometimes open, or sometimes with a black or other color cover, are called E-core or laminated core. Toroid transformers are the round donut shape ones, complete with a hole in the middle, and with a foil covering

[@dougmacmillan1712]

He doesn't know his E-core from a whole in a toroid.

[@81OrangeCrush]

Just an FYI. I am getting together my first real turntable system. I hope it’s great when everything arrives. For the most part I used your videos to guide my choices. Thanks for all you do. It is appreciated. Turntable-Pro-ject Debut Carbon Evo Integrated Amp-Emotiva BasX TA1 Speakers-JBL Soundstage 130’s Sub to come later.

[@Z3NSEI]

I finally unboxed my Emotiva A2M, hooked up my ELAC UB52’s…well, let’s just say that I’ll be keeping that amp on my desktop until the capacitors fall off. Highly, highly recommended!

[@taylorfusion]

Thank you for this review. I’m intrigued by the 3-D soundstage comment. Just the other day, I went to a friends audiophile store and had that same experience with this new solid state power amp along with a Rose DAC. I said, “this is what I’m on the hunt for!” The sound of various musicians appeared past my left shoulder, etc…..And you mentioned this kit amplifier offering the same experience. Since pairing amplifiers and speakers is so crucial do you have an opinion of matching speakers (that have excellent bass) with this kit amplifier? I listen mostly to jazz, classic era Bluenote etc. but also like to crank deep purple once in a while. My greatest concern is getting ear fatigue with harsh digital to analog conversion somewhere in the chain.

[@LeoRousseau]

Randy, your video quality is off the charts! Look back at how far you have come! I'll bet that you never thought that you would come as far as you have and how fast you've made it! Good for you man! 🤜

[@cheapaudioman]

Thanks, Leo! Yeah. Early stuff is hard to watch. I try to get better with each video and it’s a ton of fun

[@labernese]

I like his delivery, he has longish takes without the intentional annoying jerky editing every 5th word that is so common in KZbin vids.

[@LeoRousseau]

@@labernese I agree. Randy is self editing off the cuff, true to life and rolls with it however it comes out for the most part. Not saying that he doesn't edit, because he probably does. He's doing very well and is a pleasure to watch! 🤜

[@zulumax1]

@@labernese Are you serious, or are you being sarcastic? I found the content great, but for the first 4 minutes it was edit, edit, edit, edit. Could not keep watching, I found his other videos more watchable. My favorite one is audiophiles are full of crap, never laughed so hard.

[@LeoRousseau]

@@zulumax1 this is a rare case. I originally listened to the whole video from the other room and didn't realize it until now that you mentioned it. Now I see what you are talking about. Not really like him. Now I am going to notice it all the time now, you watch. lol

[@69Muscle]

I bought the Cambridge Audio AXR100 for under $600. 100 watts of pure clean power. Love it.

[@rickcampbell296]

went to the hospital with anxiety attack, they suggested your channel to relax to, thanks for what you do.

[@cheapaudioman]

I find that hard to believe but thank you

[@pdcragin33]

Well, Rick evidently went to the Cheap Emergency Man hospital.

[@jasonellis112]

Mr Randy we wish you a Merry Christmas and having some beautiful times for this month with your family 💖

[@ChrisGramer]

Love the video and the list of amps! You've narrowed my list of possibles significantly! Thanks! I did notice a LOT of edits in this one. Was that mainly to keep it concise and/or to go get the next amp on the list? Going to go binge listen to my HD 560s!

[@AllboroLCD]

There really is something to be said about Emotiva's quality/price factor! I sing their praises everywhere since I got my BasXa300!

[@FanOWater]

I'm using the Cambridge Audio AXR100 as a replacement for an NAD3155 and loving it. Cheers

[@geoffhoover3873]

Wow, you have really upped your video quality for Xmas.

[@mr.b4444]

Great stuff as usual.Randy. I think for those like myself that prefer a receiver vs separates and require a good amount of power you should consider the Outlaw Audio RR2160 MkII. 110 watts in 8 ohms and 160 in 4 ohms. It's currently priced at $999. For speakers I have the Emotiva T2+. The Outlaw receiver has a very clean sound and a great Burr Brown DAC with plenty of features including internet radio and MC and MM phono pre-amps. It is a two channel and basically for music only which I use an SMSL DP5 to play FLAC files. I really don't get into using my music system for home theater.

[@cheapaudioman]

I've looked very hard at that. I should reach to them and see if they'd be willing to send one out

[@markbutcher2734]

Alright, Alright, Alright...........I give - I subbed. I hereby crown you king of KZbin videos not to mention King of audio equipment reviews. Just NICE man!!!

[@davidandrewway]

I have the akitika that I bought assembled(used) for $250! X-LS Encores upgraded kind of like the skiing ninja mod. Soncoz La-QX D1 dac. They are sealed and I use them in a nearfield setup. Yeah. 3D indeed. Freaks people out how much they throw sounds around. When you play a video game it really pulls you in and surrounds you. Cheap audio can be world class if you pick the right parts.

[@JukeboxAlley]

Encore is the bookshelf king, for me anyway.

[@jb678901]

My absolute favorite AMP purchase in 2022: the circa1986 Nakamichi SR-2E (35W/ch) with Nelson Pass designed Stasis amplifier inside...just bought it (EXC condition) locally for ~US$125. You bet...I went vintage!

[@jeremyhuntington1]

Bought the sound base, ultras and pb 3000. Took me a bit to break them in and get them dialed in but we’ll worth it. Blues guitar is hair raising and the punch on movies will wake the neighborhood. Lots of fun.

[@ianthompson5090]

The Emotiva T-1 looks great thanks for the video

[@FrankySilverFace]

Lol your thumbnails are gold buddy!

[@federicacerri8766]

Dear Randy, thank You for your review I do really appreciate that you take into consideration cheaper solutions and You are free from stereotypes. I`m new to the hi-fi world. I hope You can suggest to me a combination of speakers for the AUDIO VISTA SPARK (obviously the best in your opinion). Love from Italy

[@michaela.6698]

Hi Randy, I’m looking at driving my nearly finished XL-S Encores with either a dedicated 2 channel emotiva T-1 orrr, replacing my 12 year old Denon AVR with a Marantz NR 1711. (2 birds, one stone?) Since you have reviewed them both, and own a pair of Encores, you would be my go to guy. Going for the best sound of the two. Thank you in advance and have learned a lot watching your channel!

[@francescotenti193]

Very nice and informative video, what about something similar on vintage gear? Thank you and Merry Christmas!

[@jalexander510]

These are great recommendations. I kept hearing the same things from the echo chambers.

[@m4nc1n1]

I love Marantz. I have had 5 different receivers over the last 20 years and now use the AV7705. I have to say the Direct and Pure Direct sound the same to me and can barely tell the difference between either of them and stereo. Also if you have a subwoofer, like most people do, they are useless since they kill the sub out. I have 6 Emotiva BasX amps and i do love them, buy I must say the best bang for the buck best amp I have ever bought is the OSD NERO-XA5180 5x120w into 8ohm and gets better from there. It also has balanced and unbalanced inputs. Here are the specs (I use it in 3ch running my front stage on 6 ohm Elac's) 8 ohms 5ch Driven 120w 4ch Driven 160w 3ch Driven 200w 4 ohms 5ch Driven 180w 4ch Driven 220w 3ch Driven 260w It is a BEAST even at $800 (It was $600 when I bought it)

[@ginom407]

Great Review Randy! There's something for everyone in here. I'd like at least one of each! 😆 👍👍👍

[@RUfromthe40s]

it´s very nice the two first power amplifiers it can be conected to an old mixing table were the inputs cover everything one might want in a system and with a output conected to the rca input in one of those amplifiers ,it´s simple and one might be better served with a mixing table than with a integrated amplifier that today they are taking out the outputs and limited number of inputs wich is sad to see so many new integrated amplifiers that the ones who could buy it find it very limited as an example the new Yamha with needles in the power meters ,expensive and very limited

[@gokouson180]

I own the predecessor to the BasX A2 mini, the Emotiva A-100 BasX which does not have a switching power supply but a Huuuuge Toroidal transformer. I initially bought it to power headphones but tried it with speakers temporarily or so I planned. I ended up using it for 5 years off and on. I've put it against vintage Yamaha, Class D Wyred4Sound monoblocks, vintage B&K 300W amps. Even though it was edged out I continue to be surprised by how close the contest was. Really great bang for your buck. And it's completely reliable and built like a rock. Never had a problem with it. Even the Volume control is still smooth and static free after all these years.

[@Baron_Blue_Max]

I was hoping to pick one of those up for headphones myself. Ungodly levels of power. Grabbing a Schiit Asgard 3 instead since the Emotiva is discontinued- and no one seems to be parting with them on the forums 😁

[@gokouson180]

@@Baron_Blue_Max You're right. I never noticed they rarely go at auction sites. All the reason to keep mine then.

[@jonsays3762]

I liked the idea of the Soundbase, but the lack of a remote has led me to dump it into the auction and Craigslist for a couple hundred. I’ll recoup a little Christmas cash on it. But, your review was spot on-great power and features. Here’s yer upthumb, Shippie :)

[@BatteryAz1z]

Great timing Randy. Got some leftover Dali Blue 1001's I'm either going to sell for peas or hook up in a 2nd room / kitchen to get more life out of em. Been looking for cheap amps/dacs.

[@Ricky-ug4wo]

I’ve been listening to your channel for a couple of weeks and have learned a lot about audio. I bought a Sony str590 which is still in box and after listening to your channel have decided to exchange it at Best Buy for a different either receiver or maybe an amp to listen to music only. Not a lot interested in home theater. I’m wondering which receiver or amp to exchange it for? I can spend up to 600? Or can I plug an amp into my 22 year old Mitsubishi M-V600 and add two speakers?? I have two Bose bookshelf speakers either 301 or 501 series.

[@twomontess]

Thanks ! Merry Christmas

[@juanm.3636]

Great review!!! Congrats!

[@steventsimtsos4029]

Hi Randy, i always look forward to your entertaining and informative reviews! I hope you get to review the Audiolab 6000a as it has received many positive reviews. Not inexpensive, but certainly not out of reach at $1000 now 👍

[@ralex3697]

It sounds dull and flat. I sold mine

[@thepracticalaudiophile]

I just finished chasing the dragon with my setup. Saga S preamp Vidar Amp by Schiit. Ifi signature 1 DAC running to Polk R700 speakers. My streamer is my cellphone. I've been listening for months and have never been happier.

[@Fredd165]

Wow video quality looking awesome dude

[@earlismarks7108]

Great idea Randy!

[@SG-dw1my]

I'd really like to know how the Emotiva BasX A2m compares to the Aiyima A07.

[@bomt697]

Should really check out the Buckeye Amps. They are great! I have one powering my front stage and couldnt be happier

[@hmrowland6114]

How about Reisong A10? Also could you rate the difficulty level of DIY gear they you review, please. Thanks for a great year of reviews. Happy Holidays to you and your family.

[@careylymanjones]

For DIY amps, The Pass Amp Camp kit is a hell of a deal. It's just $336, can be built in a day or less. 8 watts/channel of Nelson Pass-designed Class A goodness. And if you build a second one you can use them as monoblocks for 15 watts/channel.

[@krihanek117]

I love this video, one of your best.

[@T_Burd_75]

I just hooked up a Douk Audio Pro M1 amp that I purchased from eBay for $70. It puts out 160 watts per channel. Has USB and RCA inputs, Bluetooth, and a subwoofer output. It comes with a 32 volt 5 amp power supply. I hooked it up to a pair of Boston bookshelf speakers and it sounded great! I would love to see you review this amp to see what you think of it.

[@DougMen1]

You do realize that those class D amps don't actually produce the amount of power than they claim, since 32v x 5A is 160, and so at 100% efficiency, which is impossible, would only produce 80w/channel at full power, and that would be peak power. To get RMS you have to multiply by .63. So, your amp is probably more like 20-40 watts RMS. That being said, they still have plenty of juice for any reasonable volume levels, and have excellent sound quality. I have the same amp, sans subwoofer out and USB in, sold under the Neoteck name, as the same amp is sold with several names on it, Fosi, Douk, Nobsound, Pyle, and others, and one of Randy's very early videos back when this channel was in its infancy, was the Fosi BT20, which is basically the same amp as the one I have, with a different name and slightly different cosmetics

[@T_Burd_75]

@@DougMen1 I should have worded that differently. It is advertised as 160 watts per channel, but like a lot of cheap amps, the ratings are likely overly optimistic. All I know is, I could only turn the volume up a third of the way before the speakers reached maximum excursion. And the speakers were in the basement and the music could be heard easily on the second floor. And there was no distortion noted by my ears. That's more than enough power for my purpose.

[@DougMen1]

@@T_Burd_75 I agree, mine has more power than I'll ever need too, and is very clear and balanced sounding, but its power rating is exaggerated too. It seems to be the norm for many of these great sounding little affordable Chinese class D amps. My amp only has RCA analog inputs, and no USB in, so the only internal DAC is for Bluetooth and nothing else. But, for $50? I'm ecstatic at the sound quality at that price!

[@T_Burd_75]

@@DougMen1 I have the amp hooked to a pair of new Jamo S801s on speaker stands. My first impression of the Jamo speakers is not a good one. I have to crank the amp way up to get the same amount of volume as I had with the Boston speakers, plus the vocals were so muted, it sounded like they were in the other room singing. Echoey sounding vocals, too. After a couple days of playing, the speakers began loosening up and the vocals started coming around. It's better than it was, but there's some deficiencies still evident in these speakers. Of course there won't be much bass at all with 4" woofers, but even with stringed instruments, some notes sound nice and strong, then there will be certain notes played that are barely audible. Very strange speakers... Wish I had those Sony SSCS5 speakers.

[@booobtooober]

I would like to include the Outlaw Audio 7-ch MODEL 7000X to the list ($999) direct from Outlaw Audio. I've been using an older model 7125 for about 10 years now which is conservatively rated 125 watts, 8 ohms, all 7 channels driven, I believe someone tested the 7125 and stated it was actually delivering 140+ watts rms all 7 channels driven. I would surmise the same thing goes for the 7000x. They sell a few things on Amazon but prices may be better direct from Outlaw. The power ratings below are copied from their website. 130 watts RMS x 7 (all channels driven simultaneously into 8 ohms from 20 Hz to 20 kHz with less than 0.03% total harmonic distortion, A-weighted filter) 200 watts RMS x 7 into 4 ohms (from 20 Hz to 20 kHz with less than 0.06% total harmonic distortion, A-weighted filter)

[@quicktoevil]

Those little amps remind me of the old radar-detectors that I used to mount on my dashboard. I just cant take a palm-sized amp seriously. Still love the channel Randy :)

[@larryboles629]

Great list!

[@gregorywalker4997]

love your channel! i listen to kmfa classical music out of austin, texas and little else. i got the aiyima 07 and supply the fm from a sangean mono table radio. i'd like to know what other sources make sense for fm listening with this amp, or other amps needing an fm source.

[@ericlipnicky6683]

sorry if this has been asked. I am new to all of this and looking to buy a 2.1 system once and be done. in your opinion would it be better to go with the bluesound powernode or bluesound node with akitika amp? Thanks! I have learned a lot in the last week from you

[@paulmelendez2834]

Thanks for the great content!! Keep up the good work. Any plans on reviewing the Audiolab 6000 integrated amp?

[@cheapaudioman]

Would love to. Andrew Robinson just awarded it product of the year so I think it’s a safe bet, my friend

[@DougMen1]

@@cheapaudioman Andrew actually did the 6000 Play, which is a 6000 with a bunch of extra added features for streaming, and costs 50% more than the 6000 does, $1500 vs. $1000. But, at its price, the standard 6000 is one of the best amps going, with its only serious competition being the Arcam SA10, which is also awesome at that price. The Rotel A11 and A12 are also very good, but are a bit brighter and thinner than the Audiolab and the Arcam, and I prefer the fuller and warmer sound of them. Marantz has a couple of amps in that price range too, the 6007 and 7000, but I haven't heard them, and the 7000 is $1200. .

[@geographyinaction7814]

The Decware Zen tube amplifier is an amazing piece; 2 1/2 whopping watts that require a set of high efficiency speakers. Any proper speaker with an efficiency of 94+, will shine, and the decibel and distance calculations alongside actual volume and quality, will prove that speaker efficiency and not watts, will provide beautiful sound. I know that many will demand at least 100w p/c...but you simply do not need it...the caveat, is that while the Decware doesn't cost much, the speakers will!

[@ivermec-tin666]

Heresy IV's list at $3K.

[@vegaslimoguy2376]

Ha! My studio monitors are 102db per 1 watt input and i power them with a 300 watt per channel class A amplifier and YES i DO need that power! Simply because i like my music to sing! I want to feel it! Alot of audiophiles like myself DO need that power so don't say you simply wouldn't need it.

[@Extremesam43]

Great video Randy I have the ayima d05 if I upgrade the power supply to 36 volts can I expect an audible difference?

[@HotSause]

Good stuff Randy. Do you think the Akitika Z4 stereo has the right umf to drive a Mag MGIII bass panel? How about in dual mono config? Panels are 3-4 ohm load, 83-85 DB.

[@Tmfirestone]

First of all, thanks for your help with understanding this maze. I currently have a Crown Power Line 2 that I am sending in for repair as the left output is no longer working. What would be a good temporary replacement? I play a lot of albums and I have heard the tube amps give a little better sound. I will be using my Crown Straight Line 2 preamp, a project Debut EVO turntable and Q Acoustics 3030i speakers. Your help is much appreciated.

[@odwatchguy]

Nice list Randy, with the range there is something for everyone to fill their soul with happiness. But I am starting to think I don't need a half dozen to fill my room with happiness.

[@cheapaudioman]

go for the baker's dozen, TT

[@waynepollard6879]

Can you tell us more about your experience in building the preamp ?

[@chutgowdingo-loon3212]

Nice Christmas tree Randy.

[@matteoschenatti792]

Have you ever considered Rega Io? It costs right, linear sound (at least for my hears), phono and 2 inputs, remote! I am coupling it with Smsl SA-8s (after your review) and old-style-right-price WLM Stella. What do you think?

[@jameswheeler7679]

Hey Randy I have a Onkyo Intergrated Amp A 9150 that I am very very happy with especially with Klipsch speakers

[@davidtanguma6247]

I believe I have one of the best ever made, Yamaha mx1000 u. It's old, but still works flawlessly with power to spare.

[@chrisAclaes]

Another great video, Randy. Here’s one for you: if you had $500, what desktop dac and amp would you go for? I’m looking to mix music, and have plenty of passive speakers, so I could either buy some decent Yamaha monitors or find a good dac /amp solution. Thanks!

[@cheapaudioman]

I’d probably go with the DA9 as it’s very neutral

[@Brett1334]

Would be great if you could do a video of Your favourite lower class amps? Like denon, Marantz etc?

[@albertloan396]

NAD D3020 v2 has been my amp for the past three years and I'm amazed at the performance and wonder why it's not more celebrated for its price.

[@MichaelSAugust]

I started with that and moved up to the d3045. Love that they have everything, sub out, opt in, dac, phono, and it's so compact. I believe it can act as a preamp as well. Any love for NAD?

[@jessebrunsveld1]

I had the NAD D3020 with QA Concept 20s as a desk setup and it was great for that. Later when I used this setup for my living room I noticed it was way underpowered. Could've gone with the d3045 but had a good deal on the Marantz pm7000n and it sound nice!

[@anonimushbosh]

Confused by your DA9 vs AXA25/35 conclusion. What do you mean by fuller sound? Is one a clear winner or does it depend how they're set up & what they're connected to?

[@cszulu2000]

Which one would work best for outdoor speakers with Spotify playback. Remote volume control via phone would be great or alexa compatible bonous. Only two speakers.

[@joemac8474]

I'm still running my 7 Marantz monoblock THX cert'd MA500s and just upgrade my 7.1 AV receiver, still sound great after almost 25 years

[@cheapaudioman]

good amps do that. sounds like a great setup.

[@patricedecourcy4505]

I'm listening mostly to classical music. Which amp would be good for it so I could hear separated instruments?

[@RC-qc2nz]

Dude. Your thumpnails are getting better and better 💪

[@cheapaudioman]

I'm having a lot of fun with them

[@josephcangelosi4414]

Randy. Love your "resl world" practical reviews! Have you checked out Yamaha's A-S301, A-S501, or A-S801 integrates amplifiers. Just helped a friend purchase a budget system. He loves the Yamaha A-S301 (bought at $280 on sale) paired with the JBL Stage 130 bookshelf speakers. The Yamaha amps named above offer audiophile quality sound, very low distortion, with both analog and digital connectivity,, with phono and single sub outputs. Joe C.

[@cheapaudioman]

I haven't had a chance to listen to any of those but I think they are well regarded and would be a safe choice.

[@johnstump2433]

I’m not sure if you’re using a new camera or not, but this video was stunning in 4K!

[@psyphonyxaudio]

Love this background =)

[@albertloan396]

Have you done a video on preamps? I'd love to see a beginner's intro to preamps and why one would consider one.

[@angrynerd2103]

What is your opinion of the new smsl 6 stack? It looks solid on paper but it seems to be lacking a few of the fun features of the 8 stack.

[@Karhallarn]

Hi. I really like your videos and am happy to have found you, when researching for aiyima. I'm not yet deep into home audio. I have an old yamaha RX-V340RDS as amp for my KEF Q100. I feed it through RCA from my TCM Vinyl Player and an old Airport Express. I would love to get Bluetooth and if I can exchange the Yamaha for something smaller, it would be a nice addition. How would you think the Aiyima T9 would fare against my Yamaha and with my Q100? There is just not much I could find for my System and the Aiyima. Thank you in Advance for your Advice. Cheers, Moritz

[@Karhallarn]

Two months later, my Yamaha has made room for a triplet from Loxjie. D10 -> P20 -> A10. Very happy! Waiting for my first tubes to roll! The Loxjie P20 and A10 have just been to good a deal, selling together for just a little more than the Aiyima T9! The red colour and the shapes are also striking! Keep up the great work!

[@cristinmarius]

Any recommendation for a cheap desktop amp that can also work as a headphone amp ? Thanks!

[@jasonshaw2065]

Your thumbnails have jumped the shark. And I'm here for it.

[@cheapaudioman]

Good or bad?

[@jasonshaw2065]

@@cheapaudioman most excellent... Your humor is half the recipe

[@joshdieckmann595]

Question regarding the Emotiva TA1: can you use the USB input for something like a Raspberry Pi to feed audio to the unit? I have a Plex server at home, and I'm wondering if that might make a good application for a Pi3 I've had laying around not doing anything, to connect to my Plex server and stream music, and then if I can output that through the USB, that might be a pretty good setup to leverage that functionality, assuming it can work that way.

[@colinriddick1746]

I was wondering if you've ever had the chance to test a Yamaha WXA-50? On another note, I enjoy your channel, I've found myself 'wasting' hours of my day checking out your reviews, mission accomplished.

[@zelenizub2036]

I have wxc 50 which is preamp version. Great preamp but it has big problem for me. No support for amazon music...

[@dangaines405]

Great content!

[@ForeverAnalog]

I really want to build one of those Akitika amps!

[@mikeestopinan6443]

What do you think about the fosi audio da2120c and the moukey M20-3 I have both of them coming in and was wondering if I should go with something else I want it manly for music but also as a sound bar

[@kennethoransky4881]

Looking forward to your take on the A07 with the opamp change.

[@TheSynrgy1987]

just been reading the listing on the A07 and apparently the 3.5mm aux jack on the back can be both an input and and output, I've had one for my desktop setup for a while and didn't even know, handy for feeding a headphone amp or something.

[@kennethoransky4881]

@@TheSynrgy1987 A really versatile amp.

[@joemartin6439]

Hi Randy great thank you help so much Amazon lose me Sony Speakers. Still trying to get a refund. I then bought the Emotive B+ and they are just perfect. Thanks Tons

[@bdhaliwal24]

Randy the lens you’re using looks great

[@alemari3547]

do you think denon pm800 is still relevant ? i found a good deal on it and i was wondering if i could pull the trigger on it

[@randyhunt1581]

You did not mention the Outlaw 5000 5 channel amp. It is underrated to say the least. This thing is a beast and will easily power just about anything available today.

[@davdidit6]

Please do a video n the Aiyima A07 opamp switch. I am very interested in that amp.

[@thebreathalyzer]

On the used market Yamaha up to the mid-90s we’re really nice. Older Onkyo, same thing. Still see NAD3020s around classic and they’re good as preamps too. And the vintage Carver stuff…top shelf. The Denon stuff pops up on the used market a lot too

[@Dano-MX5]

I have a Carver AVR100 that is still rocking after 37 years (but honestly was stored away for about 15). The thing is a beast. Drives my RP-160Ms effortlessly.

[@shaunyweavey2470]

Randy, have you reviewed the Audiolab 6000a if you have I will keep looking, but it seems reviewers give it a wide birth, Why ! When it's outstanding ........ Great stuff as usual Randy .

[@jessewebber9245]

I’d really kinda consider that Emo Mini an integrated, because it has a volume control, although I’d give you that an input selector is usually included in such. Has integrated changed to include a DAC? I didn’t think it did, but that seems to be how you are covering it. I’d disagree, but I’m not 100% with the times either. There were integrated amps LONG before they included a DAC.

[@neetop1557]

@Matthew Barncord both of yous is correct, integrated amps = preamp + power amp.

[@SebTheFrenchGuy]

I have a Marantz PM6007 and CD6007. I'm so happy with it paired with Sonus Faber Lumina III. Cheap and very good system.

[@jessebrunsveld1]

Did you have other speakers paired with the pm6007? I have the pm7000n with QA Concept 20s and I'm wondering if it's worth the upgrade towards the lumina IIs. I'm trying to get a more 'live' and spacious sound in my living room (25m2).

[@jessebrunsveld1]

I also had the PM6007 before this btw, very nice amp.

[@danishmirza7482]

Your thoughts on the bluesound powernode and/or bluesound node with smsl da9? Or an alternate budget streamer / amp combo. Thanks.