How To Bridge The Aiyima A07 MAX in Mono Mode

[@SnapperX3]

I love your sense of humor, and it is one of the reasons I watch. Gesundheit!

[@rakitakhan]

I love to see you having fun and messing around. I've been an audiophile for 50 years. There's no reason for someone to down you for making these videos fun. You're the one putting yourself out there for everyone to see while people like that hide behind their monitors. Keep it up brother ! I'll comment here again when my amps come in.

[@pimianimavdo1523]

Hello, That you have heard a diffrence between the 1 amp and 2 amp setup is a big No surprise case. First off, you have added a preamp for controlling the 2 mono amps (well, 2 stereo amps in bridged mode, so, virtually 2 mono blocs for all intents and purposes), but you omitted using the same preamp to test your 2 amp setup. Right there and then, the added preamp will seriously affect what you hear… It will change how everything sounds (in theory, it should not, but in practice, it aways will… to various extent). So… POINT A) For a Much Better and therefore Sonicaly more Revealing & Honest test (and this has nothing with your personal honesty, but all to do with proper listening test by removing as many variables as possible during a listening test comparison), you have to Redo your Listening Test with the Preamp inserted as volume/amplitude control of your source being used for the listening test, with both the 1 stereo amp setup and also the 2 mono blocs during listesning sessions. Thus the amps are really fed the same source material (in theory anyways as things are rarely that simple). Also… POINT B) In both tests, I have to recommend that you put your amps at max volume levels AND Then start listening to your playback material with your preamp’s volume knob at Zero to slowly increase to a good listening level. No worries for your louspeakers as even a 200 watt amp will not give 200w when the volume knob of your preamp at a lower volume level… As you increase the volume level with the preamp volume knob, your power output will rise towards the potential maximum power level, but should you not go crazy loud in playback levels, you will not damage your loudspeakers (unless these are really sh!tty boxes with super M!ckey mouse power capabilities of course, in which case, get better loudspeakers for your test!) Sidenotes : a) if you have a db meter (A or C weighted will do fine), place it at listening position to test and try to match a good and Reasonable listening level with both the 1 and 2 amp setups. This will allow you to get a sense of where to turn up your preamp volume knob up to as “maximum” for both your ears and the speakers. ;) No beed to blast either ones of these items. :) And yes, you will still hear the difference between these 2 amplification configurations. What is better depends on your taste & the quality of the amps. Me, I usually prefer more dynamic headroom, thus more power capability, However, at reasonable levels, some low power output amps can sound marvelous indeed. :) b) Do not get scared of potential max power levels if you amps in mono configuration. These will not spew max power unless you command them to do so via the volume control on your preamp during tests. You can actually do more harm to your loudspeakers with an underpowered amp that you push too hard and then therefore goes in clipping distortion mode (as in generating/delivering DC current at both upper and lower maximum crest and clipped sinus waves… remember Music signal are not square waves.) than if you use an amp with more dynamic headroom for short dynamic peaks. The best way to fry your loudspeakers voices coils is to play/pump overly loud levels with an underpowered amp. So many times after holiday parties have I gotten clients coming in the shop with 100w spakers reaking of cooked/burnt voicecoils because they maxed out the bass and treble on their maxed out 35w/ch amp. Sure, it sounded loud (distortionn always sounds loud!) but that sent sooo much DC that it fried the coils... Sad and bad for sure. Lastly (as I already said lots and yet there is still so much to look at & learn to be 100% clear about what is going on with your listening setups) I will refer you to a pretty good place to learn about Loudpseakers vs/& Amps relationship… Indeed, I have no more time for giving written info when 2 quick and rather well made technical videos are already out there, so here goes: video 1: kzbin.info/www/bejne/a4LInmCuh6dkjtEsi=YlOLDVs36ooLiTcV video 2: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e5ack6B3gc2bqsksi=Uwg4ALGgpXLlSrCg And now, I Really Look Forward to Your Udated Listening Comparison Test. - Spoiler : I suspect you will still enjoy more amps if you push the db Levels up, but also enjoy more dynamics… but this is for you to discover and report on :) Cheers! :) PS Keep having fun as snobs & naysayer should not dictate what you do. :)

[@chrisnunya7171]

OMG bro, screw the haters!! I love your goofy style! It's informative & entertaining!! 🤘🏻

[@UTILITARIANTVUK]

👍

[@Think-Tank_Denkfabrik]

1:49 don´t feed the trolls. This poor bastard probably can't stand it when others have fun. But fun is the most important thing in a hobby Don't worry and keep doing what you're doing. And thank you for your video, it helped me. Kind regards from good old germany.

[@UTILITARIANTVUK]

Danke!

[@AT-wl9yq]

Bridging a stereo amp in general, is not a good idea. To start with, a bridged stereo amp is not a mono amp. Its different. When you bridge an amp, the resistance on whatever speaker you are using is cut in half. If you have an 8 ohm speaker, for example, the amp now sees it as 4 ohms when bridged. The lower a speakers resistance, the harder the amp has to work to drive it. So, by bridging your amp, you're forcing it to work twice as hard. With most amps, sound quality gets worse the harder you push them. That said, bridging can be useful, If your stereo amp is having a difficult time driving your speakers, having more power can offset some of the negative effects of bridging. Just buy the right amp to start out with so you don't need to bridge anything. If you have 2 stereo amps, do a vertical biamp. That will sound better. And you can use any stereo amps you like because a vertical biamp doesn't require bridging.

[@geevee1045]

I agree. Imagine what bridging does when combined with a 4 ohm speaker (instead of a high impedance speaker). Suddenly it presents a very difficult 2 ohm load for the amps. But if the mono amps are paralleled, the 4 ohm speaker is seen as an 8 ohm load, which is easy for the amps to handle. But bridged amps work well with 8 ohm speakers and double their output power, while paralleled amps work best with 4 ohm speakers and double their current output to more easily drive difficult loads. The new Fosi ZA3 works in parallel.

[@phrayzar]

Having a fun personality is a very Anglo thing, and it's a gift. Miserable is as miserable does and haters gonna hate. Keep it up from an Aussie friend.

[@UTILITARIANTVUK]

The Aussies know the score! 😄

[@dungysphincter7974]

From being setup in mono mode you have better channel separation. From what I am hearing via youtube, and my awesome audio system is that you get better EVERYTHING. Spatial queues, imaging, depth, richness, ambiance. I got the same sense as when I swapped out a pair of my Texas Instruments NE5532 Op-amps with a pair of Sparkos SS3602 Dual Discrete Op Amps in my tube pre-amp. By the way, these Aiyima A07 Max amplifiers have 2 upgradable TI NE5532 Op-amps as well.

[@TurboSound1983]

To adjust the volume of the power amplifier Let white noise run and measure the volts at the LS terminal with a micrometer and both output stages must display the same volts!

[@Panslapper]

Urm…the wider soundstage is more than likely via the tubed preamp. Maybe testing a single amp in stereo with the preamp first and then the two amps in mono with the preamp. I personally found the A07 Max a little dull and thudding. I have the P3 and it makes a big difference as it’s a very clean preamp. My model of the A07 Max arrived with over tight bottom screws and so I could not remove the casing to change the op amps. Aiyima contacted me after I left an honest review over the state of the amplifier which looked like a customer return and were not happy. Anyway ordered from Ali Express, arrived around two weeks later and thrown in the bin an hour after arrival. Aiyima said they do not recommend opening the casing which is contrary to their advice of op amp rolling…yeah, you get the picture. Still it is a nice little amp but bare bones I don’t think it sounds all that. Maybe with a couple of Muses op amps or the opa1622 in there might lift the sound a little but I didn’t get chance to find out this time round, glad it only cost me £42. Black Friday.

[@Jeff_Sant_Anna]

Você é o melhor KZbinr de HI FI! Saudações do Brasil 🇧🇷 Gostamos do seu bom humor!

[@ranakirti]

awesome knockout in the beginning of the video ..!!!

[@gerdschulke9048]

Sehr informativ, Vielen Dank. Habe unter anderem auch zwei dieser a07max im Doppel Mono Modus ausprobiert bzw. getestet, hatte den gleichen Eindruck wie Du und war genauso begeistert. Da mir mehrere Möglichkeiten zum Herumspielen zur Verfügung stehen, werde ich, als eine Konstellation auch weiterhin diese beiden im Doppel Mono Modus verwenden. Mein Favorit für den Stereo Modus ist allerdings der V3 von Fo.i. Als Vorverstärker kommt u.a. eine Audio Box X2, auch von Fo.i, zum Einsatz. Das passt ziemlich gut. Als Lautsprecher verwende ich wirklich ausgewachsene Teile, unter anderem Magnat Quantum 1009. Das passt auch ziemlich gut. Ich bin von diesen Mini-Amps ziemlich angetan und begeistert. Viel Leistung ung guter Klang für Mini Budget.

[@991carreras3]

Excellent vid! And perfect timing cause my two new Fosi ZA3 amps arrive later today and you cleared up the mono setup for me.

[@alanwilkinson4080]

What do you think about them as monoblocks? Can you hear difference?

[@jd5787]

Hi, how did it go in mono vs stereo? Thanks!

[@991carreras3]

@alanwilkinson4080 I cannot tell any difference between mono and stereo.

[@991carreras3]

@jd5787 I have been trying mono setup & stereo setup and there is no difference in sound.

[@jd5787]

@@991carreras3 thanks for the feedback! Do the amps heat up? Is the soundstage/imaging good? (I have a NAD with is really good but I don't want to use it too much as it is well over 20 years old now 😁). Thanks!

[@user-xi1sw8tj2f]

Awesome You are the one of the best youtuber in audio field. Good and fun to watch and many information which I also willing to try. Cheers my friend!

[@clipperjay1475]

Haaa no one forces people to watch 😅 Plus some people wouldn't say rude things directly to your face it's just not polite! One rule more people should read three times before posting 😊 I like the way you explain to people who genuinely don't know and want to learn👍

[@Niels133]

Love the way you make your video's. Information and fun to watch. With those little amps, I miss the( low )mids. Think that's also these speakers.....

[@UTILITARIANTVUK]

Yeah, the Polk's XT15s don't have the best mids.

[@geevee1045]

I'm enjoying your reviews, and all the trouble you go to for your viewers. Just wondering how you would rate the sound quality of the Aiyima A07 MAX in mono mode vs your Rotel RA-01 class AB amp? I'm pretty sure others are wondering the same. Thanks for any enlightenment you can provide on this comparison.

[@UTILITARIANTVUK]

The bridged A07 was a little punchier and went louder but it was very close when it came to overall sound quality. I would have to give the edge to the Rotel.

[@michaelvincent8306]

Another great video time to give monoblocks a go but do love my valve amp the gloves are off i wonder why i sound like the guy from Cardiff great scott

[@harrykain285]

Do the same with the new fosi va3, would love to know how they differ.

[@micksmith106]

Mad has an hatter , has always ... but keep the vids coming our kid. us poor working plebs need the info. Your right though, the soundstage and clarity was bang on , even with my cheapo BT HP on .

[@dungysphincter7974]

Great video! Great excitement! Thank you for sharing! I always look forward to watching your shares. Plus, your sharing a topic that interests me.

[@shaunyweaver1144]

Music should be fun, i enjoy the vids mate . Separating the channels always has benefits, even if there is no extra power . The sabaj A30a is a stonking piece of kit, you should try that amp dac out .

[@MrAlexandreazevedo]

I subscribed to your channel because you are funny but also explain well.

[@apparaoapparao]

Great video. Looks like the Aiyima T10 would work well as a preamp for bridging two Aiyima 07 maxes

[@balachandran3383]

Cool video 👌

[@Panslapper]

Hahaha....anyway I now have a pair of these and found some advice that has paid off using these A07 Max in Mono. Firstly if you want to upgrade the op amp on a budget then the opa1622 it will DRASTICALLY improve the sound quality without breaking the bank like Sparkos might do. Seriously, try the opa1622, coming from the NE5532 it will be a very nice surprise giving you more air altogether better soundstage, sublime bass nice and tight. If you do then you only need to buy two opa1622, one for each amp. Put the new op amp in the top socket, you cant make a mistake unless you put it in backwards, make sure you match the spot or groove on the op amp to the groove on the socket. The top socket is the socket facing the RCA or back panel, you cant go wrong and blow anything as it will only sound very quiet if you have it in the wrong socket. Another bonus is the amps run ALOT cooler for longer with this set up. You can trust this advice as I have literally just done this at my own risk and completed the task with no issues and trust me, you will not regret it!

[@LoftyVisions]

Love that Pete Tong album. I also use it to test gear. Great coincidence 😎 Love.your work!

[@UTILITARIANTVUK]

It's got everything you need to test equipment! 👍

[@LoftyVisions]

@@UTILITARIANTVUK He released 3 albums - Ibiza Classics, Chilled Classics and Classic House, all excellent 🙂

[@UTILITARIANTVUK]

@@LoftyVisions Thanks for that, I'm going straight to eBay to order them! 👍😄

[@LoftyVisions]

@@UTILITARIANTVUK "With Every Heartbeat" on the Chilled Classics album is my fave test track. Absolute masterpiece and sounds incredible on a decent system 👍 Enjoy!

[@dmvinyl8326]

The mono system in A07 only makes sense if the amplifiers are perfectly the same.

[@steve78able]

The T8 pre goes great with a pair of these, they worry my CDM1 SE

[@mrtyreus0]

Listening to your demo on a single A07+ in stereo mode, powering a pair of Allison Acoustics Model 6 with a Douk Audio Tube DAC Needs more clean power, hooking up my second A07+ to check out dual mono mode asap

[@100bsl]

Hi.. great vid.. wanted to know how you would connect a single subwoofer (which has RCA line in as well as LFE in) to the Aiyima A07 Max when using two amps in mono mode.

[@UTILITARIANTVUK]

This is a strange one because Aiyima recommend connecting just one of the amps to the subwoofer. However, this would result in the sub having the bass frequencies coming from one channel only. If you had two single 3.5mm to RCA cables, you could run one cable from one amp and the one cable from the other amp into the RCA inputs, left and right, on the subwoofer.

[@100bsl]

​@@UTILITARIANTVUK thanks for the quick revert. I plan to do what you have mentioned, i.e. run one cable from the aux out of left amp to the left line level in of the sub and another cable from the right amp aux out to the right line level in of the sub. I have the Polk Audio DSW PRO 500 sub which has left and right line level in. At present, the sub is connected to a single Aiyima A07 Max playing in stereo mode. Waiting for the second amp to be delivered. In the meantime if you happen to add a sub to your monoblocks set up, please give your feedback. Thanks

[@victormedrano2316]

​@@100bsl hi there, how it worked?

[@snatch709]

You add lots of interest to your videos with your character , as well as audio content you present ina very pleasing and light highted way ignore the pompus gits, they can go elsewhere

[@markgriffiths6540]

My Rotel a11 Tribute acts as the pre-amp for the monoblocs. They sound with my Hivi Swans 2.2a better than the power stage of the Rotel.

[@markgriffiths6540]

...with LM4562 opamps.

[@uribar-ner5055]

Can you check the max with 48v 10a power supply?

[@treed873]

I could hear a slight difference between the two, and having the 2 amps sounded better to me. Perhaps it was partially due to your tube (valve) preamp.

[@tjeerdkruidhof5808]

Can you please also make a listening video with upgraded opamps like the muses02❤

[@RichardLamploughPlanetUnknown]

Hey Martin, hope you're well. Isn't the AO7 MAX fab? I've been mulling over the two mono set-up for some time, so this video really helps - thanks. I use a KHOZMO passive preamp - I've learned it's best have gain maximum, then adjust whatever amp I'm using afterwards, so for now I'm going to stick to stereo (plus, the KHOZMO has no remote and it's 3 metres away from my listening chair.. the AO7 is 6 inches away!) I use Neat Iota Alphas at 4 ohms, and I'm getting plenty of Oomph. - Kindest regards - Richard (clown smiley face) - Folkestone.

[@UTILITARIANTVUK]

I've been interested in those Neat speakers, they are quite unique. How do you find them?

[@tony100678]

Esos amplificadores son muy efectivos, pero al subirlos al maximo producen distorcion, de eso existe evidencia en youtube y lo e comprobado, lo mejor es a las (en sentido del reloj) 5 ó 4, despues de eso es distorcion, antes que eso es baja la ganancia. Yo te recomiendo que uses tu rotel como Pre Amp, le saca mucho mas provecho. y otro punto es cambiar los amplificadores operacionales, ya que los que trae de fabrica en intrumentos musicales con frecuencias medias-bajas se hace grumoso y no es notorio la separacion de intrumentos. Saludos por su canal.

[@silmarils94]

why didn't you use preamp in stereo? It would have been more exact, o no?

[@superidyt]

What power supply (36v / 48v) you recommend for use with a par of 6ohms 130w power speakers (Pioneer SP-FS52) in mono mode? Thank you!

[@UTILITARIANTVUK]

The 36 volt/6amp should drive them just fine.

[@tapretals698]

Try the Aiyima T6 Pro as a pre amp ? Does a good job. Or maybe as an alternative to bridging, replace op amps with Sparkos SS3602's for a similar price as the extra Aiyima Max ? I got some Sparkos op amps, they are brilliant.

[@robertorodriguez2609]

Why do both preamp outputs have to go into the left input in each mono amp?

[@UTILITARIANTVUK]

That's the way it's designed.

[@potocnikjure]

HI, can u help me with something.. what kind of speaker connections/plugs are those? thnx

[@UTILITARIANTVUK]

Banana plugs

[@potocnikjure]

@@UTILITARIANTVUK this banana plugs in aiyima speaker connections - are they standard banana plugs?

[@UTILITARIANTVUK]

Yes 👍

[@astandupcooks]

How does this bridged compared to marantz pm6007 you reviewed in the past ? Are you planning to do a video after adding some op amps?

[@OldMeloman]

In stereo measurements, aiyima has bad interpenetration of channels characteristics. Wider soundstage and separation I think you get in mono mode as except.

[@martinriches2542]

Merry Christmas! Thanks for the great informative videos. Perhaps you could try to be a little less stiff and serious next year!?😉

[@UTILITARIANTVUK]

I'll do my best! 😄

[@frederickfranchi6408]

Love your videos and your opinions on these class d amplifiers but honestly are they up to the sound level of a really good AB amp?? I would love to buy a couple of these little amps and be done with all those big amplifiers🤔

[@UTILITARIANTVUK]

They are not quite there but they're getting pretty close!

[@frederickfranchi6408]

@@UTILITARIANTVUK I agree, I have one of the earlier models and I can't believe how good they sound 👍 I just don't want to live with these big beast anymore I think with a little tweaking I can get pretty much the same sound. Well like you said close 🎧

[@ThorRavnsborg]

Does anyone know if both op amps are in use in mono mode? If I wanted to upgrade them would I still have to change them all?

[@jasoncampbell2808]

Even though I feel like it is correct to turn the volume knobs to max, I can't help but wonder why it's treated any different than a car head unit and amplifier. You wouldn't install a car amp and instantly turn the gains to max. Ideally, you'd find the clipping point of the head unit; in this case it would be the preamp. If you don't have the tools to determine that then I've always heard to set the head unit to 75% volume. After that you'd turn your gains until either a) you start clipping or b) it's as loud as you can stand it if you are setting by ear. This becomes your max volume. It seems by setting the volumes to max that you would introduce too much distortion. Any thoughts?

[@UTILITARIANTVUK]

My guess is, when you have two amps, the volume pots may not be set equally. By turning them both to full, you are ensuring equal volume for the left and right channels.

[@manitsony6703]

Where is oakenfold.

[@johndoedro]

What is youre preamp does not have a volume knob? If mono is the intention

[@UTILITARIANTVUK]

It's a fosi audio P3 with a volume.

[@lehsu]

How do I hook up the sub out?

[@neonerdthal]

Are those polk T15s?

[@UTILITARIANTVUK]

yes

[@logotrikes]

Just stay as you are dude. You wouldn't be you if you changed...

[@theglowingrectangle4175]

How do they compare with the rotel?

[@UTILITARIANTVUK]

When they were bridged, it was very close but I still preferred the Rotel.

[@Mickimoss]

Hilarious, ignore that guy in the comment hahah, it all depends on the mood of the commenter, by saying that we know what's his current mood when making that comment.

[@acswales]

LOL. Mart, get his address and go give him a Caerphilly kiss!

[@UTILITARIANTVUK]

🤣

[@andreask2288]

With this kind of small baby speakers it make no sense... Put a bigger Floorstanding speakers from Klipsch or same a Elektro Voice Sentry iii or a 15k high end speakers on it...and you can store or sell your Accuphase ...

[@gage4375]

💯😎

[@turbomustang84]

You keep being you and the pompous A** negativity be damned

[@deejay696]

Happy Crimbo fella 🤡🤡🤡🤡🤣🤣

[@UTILITARIANTVUK]

🎅

[@arongatt]

Just be yer self mate …. BBC news reader 😂🤣😂🤣

[@UTILITARIANTVUK]

Spiffing!

[@matsnaslund5762]

Keep on clowning!👊🎅🥸 Two things, yes the polarity of the speakers matter even though it’s mono, incorrect phase. Yes, you should max out the amps if controlled via pre-amp.

[@Orion-gm7fh]

Какие блоки питания лучше 32, 36 , или 48 v , для этого усилителя? Лучше этот aiyima 07max чем fx502spro ? У меня был fx502spro, быстрый, прозрачный 👍 ,но высокие частоты плохие , их просто нет ,голова болела от fx502spro, но все равно понравился. Этот aiyima лучше чем fx502spro или такой же?🇷🇺

[@UTILITARIANTVUK]

I would go with the 48 volt. I've not heard the fx502spro but the a07 max has really nice highs. Not fatiguing.

[@Orion-gm7fh]

​@UTILITARIANTVTUK Thank you .