Got the speakers - now what amp?

There's a Dac Magic 1 on pfm for £70 if interested

Yes they will need an amp with some welly (impedance low point is 3.5 ohm) but nothing excessive will be required. Denon PMA350 would do the job, always plenty about second hand.

Another rec for the E30.

With an iFi power supply upgrade for under 50 quid it elevates the level even more, but not night and day and if it's just a workshop system probably not worth the extra.

Can't fault my E30 for the price.

I recommend these amps to everyone because they simply have no equal for the price (I have searched for years).

www.musicalparadise.ca/store/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=75

No remote control and only one direct RCA input (it does have an inbuilt USB DAC too but it's not up to much but you could still try it).

This amp will drive ANYTHING, I mean that. I've had it driving Quad 63's and 57's who's impedances drop to well below 2ohms regularly.

It also sounds stunning.

I've upgraded mine with a nice russian tube (it has a tube buffer to 'warm' up the sound of its Class D amplifier) the combination truly belies it's price.

I'd be happy to send you a tube to use if you do get one, I have lots.

I've also added an extra RCA input.

Let us know how you get on and what you decide on!

Cheers

Blows me away every listen, regardless of price. The reviews aren't wrong....

I've spoken to "Garry" the designer a fair few times and he has refined his designs again and again over the years. I also have his MP-701 mk2 preamp and it's a stonker and have owned various models of his DACs. They all punch well above their weight. He's a big tube guy at heart and has brought great products to the market at superb prices.

(No affiliation just a very happy customer).

You've kept that one quiet Chris.

However it looks like it could be a TPA3116 class D chip implementation, the problem with the specs of those is that it is only 50W into 4 ohms at maximum supply voltage.
The power supply is specified 100-120 or 220-240V so unless you are at maximum you won't be getting the max output. Apart from which at 50W output the actual chip spec is 10% distortion.

Unfortunately because of the easy availability of these chips on pcb's from China, plus the habit of always quoting max output without detailing the conditions, everyone is led to believe they have a 50 +50W amplifier.

I have played about with these quite a bit, in fact I run monoblocks on the TV system with a toiroidal psu. Giving enough headway so high mains and transformer regulation doesn't blow the chip to hell the actual output is around 28W max.

You should hear it though.....

Also to be fair I've recommended it a dozen or so times on other forums. It just sounds flat out amazing and drives speakers with difficult loads without any issue. If there is **% distortion it really does not detract from the listening experience. The tube buffer makes a huge difference.

My ears trump any theoretical measurements.

Also as far as power is concerned I cannot get the volume control past 11 o'clock it's incredibly loud by that point even with inefficient speakers.

The board is a custom design, not a 'cheap' Chinese anything. I highly doubt the measurements would be anything less than acceptable.

I'd be happy to send you mine for a measure/test/listen as my 2nd system is currently out of action due to a new family arrival!

Agree but no one who's theorising has actually heard it have they.

It does go beyond 11, you just wouldn't want to.

Because it's not a big name and manufactured in Asia it will garner skepticism but it keeps company with my 686 and custom hand built 300b, I don't hold onto anything but keepers these days.....

Re the transistor radio, if you can't tell the difference between loud volume and loud distortion, well, you need some better speakers or a hearing test....

That would sound shite, this, does not. Pretty simple.

I wasn't suggesting it sounds bad, my little monoblocks certainly don't.
I was just highlighting the habit of quoting max outputs that in reality are not realisable with the quoted distotion specs.

The other problem with the class D amps is that the filter components on the output are only optimum for 4 ohm or 8 ohm (different values), not both.

There's never a free lunch as they say..

Yup get that totally. It's like the output of a full tube output amp, as in 10-20w seems more than enough as it's not getting anywhere near max output I would say.

Combining the tube buffer and a well thought out circuit as well as a proper toroidal has resulted in an incredibly listenable-to amplifier in my opinion as well as a host of others. Okay so the reviews are on the MP website but they are 100% positive and echo my experience fully.

Yup fair enough, I thought it was the 63's also for some reason. No intention to mislead, still not an easy load but much more within the acceptable realms.

Okay I'll shut up now....

Thank you to everyone that's read this and taken the time to reply. I'm reading through your replies and looking into the recommendations.

Thanks!

Hi there, I'm in the UK too, the prices are in USD but if you fill in your address at checkout it will allow you to select a UK one.

Bought a few bits of kit from the website without issue. Of course there may be import duties to consider (which have gone up recently), I think it was around £25 for mine but that was a few years ago.

The recommendations for 2nd hand amps within the UK might be a simpler route but these just sound rather good.

Keep us updated what you decide,

Cheers

Chris.

Ha, I was brave! I've ordered the E30 DAC from Banggood - it was on offer at less the £100 new. Hopefully it arrives this side of Xmas!

I have had a better look at the MP303 - sounds great, so many reviews agree with you Optical. However, I have two sets of speakers and a subwoofer - how would I power the sub too?

Thanks

Superb price on the E30 there by the way.

The DAC is a total no brainer at that price especially.

Well done.