AudioCircle
Audio/Video Gear and Systems => Cheap and Cheerful HiFi => Topic started by: fredgarvin on 25 Aug 2018, 08:45 pm
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It looks like heck of a deal, with Icepower 300asc module, fully balanced, 140wpc (8 Ohms) / 300wpc (4 Ohms) and a damping factor of 500.
Priced at $299.
Stealth PA-1 monoblock :
https://emotiva.com/products/pa-1
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Great looking amp. Obviously a repurposed professional unit. I'm sure some reviews will soon follow, good find.
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And if you don't mind a "factory renewed" unit you can save another $30.
https://emotiva.com/collections/amps/products/factory-renewed-pa-1 (https://emotiva.com/collections/amps/products/factory-renewed-pa-1)
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Great amp for home audio if you have a tube preamp,
impressive low price, point to Emotiva, I liked even the name :thumb:
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Or couple it with the $56 nobsound passive pre for an incredible cheap monoblock set-up. Even incudes balanced inputs and outputs.This Nobdound passive pre has better clarity than tube pres. My buddy Rex has replaced his Tortuga passive with this unit.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MXC9HHW/ref=sxts_kp_tr_2?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=8778bc68-27e7-403f-8460-de48b6e788fb&pd_rd_wg=mXT3S&pf_rd_r=FZ0MAZM2ZBZC6GJEP9Z5&pf_rd_s=desktop-sx-top-slot&pf_rd_t=301&pd_rd_i=B01MXC9HHW&pd_rd_w=fMV6c&pf_rd_i=nobsound&pd_rd_r=37824966-6b70-423a-a080-8c6ab0778573&ie=UTF8&qid=1535299186&sr=2
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My experience with multiple Emotiva products over the last 24 months gives the buyer the added benefit of being able to re-purpose them into paperweights when they fail and Emotiva repeatedly can’t fix them under warranty, though hopefully for any buyers the fact that Emotiva is doing little more than buying an ICE module and screwing it into a case will mitigate that.
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The Nobsound passive pre I have and have thoroughly enjoyed, especially at the price.
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My experience with multiple Emotiva products over the last 24 months gives the buyer the added benefit of being able to re-purpose them into paperweights when they fail and Emotiva repeatedly can’t fix them under warranty, though hopefully for any buyers the fact that Emotiva is doing little more than buying an ICE module and screwing it into a case will mitigate that.
Well, if this one fails, they'll just pop off the plugs and install another ICE module. :wink:
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The Nobsound passive pre I have and have thoroughly enjoyed, especially at the price.
Rex also has the older Nobsound pre that he paid $39, but says the $56 passiver is slightly better. It has been updated with better parts. I am now using the $39 one. So a future purchase is in the making. :thumb:
And very soon. These monoblocks might be a must purchase also.
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Or couple it with the $56 nobsound passive pre for an incredible cheap monoblock set-up. Even incudes balanced inputs and outputs.This Nobdound passive pre has better clarity than tube pres. My buddy Rex has replaced his Tortuga passive with this unit.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MXC9HHW/ref=sxts_kp_tr_2?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=8778bc68-27e7-403f-8460-de48b6e788fb&pd_rd_wg=mXT3S&pf_rd_r=FZ0MAZM2ZBZC6GJEP9Z5&pf_rd_s=desktop-sx-top-slot&pf_rd_t=301&pd_rd_i=B01MXC9HHW&pd_rd_w=fMV6c&pf_rd_i=nobsound&pd_rd_r=37824966-6b70-423a-a080-8c6ab0778573&ie=UTF8&qid=1535299186&sr=2
I'm now using a Nobsound with 3 ins and two outs- one line and one volume controlled. It is so transparent that my tube rig is now on the sidelines. I wasn't expecting that.
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My experience with multiple Emotiva products over the last 24 months gives the buyer the added benefit of being able to re-purpose them into paperweights when they fail and Emotiva repeatedly can’t fix them under warranty, though hopefully for any buyers the fact that Emotiva is doing little more than buying an ICE module and screwing it into a case will mitigate that.
Huh. My experience has been different. I have a pair of UPA-1 monoblocks that I bought in 2011 and they have performed flawlessly with both Vandersteen 1C and Magnepan MMG's and 1.7's. I bought my sister an XPA-200 stereo amp, she has been powering the Vandy 1C's with it since late 2013 with no issues. They seem to be a very good value.
Perhaps you got a bad unit, that can and does happen with any manufacturer. I hope that their service honoring their year warranty is good, it was 5 yrs when I bought the amps mentioned above, don't know what it is now.
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I hope they can really do 4 ohms, had a pair of 1L monos with Maggie 1.7's and after about 6 trips to the factory had to get rid of them
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You had even more patience than I did. SA-250 stereo amp here, I threw in the towel after four trips to Franklin for warranty repair. One time I was without it for a month, and when it came back from being repaired it went immediately into protect mode on first power up, before even connecting inputs or speaker cables. The warranty sounds nice until they can’t fix it, and you’re paying shipping one way on every visit. Never again.
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... it went immediately into protect mode on first power up, before even connecting inputs or speaker cables...
Running amps without connections can be an issue? :?
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No $h!t Sherlock, but after multiple trips in you try it first with nothing connected to just see it power on, which it would not, so you don't get the "whatever you connected it to was the problem" excuse. Amp was garbage.
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No $h!t Sherlock, but after multiple trips in you try it first with nothing connected to just see it power on, which it would not, so you don't get the "whatever you connected it to was the problem" excuse. Amp was garbage.
I was hinting that the amp may have gone into fault mode because nothing was connected. Sorry for the comment.
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No amp should go into protection mode with nothing connected to it, simply by being powered on.
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Emotiva is cheap gear made in China by various suppliers, there are always risks with this business model. You can end up with great equipment that lasts for years, or a basket of problems. The brand name can have anywhere from total to minimal control over manufacturing. The best companies have company personnel on site at all times monitoring QC/QA, which costs more that spot checking products after they are shipped to the destination country. I don't know how Emotiva handles this, but there are a lot of product complaints with them.
On the other hand $299 for relatively high power monoblocks might be worth any small risk. I was more concerned with the pro connections, doesn't seem like a product that a consumer product company would design themselves and have built for them overseas, like they claim they do. More likely something picked off a shelf to slap their name on. I'll bet with a little searching you can buy the same amp with a different name on it for much cheaper. However with the Emotiva brand you at least have some type of customer service in America, which may be worth it over the non existent C/S you get when sourcing direct from China.
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My experience with Emotive has been very positive. I have owned 5 Emo amps, 2 pre, 1 processor and a DAC. Only UMC1 processor gave me some problems, but were fixed under warranty. I gradually upgrated to more expensive brands for my two channels. But I still have the UMC-1 in my HT setup. I appreciate that Emo made it possible for me to have a chance to enjoy separates on a budget. Considering how much a so called audiophile power cord costs, I'd think $300 for a monoblock amp is a steal!
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I hope they can really do 4 ohms, had a pair of 1L monos with Maggie 1.7's and after about 6 trips to the factory had to get rid of them
All modules are stable to 2.5 ohms per ICEPower's web site.
Apparently, Emotiva showcased the amps in 2016 at CES and at Axpona.
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Great looking amp. Obviously a repurposed professional unit. I'm sure some reviews will soon follow, good find.
Lol, I’m thinking you’re not familiar w ice-based amps.
-Jim
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Lol, I’m thinking you’re not familiar w ice-based amps.
-Jim
Iam not familiar, any info background would be welcome.
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Has anybody tried these monoblocks yet?
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My experience with Emotiva has been very positive, using the DC-1 and am very happy with it. ngamountains, your experience sucks, that would piss me off as well. They need to fix it or replace it.
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There are a couple of reviews out there-
https://hometheaterhifi.com/reviews/amplifier/power-amplifier/emotiva-pa-1-balanced-class-d-power-amplifier-review/
https://www.ilounge.com/reviews/emotiva-pa-1-speaker-amplifier
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I have a pair of these, the bass and the power for the price is absolutely unbeatable.
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If I needed more power, I would put these at the top of my wishlist. Especially for the price.
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These are pricier, but are better performing boards: https://www.marchaudio.net.au/shop (I just listed to the whole shop there because there are several models). They feature the newest Hypex Ncore boards.
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These are pricier, but are better performing boards: https://www.marchaudio.net.au/shop (I just listed to the whole shop there because there are several models). They feature the newest Hypex Ncore boards.
The 75W 8 ohms model is perfect to fullrange drivers or any hi sensitivity speaker and the freq range 10Hz - 50kHz is not bad, thanks for the link.
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These are pricier, but are better performing boards: https://www.marchaudio.net.au/shop (I just listed to the whole shop there because there are several models). They feature the newest Hypex Ncore boards.
Also, not mono-blocks. Pricier though.
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And they are significantly over cheap and cheerful guidelines. It would be helpful if before posting members would make themselves familiar with them.
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The cheap and cheerful guidelines are so cheap that much of what is considered “cheap” isn’t cheap enough to be discussed in this circle. Maybe we need to rethink those guidelines or come up another circle with more practical price points for very affordable gear? :dunno:
If we were to introduce another circle for inexpensive / entry level gear, I think it would be helpful if we didn’t get too strict with absolute numbers. IOW if the bar is set at max of thousand dollars per piece, something that costs $1200 shouldn’t be ruled out of discussion. Pragmatic flexibility is better than dogmatic rigidity. :green:
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The cheap and cheerful guidelines are so cheap that much of what is considered “cheap” isn’t cheap enough to be discussed in this circle. Maybe we need to rethink those guidelines or come up another circle with more practical price points for very affordable gear? :dunno:
If we were to introduce another circle for inexpensive / entry level gear, I think it would be helpful if we didn’t get too strict with absolute numbers. IOW if the bar is set at max of thousand dollars per piece, something that costs $1200 shouldn’t be ruled out of discussion. Pragmatic flexibility is better than dogmatic rigidity. :green:
I kinda vote to keep the guidelines. I don't earn much money and to me, $250 is a big chunk of change and I debate long and hard to spend that kind of money. Even my non-audiophile friends who earn good salaries would think spending over that on a music system is crazy.
I think it's good to keep it there so we don't possibly chase newbies away.
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I agree. There are plenty of good C&C components out there to keep these guidelines. Many of these will sound almost as good or better than the expensive components.
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The cheap and cheerful guidelines are so cheap that much of what is considered “cheap” isn’t cheap enough to be discussed in this circle. Maybe we need to rethink those guidelines or come up another circle with more practical price points for very affordable gear? :dunno:
If we were to introduce another circle for inexpensive / entry level gear, I think it would be helpful if we didn’t get too strict with absolute numbers. IOW if the bar is set at max of thousand dollars per piece, something that costs $1200 shouldn’t be ruled out of discussion. Pragmatic flexibility is better than dogmatic rigidity. :green:
Thanks for your thoughts Wind Chaser, these issues have been previously discussed, but we're continually open for discussion. As related to dogmatic rigidity following guidelines, nothing could be further from the truth, as witnessed by this thread, it doesn't meet them in any single category. We give wide latitude to guidelines with the thought that if you can fit you're special little component in a reasonable system under $1,000 then you're good. Two mono block amps for $600 are so unique as to warrant discussion, and although not discussed, anyone can see how these with a streaming dac and inexpensive speakers could easily come in under guidelines. That doesn't open the door for just any old amp, I'm of the mind that you need something much cheaper or are other mono blocks at that price.
One has to understand this is not a general audio thread, we have those already. It's about having fun with super cheap components, with an emphasis on fun. IMHO it's been wildly successful, therefore we won't be changing guidelines, especially since the market for these components has exploded in recent years. We welcome posts for higher priced components in the other circles.
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Thanks for your thoughts Wind Chaser, these issues have been previously discussed, but we're continually open for discussion. As related to dogmatic rigidity following guidelines, nothing could be further from the truth, as witnessed by this thread, it doesn't meet them in any single category. We give wide latitude to guidelines with the thought that if you can fit you're special little component in a reasonable system under $1,000 then you're good. Two mono block amps for $600 are so unique as to warrant discussion, and although not discussed, anyone can see how these with a streaming dac and inexpensive speakers could easily come in under guidelines. That doesn't open the door for just any old amp, I'm of the mind that you need something much cheaper or are other mono blocks at that price.
One has to understand this is not a general audio thread, we have those already. It's about having fun with super cheap components, with an emphasis on fun. IMHO it's been wildly successful, therefore we won't be changing guidelines, especially since the market for these components has exploded in recent years. We welcome posts for higher priced components in the other circles.
Well said, and from what I see out there with the new chips and the refinement of class D, the cheap components are sounding better and better. Perhaps not as much of a variety with loudspeakers as they continue to rise in price.