[Groundzero]

I've been toying with the idea of giving the gift of music to a few relatives lately. A nephew to spark interest in working with his hands, my father-in-law who loves woodworking and singing Sinatra. The only stopping point is what to drive the speakers with. Mainly looking at the Desktop Mini or the X-Bravo. They aren't audiophiles, nor do I hope to convert them. I'm just looking for recommendations on anything cheap and cheerful they can Bluetooth to. My first though it something like this Parts Express amp. https://www.parts-express.com/Dayton-Audio-DTA-2.1BT2-100W-2.1-Class-D-Bluetooth-Amplifier-with-Sub-Frequency-Adjustment-300-3831?gclid=CjwKCAjwjdOIBhA_EiwAHz8xmz7c9fZrKtEAE8zRA_ikCw5OIY_4Yd8_S5J7fjwM7IK_Lp0dVTqRBhoC1EYQAvD_BwE

I figure it's better than the no-name chinese Amazon options, if only for the warranty. However, I'd love to hear if you all use anything that you can speak to.

[JCarney]

Look at the Dayton HTA50BT little tube integrated for $143 on parts express. There is also an HTA100BT at $190 if you need a bit more power. The HTA50 I paired with the mini's with lovely results. The HTA50 sounds really good, looks cool, and will not break the bank, and you get a little tube magic to boot. I like the one you posted the link for as well. Dayton is making some good stuff.

Good Luck,
JCarney

https://www.parts-express.com/Dayton-Audio-HTA50BT-Hybrid-Stereo-Tube-Amplifier-with-Integrated-DAC-Sub-Out-and-Headpho-300-3844
https://www.parts-express.com/Dayton-Audio-HTA100BT-Hybrid-Stereo-Tube-Amplifier-with-Bluetooth-USB-Aux-In-Sub-Out-100W-300-3842

[Hobbsmeerkat]

I would look at the PS Audio Sprout 100.
It's a really robust little DAC/amp and offers a lot of options for inputs, including Bluetooth and phono input as well.

They're not really cheap, but they sound great!

Even the little Dayton DTA1 we use in the shop here sounds great! And it's only $35 ish? It can easily be run directly connected to a phone/ipod otherwise it can be hooked up to any cheap DAC depending on your source.

[I.Greyhound Fan]

If you don't mind spending about $375-$425 for something better, consider the NAD 3020.

https://www.amazon.com/NAD-Hybrid-Digital-Integrated-Amplifier/dp/B07992VZ6L

Otherwise, go with the Dayton.  I own the Dayton DTA 120

[charmerci]

I had that NAD D 3020 paired with inefficient 84db (or was it 86db) Dayton speakers in a large room at work. Meh. It just doesn't have much power/volume. I have a basic, cheap SMSL SA-50 (W/channel) which sounds good and I think is a much better deal with more umph. SMSL has other less basic models.

[zenfishbike]

Bluesound Powernode at 80watts and $900 might define the upper reaches of consideration. There are lots of far less expensive options as already alluded too...

[E-Zee]

Another alternative to a barebones bluetooth amp, would be a streaming amp.  Yes, they still offer Bluetooth but the convenience of a streaming amp is the music signal is received from either a wired ethernet connection or a wifi connection to your internet router.  The amp is always connected independent of any device.  Multiple devices can control the amp through a streaming app but those devices only serve as remote controls not as the signal provider.  Similar to using an Amazon Alexa or Google streaming device.  I've used lots of budget desktop amps with Bluetooth, but after using a streaming amp it would be really hard for me to go back to Bluetooth only.  Streaming amps are also very good for integrating whole house or multi room setups as they can all integrate to play the same content.

One example is the acrylic A50+, priced at $199. Another is the Acrylic A30+ at $139. Sometime they will go on sale, maybe $20 less.  There are other brands that utilize the same streaming app as well.  I'm not making any claim about best sound quality, etc. But the convenience and enjoyment factor is huge. I can turn on the amp from my phone, pick a streaming source, pick which rooms to plays in. Even different sources and someone else can change volume from their phone or tablet. I can leave the house and because no handheld device is the source such as with Bluetooth, there's no interruptions and signal doesn't go bad when you move across the house.   Hopefully that all makes sense.   There are even streaming amp boards and preamp boards if you wanted to either DIY your own enclosure or build into more of an integrated by adding headphone amp, or other pre or post connections.

I suppose everyone has different funding limits but to to me when I hear someone thinking about gifting a small setup to multiple persons, I don't think that suggesting $900 or even $400 options is usually the direction they are intending.  If the idea of a streaming amp doesn't appeal, I'd go for a sub $200 2channel tube amp, maybe from Dayton, Monoprice, infi, with many other options available.

https://www.arylic.com/products/arylic-a50-wifi-bluetooth-multiroom-full-digital-hifi-amplifier-with-airplay-dlna-multiroom-control?_pos=2&_sid=37561414b&_ss=r&variant=38290463522997

[I.Greyhound Fan]

I had that NAD D 3020 paired with inefficient 84db (or was it 86db) Dayton speakers in a large room at work. Meh. It just doesn't have much power/volume. I have a basic, cheap SMSL SA-50 (W/channel) which sounds good and I think is a much better deal with more umph. SMSL has other less basic models.

I would not pair the NAD with speakers that are less than 87db, especially if they are 4 ohms. But a 6 or 8 ohm speaker and 87db or higher should be fine as long it does not dip below 4 ohm.  Same for any of the cheap chinese chip amps.

[orthobiz]

I would look at the PS Audio Sprout 100.
It's a really robust little DAC/amp and offers a lot of options for inputs, including Bluetooth and phono input as well.

Agree...I really like mine in my home office.

Paul

[I.Greyhound Fan]

Agree...I really like mine in my home office.

Paul

Agree but he is looking for cheap and cheerful.

[Groundzero]

Thanks for the responses all. I'll likely end up going with the Dayton HTA100BT or the DTA-2.1BT2. I'll have to wait and see how generous I can be after purchasing the GR kits.