[drphoto]

Hey guys, for various reasons I've  been out of the audio scene for years. In fact I haven't even turned on my main rig in at least 7 years. (have loaned out various bits to to other to demo in mean time)

But I do watch vids on computer, inc new music via YouTube. So I wanted to upgrade my computer audio. The amp died in my old Cambridge sat/sub combo, so instead of buying some crap 'computer' speakers (didn't want to pony up for Audioengine, which would be my first choice) I started looking for an integrated amp.

Found the Lepai LP2020A @ PE. I know the high efficiency crowd was all over T amps back in the day. This thing is advertised @ 20/ch, but I did not expect it to come close to that. I thought I could power the passive Cambridge sats.

Just for the hell of it I hooked up my unused pair of Onix Ref1 mk2, not expecting much.

Holy cow! It's pretty great.Yes, when trying to push to hard or music gets really complex, you can hear the 3 amp PS run out of gas and the distortion rise. (gotta get a 10 amp regulated supply) but on quiet stuff it's spooky good. Great tone, natural decay and a real 3D sound stage. All the stuff we spend big money to get.

BUT....it was THIRTY DOLLARS!!!

In my book, that fits the definition of C&C, well.......to a T. 

Pair w/ efficient speaker and you'd probably be really happy.

PE says they have 45 day no questions asked return in case you try and think I'm full of crap. 

[drphoto]

Oh, btw, if any of you take a chance on this and pair with a laptop (I'm running latest Macbook Pro), make sure you turn down the output from the computer. The Lepai doesn't like to have it's inputs over driven. Check anything in signal chain with output control and keep to 2/3 to 1/2, and crank the volume on the amp. Works a lot better that way. 

[genjamon]

I agree it's probably the best $30 integrated out there...

But seriously, I've recommended the Lepai stuff to multiple non audiophile friends who just want to get something going cheap and cheerful. They've been Good recommendations overall. I had one for a while with my Pioneer AJ speakers, and they performed well. Though my trusty Miniwatt S1 sounds better, even with its quite limited power output. But then it was something like 5X the price! 

[poseidonsvoice]

Good post! When I had first set up my speakers and for initial breakin, I plugged my iPhone into this: http://www.parts-express.com/dayton-audio-dta-1-class-t-ac-dc-battery-powered-mini-amplifier-15-wpc--300-380

I still use it for testing and it actually sounds quite good from an iPhone or iPad source. My speakers are 96 dB efficient so it only takes a few watts to come alive!

Best,
Anand.

[drphoto]

Thanks for replies.

I guess I qualify to be an 'audiophile', in the sense that my main rig is Merlin TSM-MMe's with Odyssey Stratos Mono amps, a Mapletree tube pre, Stan Warren built digital front end and all Reality cables.

So call me crazy, but it a lot of ways, this rig is more fun, especially given the low price. I am stunned at the 3D sound stage. Voices and instruments just have this lovely 'air' around them, like you get from a good tube amp setup. And it can play loud, which is amazing, given that the Onix are maybe 87 dB efficient at best. Bet it be really good on something that is up in the high 90's.

One problem, though, is occasionally I hear the distortion rise in a situation I don't think is due to current starvation. I suspect the chip amp is getting hot. I need to crack open the box and try a glob of thermocouple goo to transfer heat to metal case.

I guess that too makes me an 'audiophile' in the sense that good enough is never 'good enough'.   

[doorman]

I've been using the same amp in the same application for several years now.
Very satisfying with a small ( cheap) pair of Tannoy monitors.
--- and 30 bucks !!

[ohenry]

I've been using the little TA2020 for my kitchen TV for five years and it's never turned off.  I can't seem to break it and it powers a pair of small Klipsch two ways.  Also, I use it for streaming music from Chromecast Audio and it ain't bad. 

A great way to waste $30.

[drphoto]

I continue to be impressed by this little amp. Once it got a little burn in time and I figured out the best gain structure it can sound quite good, not just be functional. Yes, the rated power of 20w/ch is a complete joke. I figure maybe 8w, and that's once I upgrade the PS. I'm shocked it can even power my fairly inefficient Onix monitors. And yes, the tone controls are also a bit of a marketing joke too. Well, yeah, they work but if you start boosting things too much, you run out of power. Plus you lose some of the really nice clarity.

I bought this because money was tight, as I was between jobs. But as an audio....well....snob...I couldn't bring myself to go buy some crappy pair of computer speakers for the same $30 from Best Buy or whatever.

Now that I've started my new job, I may look into another Tamp. Maybe one of those Topping units @ PE. They're supposed to use Alps volume pots and quality caps. Plus, they look nice. The Lepai is cute, but it does look a bit like a Cobra CB radio with the shiny chrome knobs. (ya gotta be sorta old like me to get that one)

Sorry to ramble, but I 'get' why people like the Tamp. It really does sound better than any thing this cheap should. Using my Macbook pro as a source I can clearly hear the difference between an MP3 file and one encoded in lossless. Not gonna get that from a typical consumer computer speaker.

cheers to all.

[Odal3]

Congratulations on finding something that you enjoy. This is what makes audio really fun. I also got the Lepai a few years ago and was amazed with the sound for what I paid. I also tried one of the topping amps but it was way to sterile/clinical for my taste.

However, nowadays there are some amazing offerings you can get for cheap that far exceed the sound of the lepai, especially if you are handy with a soldering iron. Before you spend any money on upgrading the Lepai I highly recommend that you look into the TPA3116 board or the Folsom 7297 chip amp. There are very good (and long) threads here on Audiocircle about both. There are also options to get the amps assembled. You can get them for about the same price as the Lepai plus whatever money you want to spend on modifications. I'll add a link later when I'm on my computer.

[drphoto]

Thanks for that reply Oadal3. Yeah I was already thinking about looking into trying to build one from parts. I'm far from a technical expert but I can make a clean solder joint and I know a diode from a resistor!

I think the real fun from this is I had no expectations. If if it just powered my my Cambridge passives to where I could hear video tracks over the the background noise of fans (someone stole my central air compressor so I have to run several fans in the studio) I would have been happy.

The fact that it sounds good is just an unexpected treat.

I think I drove my self crazy with my main rig, because every time I listened, I would go into critical mode and just hear all the flaws. Because I expected it to be good. I've got great amps, great speakers, good wire, I put in hospital grade hospital outlets, why am I not in sonic Nirvana?

But I get this thirty dollar amp and it blows all expectations out of the water. Sure it's not perfect, but play a sax solo from a hi rez source and it's like wow! Big time happy.

Make any sense?

[Guy 13]

Thanks for that reply Oadal3. Yeah I was already thinking about looking into trying to build one from parts. I'm far from a technical expert but I can make a clean solder joint and I know a diode from a resistor!

I think the real fun from this is I had no expectations. If if it just powered my my Cambridge passives to where I could hear video tracks over the the background noise of fans (someone stole my central air compressor so I have to run several fans in the studio) I would have been happy.

The fact that it sounds good is just an unexpected treat.

I think I drove my self crazy with my main rig, because every time I listened, I would go into critical mode and just hear all the flaws. Because I expected it to be good. I've got great amps, great speakers, good wire, I put in hospital grade hospital outlets, why am I not in sonic Nirvana?

But I get this thirty dollar amp and it blows all expectations out of the water. Sure it's not perfect, but play a sax solo from a hi rez source and it's like wow! Big time happy.

Make any sense?

Hi drphoto.
You wrote something that made me want to post the following
and I quote:

'' because every time I listened, I would go into critical mode and just hear all the flaws. ''

Unquote.
I do the same with my excellent main system (Omega - Decware - Rega), best I ever owned,
but now, I listen to my little Sony receiver with small bookshelves speakers for background music
and it makes me happyer because I don't have to concentrate...
My source is my ASUS laptop using the headphones output.
I also use a lot my Grace Mondo Internet radio with the Vietnamese Internet is working.
Therefore what you wrote, makes lots of sense.

Guy 13

[I.Greyhound Fan]

I bought a Dayton DTA-100a amp from Parts Express about 5 years ago on sale for $50 and it sounds awesome with my Monitor Audio S1 speakers and my old AVA  hybrid tube DAC.  Give it a good music source and it sounds great.  It is very dynamic with powerful bass and a wide, airy and transparent sound stage.  The top end is a little rolled off and it is not the last word in detail but as long as I don't turn the volume knob past the 12:00 position it sounds great.  The newer DTA-120 has a bit more power.   It has at least 20-25 wpc of usable power.

[drphoto]

Just for the hell of it, I put in my Meriln TSM-MMe's into the computer audio. A speaker that revealing does reveal a bit of upper mid hash in the Lepai. But it still sounds great with the Onix. The Onix is also a few dB more efficient and it has a little of that consumer low mid boost, I guess because it's ported. A better match for this setup. The Onix are actually quite good considering they were fairly cheap.

The Merlins are pretty great,  very accurate, but for some reason, they never made me smile. I miss my old Magnepans in my big rig. Maggie's have their limits, but man do a lot right. I'll get them again someday, when I take care of some overdue building repairs.

sorry to get off track from the C&C theme!

To get back to it, I highly recommend this amp for something like computer audio or a kitchen system or whatever. With decent speakers, it kicks the crap out of most consumer grade systems.

Get some used Klipsch 99dB speakers with this and you could rock out.

 

[bummrush]

I bought a Muse off ebay 10, 15 watts with a portable cd player  ,Wharfedale 7.2,s. Outstanding. .One of these days i just gotta hookit to my Clements. .

[OzarkTom]

I bought one of these amps two years ago on Amazon for $16.88 and free 2-day shipping. I will get the amp out and get it burned in.

[Guy 13]

I bought one of these amps two years ago on Amazon for $16.88 and free 2-day shipping. I will get the amp out and get it burned in.

Tom, do you mean that it's been sitting in the box unused for TWO years ?

[OzarkTom]

Tom, do you mean that it's been sitting in the box unused for TWO years ?

 

yes, it was only 17 bucks.

[drphoto]

So its been a few weeks, and I'm still impressed. Dunno if break in for real or placebo, but to me, it sounds better than new. & I still haven't upgrades PS.

Still think hella deal.

joe

[ebag4]

I still haven't upgrades PS.

If only there were a remedy for that! 

Best,
Ed

[drphoto]