Solid State amps from China???

Gvt1911 · « **on:** 26 Jan 2025, 09:14 pm »

I was looking into a SS amp from our Asian friends and am befuddled with the amount of amps out there for sale... Can anyone shed some light on the Good, The Bad and The Uglies...??? I see a LOT from AliExpress and I am totally confused... I need one that has RCA jacks, not XLR's...Any help would be appreciated...
Thanks

newzooreview · « **Reply #1 on:** 26 Jan 2025, 09:37 pm »

It's a coin toss for warranty support, quality control, customer service, reliability, or even getting what is ordered.

If someone likes a particular amp and you order one, you might get something with a different quality of parts because the shop ran out of the ones, or the seller is sourcing the amps from multiple small shops with different quality of work or materials.

There are multiple layers lacking accountability in the system. By the nature of it, there's little capacity to build brand reputation, and also by the nature of it there are strong incentives to steal intellectual property.

Why not buy something on the used market from a known manufacturer?

rotarius · « **Reply #2 on:** 27 Jan 2025, 12:49 am »

I buy amp/preamp boards from Aliexpress with good results. I don't trust finished products and many amps seem to lack any sort of speaker protection. Heck, the Hypex modules that are stuffed in a box in the US or Europe also have the same issue, so if you are not the diy type, stick to the usual suspects on the used market.

JackD · « **Reply #3 on:** 27 Jan 2025, 01:46 am »

There are several quality Chinese amplifiers on the market, however none of them are sold through Ali Express. The quality ones are sold through legitimate dealer/distributors like Vinshine Audio, Kitsune HiFi, or Beatechnik. If you find any on the same products listed on Ali Express they are gray market at best or bootlegs at the worst. Also helps to know what kind of budget you're working with.

FullRangeMan · « **Reply #4 on:** 27 Jan 2025, 02:16 am »

How many Watts do you need?
If your speaker are high efficiency as 100dB and benign 8 ohms impedance, you can use a inexpensive small SS amps from 10W to 100W.

I use SMSL H300 10W, a minimalist amp, smooth sound and great bass, no prob so far, the custumer service people was friendly, no bull, fast shipping by DHL. Made in US amps are over priced due hi cost of labor and many of his parts are made in China anyway, mainly transformers which are expensive in USA.

Gvt1911 · « **Reply #5 on:** 27 Jan 2025, 03:25 am »

Thanks for the info... I don't wish to buy a used name brand amp, had MANY... Been there done that... Want to try something completely different... I looked at a few China amps that were from larger reputable companies and a few only had XLR inputs... Not sure if I could use an adapter and get good results... I will check into the others JackD mentioned...I need an amp anywhere from 70 to 100 plus watts per channel... Price wise I would like to stay under $1k...
Thanks...

FullRangeMan · « **Reply #6 on:** 27 Jan 2025, 04:03 am »

If I were to buy an amp again, I would choose a summer friendly Class D or GaN-Fet integrated from SMSL, Toppping etc they are all under $1K. I had bough direct from SMSL but Ebay are safer for Americans.

JackD · « **Reply #7 on:** 27 Jan 2025, 04:14 am »

Not sure you are going to stay in the under $1000 range unless you stick with the SMSL or Topping stuff that Full Range Man likes. I'm fond of the Singxer SA-90's that are monoblocs whose power is 90wpc into 8ohms or 180wpc into 4ohms so depends on your speakers rating. They have both SE and XLR inputs as well as a high/low gain switch to more acomodate various preamps gain structure. I've owned a pair for about two months and have been more than pleasantly surprised by them. I have used them with the Holo Serene KTE, Supratek Chardonnay and Don Sachs preamps using both the SE and XLR inputs and the High and Low gain positions with three different speakers. They are available from Kitsune. Here is the review that encouraged me to try them for fun. They gave my regular amps all they could take. I will continue to rotate them in and out of my systems.

https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/singxer-sa-90/

Gvt1911 · « **Reply #8 on:** 27 Jan 2025, 01:45 pm »

Thank you guys for the replies... Being retired and pushing 70 this year, I wanted to try something different... Can anyone comment on this amp ?

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256807725845073.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.5.37dd7204njR4Yl&algo_pvid=aaf8c019-ca8d-4f26-9b42-cff2f44c305b&algo_exp_id=aaf8c019-ca8d-4f26-9b42-cff2f44c305b-4&pdp_ext_f={"order"%3A"-1"%2C"eval"%3A"1"}&pdp_npi=4%40dis%21USD%21444.44%21360.00%21%21%21444.44%21360.00%21%402101ef7017379850161628617e26e9%2112000043804740262%21sea%21US%210%21ABX&curPageLogUid=5d5juQHUA0GJ&utparam-url=scene%3Asearch|query_from%3A

It looks good and has more than enough power...
Thanks, sorry to be a pest...LOL

richidoo · « **Reply #9 on:** 27 Jan 2025, 03:29 pm »

Quote from: Gvt1911 on 27 Jan 2025, 01:45 pm

Can anyone comment on this amp ?

Features:

New circuit version just introduced this month
Unknown seller in China
Hyperbolic marketing poetry
Cheap thin resonant chassis
$180 shipping
2 pairs 100W>4R? Not in class A. Show me the distortion curve!
2 pairs 50W>8R = 200W dissipation from those heatsinks? Not without fan, and not for long

Sorry fren, but it's gonna be a hard no for me....

Good luck whatever you decide, and welcome to AC!

JackD · « **Reply #10 on:** 27 Jan 2025, 04:28 pm »

If you're determined to shop in that category of amplifiers then at least stick with the stuff that you can buy on Amazon so you have some recourse and free shipping. Many of those amps have been at least tested and reviewed. That would be Topping, SMSL, Fosi and I'm sure others.

jmc207 · « **Reply #11 on:** 27 Jan 2025, 04:42 pm »

Check your PMs.

I.Greyhound Fan · « **Reply #12 on:** 27 Jan 2025, 04:57 pm »

If looking for a Class D amp, consider ClassDaudio.com

https://classdaudio.com/product-category/collections/two-channel-gan-amp/

Jon L · « **Reply #13 on:** 27 Jan 2025, 05:46 pm »

Quote from: Gvt1911 on 27 Jan 2025, 01:45 pm

Thank you guys for the replies... Being retired and pushing 70 this year, I wanted to try something different... Can anyone comment on this amp ?

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256807725845073.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.5.37dd7204njR4Yl&algo_pvid=aaf8c019-ca8d-4f26-9b42-cff2f44c305b&algo_exp_id=aaf8c019-ca8d-4f26-9b42-cff2f44c305b-4&pdp_ext_f={"order"%3A"-1"%2C"eval"%3A"1"}&pdp_npi=4%40dis%21USD%21444.44%21360.00%21%21%21444.44%21360.00%21%402101ef7017379850161628617e26e9%2112000043804740262%21sea%21US%210%21ABX&curPageLogUid=5d5juQHUA0GJ&utparam-url=scene%3Asearch|query_from%3A

That would be the famous "Dartzeel NHB-108 clone," which is the light-duty clone, unlike the more expensive but closer clones in gold-color chassis. For what it's worth, this particular clone does seem to have the most positive user reviews and least reports of failures. I would look at some of the other clones this youtube channel looks at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pcKmWrwWhg&t=1074s

Gvt1911 · « **Reply #14 on:** 27 Jan 2025, 05:57 pm »

Thank you guys for all the info and help... Going to ponder this info for awhile... I like the "Dartzeel NHB-108 clone,"...Going to look into it a bit more...
Regards

whell · « **Reply #15 on:** 27 Jan 2025, 10:06 pm »

Like anything else, there's a bit of "you get what you pay for" going on with Ali Express. If you're willing to assume the risk, you might get lucky and purchase a diamond in the rough. On the other hand, you could end up with a pile of junk with no recourse.

There's value in some of the Chinese-made products. Knowing which products are a value and which aren't is a challenge. Most of these products are coming from small businesses or shops that have no problem reproducing products which, in any other country would violate patent laws.

Someone above mentioned that other amps are "overpriced". Depends on your perspective. I happen to think that products sold by established companies with known reputations and who respect others work enough to not rip off that work for their own gain has a lot of value. Yes, those companies source a lot of their parts from China, but those companies are also assuming that risk so ai don't have to by backing their products with a returns policy.

FullRangeMan · « **Reply #16 on:** 28 Jan 2025, 09:12 am »

Hi,
If you want a Transistor amp check the Odyssey Clyclops or Stratus starting at $1095 Class AB
https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?board=10.0

https://odysseyaudio.com/

Gvt1911 · « **Reply #17 on:** 28 Jan 2025, 01:00 pm »

Yes, very nice amps, but did not mate well with the rest of the system...

tull skull · « **Reply #18 on:** 28 Jan 2025, 05:06 pm »

Have you spent any time here?
https://www.china-hifi-audio.com/
I have heard of some positive experiences but obviously I would do a deep dive if anything looks promising to you.

viggen · « **Reply #19 on:** 28 Jan 2025, 06:21 pm »

i've not bought anything over $300 on aliexpress but have pretty good experience with that i did buy such as ddc, dac and an integrated tube amp.

i think the value is through the roof. drawback i think is resell. when i buy something on audiogon or audiomart, i expect to get back what i put in.

with aliexpress, i think i will be lucky to get half of what i put in especially with the sunk shipping cost.

if I were to buy a solid state amp on ali now, i'd go for this one:
Jin Feng Hood 1969 small class A HIFI power amplifier complete machine, pure class A fever grade, bold sound quality

hifi zone that jonL linked is a good resource tho i am mostly not interested in what he has reviewed. but he does link to sellers that he finds reliable.