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Airport Express > Portable Amp > Passive Speakers?

post #1 of 11
12/17/10 at 1:21pm
Thread Starter 

This is my first post (after quite a bit of obsessive lurking), so be kind:

 

Anyway, I was wondering if anyone has any good experience with an inexpensive (<$200) amp capable of powering a set of passive bookshelf speakers out of an airport express (headphone out, unless people know of a DAC/amp for <$200 that would power passive speakers--which would be wayyyyy better)?  I'm looking for something small (so's not to alarm da wife), that may or may not have volume adjustment.  I don't need to blow anything out of the water, so the watts don't have to be insane or anything, I'd prefer something that just sounds nice.

 

The problem is, ever since getting my SR80s & DAC/Amp I've become somewhat spoiled!!

 

Thanks for any input!

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post #2 of 11
12/17/10 at 2:04pm

since you don't need massive volume and want small size, you could get a little T-amp from Parts Express: http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=300-380

 

if you want a little more power and can fit the larger box: http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=300-812

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post #3 of 11
12/17/10 at 2:47pm

The amp posted above looks like a Sonic Impact T amp.  I use one with Audio Magnus Tweak Kit with an Airport Express an Paradigm Atom speakers.  I'm really surprised how good it sounds.  Just do a search for T amps.  here's one

 

http://www.audio-magus.com/product_p/109415.htm

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post #4 of 11
12/18/10 at 9:06am
Thread Starter 

Thanks so much for the great advice--AudioMagus is one I'd never checked out before.  They've got some great stuff perfect for my situation!  Thanks!

 

Has anyone ever seen a optical DAC & amp (that would power passive speakers) for like $200?  I think I could almost put on together with the AudioMagus stuff, but it makes me think there could be an all-in-one solution for around the same price & size.  Thoughts?

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post #5 of 11
12/21/10 at 11:45am

 i have been looking for the same and am close to getting the kingrex t20u .. its on sale at audiomagus but still a little more than $200 ..

 

there were a bunch of reviews for this a few years ago and not much recently ..

 

http://www.audio-magus.com/KingRex_T20U_USB_Amplifier_p/109103.htm

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post #6 of 11
12/21/10 at 2:12pm
Thread Starter 

My only concern would be that item only has
Line-in and USB-in. To make best use of the airport express, an optical-in would be needed.

At least until someone figures out how to hack the AE's USB to fire out audio... 

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post #7 of 11
12/21/10 at 2:19pm

no mini amp (like the T-amps discussed above) is going to have an optical input, at least none I've seen.

 

the OP's setup didn't seem so "hi-fi" that he would really be set back by going line-in to the little amp.  If you are THAT concerned about maximizing sound quality, I would think you would want a separate DAC in-line between the source and amp anyway.

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post #8 of 11
12/24/10 at 11:27am

I just got the new Audioengine N22 amp for a very similar setup. It actually looks good and it has a line-out for a powered sub. Hook it up directly to your AX for now and add an inexpensive DAC later.

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post #9 of 11
12/24/10 at 11:34am

I'd also say that a small T-Amp would be the right choice for your setup.

 

ThinkGeek has some pretty good deals on T-Amps.  They have a desktop version and a pocket sized version:

 

http://www.thinkgeek.com/electronics/portable-audio-video/af3a/

 

and

 

http://www.thinkgeek.com/electronics/home-entertainment/9c60/


Edited by barleyguy - 12/24/10 at 11:35am
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post #10 of 11
12/27/10 at 8:57am
Thread Starter 

Those two probably look like the best option, thanks for the links.  Has anyone had any personal experience with either of the two ThinkGeek products (or any of their stuff)? 

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post #11 of 11
12/27/10 at 9:19am

On a somewhat related note... I've been using the headphone out of my Airport Express for the past week while my DAC is at Cullen/W4S for service. Honestly, it's sounding pretty good! Much better than I'd anticipated.

 

If you don't find a solution that includes a DAC right away, I wouldn't consider it a deal-breaker.

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