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My Very Low Budget Nearfield Desktop Rig (Lepai amp and Dayton Audio speakers) - Page 8

post #106 of 114
3/26/13 at 7:21pm

As an audio junkie, I am having an urge for the better looking Topping TP20 or TP 22 amp but as some Amazon reviewers claimed the Topping amps are better build, better look but " boring".

 

Any Topping/ Lepai owners care to throw in your two cents. Your bias/unbias opinion(s) will be fully appreciated. I am doing away with big heavy black boxes from hi-end companies due to my age and my new living arrangement.

 

Lepai 2020+ plus good source+ good speakers = my cup of tea for PC listening.

 

I am still struggling with the A2 AE. At low volume, without heavy bass music, the A2 is not bad but at $199.00 a pop, I think it's way over price. 

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post #107 of 114
3/26/13 at 7:46pm
I've listened to the Audioengine A2 a few times and I always thought the same, they're decent if you really need something as compact as possible, but otherwise they're overpriced. A t-amp plus any number of passive speakers will crush them, and even if you're vehemently against passives for whatever reason (size tends to be the most common drawback), there are powered speakers out there as good as the A2 for half the price.

The Samson MediaOne line is a pretty good value at $100-140 IMO (tho I haven't heard the largest 5a), the discontinued StudioDock were also pretty good (they were the same thing + a DAC/IPod dock for a minimal bump in price, and I've never tested the DAC even tho I still have a pair in my room). Much cheaper, fuller sounding, and they won't realistically take up a lot more desk space.

Passives + a t-amp are still the better bang for the buck tho, but a good pair of active speakers is handy to have for patio use etc. Less wires and whatnot.
Edited by Impulse - 3/26/13 at 7:57pm
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post #108 of 114
3/26/13 at 7:46pm
I always wondered how good a value the Audioengine amps are. Seems like the Emotiva mini-X a-100 would be the better piece of hardware.

Update: I don't know why I was thinking you guys were talking about the N22. LOL
Edited by cel4145 - 3/26/13 at 7:48pm
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post #109 of 114
3/26/13 at 7:49pm
A lot bigger, the N22 is way more compact (even ignoring the fact that it's made to stand vertically), and more versatile. I wish they allowed you to mute the speaker output on the N22 without muting the pre-amp out tho, would be handy for connecting a decent headphone amp. I wanna try out the N22 at some point, I'm sure it'd be an interesting comparison against cheaper t-amps.
Edited by Impulse - 3/26/13 at 7:51pm
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post #110 of 114
4/3/13 at 5:29pm
Ingredients for a liquid, 3 D image sound at dirt cheap price : 2 Lepai 2020+ Polk Audio RTi4 +MOG internet music server + Itouch 4g. Ye, they call the Lepai garbage from China but not to this golden ears. Just for kick,I have several spares Lepai 2020+ in my closet so I played around with the " Parasound 1 1/2 stereo" idea. I run the left channel to one Lepai 2020+ and the right channel to another Lepai 2020+ .Hey, I have balance control but more than that, between 9 and 10 o'clock on the volume pot, nothing but beautiful music from John Scofield "BUMP" tracks. Try it you may very much like it. It may not sound as good as the Bryston 4 BSST and the Audio Research LS17 but it does not cost you 6K to 7K either. 10% distortion ??? I like distortion as much I like distortion in tubes. Cheer.
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post #111 of 114
4/4/13 at 8:17am
Never owned any Emo stuff in my life but the Emo folks go pro with the Airmotiv series. Again, these are near filed listening pro power monitor. Pricing of the 5 series is affordable at $499.00 a pair ( 50 WPC). I have been dreaming about the Adam Audio Ax5 but 1k price tag is tough to swallow. Adam Audio comes out with the new F series and their pricing is more friendly than the X series. $499.00 for the pair of Adam F5 ( 25 WPC). For near field listening, I do not really need more than 10 clean watts so I wonder if anyone heard the Emo Airmotiv 5 ?
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post #112 of 114
4/4/13 at 10:06am
Never mind, I find out the link to Tekzone web-site. Not definitely sure but it seems the Emotiva Airmotiv series are rebadged from the Tekzone's monitors ( China).
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post #113 of 114
4/4/13 at 4:25pm

I wanna try the HSU HB-1 MK2 or the Arx A1b from The Audio Insider... Both of them look like pretty good values. Pretty happy w/my Infinity Primus for now tho (P163/P153), I thought they were a nice step up from Pioneer's low end line or something like the Polk Monitor 30, for not much more. Being front ported makes them ideal for using 'em alongside the desk in a small-ish room too.

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post #114 of 114
4/4/13 at 7:02pm
Watch for the Def Tech SM 350 on New Egg. I've got a pair for under $200.00 while they were on sale. 8ohm, 91 db with an 8" passive radiator. It' a steal. Two Lepai 2020+ would be more than enough juice to drive these gems.

If your room acoustic is not treated, these SM 350 may sound bright, then you will need to place the speaker with the passive radiator facing outward, not inwatd to each othet. Boy, I tell you these SM 350s are great with 10/ 15 watt class D amp in my 12×14 bedroom. Near field listenning is perfect

I am waiting for Vanns to drop the price of the Energy RC 10. They have them in stock for $299.00 a pair. These RC 10 are great but you will need to tutn them up. You may need more juice than the Lepai 5 watt to bring the best out of these RC 10. I tried them with the Rotel 49 watt intergrated and they are nothing but amazing.
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