T-Amp Gen 2: Simple Stereo Amplifier
The original "T-Amp" from Sonic Impact made quite a splash a few years ago as an inexpensive amplifier that did one thing but well: push two speakers to provide clear stereo sound. Now there's a new model—the "Gen 2"—and while it's twice as expensive as the previous model at $70, it's also also capable of driving larger speakers.
That's it. It's just an amp. But supposedly a very good one.
Catalog Page [Thinkgeek.com via Gizmodo]
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Hmm, nice -- unlike the cheaper original model, this one comes with an AC wall adapter. I'm not expecting much ... I have yet to see a reliable source corroborate the exciting findings of these glowing 'audiophiles'. But I have some speakers with the right impedance sitting around doing absolutely nothing, so an amp that is not expensive and quite certainly not bad would make sense. So, many thanks for the tip, Joel :-)
If anyone can point me towards a web page that teaches me how to decipher these performance benchmarks ...
... I would be most interested.
I have one of the original ones and it is amazingly good quality. certainly much better than anything i've owned.
I see they now do a PCI card version
http://www.si5.com/products.php?pID=4038
hopefully this second get will improve the built quality etc which was a bit plasticy in the original.
the battery feature is great for when you take the speakers to the park or out in the garden
I *just* bought one of these.. well, a couple weeks ago. It works great, sounds great, but the feel is a bit cheap. It's similar to a plastic project case with plastic ends, and the shiny knob is hollow plastic. I'm more concerned with how something performs, and this satisfies me. For the price, I would've liked something more refined. But I'm a cheap-ass.
The big plus for me is the size; I didn't want a full-size component amp on my desk or a chintzy boom-box lookin' shelf stereo. This fits the bill just fine. It sits on top of my computer pumping out good quality sound and being unobtrusive.
The included power supply is an inline style rather than wall-wart, which is nice. I plan on making a custom cable and connector to run it off my computer's 12v power supply rail. We'll see how that goes. The connectors come in on Tuesday.
Oh, and @Nex: THD is Total Harmonic Distortion. These amps don't have ventilation, so the THD number is sort of misleading. If you crank it up, it will get very distorted due to the chip overheating. IHF is an old way of measuring power output, I think? Who knows. I just know it's small and sounds decent. ;-)
Here is a shootout that includes the "super" version of the Sonic Impact amplifier. For $150 they really seemed to like the trends audio 10.1.
http://www.stereomojo.com/SHOOTOUT2007INTEGRATEDS.htm
No dolby 5.1? No video inputs? no sub-out? no "arena" effects? no monitor channel? No buttons?
Excellent! (not to mention, FINALLY!)
I like this concept and it looks like the right price/performance for my non-audiophile needs, but are there any recommendations for speakers to pair with it?
First try the amp out with anything you have on hand.
Next ask yourself what size speakers you have room for.
Higher efficiency(over 89 db, preferably 91db),lower impedance (4 Ohm is ideal, 8 works) will be best.
Paradigm Titans will be a good basic budget recommendation.
I also recommend used Polk Monitor speakers from the late 1980's (Ebay)