Just Orderd a Class T Amp

[Robert-The-Rambler]

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...number=310-300

http://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-me...e=UTF8&index=1

I am surprising my Dad who has been away on vacation with a 2 channel Blu Ray setup in his bedroom for his Samsung 550 Series 46" 1080p HDTV as a gift for Fathers Day and his birthday on Thursday. I watched about a half hour of Speed Racer and was really impressed with the visual quality. Right now I donated my Toshiba Blu Ray player and a pair of 5 1/4" Sony bookshelf speakers and an old Radio Shack receiver. I am concerned about power consumption as I have hooked up my relic of an Optimus Stereo Receiver that outputs 50 watts a channel RMS into 8 ohms but consumes 350 watts. (I bought it when I graduated high school in 1997) It sounds okay. Do you think class T is a good option for a mini Home Theater? I just ordered the amp and hope to have it by Friday before my Mom and Dad get back Saturday. I may even keep it for myself if they want to keep the Optimus.

[Feanor]

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...number=310-300

http://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-me...e=UTF8&index=1

I am surprising my Dad who has been away on vacation with a 2 channel Blu Ray setup in his bedroom for his Samsung 550 Series 46" 1080p HDTV as a gift for Fathers Day and his birthday on Thursday. I watched about a half hour of Speed Racer and was really impressed with the visual quality. Right now I donated my Toshiba Blu Ray player and a pair of 5 1/4" Sony bookshelf speakers and an old Radio Shack receiver. I am concerned about power consumption as I have hooked up my relic of an Optimus Stereo Receiver that outputs 50 watts a channel RMS into 8 ohms but consumes 350 watts. (I bought it when I graduated high school in 1997) It sounds okay. Do you think class T is a good option for a mini Home Theater? I just ordered the amp and hope to have it by Friday before my Mom and Dad get back Saturday. I may even keep it for myself if they want to keep the Optimus.

A class T amp will likely trounce an old Optimus for sound -- although I don't know either specific item, so I will stick with "likely".

[markw]

It's laudable that you think so highly of your father to do this for him.

I would look carefully at the specs on that little unit. There are no meaningful distortion specs listed so, what's exactly being output when it generating that rated 20 watts?

As for power consumption, it uses an external power supply which is always plugged in consuming power, unless one unplugs it when not in use. That "350 watt" figure you state is only valid when it's being cranked to the max. In normal use, it's much less. Idling, it's most likely only a few watts, like the t-amp power supply or a clock radio.

IMNSHO, this will not be an improvement over that receiver particularly considering the speakers and the fact that that receiver has remote control. That last one is really nice to have in a HT.

[Robert-The-Rambler]

It's laudable that you think so highly of your father to do this for him.

I would look carefully at the specs on that little unit. There are no meaningful distortion specs listed so, what's exactly being output when it generating that rated 20 watts?

As for power consumption, it uses an external power supply which is always plugged in consuming power, unless one unplugs it when not in use. That "350 watt" figure you state is only valid when it's being cranked to the max. In normal use, it's much less. Idling, it's most likely only a few watts, like the t-amp power supply or a clock radio.

IMNSHO, this will not be an improvement over that receiver particularly considering the speakers and the fact that that receiver has remote control. That last one is really nice to have in a HT.

The Optimus receiver is the STA-795 and oddly enough it did not have a remote so it is a wash in that category. I will use a power strip so it is totally off when not in use. Dad just has to remember to flick the switch. I'm with you on the game of shadows. Amp makers are mostly full of crap when it comes to specs so seeing is believing. Only a real world test will reveal the answer. Honestly I am assuming this T amp is about a 10 watt per channel amp into 8 ohms.

http://support.radioshack.com/suppor.../doc8/8401.htm

The speakers are the Sony SS-MB150H.

http://www.amazon.com/Sony-SS-MB150H.../dp/B0002553J6

I would love to get the larger Sony SS-B3000 bookshelf model with 8" woofers or a very small very low cost powered sub that can be run with speaker line level inputs. The sub would need speaker wire inputs and outputs. I have this strange Jensen sub I use with my PC that only has speaker wire inputs but no outputs so you need an independent B set of speaker terminals or it will crossover everything including your main speakers and you have no mids or highs at all. Luckily I have the Gemini XG-3001 and the speaker terminals A and B are independent. But I digress..... That might not have made much sense....

I happen to think of the Sony SS-B3000 8" 3 way bookshelf model as an add is on the right side of the screen. I had the older model which was pretty much the same but I gave them away when I wasn't using them. They have decent bass output and would make setup a lot easier than adding a powered sub in a room with very little space.

I have till Saturday to finish this project so I guess I would ask what Bookshelf speakers for under $100 would be a better choice than the Sony SS-B3000 and give bass output as close to many floorstanders as you can get. The rated bass output is down to 50hz. I'm partial to the Sony as I know I can get them fast and they are cheap and I have lots of experience with them.

The Bluray player is the Toshiba 1100 model. I got it on the Saturday after Black Friday last year for $59. I was supposed to use it in my downstairs man cave but I never got to that project so since my Dad helped me find this unit I am giving it to him.

So I guess I might consider trying different speakers other than the "tiny" bookshelf speakers. Thanks everybody. Keep em coming.

[markw]

It sounds like you already made up your mind before your first post. Enjoy your T-amp..

[Robert-The-Rambler]

It sounds like you already made up your mind before your first post. Enjoy your T-amp..

Bestbuy stopped carrying Sony speakers. Those bastards............... Realistically it was probably cannabalizing sales of higher end gear. I thought I had my mind made up but Bestbuy put a wrench in my game plan. And the sub I am interested in from Sony is not carried at my local Bestbuy. I have to drive 20 miles to the store across the street from where I work. I'm on vacation and I would prefer to not drive to work. LOL I don't want to take the chance of ordering speakers and not having them by Saturday either. Free shipping is nice but it is luck of the draw whether the warehouse is close enough to get stuff fast enough.

I will find a powered sub for $100 or less than and make it fit. I'll have to go to the stores locally and see for myself. Even if they don't have it like the internet says there is a damn fine pizzeria in the same shopping center so it is a win anyway. Wish me luck...... Looking for this......

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Sony+-+1...&skuId=8417527

or this......

http://www.pcrichard.com/catalog/pro...tegoryId=70070

I'll report back soon........

[blackraven]

If you are looking for some budget speakers in the $75 range, take a look at the Infinity Primus 152's. Paired with a sub ad a decent budget amp you will get decent budget sound. They were reviewed in stereophile magazine budget speakers.

http://www.stereophile.com/budgetcom...s/404infinity/

http://www.amazon.com/Infinity-Primu.../ref=pd_cp_e_0

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_108P152...52.html?tp=186


And then I would buy this sub-

http://www.amazon.com/Energy-ESW-C8-.../dp/B0021L9BMO

[Poultrygeist]

The TA2020 is a nice sounding and very popular Tripath chip and works best with 90db and above speakers. I believe the $19 T-amp when paired with efficient speakers will surpass the Optimus by a mile. You should also consider the inexpensive speakers PE often bundles with their T-amps.

[Hyfi]

I recently got a pair of these Polk Monitors from New Egg which for $90 are a great bargain. I was able to get the cherry for same price. They have the next model up for $119.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ImageG...lack%29%20Pair

[Robert-The-Rambler]

The TA2020 is a nice sounding and very popular Tripath chip and works best with 90db and above speakers. I believe the $19 T-amp when paired with efficient speakers will surpass the Optimus by a mile. You should also consider the inexpensive speakers PE often bundles with their T-amps.

I never heard of Technical Pro and the jury is out on their quality control and complete product line but these 8" 2 way bookshelf speakers really rock with the Lepai TA2020 and the help of a Yamaha YST-SW216 subwoofer. They have a 99db sensitivity @1 watt/1 meter. I wanted to be sure they would be plenty loud for movie use. They sound good for music so far but I only tested Ironman on Bluray and was really impressed with the impact.

http://www.jr.com/technical-pro/pe/TAE_SPH8/

http://www.jr.com/yamaha/pe/YAM_YSTSW216BL/

[Poultrygeist]

Here are the PE speakers often paired with T amps that I referenced. They would be near impossible to beat at this rediculous price.

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...number=300-652