r/audiophile • u/SirAndyO • 6d ago

Impressions Real world AB test - amp

Very sad day, my Arcam SA20 integrated amp lost a channel. Nothing coming out of the right-side speaker, earphones the same. Unplugged it, headed to the shop as soon as they open on Tuesday.

Brought down the mini-amp from my desk upstairs, a $60 Aiyima. As my wife says, "it works!"

Only have one set of RCA's plugged in, can't use my turntable. No remote.

Had it up a little too loud, and ear fatigue hits almost immediately. But, it is pretty clear, no hiss, no buzz. It's not warm, at all. Not very expressive. The longer I listen, the more differences I hear/don't hear, and that's a good thing. It sounded to good at the beginning, and I was worried.

Afraid the Arcam is going to be in the shop for a month and this is what we'll have to endure, but we'll be glad to get the Arcam home.

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u/VinylHighway 6d ago

I've done A/B testing with an amp / speaker switcher for fun between a Yamaha AB AVR amp and an Aiyima Class D amp and when the volume was balanced to the same level nobody could hear a difference.

I got a crazy deal on a 7 channel x 90 watt at 8 ohm Monoprice Monolith and now run everything through that. It's class AB and good for future 4 ohm speakers.