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Lepai chinese mini stereo amp, nudes

I picked up the $20 Lepai from PE awhile back. For what it is/cost, it is just fine. Nice to have something about the size of a deck of cards handy to test other electronics/speakers.
 
I bought one when PE announced back in stock last week.

Haven't opened it yet, but from the outside, much better build quality than the OP's, though still not great.

Tragically, it does not channel any bizarre Bose messages.

It does pass stereo, though I'm listening to a mono recording right now. At very, very first blush, I don't like it as much as the Dayton T amp with its 2024 (this has a 2020 inside) but it needs a lot more time before I call it one way or the other.

It sounds like a t amp, which is no bad thing.

s.
 
Montycat said:
I bought a similar one of those a few weeks back as well and did a little report on it in another thread re a basic TV amp application for which it would pretty well suited I think.

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=344212&page=3

Mine is a Dian Xin Electron! It claims 12 watts per side, has an FM tuner, and came very clean with no Chinese dust inside or even any Chinglish to speak of. :thumbsdn:

Other than that it looks a lot like yours, with a tuner board added. I just took it out of the case to have a quick look and it was similar but not identical. No marking to indicate T amp or "Booze" branding...

As for power input, 13.8 form a car circuit should give no concerns for something rated 12v. This one did not come with a power supply either, but it is labeled "12-18V".

Mine might make into a scooter system for my Vespa, or maybe a bench testing device. Or just sit around collecting Canadian dust?

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I guess technically that would be a tiny receiver. How is the tuner in that thing?
 
almost bought one of those lepais, looks good at ten feet. kinda glad I held out for the dayton. but for five dollars or so I would still give one a try, T-amps are fun!and so is trying to understand "chinglish"
 
I got my lepai in about a week ago or so. Damn for the price this tiny little wonder is wonderful. I have it running a pair of very efficient and recently recapped (yesterday) EMI 529's. That 4ohm set up actually cranks. Running it from a 12 volt battery seems to be an upgrade from the walwart supplied with it as well. It's a great little toy and I'm quite pleased with the looks and the sound of it. Hmmm; I wonder what the next step up is like now.
 
A decent laptop or linear PSU will (nearly) take away ant background noise which a wallwart can introduce with this kind of amp. I have yet to try the L-ion pack I received yesterday.. :)
 
Can I tell you guys I feel like such an audio nerd, but am happier playing around with the T amp than I would be with, say, your average HT receiver, with its codecs I can't change, its HDMI I can't affect and the rest?

s.
 
satkinsn said:
Can I tell you guys I feel like such an audio nerd, but am happier playing around with the T amp than I would be with, say, your average HT receiver, with its codecs I can't change, its HDMI I can't affect and the rest?

s.
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dont feel bad. at home i have a biamped tube mcintosh system yet i get excited about tinkering with some old console amp to see what it sounds like. i expect the mac to sound good but its more fun to be impressed by some beat up old amp you just rebuilt.
 
There is no way it is even 25W RMS. As for having Bose written on it....the Chinese have absolutely no qualms about stealing copywrites, in anything. They copy music, books, military and business equipment, and judging by their ally North Korea, probably our currency.
 
voltcontrol said:
"This is use Bose" ORLY?

I have more or less the same experience with the Lepais (tried 3 of them).
The SMSL amp03 is the one to look out for ime (~30 bucks shipped), decent build, great sound.
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I see you're using an old laptop ac adapter, but it's sooo tiny. You'll bring out so much more of your t-amps if you use them with a 12-15v power supply and 4a or more per amp. I currently run my t-amp with a 15v 4.5a and it really packs a punch now! Much, MUCH less distortion and so much power to spare for transients. The higher voltage you use, the more power you get, but be careful because the internal components will start to take damage around 16v.

Also, you are so correct, the SMSL amp03 is to me the best deal. It's build quality far surpasses the Lepais. Only downside is little room for modifications, but even that's possible!

motorstereo said:
I got my lepai in about a week ago or so. Damn for the price this tiny little wonder is wonderful. I have it running a pair of very efficient and recently recapped (yesterday) EMI 529's. That 4ohm set up actually cranks. Running it from a 12 volt battery seems to be an upgrade from the walwart supplied with it as well. It's a great little toy and I'm quite pleased with the looks and the sound of it. Hmmm; I wonder what the next step up is like now.
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T-amps really respond well to a hefty power source like an oversized power supply with beefy capacitors or a battery. It's easily the most rewarding basic upgrade you can make.

The next step is a recap, which really opens up for greater soundstage and more details.
 
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So is it possible to take a T amp, put in higher voltage caps then run it on a voltage over 16 Vdc?

marcusekner said:
T-amps really respond well to a hefty power source like an oversized power supply with beefy capacitors or a battery. It's easily the most rewarding basic upgrade you can make.
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That would explain why some T amps sound good and some do not sound good. I have yet to use a T amp, but if I need a small amp I may get one.
 
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Tube Radio said:
So is it possible to take a T amp, put in higher voltage caps then run it on a voltage over 16 Vdc?
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The data sheet of the TA2020 chip says the max supply voltage is 16V. I worked for an OEM automotive parts manufacturer. The supply voltage requirements for our products was 10.5V to 16V. It sounds like this chip was developed for automotive use.

Bobby Dipole
 
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