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suggestions for small amplifier

Lefty

Lefty

Super Member
Hi guys;

Well I've decided to update my computer speakers for my new computer. I have an extra pair of radio shack Minimus 7 speakers and I'm looking for recommendations for a nice small intergrated amplifier to drive them with. Does not have to be golden era 70's, 80s or 90s would be fine. I think 25 WPC would be plenty but would like as small and compact an amp as possible. Anyone have a suggestion of what I should look for on E-bay as far as brand and model?

Thanks Lefty
 
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What about the Power Wave tripath based (class T) amp?

Hooks into USB, is a 15 or 20 watt amp, costs $100

Griffin Technologies, believe J and R (among others) sells it.
 
Or if you are handy-dandy with a soldering iron, follow the guidelines in the DIY forum for the Gainclone amp. Those are highly thought of. Since you can control volume, etc. thru your soundcard, all you really need is a basic power amp. There are alot of good choices out there these days. Sudgen (U.K.) makes some nice small amps (and components) too.
 
How about one of the smaller Kenwood KA amps from the 1970's they sound really good to me. Or even a baby Marantz like the 10?? amp

Grumpy
 
Baby Marantz is very nice. I have an integrated 4070 which sounds very nice with my JBL L99's.
 
Physically small amp?

One of the nicest small stereo amps I know of was the harmon-kardon A401. This amp, made in the latter-1970's, was 20 wpc, small, simple, and elegantly attractive in the h-k style of the era.
I believe that the A401 is no more (and no less) than the amplifer part of the contemporaneous h-k 330c receiver.

FWIW, there's an h-k A401 at auction right now on that popular auction site: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3084390748&category=48649

(DISCLAIMER: I am not the seller nor do I have a stake in the auction. Link offered for entertainment purposes only).

The A401's weren't terribly common, and seem to go for too much money (IMO) at the aforementioned auction site.

Plan B: Well, if you have ALMOST enough gumption to solder up a Gainclone, but can't quite talk yourself into the fine detail work, you can always buy one of the Velleman IC amp on a PCB kits and add P/S and a box to put it in! I just happened to post a photo of my little Velleman gainclone-clone here yesterday:

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=15774&perpage=15&pagenumber=2

Also in the thread you'll see Toasted Almond's dimunitive EV integrated amp... which might fill the bill, too... and probably would be quite a bit cheaper than the aforementioned h-k.
 
Hey, if you wanted to be "brand-consistent" :D , I've got one of those little mini Realistic integrated amps... the ones that are only about 8" wide, 2.5" high and 5.5" deep or so, from the mid '80s. Probably about 12-15w/ch... I've used it to run speakers the same size (and same efficiency) as Minimus 7s, and they worked fine together...

This is a very simple amp- there's only like 2 or 3 stereo inputs, a volume knob, a tone control, not much else. Surprisingly good sounding for such a dinky little thing...

PM me if ya want it, I'll sell it cheap. I've actually got two of them, but only ever use one, and even that is only occasionally nowadays...

Regards,
Gordon.
 
The 1040 Marantz is an excelent small amp at 20 wpc.

I used to use one as an office intg amp, and it was perfect for something like that.
 
Bully - If you are trying to sell that Sony, please pm/e-mail me offline with the particulars.
 
Thanks for all the ideas and offers guys...

I was thinking of the gainclone idea when the group stated the project and may still go with that idea. If I do I think I want to build/mount each mono amp with PS onto the back of the minimus 7. I figure the heavy metal case of the 7 would be a good enough heatsink. Just haven't figured out the power supply part. Give it a phono input connector and volume control and instant semi-portable amp/speaker assembly, no speaker wire to run just a small gauge AC cord for power and computer line level input.

It's just I know a small vintage amp would be much quicker. I can only think of all the smaller vintage components I have passed on at thrift stores over the years 'cause I was only interested to the top models.

Well I think I will just keep my eyes open for a suitable amp in the thrifts for a month or so. E-bay has many but not at the price I want to pay for just a computer setup cause I know I would stumble across a $5 amp in a thrift 2 days after I win a bid :p:

Lefty
 
Check out Marantz 1060s on E-bay. The price is right and unless you wand defeaning volume, one should be quite satisfactory.
 
Lefty

If its size you are concerned about, another ida to throw on the table could be the Technics Micro Series.

A friend of mine has one of those receivers and they sounded sweet.

Here is a link from vintagetechnics.com:

http://www.vintagetechnics.com/integrated/suc03.htm


Another amp that won't dissapoint you is the Sansui AU-555, its not in vain that i crossed the world lugging it with me.

Chris
 
At first I thought it was a piece of trash.

I Picked up a Nice Sansui Classique A-550. I couldnt find any specifications data on it. But when I connected it to a Cassette, TT, Tuner, CD player and a pair of Bass Reflex Pioneers it drove the living hell out of them at any volume low or high and it had nice clean sound. So Im guessing 30 + watts rms
I got it with the Sansui T-550 and a Sansui 550 Cassette Deck for $76.00 and am extremely pleased:cool: :cool: :cool:
 
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