Small-footprint amp

Heighway61 · 19-09-2020 08:23AM #1

Looking for a small-footprint stereo amp to power a pair of Monitor Audio speakers.

Bluetooth and headphone.

Speakers are 120W(RMS) - 8Ohms, recommended amp 30-120W.

As small a budget as possible. I see prices from £40/50 to £600/700. Would the cheaper ones be any good?

Anyone have one?

Kintarō Hattori · 02-10-2020 01:00PM

Heighway61 wrote: »

Looking for a small-footprint stereo amp to power a pair of Monitor Audio speakers.

Bluetooth and headphone.

Speakers are 120W(RMS) - 8Ohms, recommended amp 30-120W.

As small a budget as possible. I see prices from £40/50 to £600/700. Would the cheaper ones be any good?

Anyone have one?

You'd find it hard to go wrong with the below:

https://euro.richersounds.ie/p-13042-denon-dm41-dab-black-black-mini-system-exc-speakers.aspx

Heighway61 · 03-10-2020 08:26PM

Kintarō Hattori wrote: »

You'd find it hard to go wrong with the below:

https://euro.richersounds.ie/p-13042-denon-dm41-dab-black-black-mini-system-exc-speakers.aspx

That looks the business. Recommended by RS also.

Would there be a power issue with it? I have a pair of Monitor Audio BX5 speakers.

BX5: 120w - 8 Ohms
Recommended Amp: 30 - 120w

DM41 Output: 30w - 6 Ohms

Kintarō Hattori · 14-10-2020 01:49PM

Heighway61 wrote: »

That looks the business. Recommended by RS also.

Would there be a power issue with it? I have a pair of Monitor Audio BX5 speakers.

BX5: 120w - 8 Ohms
Recommended Amp: 30 - 120w

DM41 Output: 30w - 6 Ohms

My apologies for the late reply. I can't honestly say with confidence. I think as your speakers are 8 ohms that the wattage coming out of the unit would be lower. It may be sufficient for the type of room that you're using it in though. Having a quick Google of the speakers it seems they can be quite fussy what they are paired with so I'd probably ask over on the RicherSounds forum if they think the two would make a good match.

Kintarō Hattori · 14-10-2020 01:53PM

The below is currently on special from Amazon, it might be worth looking at. I know if I didn't need any optical inputs that I'd have this over the Denon:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Yamaha-MusicCast-CRXN470D-Compact-Bluetooth-Black/dp/B01K7KQX0I/ref=sr_1_13_mod_primary_lightning_deal?dchild=1&keywords=yamaha&qid=1602595249&rnid=1642204031&s=electronics&sbo=Tc8eqSFhUl4VwMzbE4fw%2Fw%3D%3D&smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&sr=1-13&th=1

Heighway61 · 14-10-2020 06:51PM

Kintarō Hattori wrote: »

The below is currently on special from Amazon, it might be worth looking at. I know if I didn't need any optical inputs that I'd have this over the Denon:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Yamaha-MusicCast-CRXN470D-Compact-Bluetooth-Black/dp/B01K7KQX0I/ref=sr_1_13_mod_primary_lightning_deal?dchild=1&keywords=yamaha&qid=1602595249&rnid=1642204031&s=electronics&sbo=Tc8eqSFhUl4VwMzbE4fw%2Fw%3D%3D&smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&sr=1-13&th=1

Nice. Will look at that.

hudo · 15-10-2020 08:56AM

Those 6 ohms don't say much, its an averange impendance. More useful would be minimal impedance, and if it drops much below 4 ohms then you have to find an amp that can really deliver a proper current. They are also 90db sensitivity, so quite loud.
Any decent amp of at least 40-50W or more would drive this speaker happily (not those 5.1 receivers, their 150w is is like 30w of stereo amp!), but i would maybe stay away from analythical/aggresive amps like Yamaha. Try to stick with known brands, but there's also some small chinese class-D amps with lot of W that can be a good match...

Small-footprint amp

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