Surprisingly disappointing

[Cricketbat70]

I've mentioned a few times in various posts that I use a 36 year old Denon PMA250mk2 at work, driving a pair of TDL bookshelf speakers. We stream Spotify from our phones to an old Harman Kardon blue tooth receiver. Draw backs, obviously phone calls messages etc interrupting the music. Today in a bit of a lull I wired up my Sonos Connect Amp in place of the Denon. My thoughts, wired network not Bluetooth, newer amplification technology in the sonos it will be better.
Honestly the Denon through old spec Bluetooth sounds better then the Sonos. The Sonos sounds like it's being restricted/throttled. It sounds so flat and it's not filling our warehouse with sound the way the Denon manages.
Might be wiring the Denon back up by the end of day

 

[davidf]

Giving these little class D amps a nice easy load from a budget speaker is where they'll be happiest. Move further up the speaker chain and they're out of their depth. As you say, they just end up sounding flat. Found the same driving KEF LS50s with these types of amps. They're good as a solution, but you need a speaker that won't tax them.

That's not to say Class D can't sound good, because it can. I'm currently listening to a £7k Class D based amp which sounds amazing, but it's got 300wpc under its belt, and uses a Class A pre-amplifier section. I'm not saying people have to spend that money, just illustrating that all Class D amps (like other amps), don't all sound the same.

 

[Messiah]

Draw backs, obviously phone calls messages etc interrupting the music.

Using 'Do Not Disturb' mode will sort out that little issue and can be tailored to let specific calls/texts disturb you (if you were worried about certain important callers etc).

(At least you can with Android. Imagine Apple is similar).

 

[abacus]

Giving these little class D amps a nice easy load from a budget speaker is where they'll be happiest. Move further up the speaker chain and they're out of their depth. As you say, they just end up sounding flat. Found the same driving KEF LS50s with these types of amps. They're good as a solution, but you need a speaker that won't tax them.

That's not to say Class D can't sound good, because it can. I'm currently listening to a £7k Class D based amp which sounds amazing, but it's got 300wpc under its belt, and uses a Class A pre-amplifier section. I'm not saying people have to spend that money, just illustrating that all Class D amps (like other amps), don't all sound the same.

Class A, B, D, G etc. all relate to the power amp (How it delivers its power) it has nothing to do with the pre-amp.

Bill

 

[Cricketbat70]

Using 'Do Not Disturb' mode will sort out that little issue and can be tailored to let specific calls/texts disturb you (if you were worried about certain important callers etc).

(At least you can with Android. Imagine Apple is similar).

I might just do that.

On another note it's amazing the difference between my phone and my son's phone (both android) going through that old spec Bluetooth receiver. My son has a £500+ ROG phone, not sure what model number, mine is a sub £180 Motorola. Again I honestly thought compressed music through an old spec Bluetooth receiver there wouldn't be any difference but music through my son's phone has so much more depth and oomph (very technical term I know🤣)

 

[matthewpianist]

I tried a WiiM Vibelink, which is rated at 100wpc. It was fine with easy speakers, but the moment you try it with anything a bit more demanding, it sounds flat, just as you describe. Perfectly decent for a budget system, but not an amp with more potential for growth.

 

[davidf]

Class A, B, D, G etc. all relate to the power amp (How it delivers its power) it has nothing to do with the pre-amp.

Bill

Thanks for pointing out the painfully obvious, I was merely pointing out that Class D integrated amplifiers (ans mentioned in this thread) aren't all equal, before someone waded in and had a go.

 

[davidf]

I tried a WiiM Vibelink, which is rated at 100wpc. It was fine with easy speakers, but the moment you try it with anything a bit more demanding, it sounds flat, just as you describe. Perfectly decent for a budget system, but not an amp with more potential for growth.

This is personal preference (as everything is), but they still need just as much care and attention when matching with speakers as Class AB amps do in my opinion. The lack of any character to the sound just doesn't suit some speakers.

 

[manicm]

I tried a WiiM Vibelink, which is rated at 100wpc. It was fine with easy speakers, but the moment you try it with anything a bit more demanding, it sounds flat, just as you describe. Perfectly decent for a budget system, but not an amp with more potential for growth.

The Vibelink is a curiously compromised device. By itself it won't work with any remote control, yet has inputs and a first class DAC chip.

WiiM should have made it a pure power amplifier to pair with the Ultra, and dedicated the savings to improved amplification. Ed Selley made the ironic verdict that the perfect pairing is the Ultra with the new Cambridge MXW70. The latter power amp seems to be making waves, and is expandable (see new Hifi Choice cover).

 

[Juzzie Wuzzie]

I have two sets of Sonos Connect - which are more than adequate for their use - surround speakers; and kitchen speakers ... but wouldn't choose to use them in a dedicated stereo set up.

 

[Juzzie Wuzzie]

The Vibelink is a curiously compromised device. By itself it won't work with any remote control, yet has inputs and a first class DAC chip.

WiiM should have made it a pure power amplifier to pair with the Ultra, and dedicated the savings to improved amplification. Ed Selley made the ironic verdict that the perfect pairing is the Ultra with the new Cambridge MXW70. The latter power amp seems to be making waves, and is expandable (see new Hifi Choice cover).

WiiM Ultra plus dedicted power amp would have been fantastic. In a PERFECT world a 3-channel power amp so as to use it for AV.

 

[davidf]

WiiM Ultra plus dedicted power amp would have been fantastic. In a PERFECT world a 3-channel power amp so as to use it for AV.

The upcoming Bluesound PowerNode N331 will be of interest then - three channels of amplification for LCR use.

 

[DCarmi]

Sounds to me as though @Cricketbat70 is happy enough with the old Denon amp, in the environment being used. Why replace it? I'd just get a little Wiim Mini and do away with Bluetooth.

I'm guessing that sound presentation in a warehouse is of less criticality, hence the Mini.

 

[Cricketbat70]

Sounds to me as though @Cricketbat70 is happy enough with the old Denon amp, in the environment being used. Why replace it? I'd just get a little Wiim Mini and do away with Bluetooth.

I'm guessing that sound presentation in a warehouse is of less criticality, hence the Mini.

I did try it with a Chromecast Audio a while back but for some reason it kept dropping the WiFi, where our phones are perfectly happy with the router in the warehouse.
I think I will be putting good old faithful back in on Monday 😁

 

[Jasonovich]

@Juzzie Wuzzie @davidf

Wouldn't it be absolutely fabulous if these 3 channel amps became the trend, the new stereo.
Many people who have standmount speakers will also have a subwoofer, this would be the ideal amplification.
I suspect three channelled amplification implies having a passive subwoofer rather than an active one?

Also, if you're undecided about Floor Standers or Stand Mounts, this could sway you in the latter direction.

 

[davidf]

@Juzzie Wuzzie @davidf

Wouldn't it be absolutely fabulous if these 3 channel amps became the trend, the new stereo.
Many people who have standmount speakers will also have a subwoofer, this would be the ideal amplification.
I suspect three channelled amplification implies having a passive subwoofer rather than an active one?

Also, if you're undecided about Floor Standers or Stand Mounts, this could sway you in the latter direction.

Dedicated subwoofer RCA/phono pre-output for an active subwoofer - the three channels are for left/centre/right.

 

[Shrek]

I did try it with a Chromecast Audio a while back but for some reason it kept dropping the WiFi, where our phones are perfectly happy with the router in the warehouse.
I think I will be putting good old faithful back in on Monday 😁

new is not always better hey 👍

 

[Jasonovich]

Dedicated subwoofer RCA/phono pre-output for an active subwoofer - the three channels are for left/centre/right.

Centre speaker, ok thanks 👍