I have three K2020A+ amps, paid under $35 apiece. I use them where many people would use powered PC speakers. The old Tripath chips are actually very good at near-field sound level, so one of these little guys with a pair of Micca COVO-S or similar speakers is miles better than just about any PC speakers you can buy.
I'm considering the Kinter K3118 as a mini amp to power some bookshelf speakers in my garage, so I took this review into consideration. Ideal setup is to utilize the aux port of the Kinter synced to my phone (USB-C to 3.5mm aux cable), and connect a small desktop FM radio to the RCA. Note: radio has aux port, so a 3.5mm aux to 2 RCA adapter audio cable would serve as the bridge to the Kinter amplifier. Do you see any problem with this setup? Any recommendations?
I use the Creative Play 3 usb dac dongle for your headphones. Then run a 3.5mm -> RCA cable to the Kinter from the back of your PC. Then you can swith between the devices easily in Windows.
I'd read reviews of the Kinter on amazon. A reviewer named Pozo has 10 grand worth of equipment to see what the Kinter is truly capable. Things like a very realistic soundstage and the ability to trigger our startle response are things most people don't know to listen for. When properly matched equipment is used together, it's magical. It's easy to make a class D amp that will produce about 10 watts per channel without obvious distortion. That doesn't mean other class D amps have the same level of near audiophile quality.
Well this guy has a $28,000 Audio Precision Analyzers and way more knowledge and experience testing hundreds of audio products. These little amps are neat but definitely not audiophile....lol. They are good value thats it. Class D has moved on and got better, these little 2020 amps are old tech. They only put out about 10 watts which isn't enough. Things like Aiyima A07 are a bit more expensive bit much better.
I can help out. I purchased this kinter 2020a+ limited edition 50w x2 for $47and also the fosi tb10a tpa3116 100wx2 for 66$ and the difference is this: the kinter had less clarity, and the bass is more boomy so less smooth and natural sounding, the treble, while clear, it is harsh in comparison and as mentioned before, less clear. The overall ambience of the sound is also less enveloping. Spend the extra money and deal with switching one cord between units if you can manage both sacrifices is my recommendation.
I just picked up the Kinter used, no issues either. For the $6 It costed, I got a deal. It sounds good. The amp itself is extremely lightweight which is great for portability. With small speakers like the Radio Shack Minimus 7 it fine in a bedroom. For larger rooms, larger more efficient speakers will be fine like Klipsch or PA speakers.
I think 14awg is the max. But with these small amps 18awg or 16awg should be just fine. These cheap amps don't put out the sound quality where heavier wire gauges would make speakers sound better.
I use mine to push a little Velodyne sub that has a bad amp and 2 Canton bookshelfs and it sounds good. For the price you really can't beat it.@@SuperMoeLarryCurly
You might be the 1st one to ever dis the Kinter2020A's sound ! --- I've never experienced the 'cracklin tweeter' thing with mine, but the cheap azz speaker terminals have all crapped out after a few years...so I'm gettin the 3116 or 8 now.
These cheap Kinter or Leapi amps are great for basic needs and are priced accordingly. But some of these people claiming quality sound from them shoud lookna at the measurements AudioScienceReview did. They're pretty much bottom of the barrel and only put out a few watts. The TPA3116 is definitely a step up but there's a few others out ther that are better. The best I've seen of these small class d amps is the TPA3255 measures very well for such a small inexpensive module.
@@iowaudioreviews What review? Someone reviewed the Lepy LP-2020A on their forums but not the kinter or original lepai, so what are you even talking about? Do you realize that the Lepy uses a completely different amp IC?
@@bobsagget823 I've had others they're nothing super special, they're worth about what they cost. They're good little amps for what they cost but have their limits. If you or someone has one you think will perform well get on AudioScienceReview and message Amir about having it tested.
And notice how you didn't even mention that the mp3 input has worse sound. Because from the very beginning of this, you're acting like you're reviewing a piece of lunch that you let get cold, and then went from there. Good luck
I don't know necessarily if its worth double the money because the 3118 is much cheaper and performs somewhat better BUT subjectivity this Tripath has a bit of a odd fan follwing so to those people it may be worth it. Now objectively this Tripath amp has been measured and tested by AudioScienceReview and its terrible. Goes to show what some people think sounds good. Even the 3118 based amps aren't that great. Doesn't matter though they deliver acceptable performance for their cheap price. No, I'm reviewing it like a cheap Chinese amp with poor performance and a ridiculous cult following. I'd rather eat the cold lunch.
I have the same experience with Kinter K2020A :( not sure about the rest, but I just ordered 3 different amps to compare with. from fosi, lepy, and a weird company called Breeze Audio 2.1 Channel TPA3116D2 which should be similar to fosi 2.1.
tried looking for regular stereo receivers on ebay, no go... they're all $80+ for anything decent. someone at the local thrift was trying to sell one for $150. *spit* those people make me sick...
If you don't need a bunch of inputs the Aiyima A07 is possibly the best amp you'll get for $80. Its been tested on AudioScienceReview and was very impressive for the price.
I was thinking on buying the Kinter 2020 but then looked at your recommendations in the video description. Which would you pick between the Nobsound and the Douk? I'm just starting on audio and vinyl so I'm looking for entry level gear. Would appreciate a response to know which option would work best for me :) thank you for the video!
Nobsound and Douk are made by the same maker. Check the tech specs, check reviews and go for the best value for buck. Both are OK, but you can add 20-30 bucks and go for small amps from Aiyuma, Fosi, SSML, Topping and they rpvide satisfactory experience. Power brick with good wattage and clean DC will also help to improve. Speakers - you can snap nice acoustic on eBay then spend on brand new but cheap junk. Klipsch, Pioneer, old Sony and Technics, KEF are all great ones.
I wanted a better desktop PC speaker system . I have an older Sony SRS-A202 Active Speakers that when listening to you tube . I have to keep the speakers volume maxed because of the low wattage and adjust the volume slider on the YT video. They have one tiny speaker a bit over 2 inches , the bass is a port yet if any video has much bass they break up easy. I did get the Kinter K3118 yet haven't tried it yet and have two sets of older KLH speakers the L652B and the 979B both 8 ohm . I also got the same version of the Lapai 2020T1 . Can't say if they are the same unit and have not gotten the Lapai yet . Either one has to be better than what I have now . I just plug into the speaker out on my old Dell 780 . I also have an old Panasonic dual cassette boom box that I used in an old Acer desk top and it sounded real good it has CD inputs on the rear. I have no idea what the new small amps sound like yet my hope is they are better than the Sony PC speakers. Can't find any videos that play my sort of music like blues and rock and later grunge where the bass guitar does at times distort in these Sony speakers. Can't say I care for the included power supplies . They are just like many for personal CD players I have none are regulated yet do the job. This is all I have being 71 . I have built many tube powered guitar amps yet that's not even close to the same thing.
@@iowaudioreviews Indeed. Shocking how many people think they are listening to amp sound, after coming through the amp on their PC. Its like watching a commercial for a TV, and being impressed by the picture, on your tv.....
Yes, mine came in, box wasn’t taped shut, looks like someone messed with it. The power cord was dead out of the box. Hooked it up with a new power cord and worked great. Next time I wanted to use it wouldn’t play at all. Took it apart, noticed bad solder joints on nearly every thing. So called “Limited Edition.” Maybe that’s why it was limited. Don’t fall for the ad.
Hows it a ripoff? Its a A+ with the Tripath chip.... Tripath was good Class D tech like 10 years ago, it's not anymore. Realistically they're all cheap crap. Just good value thats all. Who cares not like Lepai, Lepy, or Kinter make anything good, all cheap Chinese value products.
I have three K2020A+ amps, paid under $35 apiece. I use them where many people would use powered PC speakers. The old Tripath chips are actually very good at near-field sound level, so one of these little guys with a pair of Micca COVO-S or similar speakers is miles better than just about any PC speakers you can buy.
I'm considering the Kinter K3118 as a mini amp to power some bookshelf speakers in my garage, so I took this review into consideration. Ideal setup is to utilize the aux port of the Kinter synced to my phone (USB-C to 3.5mm aux cable), and connect a small desktop FM radio to the RCA. Note: radio has aux port, so a 3.5mm aux to 2 RCA adapter audio cable would serve as the bridge to the Kinter amplifier. Do you see any problem with this setup? Any recommendations?
Mine doesn't crackle but it's the k3118 2.1 bluetooth.
how would i go about having the kinter connected to the comp and to switch to a headphone jack without it coming out of the speakers?
I use the Creative Play 3 usb dac dongle for your headphones. Then run a 3.5mm -> RCA cable to the Kinter from the back of your PC. Then you can swith between the devices easily in Windows.
I'd read reviews of the Kinter on amazon. A reviewer named Pozo has 10 grand worth of equipment to see what the Kinter is truly capable. Things like a very realistic soundstage and the ability to trigger our startle response are things most people don't know to listen for. When properly matched equipment is used together, it's magical. It's easy to make a class D amp that will produce about 10 watts per channel without obvious distortion. That doesn't mean other class D amps have the same level of near audiophile quality.
Well this guy has a $28,000 Audio Precision Analyzers and way more knowledge and experience testing hundreds of audio products. These little amps are neat but definitely not audiophile....lol. They are good value thats it. Class D has moved on and got better, these little 2020 amps are old tech. They only put out about 10 watts which isn't enough. Things like Aiyima A07 are a bit more expensive bit much better.
I can help out. I purchased this kinter 2020a+ limited edition 50w x2 for $47and also the fosi tb10a tpa3116 100wx2 for 66$ and the difference is this: the kinter had less clarity, and the bass is more boomy so less smooth and natural sounding, the treble, while clear, it is harsh in comparison and as mentioned before, less clear.
The overall ambience of the sound is also less enveloping.
Spend the extra money and deal with switching one cord between units if you can manage both sacrifices is my recommendation.
I have had none of the issues with my Kinter 2020A + that are described in the review.
I just picked up the Kinter used, no issues either. For the $6 It costed, I got a deal. It sounds good. The amp itself is extremely lightweight which is great for portability. With small speakers like the Radio Shack Minimus 7 it fine in a bedroom. For larger rooms, larger more efficient speakers will be fine like Klipsch or PA speakers.
what would you recommend for the 20 or 30 dollar range?
for 6 ohm 30 watt max bookshelfs
I liked this little guy. ua-cam.com/video/jI2QI6ntARg/v-deo.html
A nice and honest review. Thanks!
what gauge speaker wire do you recommend? Does 12GA speaker wire fit into the spring terminals?
I think 14awg is the max. But with these small amps 18awg or 16awg should be just fine. These cheap amps don't put out the sound quality where heavier wire gauges would make speakers sound better.
14 gauge.
@@Crazytownmetal6 I bought one and it worked great for testing a DIY speaker kit! Sound quality not bad also for a small unit.
I use mine to push a little Velodyne sub that has a bad amp and 2 Canton bookshelfs and it sounds good. For the price you really can't beat it.@@SuperMoeLarryCurly
Can those little amps push a subwoofer
Not really. Maybe a smaller one.
You might be the 1st one to ever dis the Kinter2020A's sound ! --- I've never experienced the 'cracklin tweeter' thing with mine, but the cheap azz speaker terminals have all crapped out after a few years...so I'm gettin the 3116 or 8 now.
These cheap Kinter or Leapi amps are great for basic needs and are priced accordingly. But some of these people claiming quality sound from them shoud lookna at the measurements AudioScienceReview did. They're pretty much bottom of the barrel and only put out a few watts. The TPA3116 is definitely a step up but there's a few others out ther that are better. The best I've seen of these small class d amps is the TPA3255 measures very well for such a small inexpensive module.
@@iowaudioreviews What review? Someone reviewed the Lepy LP-2020A on their forums but not the kinter or original lepai, so what are you even talking about? Do you realize that the Lepy uses a completely different amp IC?
@@bobsagget823 I've had others they're nothing super special, they're worth about what they cost. They're good little amps for what they cost but have their limits. If you or someone has one you think will perform well get on AudioScienceReview and message Amir about having it tested.
4:06 "I don't necessarily know"
And notice how you didn't even mention that the mp3 input has worse sound. Because from the very beginning of this, you're acting like you're reviewing a piece of lunch that you let get cold, and then went from there. Good luck
I don't know necessarily if its worth double the money because the 3118 is much cheaper and performs somewhat better BUT subjectivity this Tripath has a bit of a odd fan follwing so to those people it may be worth it. Now objectively this Tripath amp has been measured and tested by AudioScienceReview and its terrible. Goes to show what some people think sounds good. Even the 3118 based amps aren't that great. Doesn't matter though they deliver acceptable performance for their cheap price. No, I'm reviewing it like a cheap Chinese amp with poor performance and a ridiculous cult following. I'd rather eat the cold lunch.
I have the same experience with Kinter K2020A :( not sure about the rest, but I just ordered 3 different amps to compare with. from fosi, lepy, and a weird company called Breeze Audio 2.1 Channel TPA3116D2 which should be similar to fosi 2.1.
tried looking for regular stereo receivers on ebay, no go... they're all $80+ for anything decent. someone at the local thrift was trying to sell one for $150. *spit* those people make me sick...
If you don't need a bunch of inputs the Aiyima A07 is possibly the best amp you'll get for $80. Its been tested on AudioScienceReview and was very impressive for the price.
I was thinking on buying the Kinter 2020 but then looked at your recommendations in the video description. Which would you pick between the Nobsound and the Douk?
I'm just starting on audio and vinyl so I'm looking for entry level gear. Would appreciate a response to know which option would work best for me :) thank you for the video!
I kind of prefer the Nobsound since you can moderate bass & treble, but I'd like your advice on this one!
Nobsound and Douk are made by the same maker. Check the tech specs, check reviews and go for the best value for buck. Both are OK, but you can add 20-30 bucks and go for small amps from Aiyuma, Fosi, SSML, Topping and they rpvide satisfactory experience. Power brick with good wattage and clean DC will also help to improve. Speakers - you can snap nice acoustic on eBay then spend on brand new but cheap junk. Klipsch, Pioneer, old Sony and Technics, KEF are all great ones.
Lol I tried to watch but to much yapping and whining 🙄
Found it thanks
I wanted a better desktop PC speaker system . I have an older Sony SRS-A202 Active Speakers that when listening to you tube . I have to keep the speakers volume maxed because of the low wattage and adjust the volume slider on the YT video. They have one tiny speaker a bit over 2 inches , the bass is a port yet if any video has much bass they break up easy.
I did get the Kinter K3118 yet haven't tried it yet and have two sets of older KLH speakers the L652B and the 979B both 8 ohm . I also got the same version of the Lapai 2020T1 . Can't say if they are the same unit and have not gotten the Lapai yet .
Either one has to be better than what I have now . I just plug into the speaker out on my old Dell 780 . I also have an old Panasonic dual cassette boom box that I used in an old Acer desk top and it sounded real good it has CD inputs on the rear.
I have no idea what the new small amps sound like yet my hope is they are better than the Sony PC speakers. Can't find any videos that play my sort of music like blues and rock and later grunge where the bass guitar does at times distort in these Sony speakers. Can't say I care for the included power supplies . They are just like many for personal CD players I have none are regulated yet do the job.
This is all I have being 71 . I have built many tube powered guitar amps yet that's not even close to the same thing.
ahh, Fur ratings :)
It’s best when doing a sound test, to stop talking.
No, its best not to take UA-cam sound demos serious. They're just a subjective demonstration. No real sound quality can be demonstrated through them.
@@iowaudioreviews Indeed. Shocking how many people think they are listening to amp sound, after coming through the amp on their PC. Its like watching a commercial for a TV, and being impressed by the picture, on your tv.....
I hope our products can satisfy you ：-）
I do like some Kinter products but I do think this K2020A+ is overpriced compared to other available options today.
I wouldn't recommend the Kinter whatsoever. I legit have had it for a day and it made a click and stopped working.
Yes, mine came in, box wasn’t taped shut, looks like someone messed with it. The power cord was dead out of the box. Hooked it up with a new power cord and worked great. Next time I wanted to use it wouldn’t play at all. Took it apart, noticed bad solder joints on nearly every thing. So called “Limited Edition.” Maybe that’s why it was limited. Don’t fall for the ad.
@@rockogawky5982 Normally that happens when Amazon takes a return and resells it.
lepy lp-2020a is the ripoff of the lepai lp-2020a+ and this is the ripoff of the lepy lp-2020a 🤣🤣
Hows it a ripoff? Its a A+ with the Tripath chip.... Tripath was good Class D tech like 10 years ago, it's not anymore. Realistically they're all cheap crap. Just good value thats all. Who cares not like Lepai, Lepy, or Kinter make anything good, all cheap Chinese value products.