IOTAVX SA3 Amplifier = Affordable Excellence!
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- Опубліковано 8 лип 2024
- IOTAVX's modern classic, the SA3! www.iotaenterprises.co.uk/pro...
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It sounds like a great system for folks just getting into the hobby. And probably great to stay with for years.
The brilliance of "bridging" the internal amp...............................
The Iota really can be described as a preamp running one monoblock in stereo under one chassis.
I don't think it should be over LQQKed how smart Iota was for designing this way. Iota owners don't have to sacrifice, as unusable, the internal amp already bought when adding or upgrading the power. An integrated amp that can run bridged.
Essentially TWO monoblocks are gotten as a result of identically matching the PA3 poweramp to the internal amp. The SA3 amp now becomes the left channel & the PA3 becomes the right channel. There's no wasted amp.
All integrated amps should be arranged this way. Upgrading means only buying one channel, not two Great work, as always, Steve! 🔈🔉🔊
All that brilliance and then they bung a DAC in there that's likely to be completely redundant after all. Why do companies keep doing this? Do they not realise most people are using players, not transports?
I love these kind of reviews. I love budget gear that works well and sounds good
Outstanding as always and perfect timing Steve. I've been listing to my SA3/PA3 stack driving Paradigm Reference Studio 60's all day and I absolutely love them. Thank you and keep up the great work.
Anybody want to see Len (an old Bronx NY Actor, son of a grocer) Lesser's Audiophiliac System Of The Day? Well you'll need to do a search on: An interview with Len Lesser aka Uncle Leo from 'Seinfeld' Len Lesser was famous in The Outlaw Josey Wales and in Papillon, talks just like Steve. Yeah but that Audio System ... has to be seen to be believed.
Nice review. I`m using two PA3s with Elac Uni-fi Reference and and I love them.
I'm happy with my current system. Now watching for the music reviews - andvthiscis time well spent!
Thanks, Steve! Your videos are breathtaking to me on a reason side!🎉
Nice to another review of this excellent integrated amp. I’ve been running my SA3 for a few months and love the neutral and transparent sound. Mine drives a pair of Polk Reserve R100 speakers with a REL TZero III also connected to the speaker terminals and it’s a great little system for the money. With the addition of a WiiM Mini streamer and SMSL SU-6 DAC I’ve got all I need to enjoy all the music I want.
Hi Steve , great video, I wished I bought this system instead of Rotel A11 t11 cd11 etc, regards mark
Great show again!
I got a vinyl copy of PS's RotS for my birthday a month ago. Ive had it on CD for years. I love it
That viewer system is really cool! Lots of vintage gear in that setup. I am a fan!
Affordable my Fav word and this was a good impression Thank You
Paired it with Q-Acoustics Concept 20. Sounds great and am very pleased with the combo. 😊
Killer episode, Mr.Steve.
Great amps the Iota VX’s are. Ordered mine immediately after watching Zero Fidelity’s review. Originally just bought the SA/PA stack, however a few months down I decided to buy another PA3 and have since used the SA3 only as a pre amp, out into 2 PA3 mono blocks driving a pair of Triangle BR08’s. The sound was way better than just having the stack. Ignore its DAC. Not the best out there. I have Denafrips Pontus 2 connected to the Iota’s instead. Love the neutrality of the whole set up.
Great review
Killer budget amp. Loved my stack when I used it. Bridged with the PA3 it had nice punch and transparency. You could easily build a higher end system around the IOTAVX stack.
Well Steve has an old episode on Rich ... Asian ... Buyers of audio stacks and one that he remembers used to slap the top of a speaker and exhale 'Best Speaker!' That had irritated Steve for many years and the speaker slapped had been a crummy, PRO-AC brand that in the early British designed days, had been named CELEF, as it used a bunch of surplus Celestion and KEF drivers that dried up when PRO-AC got their own custom made in the same far eastern outsourcing place as KEF and Rola was bought over by Rank that started to make Celestion and these ... imported PRO-AC drivers sounded really good to Eastern ears because they were made by Asians. Anyway PRO-AC was such that the buyers wanted speakers that worked best with imported Far Eastern amplifiers. British amplifiers back then used a load of other speaker brands like Chartwell, Mordaunt Short etc. But they had a very 'polite' sound as we used to say.
Great review of an affordable amp.
I have the SA3/PA3 driving a pair of Tekton Lores. Ive tried 4 different higher end older school receivers, and various amps from classic Carver amps, to Crown to Emotiva stuff (all 200 watts/channel plus).....the IOTA setup blows em all away. Super clean and can really bother the neighbors if needed. 100 watts is all you need.
Thanks, Steve, your review of the IOTA is pretty spot on!!! I've had mine for over 2 years and still enjoying it (no plans of upgrading, which is a great thing). IMO, if there is a downside, it's the DAC, which I've been wanting to upgrade, but have not decided what to get, however in the meantime it's so good that it does not make for a pressing decision.
What speakers are you using them with?
@@25-8 Elac Debut Reference (SA3 alone has plenty of power to drive them to moderately/ satisfying high-listening levels). For rock & roll, call the cops loud, then the additional PA3 would be needed, IMO.
I use this as a pre amp to an emotiva 2 channel basx amp. Powering a pair of Wharefdale Lintons. Love this set up. I've been waiting for you to review this.
Why would you buy the SA3's internal amp if you weren't going to use it? You must have gotten one or the other on the cheap because whom would pay retail for that combo. I'm a curious person. 🔈🔉🔊
@TriAmp HiFi I used it for a bit, but wanted more power so I added the Emotiva. I saw another UA-cam video that once you make it a mono add added the PA3, the SA3 for the right channel added some noise.
I get slow and muddy midbass with my Lintons. Do you have the same experience or maybe I need to upgrade my amplifier?
Linton issues? The GR research chap’s review of their crossover may be useful - although his updated version is pricy in relation to the speaker cost. And, i wonder if the vibe may go a bit in his search for a more ‘ruler flat’ set of graphs.
@jm12 I don't have that problem. Maybe too close to the wall? Mine was boomy till I moved them around alot. I read on a forum, forget which one, but one gentleman plugged one of the ports with a foam plug and said it sounded better for his room. Maybe try that? Good luck!
Yeah, Baby! A new Amp Review by Steve... 😎👍
Thanks for the great review Steve. I owned the SA3, PA3 combo for almost 3 years. I agree with everything you say about them. I used to drive Triangle Genese trio speakers with them, and that sounded great. Lovely combo.
I have to say after two years, the SA3 blew a capacitor in a very smoky fashion! I am a bit of a DYI guy, so I just upgraded them all myself, but for some people this would not be a very good experience.
This amp has very low quality parts. I see mainly low tier Chinese capacitors inside. No wonder they blew so early.
@@jessieheeet Could be/ probably so, but so far (going on 3 years) mine's been working fine, time will tell?!? In the meantime, it's proven to be a "very good" sounding/ good value for the money amp.
Had a quick Google, It looks like the new version has different caps. Think they're still Samxon brand. Not the worst ever. Keep in mind nearly all motherboards, graphics cards, Apple products, etc use mid range capacitors like these and it's not a big deal. The above amp blowing caps was unlucky and rare.
@@peterlarkin762 that’s right, I toss it down to bad luck too, i would still recommend them. I have PS Audio monoblocks and they also blew a capacitor very spectacular fashion. I guess it can happen to many other brands too.
To note, after my iota and PS audio, both blew a capacitor after three years. I do not leave my amps on 24/7 anymore I figure that may have contributed.
So glad you finally reviewed this integrated. I've owned the SA3- PA3 combo running it bridged for a couple of years now, and still love it. Although the built in phono stage is OK, my records sound way better with a separate phono amp. I have a Pro-Ject Debut Carbon that I have upgraded with an aluminum sub platter, acrylic platter and better phono cables and I have the Grado Opus 3 high output moving iron cartridge. I'm running it through a VPI Cliffwood phono preamplifier. I also have a Marantz 5005 CD player, and I'm running it all through a pair of Triangle Borea Bro 3's. I'm happy with this budget system, but I believe a speaker upgrade may in my future. They're great speakers for the money, and pair well the SA3, but there is some blurriness between the upper bass and lower mid range that I would like tightened up. I've actually thought about the Elac references, and it sounds like a good match. Any other speaker recommendations between $700 and maybe $1100 or so besides the B&W's? Thanks for all the enjoyable video's
Try tweek the borea br03 before changing them out. Go for a better stand, try around with placing, upgrade cables.
You need to spend alot to find better speakers.
I've played with placement and have them dialed in pretty good. As for cables, I have a pair of Kimber Kable 8PR's that I've used with several speakers, and I like them. I like your suggestion of different stands. Thank you. That's something I might look into.
Have you considered placing them on ISOacoustic stands or similar acoustic feet? That may help tighten up the bass - mid base freq.
The Horn is an Altec 311 - 60 series horn. Dispersion is 60 X 40 degrees. Its a 300 Hz horn with a 1.4 inch throat. The 288c is an Altec 12 ohm driver rated at 14 watts RMS from 500 to 20,000 hz. Using an 800 HZ crossover will almost double the power handling. As I remember sensitivity is almost 109 db 1 watt 4 feet. or just over 110 db at 1 meter.
Wow! Tim's viewer system is insane. I mean that in the best way 😉
Getting those monsters down into that mancave must have been a chore! I wonder if Steve has any experience with big EV speakers like that?
Great video steve, that’s the system I should of bought but but rotel a11/cd11 tribune only because I had rotel long time ago , I bought recently bought Elac ubr62, although sound pretty good and done lots of reviews including yourself I follow your channel because your balance and expertise in the field of audio , it was suppose to replace my old b&w dm602s3 but I still like them as more bass over the Elac, but because a11 has 2 lots of speaker o/puts I can listen and appreciate the audio , but I do use a sub when using the elacs. Kind regards mark
'Iota has Vintage Flavor' Neutrality'
Alot of people like just the Sa3 alone better than adding the Pa3 for the stack , The Stack does sound different ' (Mono) I video compared Iota-stack vs me audiolab 6000a long ago 😃
Both very good amps @ Price point
Thanks Steve'
Steve, what prompted you to finally review the SA3? I have been rocking an SA3 PA3 stack for a few years now. In fact I bought my PA3 from Sean! It is the centerpiece of my listening room, driving a pair of Triangle Borea BR03's on sturdy stands. The use of the PA3 tightened up the bottom end on the BR03's. I use the internal DAC of the SA3 for TV audio (optical) and the Coax for my DVD/CD Sony disc player. As I have two turntables, my mono rig (Pioneer PL41/Audio Technica VM610MONO) runs through the SA3's MM input and my main deck (Denon DP2550A/Micro Seiki MA505/Audio Technica AT450) goes into a Schiit Mani 2. Digital files and streaming are handled by my PC into a Schiit Bifrost 2, the first DAC with which I did not experience fatigue when listening to music. Rounding out the system is a Massdrop THX AAA 789 headphone amp, with the Massdrop Sennheiser HD6xx and Thinksound OV21 headphones as daily drivers, depending on the content and task. I think I'm getting fantastic sound for mid-range money here. No itch to upgrade at all, and that is a milestone for me.
I think you nailed this review.
Hello Steve, I hope you're doing great. I love your reviews, not hyped... And yet appealing enough to pay attention and make us willing to spend our precious money! What's clearer and more transparent? BasX TA2 or IotaVX SA3?
Yes Steve, I guess with Denon that’s a thing.. I have a 100w/channel class AB amplifier of theirs and it’s a little bit too warm, to be honest. As always, enjoying the videos.
Do you have warm speakers connected? Off balance that warmth with lively detailed speakers and it’s probably great.
@@dougg1075 Of course!
Great Review as always. I have the SA3 ordered and plan on adding the PA3 to run as a monoblock.
Will I be able to drive Magnepan LRS +?
I have a 12 x 12 room and a Rel 10in and also SVS 12 in subs.
I run this stack SA3/PA3, been itching to upgrade something and plan on speakers first. Was hoping you would use your DW6 as one of the speakers, I’m so close to having the money saved up for a pair.
I’ll have to check out that wynton/willie album
Steve, another fun and wonderful review. I agree that for the money, this seems to be the best way to spend $499 and have an upgrade path to add an external amp via the pre-amp outs. Until this one, the leading candiadate on my list is the Emotiva BASX-TA1. Both similarly featured. Your thoughts on these two? I've been leaning heavily on the TA-1, as you also gave it a really nice review. Thank you!!!!
I believe the emotiva has a fan. If that is true, I would get the iota.
@@lsaideOK Thanks for chiming in, Larry! I love the looks of the Iota and from what I've seen, the build quality is top notch! Their company story is really cool. The TA-1 by Emotiva also has the High-Pass filter for the main speakers, which is a feature that I really am interested in. I don 't think I can go wrong with either one. Thanks again!
@@lsaideOK you can easily see the emotiva has no fan
@@ramondelgado6778 the emotiva is a smd grave
As I recall, you reviewed the PMA 600 and said it could drive the LRS,'s.
Hi Steve, in my journey as an audio enthusiast, would like to go and try tube amplification. I was thinking about get into the line and buy a Decware SE84UFO2, building myself some open baffle speakers. Is it reasonable for a newbie like me?
Hi. A great review. Do you happen to know where I can buy this amplifier? Thanks!
Hi Steve, It is kind of time you reviewed this so maybee it will be difficult question in this regard. Here it is:), do you think iota had a touch of humanity in mail femail vocals, tuch of musicality? I had a rotell a11 tribute at home I loved it at firs moment but than I realised I miss something from my actual cambridge axa35 , so I returned rotel, it missed smitch of musicality by my opinion. Cambridge to my opinion is complete opesite it has musicalyty but he misses snap, and spark of rotel. Maybee iota could be solution. What do you think?
How does it compare to the Cambridge axa 35?
I didn't have the chance to hear IOTA because it is not available in our area. But because I had NAKAMICHI in the past and I know some engineers are in IOTA, I am very curious about this brand.I wish you would compare it with Cambridge Audio AXA 35
I do like above average knob feel.
It would be interested if you could talk about DIY Amplifier kits, they claim to have really high specs with relatively low price
Like the Modulus from Neurochrome, the JLH or the ESP products by sound-au...
Wonder how this amp would sound with Klipsch RP 600m speakers?
Surprised there was no mention of the built in DAC or it's sound sound quality, and no mention of what CD player was used for the CD he played. The Bluetooth module plugs into the expansion port which leads me to winder what else can that port be used for. I'm not int he market for anything like this, I just like Steve's reviews, but this one seems a tad incomplete. FWIW, they make a streamer/CD player/tuner unit that has digital inputs as well so for $1200 could have a very complete system (if you don't mind a slot loader!)
Can the REC OUT be used with one of the LINE inputs to create a tape loop?
Yes
Hi Steve, I don't think you have reviewed anything by Musical Fidelity. Am I wrong? 🤔
Steve need a DAC recommendation for use with this, under 1k
I'll have a DAC review coming up soon
Cool viewer system but just not big enough 😛
But does the sa3 bridged with the pa3 manage to control the lrs? At 4ohm it is 2 times 180 watts. Didn't you manage to test this combination? I'm actually interested.
Sorry, I did not.
I have this stack and when doing my research on it someone does mention running it with LRS, the newer version of that speaker, can’t remember who did it. Search for it, but if my memory serves right they liked it.
I heard he was coming out with a new SA3.. just checked IOTAs website. Looks like website is gone..
Any idea how the company is doing? I've talked with the owner Ian a few times when I first bought the stack a couple years ago..really nice guy. I hope all is well at his company.
Do you think the integrated alone can get full efficiency out of the elac unifi ub52 2.0s?
I was wondering the same thing...
I'm using the IOTA SA3 with ELAC Debut References, "for me/ my ears" it has plenty of power for my 13' x 13' room (also it sounds great at lower listening levels). HOWEVER, if you want/ need to listen at higher listening levels, i.e. "I'm thinking about calling the cops type loud", IMO more power will be required.
Yes, no problem.
Aren't the debut 2 way speakers? I'm not sure but the unifi are 3 way and at the moment, using axa35 cambridge. It's ok but don't have near enough power. With just 15 more watts, I was thinking still not enough. Thanks..
IMHO Not if you want fullness of bass at low volume my ub52s love power -
The Iota115va mains transformer has a hard time with ub52s dipping down to 3.8 ohms but stack will do the job ! I own both for 3 years '
I think he's making or has made a new amplifier hasn't he
Wonder how that sounds?
Nothing like the NAD 3020, not even close.
Won’t sound as good either. Old nad gear can still show a lot of modern kit how it’s done.
Oops, meant say the SA3 has a built-in DAC, but no USB input
Within a few days of getting mine I contacted iota with an issue, they still haven't responded. Not looking good.
Big claims made here by Steve, and interestingly he mentioned a styling similarity to the original NAD 3020.
I have been using the slightly later, but essentially the same NAD 3020i.
The performance of the NAD to my ears is superb, and very noticeable when compared to other big brand amps I have listened to which sound veiled.
The superlatives used about the IOTA definitely apply to my NAD.
If this IOTA can match the sound of the 3020i, then it is worth every cent of the asking price, and under these circumstances, my advice would be to buy immediately!
Thanks Monty, I didn't claim it sounds like a 3020, it's been far too long to say that!
Note: the SA3 has a Built
You think this would drive the LRS+ sufficiently?
Right, that why I tried it!
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac thanks
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac Dont mean to take up your time but in the video you state the LRS+ is a bridge too far for the SA3. Just to be sure do you still recommend the SA3 for the LRS+?
Hey great review as always! steve just to clarify, do you think Iotavx stack would compliment the LSR+?
I was ready to pull the trigger on this amp UNTIL I read all the horror stories about the lack of support from the company and customer service
IOTAVX product might be of good quality, but their customer service leaves much to be desired. If you encounter an issue, wish to file a warranty claim, or need to return their product, you may find that they do not respond to your emails or calls. I strongly recommend considering products from companies known for good customer service, especially if you value responsive support in the event that things don't go as planned.
Na-koi-cat-si
Which japanese amp has been copied this time!?
If it can’t drive Magnepan then the double power rating into 4 Ohms is totally fake. Skinny Class AB amps aren’t doubling down into 4 ohm…you need something more substantial like Schiit Vidar to do that.
I quite like it on my lrs i. My room at low to med volume. I got a pa3 but the stack sound was too harsh so i went back to just the sa3. I do use a rel sub though...
@@babupranav nice setup. Running a stereo amp bridged into mono is a bad idea with a 4 ohm speaker…because a bridged mono channel sees half the impedance…so that’s 2 ohm for LRS dropping down to 1 ohm at times
@@seanb3303 thanks I wish I had known beforehand! I will have to get a preamp and use the pa3 on another speaker.
Nah.. lrs dips down to 2.8 ohms in some areas of freq response. You want an amp that can handle dips below 4 ohms to properly drive them. The SA3 is not that amp.
@@aceofspades6667 bridged mono the amp sees 1.4 ohms if it dips to 2.8. That’s the point and why bridged amps shouldn’t drive Maggies
Get off my lawn with that tiny buttoned remote! 😂🤣
I humbly request that you consider removing this review. IOTA seems to be unresponsive to customer inquiries, showing no reaction when a return is requested, and offering no warranty support whatsoever. They simply take your hard-earned money, send you the product, and provide zero post-sales support. This review might be directing many customers towards IOTA, only for them to encounter a lack of post-sales support.
How can you still do critical listening at our age ? LOL
Clarity vs the Denon? Yeah, count me OUT!
That detail audiophile stuff does not the MUSIC make. Without warmth there is NO MAGIC!
Sorry! No disrespect. I realize there are a whole bunch of people out there who want to HEAR IT ALL, the music and EVERYTHING else, lol. And some who love bright horns. That's where the subjective dimension comes in. It's all good. Listen to what you like, they're your ears, lol!
Don’t like the look. Looks like an accessory for the Playstation. NEXT!
Who makes the Best Sounding AV Receivers for Movies, TV, and Music ? I am NOT an Audiophile but would like to INVEST my MONEY in Best Value Budget Quality components that Produce Sounds as the Creators of Audio content intended for the content to be Heard ?